That, I don’t think, is where the hostile part comes in. To me, thinking something is “pathetic and kind of sad” is perfectly within reason. Seems a bit silly, given the inconsenquentialness of the thing, but I see no harm in it. What I find strange is the insistence that people do things for whatever preconceived notion you have rather than their own reasons. Why would someone do that exactly?
Because just like your supposition here, I certainly don’t have (and never did) any body modifications for anyone else’s benefit but my own. The way I know this is true? I’m an agoraphobic and the ONLY person who sees mine are, well, me.
And even if people do something purely subjective (like because they like how they think it looks to others), why is its permanence the issue? I mean, just following one ‘normal’ trend after the other could then turn your whole life into living it in a manner that you’ll later find laughable.
I honestly cannot understand thinking I know better than the person making their own decisions. This all makes my poor mind boggle.
Not exactly. I don’t care about the jewelry itself, I am disturbed about the piercings. I don’t care if it’s an earlobe or nipple, the idea of poking holes in your body for decoration creeps me out.
I’m really not seeing hostility here. People who don’t care for piercings – myself included – think they’re stupid, lame, and unattractive. Do I have any problem with your decision to present yourself in a way I consider stupid, lame, and unattractive? Not at all. Knock yourself out.
Oh, thank you for explaining it so succinctly. I guess then I’ll just content myself with not considering others’ decisions to be stupid and / or lame, thus preventing any appearance of hostility whatsoever.
Count me in with the people who think piercing anywhere other than the ear lobes used be to edgy, but is now sort of commonplace. I also don’t think it looks especially attractive, but that’s just my opinion.
I don’t find piercings to be especially strange at this point. I do tend to think of them on par with doing other things like wearing 4-inch spike heeled shoes with toes pointy enough to spear a fish. Both of those have the potential to leave less than desirable physical effects down the road, which is rather different from ribbons in your hair, interesting ties, or even pants that hang halfway down your butt.
Actually, I don’t think any opinion is hostile. Hence the leaving off of the “unattractive” part of your quote.
You know, upon further reflection, I’ve taken my feelings to other fora about this. So I won’t hijack this thread any longer. As I simply don’t understand attitudes like this (not just yours, but it’s seemed rampant to me across the board lately), I’ll vent my frustrations there. Sorry. Continue to find anyone / anything you like stupid or lame.
I like single standard ear piercings in women. I don’t like multi piercings. I think belly button rings in the navels of 22 year old flat stomached women are amazingly sexy - and in the navels of a 42 year old with stretch marks from her two children to be silly and draw attention to an area I don’t want anyone looking at in my 41 year old been through pregnancy body (and I’m pretty slim, but I’ll never have anything like a sexy taut tummy again). Everything else is not in the least bit attractive to me.
I don’t have a problem with it. I just don’t find it attractive. To me, a single set of earrings can enhance a face (depends on the earrings), multiples distract, regardless of the earrings.
In what world is calling someone stupid, lame and unattractive not hostile? Not that the folks with piercings and / or tattoos particularly care, as we’ve heard it all before, but why pretend that you’re not *trying * to be insulting?
No, I think it’s rather conformist actually. And conforming to an aesthetic standard that I don’t share at all, but I know is common because half of everyone has piercings or stretchings or implants or what have you.
I’m getting this meme a lot. Who cares if it’s conformist? Are you really so sure that you’re a unique little snowflake? I’m willing to bet you wear pants. I’m willing to bet you don’t cut your hair like Marge Simpson. I’m willing to bet you don’t disc your bottom lip, and I’m pretty certain that you don’t wear “fuck the police” t-shirts to job interviews.
So, I ask you: what’s the difference between my conformity and yours? It seems to me that I can laugh about it while it’s a source of personal conflict for you.
Huh? You asked if it was rebellious. Many of us answered that it wasn’t rebellious but that we felt, based on the ubiquity of them, that it was actually the opposite. Facial piercings and tattoos, in this day and age, are conformist. Get used to it. There is no crime in conformity. Welcome to the club.
There is no difference between my conformity and yours. None. That’s why they call it conformity. I’m getting the feeling that you were trying for rebellion and failed.
It’s quite possible that a person with a chicken stapled to her face is merely trying to get across a different road than ones down which I travel. She might not even know that I find it stupid, lame, and ugly. It certainly is not certain that being stupid, lame, or ugly in my opinion was an element of their fashion choices. I might not be important enough to her for my possible opinions to have any significance whatsoever.
Choosing to inform her of my opinions, in the case where my opinion is that she looks stupid, lame, and ugly could be hostile. It might not be hostile, but that would require a fairly long standing relationship, where harsh judgment is both desired, and expected. Then it would just be honest condemnation. It is hard for me to imagine a case where it would not be an invitation for her to ignore my opinions thereafter.
I advise against asking for opinions in cases where what you desire is affirmation.
You’re projecting your personal stereotypes onto someone you don’t know and failing quite hard in the process. I blatantly admitted that a piercing is a form of conformity, said that it doesn’t bother me, and you still think I need to “get over it”?
