Why do Pirates wear Earrings ?

As promised, here is the article I read about pirates wearing earrings. This article was written and submitted by Lauren Kuehl of Levittown, Pennsylvania. Thanks also to Amy Kelly of Cleburne, Texas, and Douglas Watkins, Jr., of Hayward, California. I always thought pirates wore earring because of the cute babes, never knew it’s more towards improving their eyesight. Don’t know if medically proven. Anyway, if your eyesight sucks, get earrings, because now you might have a more reliable excuse.

Before we start reading this article, do you think Adam Ant looks like a pirate? He was kind of trendy back in the 80s, but you would never see me looking like him, because the pirate look seems a little nutty. He had some cool songs. Check out one of his song I posted at “the article box”. Whenever I hear this song, it reminds me of “Adam the wanna be pirate punker”!

Why Did Pirates Wear Earrings?

A famous portrait of Howard Pyle's depicts the notorious Captain Kidd, clearly wearing an earring. And movie pirates usually don them, too. Did they wear them in real life?

Evidently so. Our resident pirate expert, Toby Gibson (librarian and historian, who has made a lifelong study of pirates) writes:

"While I'm sure Hollywood was trying to make leading men such as Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr, look suave and exotic, real pirates were piercing their ears for a more practical purpose. It was believed that piercing the ears with such precious metals as silver and gold improved one's eyesight. This was the main reason pirates performed such a ritual. It must also be noted that most other seafaring men also indulged in this practice.

"While for years this was considered an old wives' tale, today the art of acupuncture lends some credence to the practice of ear piercing. The earlobe is an acupuncture point for several eye ailments. It is quite possible that the practice of ear piercing may have been brought to the West from the Oriental trade routes."

History confirms that pirates increasingly worked Asian waters after the Caribbean and "New World" prospects "dried up" in the early to mid-eighteenth century. This would also explain why the graphic depictions of pirates in the earliest books we described in the previous chapter do not picture pirates sporting earrings.

We decided to speak to some acupuncturists, to determine whether practitioners, then and now, believe in a relationship between piercing the ear and improved vision. When we asked Dr. Steve Given, an acupuncturist who also teaches the art at Emperor's College in Santa Monica, California, he gave us a shock. We asked him about the ear-eye connection, and before we could broach the subject, he brought up pirates:

"There are reports of people enjoying vision improvements after having their ears pierced. In fact, when I studied acupuncture, the subject of pirates piercing their ears just for this reason was discussed."

Given doesn't dispute that pirates pierce their ears for this reason? He discussed how the ear is often used in acupuncture, as a focus point for eye problems in general, and vision problems, in particular. A point on the ear, called the "eye point" or "vision point" corresponds to the area on an earlobe where piercing might take place. But he doubts that any lasting vision improvements could be attained from piercing:

"If they did get a benefit by puncturing the master sensorial [yet another name for the "eye point] in a fortuitous manner, it certainly wouldn't be a lasting thing. Once the ear is pierced, scar tissue forms around the hole. This will block any further beneficial effects."

Given's arguments were corroborated by two other acupuncturists we consulted. Timothy Chen, of the Acupuncture Clinic of Pasadena, told IMPONDERABLES that he has found nearsightedness and conjunctivitis to be conditions helped by acupuncture on the ear, but doubted whether piercing could help general vision, on a long-term basis. Dr. Michael Apelian, of the Acupuncture Therapy Centre in Santa Monica, has heard of cases of vision being harmed and helped by ear piercing:

"I've heard it go both ways. I've also heard because you're damaging that area by piercing, it can inhibit vision. I think that most of the more ancient beliefs (and Chinese literature) felt that it would stimulate vision rather than hinder it."

We asked Dr. Apelian if he treated people on the ear for vision problems:

"Sure. However, I think that other body points, especially on the face and feet, are stronger."

Maybe pirates pierced their ears and feet, too. But it would be hard to find rings underneath the bushy beards and salty footwear.

Still remember those earring years

The finest reason of being young is to have the opportunity to discover many fresh and unique fashions. When I was a young man, I was way too contemporary, and one of the most fashionable things I ever did, probably one of the stupidest or the craziest, was the moment I pierced my own ear. Yes, I did it by myself with a pine needle. If you are wondering, yes it was one hell of a painful experience. Don’t do it yourself unless you are desperate, like I was.

I think the trend of men’s ear piercing started through the influence of the most influential punk rocker, Billy Idol. His songs like “Rebel Yell” and “Mony Mony” together with his musical videos played a big part in changing “how men should express and display their appearances”. He was so trendy back then during the early 80’s, and like him, I was one of those young punks, trying to make a statement about my tastes in fashion and more importantly, about myself. I feel, Billy’s songs (music) are very influential and moreover if you listen to his music, you will get a rebellious feeling. Listen to both of these songs (located at "article box">>>>) you will know what I mean.

Before I continue my story, what’s about the left and right ear? Till today, no one have really come forward to set the standards right. Some people claimed that men’s sexuality is determined by which ear he places his earring. In England, if a man wears his earring on the left ear, he is a gay, whereas in Canada, gay-men wear it on the right. I think with all these confusions, men nowadays decided to pierced both ears, and frankly I am now more confused then ever. Does anyone have the right answer?

Ok back to my story. I pierced the “left side” because I felt rebellious, and I needed to be trendy, moreover trying to be cute for the girls. But, did I look sissy? Maybe at first, but eventually society understood that men felt the necessity to make their outward appearance like women, like those women who make their outward appearance like men. Does that make sense?

One thing I am sure most religion forbids this act, but some do encourage it. How about pirates? Do we prescribe ourselves morally like them or are we following their trend too? I read somewhere which explained why pirates wear big earrings and I will post it in my next article.

Many parents object to their sons wearing earrings, including mine. My dad was so furious when he discovered my pierced ear. Subsequently, I had to remove it and eventually after a few days the hole closed and that’s the end of my trendy ear. If you ask me now if I regretted not keeping it, well, frankly I am glad my dad “kicked me arse”, because as I got older the desire of being trendy mellowed down, and I realised, back then, I was just a silly kid. As for Billy, he will always be my idol and I will always remember him for that “almost hole in the ear".