Blingless at last

[KGT1200]

Two years ago, at the encouragement of my wife and son, I had a totally tattooed gal at a head shop chomp a hole in my non gay ear (left) and insert a tiny little stainless steel dumbbell. A tiny little ear ring. Yesss it was for the look, but more so for me, anyway was a study of how people reacted to such a tiny change in my appearance.

When first meeting people, I could catch the glance, the look to the left side of my head, assuming what? About me; what does this little bling tell people about me?

That I'm hip and cool (yea right)

That I'm a real asshat who kicks his dogs and runs over cats and rides an HD (I think it's true for some to think this).

Or that I'm just an over the hill 52 yr old fool trying to look years younger by punching a hole (ahole) in my ear (This reaction was the one I read mostly in the quick glances from people looking at the side of my head).

Awhile ago, there was a picture of Harrison Ford on his GS sporting a bandana and a stud in his ear. He looked ancient, did not look cool, and was obviously trying to dress the part of "The Biker".

Well the "experiment" is over; I took the damn thing out the other day, and realized how much I was uncomfortable with it in...It caught on washrags when scrubbing my face, it just felt weird. It's gone, and I feel better. Back to being me, and old geezer who used to be hip and cool, used to be a stud of sorts, used to like to show my colors as "a biker", but now just happy being me. I am saving it just to remind me of other days…

Anybody else experience the insertable bling, and why did you do it, and what reactions, if any, did you get when you took the plunge?

And for those of you non-bling BMWMOA brethren, what’s your thought when an old geezer with a non-gay ear bling walks in the room? What do you assume about him?

You all have a great Saturday.

Red

[jamesdunn]

I have never had an earring or a tattoo, and never will. I do not care if others choose to adorn themselves with such, it is their choice and I would not judge them based on their choice of adornment. It seems you were not entirely comfortable with your earring so you made a choice that was appropriate when you chose to abandon the wearing of same. Truly, I no longer notice men with earrings as it is now commonplace. I saw a photo of Harrison with his but thought little of it; looked okay. I am glad he rides a BMW!

[geisterfahrer]

I do not have any tats or piercings. I've thought about it, but decided it's not for me.

My daughter, on the other hand, embraces that esthetic, and has several of both. When she came to visit me recently, I got a small ball bearing and a small rare earth magnet from work, and simulated having my left ear pierced. She was all excited for me. I couldn't keep up the joke for long, though.

[Bob1100RTC]

I have no desire to have a tatoo or piercing. My wife let my 16 year old son get his left ear pierced. I wasn't happy but if thats what he wants then so be it. Not my cup of tea but if thats your thing then enjoy.

[Belquar]

I am nowhere near the same decade as you and I have always thought earrings in men looked pretty lame. I punched a hole in my own ear in the eighth grade and walked around for a day or two with an earring in. That was it.

Gay ear. Non-gay ear. All lame. Always looked to me like they were compensating. Feel the same way about ID bracelets, really big watches, non-religious necklaces, etc. etc. etc.

I do however find that a female with numerous piercings to be appealing. I don't like really in your face stuff like gauged out ears or anything but a little (emphasis on little) nose stud, or eyebrow hoop or stud, or several in the ears, even snakebites, can be attractive on the right face and totally out of place on the wrong one.

Accessories and adornments are the same no matter the type....some can pull it off and some can't.

[crazydrummerdude]

When I was kid in the 90's, I remember it being "cool" for my older brothers to get the left ear pierced. Well, "cool" in someones eyes. I never really thought it was.

I'd get tattoos before piercings, but it has such a little impact on my perception of people, that I honestly don't even notice anymore than my roommate has gagued ears and two lip piercings. Apparently it doesn't bother our university either, as she's a math teacher here.

Maybe this is a reflection on the whole concept, or the backward-ness thereof. Who do 'you' really get a tattoo or piercing for? Yourself or everyone else?

[sudani]

Who do 'you' really get a tattoo or piercing for? Yourself or everyone else?

Myself.....especially when it's hidden. Who knew!! :brow :D

[mikeb921]

I don't have any piercings or tattoos but I don't mind tasteful decorations in others. I do however really dislike the look of the kids who look like they fell face first in a tackle box and popped up wearing every lure in the top row. To each his own I guess.

Ride Safe
MB

[bullit7801]

... kids who look like they fell face first in a tackle box and popped up wearing every lure in the top row....

MBReally, Really GREAT description.

My wife teaches art (sculpture) at Nebraska-Lincoln and some of her students....

No tats or piercings on me.

tb

[Statdawg]

Not for me I blame my Boy Scout upbringing in Mayberry and lack of a merit badge for that lifestyle, add my conservative higher education, a conservative lifestyle due to military service and government employment seeing the negative effects in the Public Health sector with minorities and working with men trying to be Peter Pan. Thank goodness !

Lets not forget the sleeveless shirt with no muscle, you know the wife beater shirts on 40 plus year olds, Just For Men dyed chest hair featuring the gold chain. Today the cool manscape is full of nothing original but stolen style from the outdated Gay community that was hated by straights who overcompensated to this day trying to prove they are not part of them. The piercing, the shaved head, the goatee, the bandanas are now out of the back pocket and on the self created bald head. Their sole purpose however is unchanged, to get that special someone gravitated to male genitalia. Its funny to think its being used on SOs everywhere or on women since they are now embedded in the workforce. The old prize of the bosses daughter days are long gone. But just maybe that cheap Italian suit and big watch can still be used, the 70s will return someday just wait and see, or better yet Magnum PI living in a guest house like Kato Kaelin is possible................how cool is a straight pool boy in his 50's driving around in the owners Ferrari ?

:groovy

[womanridge]

Myself.....especially when it's hidden. Who knew!! :brow :D

Sudani! I'm embarrassed!:blush
But seriously Dale, wear what you like, don't wear what others want you to. It's all good.:clap

[jamesdunn]

/quote/ working with men trying to be Peter Pan./unquote/

I think there is a little Peter Pan in all motorcyclists; men and women! I don't want to grow up, and find motorcycles and other youthful pursuits ensure that I do not, leastways, not any more than I have to anyway.

[sudani]

sudani! I'm embarrassed!:blush

:evil

[henzilla]

Red,

I think that old dude gave you the Stinkeye once too often:uhoh

Have seen earrings for most of my adult life. Don't think twice anymore if I ever did. I recall in the 70's, one had to be careful which ear...but nowadays either/both are the norm. I know a few 70 year olds that have had them some time..I never have judged anyone...big surprise,eh? My kids have pierced places and tattooed I don't need to know about..but that is still their adult choices and none of my business. My son got his while in the Navy. Guess you can be in the service and not be automatically conservative as most servicemen/women seem to have some . My 66 year old brother got one while in Korea as well...so nothing new...he also had a ear piercing many years ago after his pilot stint career with Delta and NW.Maybe he had that during?

It's all about personal choices and freedoms. I never got a piercing ,but do have some body art. My first at age 20 and with no pressure from anyone, it was to show my profession to anyone who cared and freak my mom out( forgot about it one day I was mowing her yard!)...it now is my avatar. I got another one as I wound my 30 year career to a close. Don't really care what others think...I have my choices...and my freedoms. Hope I don't ge thrown out of a rally for being "bikerish":brow

[Pat Carol]

I have a tattoo on my left arm of Wile E. Coyote on a rocket with handlebars. Now why would I do something like that??? :brow

Take Care
Pat Carol

[bullit7801]

I have a tattoo on my left arm of Wile E. Coyote on a rocket with handlebars. Now why would I do something like that??? :brow

Take Care
Pat CarolBeats me, Mr. President. :nyah

Just sticking in the needle, so to speak.

tb

[Gilly]

. My 66 year old brother got one while in Korea as well...so nothing new...he also had a ear piercing many years ago after his pilot stint career with Delta and NW.Maybe he had that during?



Oh yeah, my DAD went to Korea and didn't get any tattoos, but did get 2 piercings comps of the NKA.

I know tats and piercings have been around since prehistoric times (I think), still sort of reeks of me-tooism, gotta do it "because everyone is doing it". Seems like a pretty dumb thing to do and waste of money. Just my opinion. Definitely a turn-off to me when seen on the opposite sex. Combination billboard and pincushion.

Gilly

[Visian]

No tats or piercings on me.

tb

tom... put a roundel on your head before they enforce the new corporate identity rules. :ha

[jforgo]

I have neither tattoos nor piercings. I really do not care what other people do. However, I have noticed that many who do get them seem utterly L.A.M.E.

= LOOK AT ME EVERYONE !

Those who are L.A.M.E. seem quite pathetic.

[35634]

From just a pragmatic viewpoint, I know my preferences change over the years so
a tat that seems right now might be embarrassing later. Not to mention physical changes. As for hardware, I always picture it getting it getting snagged on something,
or ripped off in a bar-fight. And nose jewelry, just the thought of a good sneeze or
a cold, well, you get the picture. But to each their own. Live and let.

[KGT1200]

I have neither tattoos nor piercings. I really do not care what other people do. However, I have noticed that many who do get them seem utterly L.A.M.E.

= LOOK AT ME EVERYONE !

Those who are L.A.M.E. seem quite pathetic.

Darn if that isn't what I think when I hear loud pipes! Do you suppose there is a link here?

[wezul]

Nope, no holes or ink but I'm still a stinker. :nyah

[Braddog]

I have no desire to get any more holes in my body than God already gave me. Same with tats. I've got enough scars, I don't need to draw anything else on my body.

If anyone else feels the need to express themselves with tats or piercings, then so be it. I'll not judge them, it's just not for me.

[rebake]

Had an earstud for a while.Never got used to it and found that it scuffed the lining on my helmet,so i dropped it.One thing i don't like is getting a waiter or waitress with a lip/eyebrow/nose ring. Ed