TexasCHLforum.com

Got one piercing in my left ear, got it 16 years ago when I was 46, you do the math. I also have, currently, a big handlebar moustache and a shaved head.

The thing I wish I had a picture of is my daughters' reactions, and my grandchildren's, and my boss, and my boss at my new job, among others.

dewayneward wrote: I remember in high school, if you wore an earring in your left ear, you were "cool", BUT if you wore one in your right ear you were a homosexual.

That's when I was in middle school.

I never have (and never will) get an earring....or a tattoo for that matter. There are a number of reasons, but here are a few (in no particular order):

Those are all perfectly good reasons. Likewise, except for some extremely rare circumstances, I personally can't think of any good reasons that you should get an earring or a tattoo. And to be quite honest, I don't wear earrings now and if I had the decision to make as an adult, I would not have seen any point in doing it either. I did this when I was about 12 or 13 years old, and you know, sometimes adolescent kids do things that don't make a lot of sense looking back.

The point you make about not being able to get a job is a very good point. People do judge you for how you look, and it goes in all different directions. From an employer's perspective, they may also be hedging against their customers' perception as well. In regular relationships, though, these judgments we make based on our prejudices or appearances have very limited utility.

However, our actions in the here and now are much more likely to be indicators of our character.

The problem here is that it breeds bitterness and division. The more people reject and judge those who look different, the more rage is fueled amongst those people against the "establishment" and they drift further away from what you might find "normal". Sometimes people do things just to test those around them, and it's destructive on relationships in both ways. Didn't anyone here see "American Beauty"? In fact, the church has had a major problem with this over the years, and it's a classic parent-child conflict. One of the best ways to undermine your influence over other people is to engage prejudices against them because of their appearance, or enforce conformity over meaningless things.

I don't have the time or energy in my life to commit to dealing with narrow-minded bigots. This forum has an ignore-list, and I use it.

I have both ears pierced one time each but have not worn earrings in about 8 years. I don't have any other reasoning other than I wanted to, I was single, a cook and a (not very successful) gigging musician. When we had our first child, I cut my hair, stopped wearing my earrings and started wearing my ball cap forward. Not that I disapprove of folks that choose to wear earrings and such, it's just not my style anymore.

TexasComputerDude wrote:
Where's the popcorn smiley. (freep reference)

M9FAN wrote:

TexasComputerDude wrote:
Where's the popcorn smiley. (freep reference)

aye! that be the one

I haven't worn my earrings in quite some time.... 7 years or so... 4 in one ear 3 in the other... tattoos too... but you'd never guess it seeing me at work, because I didn't get tattoos that you can see when I'm dressed for work.

Never noticed my earrings affecting my masculinity. I guess I'm masculine enough to not have it impacted. ;) Chicks dug it. I'm older now, and while I would think about wearing them from time to time, the reality is that I'd be taking them out every day for work, and I'm just too darn lazy. LOL

Abraham wrote:All input's appreciated.

Any more?

If I remember sociology class, men who make a fuss about earrings on other men and whatnot are either deeply closeted or, more often, confused and insecure about their own sexuality.

I never could understand the piercing thing or tattoos, but its not really up to me to understand. Different strokes for different folks.

Bart wrote:

Abraham wrote:All input's appreciated.

Any more?

If I remember sociology class, men who make a fuss about earrings on other men and whatnot are either deeply closeted or, more often, confused and insecure about their own sexuality.

That's what we learned in psych too. A strong emotional reaction is usually caused by subconcious fears and/or desires.

“We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path.”

Paulo Coelho

My thread was started as a discussion topic. True enough, it's judgemental, but also tongue in cheek.

I was motivated to post this topic by witnessing the day before in Academy, a guy wearing two, rather large, rhinestone encrusted earrings his grandmother would be proud of. Funny stuff.

And for me at least, thought provoking.

Abraham wrote:My thread was started as a discussion topic. True enough, it's judgemental, but also tongue in cheek.

I was motivated to post this topic by witnessing the day before in Academy, a guy wearing two, rather large, rhinestone encrusted earrings his grandmother would be proud of. Funny stuff.

And for me at least, thought provoking.

I understand your view and struggle with judging a book by its cover. I have a 16 year old sister and see some really great kids that fit your descriptions.

I too believe that our culture has become somewhat anti-masculine. You should read Wild At Heart by John Eldredge. The book looks at some of these issues and attempts to answer them from the viewpoint of a Christian man.

Take care and we need to get out to the range!

Jason

jbirds1210 wrote:

Abraham wrote:My thread was started as a discussion topic. True enough, it's judgemental, but also tongue in cheek.

I was motivated to post this topic by witnessing the day before in Academy, a guy wearing two, rather large, rhinestone encrusted earrings his grandmother would be proud of. Funny stuff.

And for me at least, thought provoking.

Wild At Heart by John Eldredge.
Jason

Excellent book!

KC5AV wrote:

jbirds1210 wrote: Wild At Heart by John Eldredge.
Jason

Excellent book!

+1 to that. One of the best I have read!

I mean this most respectfully, Abraham, but I think you should spend more time looking for the person's heart and inner character, than making snap judgements based on external appearances.

My father was a decorated hero at Iwo Jima, wounded in action when shot through the chest by a Japanese sniper in Cushman's Pocket as a 2nd Lieutenant. He led the surviving men of his platoon to safety after been trapped behind enemy lines for 36 hours. Before the war, he was a bos'n's mate on a 110 ft schooner owned by the Scripps Oceanography Institute, doing secret research for the Navy's submarine service. During that time, he wore his hair long and tied back in a pony tail. This was in 1939. After the war, he was a "starving artist" living on the left bank in the Latin Quarter in Paris, France. After that, he got two PhD's and was a professor at Caltech for the rest of his life, until he died in 1990. During my entire life until Dad died, he wore his hair long and had a scruffy beard.

Similarly, a whole bunch of the fine young men and women serving our nation today in Iraq and Afghanistan had tattoos and body piercings before entering the service, and many others got those things while in the service. Many of the men had highlighted hair or long hair, etc., etc., etc. These young folks are the finest this nation has to offer, and I think you do them a disservice when you call their character and sexual orientation into question just because they don't look or act absolutely straight laced.

A couple of the finest Christian men I know would not pass your inspection. I try to look for the inner person and not judge them by their hair or their earrings.