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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

For those who pierce their baby's ears...

645 replies

Username7654321 · 29/11/2017 16:47

Would you see it as okay to pierce their nose? Eyebrow? Tongue? Why is it okay to stab a needle through the ear lobe, when presumably most people would be horrified by any other piercing on a baby?!

OP posts:
missiondecision · 30/11/2017 14:55

What this ole chestnut again🌰

missiondecision · 30/11/2017 14:55

Ear piercing is nothing like female circumcision. Ridiculous comparison.

LoverOfCake · 30/11/2017 15:00

"Ear piercing is nothing like female circumcision. Ridiculous comparison." says who? Sliding scale isn't it? So because it's not as bad that makes it ok? Even though it's child abuse?

A fifteen year old cannot have consensual sex because she is not considered old enough to know what she wants. Yet the parents of a three month old can hold down their screaming baby while they Pearce her ears for the sake of bling?

Rebeccaslicker · 30/11/2017 15:09

It's all about where you draw the line, mission. Both are done to young female children without their consent. Just because you consider one to be benign or even beneficial and one not doesn't change the basic principle.

The line of what is considered acceptable is drawn at a different notch on that sliding scale for everyone.

For me personally, any permanent modification that isn't for good medical reason is a no-no.

Rebeccaslicker · 30/11/2017 15:10

See also male circumcision and boys with pierced ears although the latter is less common I think

sugaredstrawberries · 30/11/2017 15:13

Rebeccaslicker I just happen to think their is more going on in the world that we should be venting our frustrations out on rather than this. As for it being up to the parents, I'm just merely stating the law, whether it's right or wrong, it's fact. As a child, for the most part, your parents make most decisions for you, rightly or wrongly.

JaquesHammer I would not go as far as to say it's barbaric, yes times have changed but it's a choice at the end of the day. If you get them done then you'll be judged by people opposing and if you don't you'll be judged by the opposition. We need to frankly judge less, I myself am far more concerned about the rise in abuse and neglect inflicted on young children (and when I say abuse I don't mean an injection or an ear piercing before my words get twisted) as frankly, I don't think it is abuse or a reason to call someone a 'bad mum'.

Loverofcake you are completely taking this out of context. Female Circumcision and Consensual Sex = a pair of earrings? Shock
They are not comparable one bit.

LoverOfCake · 30/11/2017 15:19

Of course they're comparable actually. Both involve the mutilation of the baby girl for the parent's benefit. Both involve turning the baby girl into female chattel, circumcision to ensure she doesn't have sex and ear piercing to ensure that she is seen as a female from the moment of birth.

As for what is within the realms of the law, well, smacking is still within the realms of the law, allowing an over 5 to drink at home is within the realms of the law, does one lose the right to an opinion just because it's legal? If you see a parent smack their child in a car park do you walk on by knowing that they haven't done anything wrong because smacking isn't illegal?

BarbarianMum · 30/11/2017 15:20

The British love to tell other cultures how backward they are WhatAmI. They certainly don't need any input from the women from those cultures to do it, and in this case the number of women to whom this is a total non-issue would certainly be plain awkward.

Just remember, we are being civilized for our own good I expect we're a bit like children really . Wink

LoverOfCake · 30/11/2017 15:22

In fact it can e argued that giving a tap on the bottom of a three year old is far less damaging given you can explain to a three year old what that tap is for, whereas holding down a screaming baby to pierce their ears serves no actual purpose and the baby will have no idea what's happening to it only that it hurts like hell and the people who claim to care for it aren't making it stop.

And yet societally we are against smacking and not against ear piercing? Why not?

GreenPurpleRed · 30/11/2017 15:24

I had mine done at 6 months and I am fine! It really isn't a big deal.

There are a lot of other things that are truly worth getting het up about OP (just look for a Poppi Worthington thread)

Save your outrage for that.

MissBax · 30/11/2017 15:24

For me it's very very simple - you can choose to cause your baby discomfort/pain (whether it be a few minutes / hours / days), or you can choose not to cause your baby discomfort/pain. It really is that simple.

sugaredstrawberries · 30/11/2017 15:25

Loverofcake we will have to agree to disagree because IMO, they are not comparable at all. They are on two different ends of the spectrum. As for seeing someone smacking a child in a car park.... unless it was clearly for the parents pleasure or was over the top/more than a tap on the hand IYSWIM, I would walk on by because it's non of my business. Everyone parents different and just because I personally don't agree with smacking, it doesn't mean I should impose that opinion on everyone else.

MissBax · 30/11/2017 15:26

Also - are we only able to be annoyed / upset by one topical issue at a time?! What's with all the "there are loads of other bad things happening OP"?
You do realise we can care about more than one thing, and it doesn't take away from the rest, right?

sugaredstrawberries · 30/11/2017 15:26

Greenpurplered I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks there is more important things to be concerned about!

JacquesHammer · 30/11/2017 15:28

I would not go as far as to say it's barbaric, yes times have changed but it's a choice at the end of the day

I would. I have a fucktonne of piercings. That I choose to have as a sentient adult. And they hurt.

The fact that you choose to inflict pain, the following discomfort and issues with healing on a baby is absolutely barbaric

JacquesHammer · 30/11/2017 15:29

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks there is more important things to be concerned about

Is there some sort of legislation surrounding how many issues one can be concerned with at any one time?

coddiwomple · 30/11/2017 15:36

I still haven't read any valid argument in favour of baby mutilation:

it's cultural
they won't remember the pain
there are worst things you can do to a child
there are worst things happening in the world

Is that all you got?

GreenPurpleRed · 30/11/2017 15:36

No of course not but ffs as someone who did actually have their ears pierced as a baby I'm categorically stating it's not a big deal!

Anti vaxxers probably feel the same as you though. You know, that it's barbaric to stick a needle in your baby because that's what you want...

coddiwomple · 30/11/2017 15:39

Anti vaxxers probably feel the same as you though.

has this argument not being repeated enough time? What are the risks of NOT piercing a baby's ears exactly?

missiondecision · 30/11/2017 15:39

Piercing ears is not child abuse. To say so is an insult to survivors of child abuse.

Rebeccaslicker · 30/11/2017 15:39

Daftest comment of the lot goes to greenypurple. Of course protection from disease and something that "looks nice" are the same thing 😂😂😂

GreenPurpleRed · 30/11/2017 15:42

Not to anti vaxxers bit daft yourself Rebecca

Now the obligatory 😂😂 to show my contempt for you.

Rebeccaslicker · 30/11/2017 15:44

Bless you, you're not bright enough to have contempt for anyone. Your pierced head is about ten miles below the point.

GreenPurpleRed · 30/11/2017 15:45

Sure Rebecca, whatever.

So you've no piercings yourself?? Probably explains a lot.

Rebeccaslicker · 30/11/2017 15:47

Oops, haven't read the thread, have we greenypurple? The answer is right in there 😂