Do all parents have trouble letting go?

[Nate Hunter]

Piercings are stupid. You pay for them. They're inconvenient. You run the risk of infection. You're less likely to get hired. They make you uglier. Though you think you're standing out, you're actually conforming to everyone else who gets piercings. If you want to make a statement, do it vocally or on paper. Your parents are trying to keep you from being a dumbass.

I am sorry to say this Wisemon but your closed- mindedness towards the subject is unwelcome. Most of these statements are untrue. . .

Let's break this down, man.

(1) Piercings are stupid.

This one is subjective, and thus is as true as the person saying it believes it to be.

(2) You pay for them.

Whether in money or health effects, or both, this statement in true beyond doubt. You pay to get a piercing and you may pay for having one as well.

(3) They're inconvenient.

Again, a subjective matter, an opinion. If you don't agree, don't call it a lie, just accet that this is Wisemon's opinion and let him have, and express, it.

(4) You run the risk of infection.

This is irrefutably true. Whenever you get a piercing, it can get infected. Just like every scrape, cut, or pulled tooth can become infected, so can a piercing. Wisemon did not state is as an absolutism (if you get a pirecing you WILL get an infection), but as a possibility. A TRUE possibility.

(5) You're less likely to get hired.

In my place of employment, we cannot wear any jewelry, with I believe two exceptions -- a watch, and a wedding band. Many places will discriminate against you if you have multiple piercings, particularly in societally unsightly places, when looking at you for the sake of hiring. Even those that do hire you may still require you to not wear anything in the piercings while you are on duty. Therefore I would say that, while discriminatory, the statement is true.

(6) They make you uglier.

Wisemon's own opinion, but one I generally share. This cannot be universally true or false, as he is expressing an opinion here. However, the societal stance tends to look down upon people with excessive or multiple piercings and portray them as "undesirable", whether such is explicitly "ugly" or not. Socially speaking, they will make you less attractive to the general public.

(7) Though you think you're standing out, you're actually conforming to everyone else who gets piercings.

Since you are apparently showing yourself to us as a member of the Body Modification subculture, his wording seems to be an accurate view of what you're doing here. You aren't doing it to stand out for your own sake, but to be part of a subculture.

(8) Your parents are trying to keep you from being a dumbass.

Wow. A nice blunt way to put it, and maybe if you were to ask them directly in this fashion, they would even agree with the wording. Wisemon is only expressing his thoughts about why your parents are doing this, so let me add my two cents...

(8b) Your parents are trying to keep you from doing this because they love you exactly as you are.

Now seriously, if your 16-year-old mind is so dead set on this, maybe you shouldn't have even brought this up. If there is no way you will possibly be convinced to even consider another way of "standing out", if that's what you want, then ignore us. You lisyten and show the close-mindedness you claim we're showing. Well maybe we are, but at least we're honest about it.

And to be fair, if this is a truly mature decision you want to take full responsibility for, then here's my advice: If you are absolutely certain you want this, if you know that you will never, ever regret it -- GO FOR IT.

However consider this also: If you are so convinced, though, then why would waiting an extra 24 months or so hurt? You'd have the extra two years to ensure that you are committed to it and to make sure that it's what you want, and that you won't regret it.

Keep in mind as you make your decisions, the following words: "Time makes fools of us all. Our only comfort is that greater shall come after us." (E.T. Bell)