Those Ear Things

First of all, sorry for being AWOL for the past few months, but the dog ate my blog. Recently, I've noticed more and more young people (I can't believe I just typed "young people" - I'm so friggin' old) sporting those stretched ear lobe studs. Besides the obvious pain one must go through during the process of implanting one of these things, I can't help but wonder if these folks realize just how moronic they appear when viewed in public. I know the above image was done as a joke, but is it really that far off from reality in terms of ridiculousness? I'm all for individualism and the right of self-expression, but I feel sorry for those who unknowingly blur the fine line between being cool and being a tool.