Looking down on smaller sizes...

[corazon_de_oro]

I've noticed that everyone on this board wants the biggest lobes they can get as fast as they can get them, and a lot of people don't take my advice seriously because I have small lobes. I have a career to think about and at 19 I don't think huge stretches would be a responsible thing for me to do at this point in my life. However, I do take my stretching seriously and I realize that it should be seen as a permanant modification at any size; I only get one pair of earlobes so why not take care of them?
IMO, many of you have the wrong attitude about stretching. It's not about getting to your goal size faster than anyone else or stretching bigger every week. It's about patience and listening to your body; in some cultures stretching symbolizes patience. Even though a lot of you look down on smaller sizes, think about this: the sizes you're rushing through build the foundation for your entire stretching jewelry. You cannot build a house on a week foundation; while cutting corners will get you to the end result faster, the end result may not be as beautiful and strong as it could be because of it. Think about that next time you tell someone/someone tells you it's okay to skip smaller sizes, go straight to 8G from a standard piercing, stretch really fast until you get to 0G, etc.
Every time you experience pain, bleeding, or anything else because of a stretch, you're creating scar tissue that will make future stretches incredibly difficult. I have scarring in my ears from piercing guns and badly-done self piercings as a kid, and I have to wait at least two months between sizes for my ears to be ready. Even if you don't run into any problems, you're really risking a lot when you stretch badly.
I know it sucks not to be able to get to your goal size right away, but you are going to have those earlobes for the rest of your life. As long as you're stuck with them, wouldn't you rather have stretches that look like this:
(I took this picture and the next one from people on another forum)
or this: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/ ... 6d4337.jpg (linked because of big picture)
instead of these?: http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii9/ ... slideshow/

I'm not pretending to be the queen of stretching, and how you stretch is up to you. I realize that some people can stretch quickly and have nice-looking lobes, but PLEASE keep in mind that you're taking a major risk when you stretch quickly. The people in the stretching disasters slideshow aren't just people who went to an inch in a week or skipped four sizes at once, they're also people who stretched slightly fast/skipped one size and didn't think that would happen to them.

[vdub]

Not that shocking, but that's just the reality of what you will be walking around with if you ever decide to take out your jewelry.

[magalo le matelot]

I just said that you have less experience with ear stretching than people that have 1 inch stretchs and that's pretty normal, so that's why I found it irritating if you comment on every single topic and post advices. It's not because you took a lot of time to do them that you are an expert... I could wait 6 month between each millimeters, and at 4 mm I say ''I have 2 years of ear stretching expérience !''.

[corazon_de_oro]

I just don't see why you think that since my lobes aren't as big as yours you automatically know more about stretching than me. You act like I have absolutely zero stretching experience just because I'm at 2G. Sorry I don't want big lobes, but I can still research stretching, and I do have experience with it. When I got my last tattoo I talked to my artist about stretching a lot; he has big lobes (about 1 1/2"), a 1/2" septum, and a 7/16" labret. I also discussed it a lot with my piercer when I got my lobes done by her, and she's very experienced and a member of the APP. Plus I've been a member of a couple piercing forums where everyone gives the same advice as me and there are a lot of members with unbelievably healthy, large stretches. So I'm not just pulling this information out of nowhere and I'm not an argumentative person, I just don't want anyone to ruin their ears because of bad advice.
Often times the people at smaller sizes have more knowledge because we're actually waiting and listening to our bodies. And you act like waiting 6 weeks or so between sizes is like waiting a year. You've said yourself that stretching should always be seen as permanant so what's 6-8 weeks in comparison to how long you'll have stretched lobes (which is your entire life)?

[magalo le matelot]

You don't have knowledge if you do everything like its supposed to...

Per example: If you walk down a road, following the right path and be secure (I dont know if its the right word hm), you won't have as much experience as someone that runned all the way in the jungle, falling on the ground many times, etc...
Dont know if its clear haha.

[corazon_de_oro]

Not that shocking, but that's just the reality of what you will be walking around with if you ever decide to take out your jewelry.

Or this!

[corazon_de_oro]

You don't have knowledge if you do everything like its supposed to...

Per example: If you walk down a road, following the right path and be secure (I dont know if its the right word hm), you won't have as much experience as someone that runned all the way in the jungle, falling on the ground many times, etc...
Dont know if its clear haha.

But you've said you got a blowout and you're still telling people it's okay to stretch like you did. That doesn't make since to me.
And I get what you're saying, but it's not really logical. Ear stretching is something that can be researched; I've read about/had friends who've had stretching problems so I don't do what they did. Instead, I take the advice of people with happy, healthy lobes and I follow it. Then, I pass it on. Just beause I haven't stretched badly doesn't mean I can't tell people not to. I've never lit a match and poured gasoline on it; does that mean I can't tell someone not to do that either?

[vdub]

Your mistakes are your best teacher. I agree 100% with that.

But on the flip-side, learning from others mistakes puts you ahead in certain areas.

[corazon_de_oro]

Yep, there are certainly mistakes I've learned from but there are countless things I've learned not to do from the mistakes of others.

[magalo le matelot]

You don't have knowledge if you do everything like its supposed to...

Per example: If you walk down a road, following the right path and be secure (I dont know if its the right word hm), you won't have as much experience as someone that runned all the way in the jungle, falling on the ground many times, etc...
Dont know if its clear haha.

But you've said you got a blowout and you're still telling people it's okay to stretch like you did. That doesn't make since to me.
And I get what you're saying, but it's not really logical. Ear stretching is something that can be researched; I've read about/had friends who've had stretching problems so I don't do what they did. Instead, I take the advice of people with happy, healthy lobes and I follow it. Then, I pass it on. Just beause I haven't stretched badly doesn't mean I can't tell people not to. I've never lit a match and poured gasoline on it; does that mean I can't tell someone not to do that either?

The blowout was caused by an ugly taper (it was deformed), not because it was too fast. There was a bump all around the middle of the taper and that's why I got a blowout.