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Original poster

'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:
PrayForMyBum · 22/12/2024 09:57

I hate jewellery, never wear it, don’t have my ears pierced and only wear a wedding ring.
The number of people - even close family members - who still buy me earrings or necklaces is mind boggling.
i think what annoys me is that I always think carefully when buying a present for someone and get something I know they’ll like. So it’s just thoughtless.

TheGriffle · 22/12/2024 10:07

I had my ears pierced as a young teenager but they never healed so I took them out after a short while. I’ve just now at 38 had my lobes pierced again to see if I fair any better this time round. Never felt the desire to until now after my 11 year old has hers done with a wonderful piercer and they healed beautifully. Made me want to have another go!

My mum has always had her ears pierced but me and my sister were never bothered. At 40 my sister still doesn’t have hers done.

FussyPud · 22/12/2024 10:17

Not unusual at all. Mine were pierced as a teen, but they’ve been healed/closed now for about 20 years. My eldest has enough piercings for the entire family though! Grin

HoppingPavlova · 22/12/2024 10:22

Well, on a bell curve, you would be an outlier. That’s okay though, it’s normal and why bell curves fit pretty much all situations.

sunshineandshowers40 · 22/12/2024 12:33

I think most of my friends have their ears pierced, I'm struggling to think of a woman who doesn't although my mum does not. I'm mid 40's and a lot of my friends have multiple piercings. But I do not think you are odd for not having pierced ears. Your friend was probably embarrassed and earrings cannot be returned.

EBearhug · 22/12/2024 12:40

My Mum never did, my sister (50) never has. I've acouple of friends (50s and 60s) whi never have, and another couple whose holes healed over.

I was desperate to have mine done around age 13 because everyone at school had them. (Like everyone else had TVs in their rooms and got more pocket money and were allowed to stay up late.) Mum said I could have it done at 18 if I still wanted. I sometimes wore clip-ons and screw-ons, but they're not that comfortable.

At 18, I was swimming most days, and it just did not fit in. Then it would have stopped me giving blood. So at 30, when I couldn't give blood because of travelling in malarial countries, I had them done in Australia.

When I got home, Mum, who had consistently refused to let me have them done as a teenager, said, "oh, they really suit you. I should have made you have them done years ago." My eyes may have rolled...

johnyhadasister · 22/12/2024 12:41

I pierced my ears twice but they grew back twice. I loved wearing earrings but not now....will not try new ones just yet , actually never. Make up, jewellery, shaving, all gone for me

johnyhadasister · 22/12/2024 12:43

Should add, slim figure, high heels, short skirts, alcohol, all that is behind me
Give me my sofa, tea and a book anytime. Paid bills and some food, nature walks and historic places to visit. Does that make me weird. LOL

ah also, living as a child in a resort with all inclusive hotels and pools stinking of horrible bleach put me off forever from that kind of idol people worship also

slightlydistrac · 22/12/2024 12:48

She was probably embarrassed at her own faux pas in buying pierced earrings for someone who doesn't have pierced ears (that is something a family member really ought to have known, or at least been able to check), and was trying to cover up her embarrassment by saying that it is weird to not have pierced ears.

Onlyvisiting · 22/12/2024 13:06

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?!

I have pierced ears but havnt worn earrings in like 15 years and rarely before that. Tbh they might have grown over, havnt tried!
I never got on with them, tend to feel heavy.and horrible and make my ears red and sore.
So even if having them pierced is usual it is odd not to notice or check if a family member wears a particular jewellery before gifting it. I have fingers, but never wear rings so would be a strange gift from anyone who knows me.

Woahtherehoney · 22/12/2024 13:08

Oooh this has happened to me many times. I’ve had my ears pierced 3 times and all 3 times ended up in A&E as it went wrong (I did learn my lesson the third time haha!) - but many people have commented it’s weird I don’t have them pierced. I don’t see why but there you go!

nocoolnamesleft · 22/12/2024 13:09

I've never had pierced ears. Thinking about it neither has my mum.

latetothefisting · 22/12/2024 13:16

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.

of course it's a matter of personal choice, nobody has suggested otherwise?

OP asked if it was odd that she didn't, not whether she should.

It depends on what is meant by 'odd' - if using 'odd' as a synonym for 'unusual' (e.g. odd one out) then yes, it is unusual because most women in their 40s do have pierced years. That's just a factual observation.

However the friend describing it as 'super weird' is a bit rude, as that's starting to lean towards a judging/moralistic response.

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