I understand that everyone is different, but not so different that everyone can't follow a basic set of guidelines. That's just not how it works. I mean, if it was, then there wouldn't be a set of guidelines for ear stretching in the first place, would there? What a concept, right?
Another thing, your blowout is a pretty good indicator that you were, in fact, stretching too quickly. And a month is more considered a general minimum amount of time to wait between stretches amongst the common stretching community. Two weeks is simply too short for your lobes to completely heal and be strong enough to stretch, thus why you suffered a blowout. If you had waited, your ears would have been stronger and might have been fine. It could have also been that you were just too forecful, which is also a common cause to blowouts.
As with electrical tape, I think it's pretty safe to say that "a lot" (though I doubt it's even a lot you're referring to, and even if it was, I highly doubt all of them could have healthy looking ears) people who got away with using it doesn't represent how every single person's body is going to react to it. Correlation does not imply causation; you can't imply that because "a lot" of people used electrical tape, that everyone else can use it, too. Doesn't work that way. As a result, it has become a common idea that electrical tape should not be used because it's just not worth the risk. It's an adhesive, after all, and the chemicals (which are not good) that make it up can be absorbed into the body through the fistulas; not only that, imagine people who are allergic to electrical tape and its adhesive being told it's completely safe only to suffer a painful reaction. Who would sensibly want to risk that?
I suggest teflon tape, or even bondage tape. I mean, bondage tape was made to be safe for the body, considering its purpose!
No one said you aren't able to wear tapers as jewelry (well, at least I didn't), because obviously people do it all the time. It's just not a good idea. Why? Well, think of it this way: I believe that it's good to want to have healthy looking lobes while stretching. Not only that, it doesn't hurt for them to just look attractive. Nice round fistulas that are even and soft. That's important for a lot of people, including myself.
Using tapers as jewelry takes away that chance. They can create uneven fistulas, stretching the lobes in a way that can thin them out in certain areas when worn as everyday jewelry. That's not what they were made for.
There is a reason why rules were made: they are made to help guide people so they can stretch more successfully without falling into the same destructive pattern that others have in the past and in the present. It's just a matter of actually considering them and making good decisions. We learn and have solved past problems, so let's use that to our advantage! You make it sound like the things we have learned about ear stretching and now know what not to do is a bad thing. x3 That kind of irks me, but I digress from that. Whatever suits you.
And the last thing I want to say: stretching, when done correctly, does not have to be painful, period. "its less painful if u stretch slow as fuck." Less painful? It shouldn't have to be painful to start with, and there are other methods of stretching out there that prove this point. You just have to go look and do your research. And if you have done it, then it must mean nothing to you, which is a bummer, because it means a lot to the people who worked hard to share these wonderful methods that people can use in order to actually enjoy their ear stretching journeys without dreading pain, blowouts, and tears each session. I am entirely grateful for those who have done so, because it gives me a chance to not fall into careless, ignorant patterns, thus abusing my ears to the point where I might not be able to take back the damage.
But anyway... enough of that. I think you get my point. Us stretching nazis, at least this one, completely acknowledge that one group of persons is different from another in how they should approach ear stretching. At the same time, we also acknowledge that there are correct, reasonable, and healthy methods out there. And with the good methods, there also comes bad ones, and I'm sure it's in our hearts to keep newer stretchers out there safe from the bad methods (if that's what they even are) and lead them towards the good. Not everyone has to learn from bad mistakes. It's actually possible to do things right the first time around, and that's why I encourage good choices, products, cleaning and stretching methods that have been refined to be successful, healthy, and painless.
WHEW. That was a lot of writing. LOL
I just don't get the whole "stretching Nazi" thing, like being cautious is a bad thing. I mean, why WOULDN'T you want to do everything in your power to get nice, healthy lobes? Sure, it's going to take a while, but the good things in life usually require patience. The other day at work this guy came in with these really pretty, purple plugs in; I think they were about 1". From a distance I thought they were SO nice but then I saw his ears... they just ruined it. He had such bad blowouts that it looked like his lobes were twisted, like the fistula had turned inside out several times. And you could see all the lips of skin at the backs. I would just hate to be that guy, because that sh*t's permanent!
Poor lobies. Yeah... it's like, you can help reduce blowouts (though some people have such small blowouts that they are able to completely get rid of them, but I don't hear about that happening often), but if it's just so bad that it's all hanging there, you can only do so much to make it look less noticeable. After that, the damage is done, and it reminds me to take it easy on my lobes.
