Can one of you 20-somethings explain the appeal of ear gauging to me?

[RawHumor]

Every time I see someone with a hole in their ear I could fit a quarter through I feel old. I just don't get it.

Tattoos? Sure. Piercings in your nose, hips, nipples, eye brows? Okay, I get that some of them can be sexy.

But ear gauging? It's right up there with a plate in the lip.

Someone must think this looks good, but I've yet to find someone who admits it or can explain the appeal.

 

[Oh_That_Guy]

That's that thing where they have the lobe stretched out far enough to drive a truck through, right? Just about the dumbest thing I've ever seen. I can't imagine the explanation makes it any smarter.

 

[RawHumor]

That's that thing where they have the lobe stretched out far enough to drive a truck through, right? Just about the dumbest thing I've ever seen. I can't imagine the explanation makes it any smarter.

That's it, yes. Not pretty.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I try hard not to laugh in their faces. Too many Doinks packing heat now and willing to use it.

 

[RoryN]

Back in 1997, a hipster barista was shot in the ear at a Peet's Coffee in Portland after he asked a customer if they wanted "schadenfreude or guilt" with their latte.

It's to commemorate the struggle.

 

[Aphro]

I call them ear grommets.

I hate to see the young girls with them. I always think, honey, one day a man may buy you a nice pair of diamond studs, and you won't be able to wear them unless it's one in your nose and one in your eyebrow.

 

[Oh_That_Guy]

That's it, yes. Not pretty.

I figure it's just kids being dumb because they don't think more than 20 minutes ahead and are absolutely certain that they will never ever change their minds about anything and styles will never change.
Just one reason I avoid young people and if they get too close I tell them to get off my lawn.

 

[Oh_That_Guy]

Back in 1997, a hipster barista was shot in the ear at a Peet's Coffee in Portland after he asked a customer if they wanted "schadenfreude or guilt" with their latte.

It's to commemorate the struggle.

If only he had been a better shot.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

Every time I see someone with a hole in their ear I could fit a quarter through I feel old. I just don't get it.

Tattoos? Sure. Piercings in your nose, hips, nipples, eye brows? Okay, I get that some of them can be sexy.

But ear gauging? It's right up there with a plate in the lip.

Someone must think this looks good, but I've yet to find someone who admits it or can explain the appeal.

Will baby boomers explain bell bottom pants?

 

[Oh_That_Guy]

Will baby boomers explain bell bottom pants?

Clothes can be taken off and given to Goodwill. Deformities are not accepted there or the Salvation Army. Possibly at some consignment shops though.

 

[RawHumor]

Will baby boomers explain bell bottom pants?

You can change your pants. You can throw them away.

You can't super glue a giant hole in your ear.

 

[Oh_That_Guy]

You can change your pants. You can throw them away.

You can't super glue a giant hole in your ear.

Well you can. In fact I highly recommend it for any people with ear gauges. Please.

 

[warrior queen]

I have my lobes guaged to 6mm.
I won't go any bigger, because at 6mm it's relatively easy to get them back down. Anything more and it's a surgical fix.
I did mine so a) I could tell my piercing clients how it's done from experience, and b) because it looks fucking cool when I have my ivory or ebony drop-expanders in.
(In my av I have hollow plugs in. My everyday wear.)

 

[RawHumor]

I have my lobes guaged to 6mm.
I won't go any bigger, because at 6mm it's relatively easy to get them back down. Anything more and it's a surgical fix.
I did mine so a) I could tell my piercing clients how it's done from experience, and b) because it looks fucking cool when I have my ivory or ebony drop-expanders in.
(In my av I have plugs in. My everyday wear.)

If you DO piercings & tattoos for a living, then I can understand it. I still don't get the appeal... thank you though.

 

[RoryN]

Ear-lobe sex is relatively safe...

...as long as Slayer doesn't start playing, and she headbangs.

 

[Not Normal]

I think its really cool looking if not too large a diameter. I can't explain why I like the look any more than I can explain why I like redheads, John Coltrane or Kandinsky.

 

[ms_ann_thrope]

It's tribal.


http://www.clarajewellery.com/wp-content/uploads/african-tribe-earrings-chhw.jpg

 

[rafea118]

I'm at a 0g. I love the look, personally, especially with natural stone. And no, it wasn't a hastily made decision. I waited seven years on my ears before committing as with all my piercings and my tattoo. I don't like the coke bottle sized ones however. It's not my body; I don't care what body modifications they have as long as the person isn't an ass. Which character should matter more but it doesn't.

 

[rafea118]

It's tribal.


http://www.clarajewellery.com/wp-content/uploads/african-tribe-earrings-chhw.jpg

Yes, this. And in some, a sign of class/caste, or a coming of age.

 

[John Doe]

It's tribal.


http://www.clarajewellery.com/wp-content/uploads/african-tribe-earrings-chhw.jpg

That's the origin obviously, but in person every single person I've ever seen that has had it done is white and under 30, so unless 'young, impulsive hipster' is a tribe now, I call bullshit on that.

 

[MarkoAaron]

I'm 26 and my personal opinion of ear gauging is summed up in one word. Stupidity

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[removed9556]

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I'm 26 and my personal opinion of ear gauging is summed up in one word. Stupidity

Stupidity


There. Fixed that for ya'. Too bad i can't make it blink and scroll here.

One of the dumbest fucking things humans do.

 

[RawHumor]

When I had a second hole pierced in my ears my parents threw me out. My father told me I had lost all chance of a respectable job.

I felt furious at their aged bigotry and stupidity and failure to understand that more than one ear piercing didn't make someone a problem ( they had baulked at the one in fairness to them, the second probably should have waited at least till I was out of their house)

Anyway.

The depressing thing is now, when I see those ear gauges, I think exactly the same things as my parents said to me. I have no idea how accurate I am, and I hope I'm wrong, but its still what goes through my head, as a reflex. It says as much about me I guess, but try as I can I am thinking about the people we know successful in their fields, or the times I have been in environments where people are all ' successful' and I cannot remember seeing an ear gauge there.

One of our young salesmen has both of his ears done.

Around 2000, one of my old college buddies told me that they didn't hire a guy who they interviewed partly because they could see holes where the guy normally had ear rings in. When I saw our new saleman, I thought of that conversation that seems like forever ago.

I realize it has tribal origins, but will they start putting plates in their lips next? I'm sure that would be sexy.

Thanks rafea and NN for at least sharing some positive view.