I got my son's ear pierced yesterday!

[va32h]

Even though I don't agree, I do think that name calling is unacceptable. Why is this "REDNECK"

How about "tacky" - is that less offensive than redneck?

Since you asked what we thought - I think it's tacky, and wouldn't do it to my son. My daughters aren't pierced anywhere either - they've never asked, and I've never offered. We're just not a big jewelry family.

 

[mom2rb]

My DH has two ear rings in his left ear. We have told the boys that they can pierce their ears when ever they want to. My boys are 7 right now. I also did let my son get a Mohawk when he was four. He LOVED it until my family started making fun of him. Then he wouldn't let me spike it up anymore. Ear rings and hair don't bother me at all, it's facial piercings and tattoos that I don't like.

 

[Morganpics]

ds ms - ITA!! . DD had first piercings when she was 10. DS decided to do his (1 ear) WITH A FRIEND (not sterile) when 10. After it was explained to him that wasn't the way to go we healed it up. He decided to wait until a freshman in HS. At 13 I reminded him of our deal that I would take him as a freshman to get it done he looked at me like I grew another head and said no way, I don't want one. He has had ears done since then, and also let them heal up (is 27). DD had more ear piercings done at a clean facility and still had a horrid infection in one-hospitalized and on IV's for over 3 weeks. None of it was her fault-she was studious in her care of them. The piercing was red from the start and never improved. By the time it was over she had lost a small part of her earlobe. I am very apprehensive about piercings now.

 

[auntpolly]

it's facial piercings and tattoos that I don't like.

DD once asked me when she could get a tattoo, and I said "When I'm dead". Anyway, I told her, when you are 18 you can tattoo yourself silly if you like, and she's 22 now and I haven't heard her bring up the subject in years!

 

[MsLeFever]

A couple of weeks ago my DD (4) cut ALL of her beautiful long blonde hair off. And I mean ALL of it - after tidying it up she looks like she's ready for basic training. She cried and cried and was afraid that she looked like a boy and so I asked if she wanted earring and off we went. Then she was upset because her roots were really dark so we dyed them blonde - she looks quite cute now.

DS (8) was campaigning for an earring that day. I asked him to poll his classmates because I didn't want him to get teased about it - none of them have an earring but they all thought it would be really cool. DH has 2 earrings so I don't have a problem with the piercing. My father would be upset but when the time comes he'll have to deal with it. But for the time being he seems to have forgotten so I'm not going to bring it up again until he does!

 

[Marseeya]

Hey, it's my opinion. I've always thought that the little boys with mullet hair cuts, rat tails, and pierced ear screamed REDNECK. I wasn't "namecalling"--I"m using it as a adjective. It is a description of what I think that looks like--that looks redneck to me. If that's not how it comes off in your area of the world, then so be it. But everyone here where I live feels that way.

It's interesting how different regions perceive these things. Most of the rednecks where I live are pretty clean cut. It's the welfare/low income families who have the mullets, rat tails, and earrings here.

I make no judgements, though! I'm the one who posted last year about my son wanting his hair dyed green. He also likes to wear eye liner once in a while. I have bigger fish to fry with him than to worry about his fashion style.

 

[BabyTigger99]

A couple of weeks ago my DD (4) cut ALL of her beautiful long blonde hair off. And I mean ALL of it - after tidying it up she looks like she's ready for basic training. She cried and cried and was afraid that she looked like a boy and so I asked if she wanted earring and off we went. Then she was upset because her roots were really dark so we dyed them blonde - she looks quite cute now.

Just sitting back to watch this one explode!

 

[Tracey1974]

If it makes you and your son happy, then that is good for you then. If you both enjoy it then that is all that counts.

But since you asked, I personally would not have my son's ears pierced. I think it looks, I don't know- I can't think of a p.c. word for it but just not polished. There- I can't think of a better word and I didn't want to use redneck. Sorry, but you asked what we thought!

 

[DaisyD]

My now 17 y/o DS wanted an earring when he was 12 and I said no. I don't like little boys with earrings. They look so trashy. When DS was 14 he went behind my back and had it done by another friend. I wanted to kill him. LOL! He tired of it and took it out after a year and hasn't wanted one since. I'm sorry but why did you even ask him if he wanted to look nice for communion? Sounds like the earring was indeed your idea. That is the last look you want to have at a communion. As far as having a mowhawk.... that explains the earring. Your kid though!

 

[DaisyD]

Hey, it's my opinion. I've always thought that the little boys with mullet hair cuts, rat tails, and pierced ear screamed REDNECK. I wasn't "namecalling"--I"m using it as a adjective. It is a description of what I think that looks like--that looks redneck to me. If that's not how it comes off in your area of the world, then so be it. But everyone here where I live feels that way.

ITA. You only see those with earrings, mullets and rat tails being rednecks. Perhaps it isn't so in NYC but it is certainly so in MD.

 

[padams]

I have boys 8 and 10, and if I suggested to DSs that they could get an ear pierced, they'd be horrified that I was trying to make them look like a girl.

As for it being a "redneck" thing, I don't see a lot of boys with earrings in my area, and I live in Georgia. Perhaps it's more of a regional or class issue.

 

[4cruisin]

A couple of weeks ago my DD (4) cut ALL of her beautiful long blonde hair off. And I mean ALL of it - after tidying it up she looks like she's ready for basic training. She cried and cried and was afraid that she looked like a boy and so I asked if she wanted earring and off we went. Then she was upset because her roots were really dark so we dyed them blonde - she looks quite cute now.

My thought would be that her unhappiness would be the consequence of her actions.

Do something wrong....get rewarded....I don't get it?

 

[Christine]

ITA. You only see those with earrings, mullets and rat tails being rednecks. Perhaps it isn't so in NYC but it is certainly so in MD.

Yep. You see back in the 80s and some of the 90s, I lived in "southern Maryland" which is "redneck country" for the D.C. area. Lots of little boys with the one earring, mullet/rat tail, etc. So, because of that, this is how I view the little boy/earring issue. I'm sure it means a different thing to everyone depending on where you live.

And, I have learned something new today on this thread: I never really knew that "redneck" was a bad word to use. People seem very sensitive about it and it's just never been a volatile word too me. I don't get it.

 

[chobie]

A couple of weeks ago my DD (4) cut ALL of her beautiful long blonde hair off. And I mean ALL of it - after tidying it up she looks like she's ready for basic training. She cried and cried and was afraid that she looked like a boy and so I asked if she wanted earring and off we went. Then she was upset because her roots were really dark so we dyed them blonde - she looks quite cute now.

Oh my DD did the same thing at age 5 the night before her first day of kindergarten. She had these long, black, spiral curls; we were heart broken. I managed to find a salon at a mall that was still open and she had to have her hair cut quite short. She too felt she looked liked a boy so I went over and bought her 2 new dresses after the hair cut. Fortunatley with curly hair, a short cut also looked cute.

 

[VSL]

My thought would be that her unhappiness would be the consequence of her actions.

Do something wrong....get rewarded....I don't get it?

ITA.

And putting hair dye on a 4yr old?!

 

[auntpolly]

Maybe the idea of what a redneck is different to alot of us? What are you all picturing when you think "Redneck". Is it an insult? With all that redneck humor I wasnt' sure if it hadn't become a compliment of sorts!

Anyway, I don't think that what I think of as "redneck" wears an earring? Or am I behind the times on redneckwear?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I don't like pierced ears on boys. Just don't like it and I'm glad that the fad is pretty much over around here, even though one friend of my 12yo just had it done. My 15yo has wanted it done and has told me that I'm sexist for letting my DD get her ears pierced (double holes) and not him and I simply agreed that I'm sexist. BUT, I did let him bleach his hair (which I also don't like), but I figure that's gone so quickly I could deal with that and I didn't let his sister do that when she was a teen.

But I really don't care what you do with your son as long as you are feeding him and taking care of him.

 

[Christine]

Maybe the idea of what a redneck is different to alot of us? What are you all picturing when you think "Redneck". Is it an insult? With all that redneck humor I wasnt' sure if it hadn't become a compliment of sorts!

Anyway, I don't think that what I think of as "redneck" wears an earring? Or am I behind the times on redneckwear?

Well, no it's certainly not meant as a compliment.. I guess it is similar to calling something tacky, but in a specific way. We all might just say "that's kind of a 'rednecky' look". There is a specific "look" to it but I can't really describe it--only that young boys with earrings are one of the looks.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

DS13 had his ear pierced a little over a year ago. His father (my DH) was against it, but his mother had no problem, and it really wasn't a battle worth fighting. One thing no one mentioned is that kids are doing this not as part of the "redneck" culture, but as part of the "rap" culture. DS is into rap, he wears a big piece of fake "bling" in his ear. It looks sorta stupid, but kids will be kids. Again, not a battle worth fighting. There are bigger issues we will be dealing with, I am sure.

What is interesting is the mother allowed DS to get his ear pierced, but totally freaked out when DD14 said she wanted her belly button pierced.

 

[slo]

Yep. You see back in the 80s and some of the 90s, I lived in "southern Maryland" which is "redneck country" for the D.C. area. Lots of little boys with the one earring, mullet/rat tail, etc. So, because of that, this is how I view the little boy/earring issue. I'm sure it means a different thing to everyone depending on where you live.

And, I have learned something new today on this thread: I never really knew that "redneck" was a bad word to use. People seem very sensitive about it and it's just never been a volatile word too me. I don't get it.

I had to leave for awhile to get my DD off to school.

Christine - Where I come from, to call someone a "Redneck" would be a total insult (almost like fighting words). It's interesting how different areas have different feeling about different words (did that make sense sounds like a tongue twister).

Anyway, I was just defending the OP because it seems like lately around the CB that when someone posts something about their kids, it's like they are throwing themselves to the wolves. I feel bad for them I didn't realize that "Redneck" was not that bad of a word where you live, and for that I apologize for flaming you for it. We are all friends here on the CB (I hope) and I don't want to offend anyone