As i said it is up to the individula that is neither agreeing with one party or the other, so yes, am staying in the middle

Crumbs - a head injury :-D

Dont think theres any need for sarcasm and its completely pointless to the thread

c'est la vie

Thanks Freds Mum, I think its clear that my families parenting skills are unpleasant, my darker skinned relation children are only marginly more acceptable than my fairer skinned relatives children with pierced ears.
We are in fact a "tacky" family - have I missed anything?
But thanks for trying to understand our tradition and cultural differences, I'll now go back france where I came from back in 1066............ Im obviously not British enough having only been here for about 943 years!!!!

Whistler I think you may have taken this thread a little personally, no one was getting at you directly, just voicing opinions which you chose to take to heart.  And Freds mum I think (judging by the smiley) Teri was having a joke, not a having a dig at you.

Dont take things to heart guys - everyone has different opinions, what a boring world it would be if they didnt :)

> I think its clear that my families parenting skills are unpleasant, my darker skinned relation children are only marginly more acceptable than my fairer skinned relatives children with pierced ears.
> We are in fact a "tacky" family - have I missed anything?

Yes, a few things Whistler - some being that Isabel is a paragon of acceptable practices while at the same time an uneducated bigot and of course I'm a racist but then again you've flung some particularly high handed and offensive comments around to anyone who doesn't hold the same view on certain practices so perhaps the confusion lies in why you're all out to fake having taken offence when in reality whole heartedly happy to create it ....

Thanks ClaireyS - perhaps better we'd stuck to topic as it seems we're pretty much agreed on not piercing kittens :)

I still stand by my belief that be it for cultural or cosmetic reasons, things like ear piersings, neck rings to stretch the neck, lip ? stretchig and female/male circumsision (except for purely medical reasons )are all things practiced on children who have no say in the matter and I feel they should. Regardless of culture or creed.
I have no objetion at all to anyone doing anything they wish to themselves but I think we have a moral dillema when it comes to doing these things to children who have no say in the matter.
Can't remember who said "the parents feel they are doing it for the childs own good"? Sorry cannot accept that either, it is still performing a cosmetic operation without consent in my book.
Maybe the statement about not having a child christened is a little extreem but it is still inflicting personal views on another human being. A family can still rear children in a Christian household and let them decide when capable of the course they wish to follow. Just because a child is born into a Christian/Hindu/Buddist family does not mean that they will continue to hold the views of the parents. In order to nurture a free country where we may follow whatever "Religion/cilture" we like then children must hold the facts themselves and when able make an informed choice for themselves.
I feel we live in a wonderful multi-cultural society now and I have the greatest respect for other cultures and practices but still think they should only be performed if the participent is in agreement.
Right thats me off my soapbox now!
Aileen

I took my brother to get his ear pierced so I could see if he cried - if he didn't cry then I would get mine done after him :-)
Such a loving sister I am ;-)

Piercing animals? No way, not acceptable.  Their ears aren't like ours, plus you can't tell them not to scratch.

oh lets not :)

I hate babies having their ears pierced - my opinion, thats that! Don't care what the motivation is, I don't like it.

C'est la vie.
You are racist you just hide behind fairer skinned comments what the hell is that pc??? why not say black & white, as a family we have had to deal with more than enough of racist remarks, kids beaten up and having to home educate family children and all due to a decsion some 32 years ago of my brother to marry a black women.
Im upset Teri ok no faking it here.

> I took my brother to get his ear pierced so I could see if he cried - if he didn't cry then I would get mine done after him

That's where I missed out - I'm the youngest and elder sister used me as the GP LOL.

> You are racist

get a grip and descend from the soap box please.  Were it not for your attitude and need to bring 'reasons of culture' into the debate none of this would have kicked off.

You like pierced ears on kids and think it's 'cute' whereas I don't and think it's 'tacky' !  You're opinion wont change and neither will mine.

You think it's OK to carry out cosmetic procedures on kids and I hope that it's officially banned.   Another thing that this thread wont change.

I accept that but you havent added the comment that it looks tacky thats a personal attack!!
I accept you dont like babies ears pierced its about choice.
Im not off to a christening this weekend, the local vicar would not christen the child as the parents do not go to church - I agree with the vicar hence Im not going, they have moved to a less picky vicar.  I do not feel its right to use it as a reason to have a party only. So Im not going its my choice. But I would not stand up and say "your a hipocrite for having a baby christened and not go to church" I might think they area. The difference between your commnets and others are you are not attacking (maybe to strong a word) my choice.
As a family we have always had ears pierced early. As a part (now) Indian family they are pierced v. early a cultural choice.

I have one son circumsised for medical reasons and 1 not. Do I think all male children should be circumsised ? No but the Jewish religion does why? I am not attacking their culture or religious choice. But to be told it looks "tacky" is insulting.

> the comment that it looks tacky thats a personal attack!!

What   It's an opinion - one that covers all tots with earrings in - far wider ranging than personal to you and so what?

Other 'tacky' things IMO

rings on every finger - especially ones with 'Mum' or 'sovereigns' (ugh)
multiple chains around the neck - especially T-bars and different colours of gold
'initial' or 'name' pendants
lip rings / pierced eyebrows
black tights with shoes other than black
red lipstick with yellow teeth
de-cals or stickers of any sort on any car

I could go on for hours - all just TOO TACKY but that's my personal opinion and one to which I am completely entitled :)

.....**claireys stomps off outside to remove irish setter club stickers from her car ..........

Good on you hun - you're too classy for all that and you'll be SO relieved when it's gone ;)

What about breed-specific undergarments?  Is that tacky?  Should I get rid of them :-o

Thing is though - when a baby has its ears pierced it has no say in a body-altering procedure being done, its a decision taken by the parents (for whatever reason). I feel the same about male circumcision - in that an ex of mine hated his parents for making a decision about his body that could not be altered, it really affected him badly. Medical reasons aside as they are different, ear piercing is a cosmetic choice for most folk and it involves a degree of pain (I was 13 and I remember it well!) :)

lol I swore I would never put any stickers in my car because it looks so tacky, but felt so left out turning up at shows and being the only one without stickers !!

must admit, I only have 2 club stickers, the ones that looks slightly classy (if you can get a classy sticker) and they also go with the colour of my car ;)

I don't have a car sticker but my friend wrote "I wish my husband was as dirty as this car" on the back... which is nice.

> What about breed-specific undergarments?

In the privacy of your own home hun (except when chasing DH down the drive with them on in full view of the neighbours ) you can have some leaway :-p

I agree Carla, its not just the piercing its the weeks afterwards whilst they are healing thats painful too.

I went on to get about 13 piercings done though so couldnt have been that bad - now that is tacky

hasten to add I no longer wear earrings in all my holes (oh er) just the first ones occasinally. really regret it though, I have ears like a sieve ;)

> What about breed-specific undergarments?

ive just bought my baby (currently bump !!) an "I love my irish setter" bib should I send it back ????

That's humour Carla - we LIKE humour - a distinct shortage of it at times (can't understand why ...... )

Oooh, and another pet hate (there are lots but this is SO of the moment) - FAKE FRENCH MANICURES       The fake white tips are all chunky and squared off and twice the length of the fake pink bit - mms from the cuticles.  Ghastly, just tooooo ghastly :-o

Its marginally funnier than when she advertised my favourite horse on the back including my phone number.

I had fake nails once, about 5 years ago, until I nearly peeled the front off my eye trying to get my contact lens out.

>ive just bought my baby (currently bump !!) an "I love my irish setter" bib eek should I send it back ????

Only if you intend to accessorize it with stickers and a pair of earrings ;-)

> should I send it back ????

ooooh, I was going to say an emphatic yes but just read about your sieve like ear lobes so perhaps buy another and wear them yourself as a cover up

>Only if you intend to accesorize it with stickers and a pair of earrings

ok, I will return the nice gold irish setter earrings ;)

So do you prefer the ones that are all different colours and designs with fake jewels inset in them Teri :D :D

To subject a child to have their skin pierced for a not medical reason it not acceptable IMHO and yes I think it does look tacky especially when they use Elizabeth Duke earrings  :

Now I've potentially offended lots and lots and lots of people - so methinks perhaps time for a coffee break and a flick through the 'what's hot and what's not' section of an overpriced glossy :-p

(ps loving the signature line Shaynlola ;) )

> I think it does look tacky especially when they use Elizabeth Duke earrings

bent double, caffeine exits right nostril, eccles cake inhaled - class act Lucy :-D
(and no - 'nail art' in any form is TACKY :-p )

> What about breed-specific undergarments?  Is that tacky?  Should I get rid of them :-o

Yes you little trollop :-D

Tacky nails I may have, but it beats my nailbiting habit :-)  Oh the sacrifices we have to make.  No fake ones for me though ;-)  Especially not since I heard about some kid who used super glue to put them on :-o then came to B&Q to ask if we had anything that would remove them pffft!

Moi? A trollop? :-o LOL!

GCG relax hun, FMs that are the real deal - classy and classic.  Sporting one myself at the moment - nowt fake, thats they key ;)

> GCG relax hun, FMs that are the real deal - classy and classic.  Sporting one myself at the moment - nowt fake, thats they key ;-)

what do you mean by fake ones?  I am confused.  Is it the plastic stick on ones you mean or any acrylics or whatever they are? 

Oh, Teri !! Remind me NOT to wear my name pendant or white shoes with black tights if I see you at Crufts ;-)

This thread has been interesting, I think it's GREAT that we all have different opinions on things, and I can't see any personal attacks or digs at particular members within the thread. How boring would the world be if everyone had the same opinions - we all need a bit of diversity.

I really dont like seeing babies with pierced ears - I dont think they should have to be subjected to that just because their parents want them to look that way.

I quite like my name pendant (it doesn't say my name anyway, it says "wanted" and I wear it for a bit of a laugh as I dont take myself too seriously). I also sometimes wear a pair of white shoes with black tights. If other people dont like that or think its tacky or whatever, thats absolutely fine with me - if I like something, I like it because I think it looks good, and I dont really mind if other people dont like it!

Going back to the cat piercing though - I've not even looked at that link, it sounds absolutely barbaric. :-(

> Is it the plastic stick on ones you mean or any acrylics

pssst Ali, sit down poppet, I've something to tell you.  Now I hate to be the one to break it to you hun - and can I stress size really doesn't matter - but if their origins are due to other than Mother Nature and a smidgen of TLC (read minimal housework) then they're fake

oooh, I get you!  Clearly I am having a thick day.... :)

Ah so you're going to be easily spotted then Alice

I'll be the one in the Burberry cap, (black roots obviously), Kappa tracksuit, Barbie pink Doc Martins, Louis Vitton grooming bag and jangling with 10 gold bangles of various shapes and sizes   (then again, maybe not :-D )

Different strokes for different folks but I'm liking the wording of your neckwear - may need to get me one of those :-p

Will you be arriving in your souped up chavmobile with your radio on for everyone else to hear ?! Otherwise I may not be able to spot you :-P And dont forget your Elizabeth Duke gold hoop earrings - the bigger the better !!

Its funny how certain things have become 'chavvy' to other people - I remember when Louis Vuitton handbags were a rarity, until all the fake ones started coming out and every Tom, Dick and Chardonnay had one. I still wear mine with pride knowing that they are real !! (Maybe thats another thing to leave at home for if I meet you at Crufts! Wouldn't want anyone to think you were associated with a chav like me !!) ;-) :-P

> every Tom, Dick and Chardonnay had one

Tenna alert :-D

I have a pretty special D&G leather number so far not replicated in the good old UK - easily unearthed by those who know where to look in Dubai though!!!

Maybe we should just check out each others' whereabouts via the catalogue :-p

Can I add my two-pennorth to the tacky list (and risk offending people)? Baby girls who have no hair but have a hair-band affair around their bald heads, decorated with a bow!

I've just thought of one too.

Tight hipster jeans with large white and studded leather belt, the ensemble is topped with strappy pink, white or yellow vest and large hoop ear-rings, the tacky factor if this wern't enough is the 8 inches of wobbling belly exposed between the top of jeans and bottom of vest. Hope this is not the favourite garb for Saturday night down the disco (showing age there) for any of you ladies :-o

> Baby girls who have no hair but have a hair-band affair around their bald heads, decorated with a bow!

Yep JG, tis definitely another for the list :-D

> 8 inches of wobbling belly exposed between the top of jeans and bottom of vest.

Have you noticed Pinky the tendency for this to be the preferred wardrobe of those with very evident stretch marks   I think that just knocked the sovereign rings right off the pedestal :-p

lol. Tacky and nasty!

tramp stamps - across the back flab.

>Can I add my two-pennorth to the tacky list (and risk offending people)? Baby girls who have no hair but have a hair-band affair around their bald heads, decorated with a bow!

with earrings