After a quick search I found nothing on this, but often I find this subject to be a source of some clashing and debate. So what about them? Do they make men feel empowered, somehow, or make us feel more "unique"? Do they preset a sense of superiority or intelligence?

I personally do not like the appearance itself, not the person wearing the earrings. MY personal opinion is that while making yourself look/feel unique is great for your self-esteem, earrings LIKE THESE slightly make me want to retch. I'm all for personality and happiness, but when you want to show others a large hole through your earlobe, that's where I draw the line. Roughly half of the men I see wearing earrings don some form of those, and it really unsettles me, even to the point of disliking earrings on men altogether.

But what about the rest of you? I'm eager to hear your thoughts and opinions.

I agree about the hole-in-your-ear things. There's a guy at school with a two-inch diameter set. Trust me, they're as creepy as they sound.

cthulhu257:
I agree about the hole-in-your-ear things. There's a guy at school with a two-inch diameter set. Trust me, they're as creepy as they sound.

I believe I was trying to explain that in the OP, but yeah.

Today, a guy with these ended up sitting in front of me, and I have to say, I early threw up in my mouth a little. There's some guys here at the college that only wear studs, but they're surprisingly not as common. I just can't understand why somebody would want to mutilate their ears that way.

I have a nipple piercing and an eyebrow piercing. The only reason I have them now, is because I got them when I was 15 and stupid. And I'm such a cheap bastard that I don't want the money I spent on them then, to go to waste.

I'm guessing these are the new trend or something. Gotta say, I don't find these as disturbing as some guy putting an obviously fake golden loop through his ear. Partially because the gold earring is commonly worn by filthy, slick types around here.

However, I've seen people who have hole-rings like the OP showed us, but about 4 times as big. That's when it becomes disgusting.

Eggo:
it looks really dumb

This. it does look really dumb.

If you feel the need to mutilate your body for no other reason than you feel like it, good for you, I'm all for that. If you're only doing it to fit in, then you're weak willed and should get a brain piercing. With a bat.

Empowered is a word that should never be used in association with, or by, males. If you feel the need to be empowered, hand in your testicles. You're male, for God's sake. You should be powerful to begin with. Man up.

Earrings and the like aren't about cosmetic appearence so much as about shock. The idea is to get a reaction. In fact, one of the BEST reactions is "Why would any sane person want to wear that?" yes, it's not exactly risky any more (except for the ear stretching, that's still pretty wierd) but, obviously, it still has enough value to draw attention.

in conclusion, it may look stupid, but then again it's supposed to be a focal point, not a decorative piece

Anyone ever notice that no one told Quentin Tarantino which side straight guys were supposed to pierce their ear on? The only guy who wears one in the left ear in Pulp Fiction is Zed.

That said, I had two in my left ear for awhile. Not the "stretch a huge hole into your ear" ones, just a loop and a stud. I grew up and took them out ages ago.

- J

Just another step towards making men looking more like women
E.g. wearing pink t-shirts, using fake tan and wearing earings

Plus it looks disgusting, especially when you see people with like inch wide holes.

Pirates only.

When you say you don't like earrings, is it just flesh tunnels you're referring to, or earrings in general?

EDIT: Re-read your opening post, and see that it's earrings in general.

elgringobandito:
OP the word for these holes you describe are known as flesh tunnels. If you think they look bad you should see the guys earlobe when they take them out. Looks like half a bald ball bag (tounge twister).

They're called gauges. And they're pretty gross, but if you do it right they can be kind of cool.

one earing is ok, dont wear 2(on opposite ears symmetriclaly), its the same for belt buckles, however i have one of an NES controller and its sweet

elgringobandito:

berethond:

elgringobandito:
OP the word for these holes you describe are known as flesh tunnels. If you think they look bad you should see the guys earlobe when they take them out. Looks like half a bald ball bag (tounge twister).

They're called gauges. And they're pretty gross, but if you do it right they can be kind of cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesh_tunnel

Okay whatever. Not like Wikipedia is the most accurate source. And everyone here calls them gauges.
EDIT: Gauges also refer to anything you use to widen a hole.

It doesn't really matter to me whether guys have earrings or not. It's the whole insert-metal-under-your-skin thing that gets to me.

I don't have any overwhelming desire to get any piercings, yet I'm not bothered by those who chose to do otherwise.

elgringobandito:

berethond:

elgringobandito:

berethond:

elgringobandito:
OP the word for these holes you describe are known as flesh tunnels. If you think they look bad you should see the guys earlobe when they take them out. Looks like half a bald ball bag (tounge twister).

They're called gauges. And they're pretty gross, but if you do it right they can be kind of cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesh_tunnel

Okay whatever. Not like Wikipedia is the most accurate source. And everyone here calls them gauges.
EDIT: Gauges also refer to anything you use to widen a hole.

Yeh wikipedia is probably just agreeing with me to spite you, and what you should have said was "Around here people call them gauges.

I like "Round these parts, thems called gauges."

And then maybe he could spit.

- J

My friend has standard metal rings(I don't know any other way to call them) and they look just fine. I think it depends on the type of earring.

Ive never liked earings much, on women they can be ok, i dont think ive seen a bloke with one ive ever liked (jewelry not the person, im tired, sentences arent working). Peircings in general confuse me, if its to show individuality then surely you should do something unique. Or if its a body modification thing why do something so useless? The flesh tunnels in particular strike me as a bad idea, people get these young and then realise they can cost jobs somewhere later down the line.

Edit:

Uncompetative:
Pirates only.

yup, that about sums it up.

curlycrouton:

Eggo:
it looks really dumb

This. it does look really dumb.

Thirded.

I know someone with his ears disked they dont look to bad although he wont make the bigger than 5mm because after that the hole wont close and he plans on removing them when he gets a decent job.

elgringobandito:

tiredinnuendo:

elgringobandito:

berethond:

elgringobandito:

berethond:

elgringobandito:
OP the word for these holes you describe are known as flesh tunnels. If you think they look bad you should see the guys earlobe when they take them out. Looks like half a bald ball bag (tounge twister).

They're called gauges. And they're pretty gross, but if you do it right they can be kind of cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesh_tunnel

Okay whatever. Not like Wikipedia is the most accurate source. And everyone here calls them gauges.
EDIT: Gauges also refer to anything you use to widen a hole.

Yeh wikipedia is probably just agreeing with me to spite you, and what you should have said was "Around here people call them gauges.

I like "Round these parts, thems called gauges."

And then maybe he could spit.

- J

"I reckon round these parts dem fancy ear jewelleries called gauges" and then burns a cross.

"Gauges. Whooooooooooooo doggie." And then has sex with a sibling.

- J

elgringobandito:

berethond:

elgringobandito:

berethond:

elgringobandito:
OP the word for these holes you describe are known as flesh tunnels. If you think they look bad you should see the guys earlobe when they take them out. Looks like half a bald ball bag (tounge twister).

They're called gauges. And they're pretty gross, but if you do it right they can be kind of cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesh_tunnel

Okay whatever. Not like Wikipedia is the most accurate source. And everyone here calls them gauges.
EDIT: Gauges also refer to anything you use to widen a hole.

Yeh wikipedia is probably just agreeing with me to spite you, and what you should have said was "Around here people call them gauges.

Of course. So,

Ahem

"Around here people call them gauges."
EDIT: I'm not going to talk like John Wayne, people.

Uncompetative:
Pirates only.

^ That ^

When i see these stupid people I want to do one of two things:

Either A) rip them out and laugh as they scream in agony.

Or B) Knock them out and ship them to a brazillian rainforest tribe where they won't look so stupid.

berethond:

elgringobandito:
OP the word for these holes you describe are known as flesh tunnels. If you think they look bad you should see the guys earlobe when they take them out. Looks like half a bald ball bag (tounge twister).

They're called gauges. And they're pretty gross, but if you do it right they can be kind of cool.

Agreed. They can be cool.

mattttherman3:
one earing is ok, dont wear 2(on opposite ears symmetriclaly), its the same for belt buckles, however i have one of an NES controller and its sweet

I made one from a snes controller! it is pretty awesome.