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Looks like they want a tattoo of something that symbolizes, but without that thing actually being a symbol, like a pentagram or an infinity sign is an actual symbol. They used koi as an example - it's not a symbol, it's a fish, but koi is symbolic of good fortune and also of courage.
Like a pineapple - a sign of southern hospitality and welcome in the US. It's not a symbol, but it's associated with that (besides being delicious and a good thing to put in pina coladas) ;)
So, no to peace signs and crosses, yes to koi and pineapples.
I think the asker wants the positive cultural cache that comes with a tattoo (a cool manmade bit of art somewhere on your body that implies that there are ideas or people you consider infinitely significant) without the potential negative cultural cache (looking at the tattoo ten years later runs the risk of reminding you what a lame-o you were ten years ago, when you got the word Joementum tattooed on your bicep).
pineapple - a sign of southern hospitality and welcome in the US
Not just Southern - the pineapple symbol can be found in most Eastern states. It's common in New England too. You sometimes find it carved into the architectural elements, like corbels near a front door. It dates at least from the days of the coastal/Caribbean trade with the early American colonies. Ships' officers brought them back as gifts and they were used in elaborate table displays, etc. You often read a story saying that they'd place a pineapple at the front step of the house to show the neighbors that they were home from sea. It probably wasn't quite that neat a connection, but that's the idea.
This person shouldn't get a tattoo until they discover a symbol they actually love. Even if it takes a few years, if ever. Sounds to me as if they're too ambivalent about the whole thing, and just perhaps want to jump on the "tattoo bandwagon".
And by placing ideas on others, they can reject designs at will, thus removing the decision from themselves.
photo by splunge
photo by TheophileEscargot
photo by Kronos_to_Earth
photo by ethylene
