OK, Have to Ask About This Ear Lob Thing That Is Stylish ?????

This isnt new..... But it's pretty hideous. One day these ears will "hang low and wobble to and fro" and that's not attractive.

Unless someone is part of a tribe, I think they are silly. I mean, they might as well have a sign saying, "He! Look at me. Over here. I have stretched out ears. I'm sooo original!! I'm different, look at me!!"

Ear gauges. Blecch. I hear they smell as well as look ucky.

Just another in a looooong list of things whippersnappers do to define their generation....it all started with Elvis' hip shaking on Ed Sullivan! LOL

They are called ear gauges.

Yes they can stretch out the skin.. and FYI, they will not close up like an pierced ear..

They are supposed to be "decorative".. The worst part is that if not cared for they can smell.. Yucky!!! and become infected.. They need to be turned in the ear every so often and properly cared for.. Can you imagine a banker.. with one of things in their ears?

I always wonder where do these people work?

Well, I am usually pretty open minded.....but....

My kids have many schoolmates with them, rich white suburban kids. I suppose if they were members of an African tribe, sure....

Sigh. I'm with you. The EEEEW-AH! factor is just too strong.

:(

It's no different than smearing fat on your lips mixed with dye, or putting plastic chips on your fingers, or stilts, or (lipstick, acrylic nails, high heels).

Anywhere in the world, in any timeframe, people have decorated themselves. Sometimes we wear rings on our necks, bind heads to change the shape (and we STILL do that, with kids who have 'flat' heads, because we 'like' round ones... it was just in reverse, before that people liked flat heads), poke holes in all areas of our bodies, tattoo, paint, dye, adorn. Lift breasts up with bras, push the down with boarding, accentuate our bellies or corset them up, shave/wax/thread...

We alter ourselves, because we find it beautiful.

People wear plugs in their ears for the same reason you might:

- Wear deodorant
- Shave your legs
- Get some 'color' (real sun or fake)
- Wear makeup
- Wear perfume
- Wear heels
- Own more than two outfits (one to wear while the other washes)
- Wear clothing when the weather is 80 or above
- Pierce you ears

If you can ask yourself why you do ANY of these things... the answer you get... is the same answer for the reason people do anything to alter themselves. Typically, the answer is

- Not to is gross OR
- It makes me feel pretty

OMG Amanda G. just made me spit out my drink! Lol. I think they're gross too and would hate to think of what they'll look like when they're old. "wobble to and fro" Lmbo!!

I've seen a few people with the plugs in their ears and it's not a look I find attractive.
I guess plastic surgeons can look forward to income as they repair these modifications/mutilations in the future.
Given a choice between job candidates who are more or less equal in qualifications, I'd have to go with hiring the person with fewer holes in their head.
There's not a lot of companies where that image would fit (unless it were a tattoo/piercing parlor that was hiring).

It's a very old practice, tribal in nature, that someone discovered in National Geographic and decided to make "old school" new again.

Here's a little info about the subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stretching_(body_piercing)

In my world it is a career limiting move.

Wait a minute ... they STINK, too? Gross!

I hate seeing people judge other people =(

It is a fashion type trend... The same reasons that woman wear ridiculous clothes or dye their hair. They like how it looks. Like another mom said, it is like any other piercing you might get or a tattoo. They like how it looks.

I guess it falls under the catagory of tatoos and piericings...but it is by far the worst fad yet...just looks nasty...that's not really the word I want to use....but I just can't think of how to describe it.

It's like any body modification - people do it because they like it. Many African cultures do it (and to lips, too) and some Westerners decided it was a good idea. Where they work depends. You might be surprised. I have a friend who works for an RV dealership. Someone else is a freelancer. Another person does tattoos and body mods for a living (people like to go to artists who know their stuff and had it done themselves).

Ugh! I'm sorry, but it seriously make me feel like I'm going to throw up when I see someone with their ear lobes all stretched out like that.

It looks very painful and not very attractive. I know alot of young people (I feel so old saying that) do it for the shock factor. Just like one girl where I work several years ago had a horeshoe shaped nose ring that was very large. she wanted reaction. It was nasty!!!!!!!!!!

Hi love-

For me...it's a

...shrug...

Different strokes for different folks...

but that is just me

Best luck!
michele/cat

I have to say, I agree with you. I am sure it is a generational thing but it just hurts me to look at them. It also makes me remember my trip to Africa where I met tribesmen/women who do the same and more but they do it to carry on their village leadership, be rewarded for strength/honors they have earned, and to respect a multi-generational history/tradition. If I felt like those here did it for a deep reason I could get into it, but it just seems like an idle hobby for shock value to me.

Hey, look, someone who can answer from first hand experience!

I am currently stretching my ears. They are at 8G and I've been at this level for a long time. It's a delicate process and I'm taking it slowly and safely. If you do it right there is low risk of injury, scaring, etc. The "point of no return" is generally considered 2g. at that point you will still be able to have normal looking ears with them out - I am not going past this point.

I think people who stretch far beyond that are in for a heck of a realization 20 years from now! But it's also their choice. My fiance's cousin has quite large stretches, but again, she's doing it the right way, and they look completely normal when the jewelry isn't in.

They only stink if they are healing and aren't being properly cared for. I wash my ears every night and rub them up with lots of lotion. The only time I've had stinky piercings is when there is a lot of healing going on or there is something wrong. The stink comes from a build up of dead skin cells stuck in the piercing. This is why you have to keep it washed. :)

I work in an office. No one has said anything to me about my piercings. I also have a lip piercing. I stretch my ears because 1. I like how it looks 2. it gives me an element of control over my body. Yeah, sounds crazy! but I have anxiety disorder, and it took me a while to realize it but it's a form of comfort! I can care for my body and make it look cool. Yeah, not everyone's thing. I respect that.

it's like any other body modification. people like to have control over their bodies and we all have wildly different tastes and preferences.
when i was a girl, men did not wear earrings. period.
the only people who had tattoos were sailors and cons.
now i have one son who's about 40% tattooed and has an industrial piercing.
if what you're seeing is really 'all over', it's actually NOT 'different.'
it's just not something you think is attractive.
good thing no one is requiring you to do it.
khairete
S.

I worked with a guy who had that. I asked him why, he said because he can.

I have no idea. I always thought it was a "shock factor" sort of thing, kind of loosely inspired by some sort of tribal tradition from somewhere none of these kids have ever been, but I have a distant cousin who is doing it becuse she says it is "sexy." To each her/his own, I suppose. I don't get it. It just looks painful to me (and, according to her, it is). Maybe it's partially a masochist kind of thing?

It can be fixed with plastic surgery later, but it still looks icky. I hate it myself!

Ewww!! Makes me cringe in imagined pain every time I see someone with those huge holes.

To each his/her own. Not for me that's for sure.

This guy decided to get his ears fixed because he wants to be taken seriously. $1250.00 for two ears lobes.

http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/3ear0121.jpg

My best friend has them, though her's are a lot smaller than some (Barely noticeable unless you really look at them). I think they are so unattractive.

My understanding is that they only way to really "correct" this is to basically cut the ear lobe off above the hole. That's just what I heard though, so I don't know for sure.

I don't have to wear it. But other say the same things you say about my tattoos.

They like it, they will have to live with how it will look in the "older age".

I work with a young woman with gauged ears, as well as tongue and lower lip piercings - in a state government office. It's no big deal. People in my office also have visible tattoos - including me. Again, it's no big deal.

I see it much like body piercings, tattoos, etc, in that people do it because its something they are into or enjoy. Weird, maybe, but then again, everybody has their likes. To each their own I guess.

its a fashion phase. i have my ears stretched but not like that. if i take mine out i can still wear normal earrings. yes they can have surgery to correct it.

I also have mine done, it's not a wow factor just something I liked so I did it...they can be corrected with surgery if someone wants. Oh and I'm from Phoenix AZ :) lol

Here is an article I saw in our local paper a few months ago. I read it while waiting for my dinner take out order (I do not get the actual newspaper). The big pictures on the front page of this section caught my eye. It was interesting! Not for me in any way, but very interesting nonetheless!

It does address some getting surgery at a later stage to fix them.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/137908688.html

We've had it here for awhile. I personally just think it is a variation on tattoos. Tattoos used to be a rebellious thing, but now they are commonplace. They don't cause quite the same reaction they once did. So I suspect that the earlobe thing is sort of a "new" way to get that attention.

I have seen grown men with them. I don't get it, and I don't care for the look at all. But at least if they are grown (we're talking grand parent age) they know what they are doing (let's hope anyway) and aren't doing it to rebel against their parents. lol Also, I'd assume that if an adult has them, they already know whether it is acceptable in their career choice, or not.

Not sure where the "style" came from though, or if there is any underlying meaning to it.