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'Weird' for not having piercings?

63 replies

ChangeofAir · 22/12/2024 06:24

Exchanged presents with a family member yesterday, she bought be a pair of lovely earrings.

I don't have pierced ears.

Of course I did the standard thing of gushing over them and saying thank you very much, lovely, very pretty, etc, and she said 'try them on now' - I said noooo I'll keep them for a special occasion, she insisted, so then I had to explain I don't have any piercings.

She was really shocked and said everyone has pierced ears! She (lightheartedly) said I was super weird.

I'm 40, is it really that odd?!

OP posts:
UnNiddeRides · 22/12/2024 06:50

My mother always ranted about how her grandmother had really ugly puckered holes from when she’d had her ears pierced when young. Of course that meant that as soon as I could I had mine done. That was over 40 years ago & although I had many other holes punched in the 80s I didn’t think many did it now. eyebrows, lips, nostrils but less so earlobes.

sesquipedalian · 22/12/2024 06:48

My DM, who loved earrings and almost always wore them, never had pierced ears. When I was young - I’m in my sixties - pierced ears were far less common. Queen Elizabeth II didn’t have her ears pierced until she was 25; Queen Camilla has never had her ears pierced. It’s a matter of personal choice.

JamNittyGritty · 22/12/2024 06:47

i have no piercings, just never felt the need.

ChangeofAir · 22/12/2024 06:44

ThirdStorm · 22/12/2024 06:35

I don’t. Never wanted to. I’m not a jewellery person either.

I'm the same, I don't like the feel of rings or bracelets.

I wear a very thin and light engagement ring, never bought a wedding ring because I couldn't find one I could tolerate, and only wear a very lightweight necklace.

OP posts:
Devilsmommy · 22/12/2024 06:41

I used to have pierced ears untill I took them out nearly 20 years ago now. I think a pp was right and she realised how shitty she looked and tried to turn it on you

ChangeofAir · 22/12/2024 06:40

Namechangeobviously2024 · 22/12/2024 06:32

I'm guessing she was embarrassed that her gift could be viewed as colossally thoughtless so tried to make out you were the unreasonable one instead.
Round my way it is absolutely mainstream to have 5 piercings in each ear, so you'd be in a minority, but calling it "odd" is daft.

These were my feelings - surely not everyone is the same so I was a little hurt being thought of as odd.

Perhaps you're right and she was a little embarrassed.

OP posts:
IceStationZebra · 22/12/2024 06:40

Not unusual & they are being weird for doubling down.

think I made the same mistake with a gift for a school friend when I was about 14. Silly, but everyone gets over it!

GrandHighPoohbah · 22/12/2024 06:38

I'd say the majority of women do have pierced ears, so she's right that it's the norm in most places. A bit not to check before buying you the earrings though.

Edingril · 22/12/2024 06:37

Not everyone woman wears earrings. I don't

Why are women treated as some collective?

ThirdStorm · 22/12/2024 06:35

I don’t. Never wanted to. I’m not a jewellery person either.

Lizzypet · 22/12/2024 06:34

I'm 40s & don't have any piercings. DM has pierced ears & DS has multiple piercings & a few tattoos. I just never felt it was right for me.

Namechangeobviously2024 · 22/12/2024 06:32

I'm guessing she was embarrassed that her gift could be viewed as colossally thoughtless so tried to make out you were the unreasonable one instead.
Round my way it is absolutely mainstream to have 5 piercings in each ear, so you'd be in a minority, but calling it "odd" is daft.

Gymmum82 · 22/12/2024 06:28

I do know a couple of people without pierced ears but it’s really not the norm so I can see why she thought it was odd

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