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AIBU?

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Original poster

Ear piercing without consent at Meadowhall in Sheffield (might be triggering)

335 replies

PoetryLaser · 20/10/2021 09:53

I'm amazed that I can't find another thread on this – and I know I'm not being unreasonable to find this video incredibly upsetting. Poor child, perhaps six or seven being pinned to the floor while having her ears pierced in a jewellery store at the Meadowhall in Sheffield, screaming her head off saying "no no no".
Should ear piercing be banned for say under 12s, until they're old enough to consent?
Warning - the video is very distressing to watch: twitter.com/mrscjos/status/1450020437744885761?s=10

OP posts:
DdraigGoch · 20/10/2021 14:03

@SinisterBumFacedCat

The police seem more concerned about finding the person who filmed the incident than finding the parents Hmm
Isn't it normal for the police to want to take a statement from witnesses.
cheninblanc · 20/10/2021 14:04

At the very least the staff should lose their jobs for piercing a screaming child being held down on the floor, and the mother and grandmother should be investigated. Absolutely disgusting

Thefaceofboe · 20/10/2021 14:05

I am absolutely horrified at this. I heard a mum trying to convince her child to get her ears pierced last week and thought was that bad when she’d already said no. Sad poor thing

Sparklybanana · 20/10/2021 14:05

The only time I'd be holding down my child like this is if they were going to be a danger to themselves or others. Getting ears pierced does not qualify for either and I'd settle for being grumpy (IF I'd made the trip after nagging and had paid) in exchange for not massively traumatising one of my most favourite people in the world for life.
The staff had the power to refuse service and they should absolutely be trained to know where that line is. They shouldn't need training for this no, but experiemnts show that people will knowingly sit in a room with smoke coming under the door and not move if told not to, so if the shop has said that kids might be upset then they will normalise this reaction and be desensitised. They need to know the shop will have their back if they think the line is being crossed and they need to know where the line is.

Silverswirl · 20/10/2021 14:06

Absolutely horrific. Can’t say much for the mother and grandmother but
What on Earth were the staff thinking? On the floor of the bloody shop too what on Earth?
Of course no one intervened- apart from police or security of some kind which adult would have made any difference? They would just have got a mouth full of abuse and the child would have been gripped even tighter.
All 4 adults here need to be questioned by police formally.
No child should be having their ear pierced before age 10 at least. No 5 year old is able to give consent to this even if they say they want it ffs.

VividImaginationAgain · 20/10/2021 14:12

As a granny who has helped restrained her grandson, in hospital, for an urgent medical procedure (because his poor Mum was completely distraught with it all) I cannot believe that a loving family would choose to put their child through this. I felt bad enough doing it in a life threatening situation.

emmaluggs · 20/10/2021 14:12

Wow actually crying watching that, that’s horrific I would have stepped in if I was there. How they’ve all partaken in that actual abuse is shocking

LittleGwyneth · 20/10/2021 14:12

That poor, poor little girl. Can you imagine thinking that a decorative piercing was so important that you would treat your child like that? If you're that obsessed with pierced ears, do it when they're a baby. Or even better, wait until they're old enough to consent.

mistermagpie · 20/10/2021 14:15

@sashh

Sorry can't quote. I take your point about the sterile field but that applies to guns as well. I didn't know about single use guns but that sounds better.

Yes the needles are hollow as they are designed to put something into the body. In this case the 'something' is an earring. The fact that they push a plug of skin out rather than stretch/tearing the skin is supposedly less traumatic. But you seem to know more about it than me so you can correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Either way, it sounds like we are both in favour of safe, clean, responsible piercing and that's not what was happening in that video.

CodeMode · 20/10/2021 14:15

If you're that obsessed with pierced ears, do it when they're a baby.

NO! ffs. 😡

ColourMeExhausted · 20/10/2021 14:17

Seriously @LittleGwyneth??

diddl · 20/10/2021 14:20

I've just watched it with no sound-& the woman holding her gives a sigh of relief as if she's just been through a traumatic experience!

WTAF is that all about?

Why would anyone sit on the floor restraing their child to have ears pierced.

If I didn't know that people can do some batshit things I'd think it was staged somehow!

SickAndTiredAgain · 20/10/2021 14:24

If you're that obsessed with pierced ears, do it when they're a baby.

What?

AutumnLeafy · 20/10/2021 14:29

@LittleGwyneth

That poor, poor little girl. Can you imagine thinking that a decorative piercing was so important that you would treat your child like that? If you're that obsessed with pierced ears, do it when they're a baby. Or even better, wait until they're old enough to consent.
What no! Do it while they can't object? WTF. If you're that obsessed with ear piercings get your own ears pierced again.
Popcornriver · 20/10/2021 14:34

What no! Do it while they can't object? WTF.
If you're that obsessed with ear piercings get your own ears pierced again.

Or get a doll!

CheshireChat · 20/10/2021 14:36

In LittleGwyneth's defense, it's really common in other countries to do this.

I was a couple of days old when I had them done in fact, though my mum agrees she wouldn't do it now IYKWIM.

Derbee · 20/10/2021 14:42

@LittleGwyneth

That poor, poor little girl. Can you imagine thinking that a decorative piercing was so important that you would treat your child like that? If you're that obsessed with pierced ears, do it when they're a baby. Or even better, wait until they're old enough to consent.
Jesus Christ. You started off sounding normal, but you’re a monster as well. Do it to a baby? Why? Because you could just pretend they’re crying about something else because they can’t shout “get off me, leave me alone”. Fuck

The fucking minds of some people. It’s so disturbing

Derbee · 20/10/2021 14:43

@CheshireChat

In LittleGwyneth's defense, it's really common in other countries to do this.

I was a couple of days old when I had them done in fact, though my mum agrees she wouldn't do it now IYKWIM.

A lot of barbaric practices are common in other countries. Doesn’t make it ok.
AutumnLeafy · 20/10/2021 14:43

@Popcornriver

*What no! Do it while they can't object? WTF. If you're that obsessed with ear piercings get your own ears pierced again.*

Or get a doll!

Yeah or just a silicone ear
berlinbabylon · 20/10/2021 14:55

@CodeMode

If you're that obsessed with pierced ears, do it when they're a baby.

NO! ffs. 😡

NO! Wait until they are a teen and can make their own mind up! Why would a parent impose pain on a child unnecessarily.
Genevie82 · 20/10/2021 14:56

Op, can you tell us if you know this has been reported to the Police? It would meet threshold for a child protection investigation, it’s appalling to watch.

LaikO · 20/10/2021 14:59

What a bunch of vile people, I'm glad to see Meadowhall have said they've contacted the police, let's hope it's treated as a child abuse investigation.

Jumpingintochristmas · 20/10/2021 15:01

I feel sick watching this. Surely a police matter?

supersop60 · 20/10/2021 15:16

Who are the 3% who voted YABU?

shouldistop · 20/10/2021 15:20

@supersop60 presumably people who have done something similar to their wee girls. Horrible