For Kids, Love Bites, Vamps or No
Last week, the teen trend was cartoon-eye contact lenses. This week? Erotic biting:
Biting is considered a new status symbol that displays ownership. Historically, teenagers gave each other more discreet symbols of their love. They exchanged class rings or, once upon a time, wore boyfriends' letter sweaters to signify commitment.
Not anymore. "OK -- biting trend I have done, will do, and do," says Chloe, 14, who lives in Little Rock. For Chloe, at least the love bites are "not based on vampirism -- especially because I detest 'Twilight.' It just feels good and it's a way of leaving a mark on someone you care a lot about, or getting a mark left."
What would Tom Wolfe say? Here's what I say. It's predictable that the report cites Fear Of Germs as the reason parents are freaking out over love bites; but from where I'm standing, this ain't no health & safety issue. Science can't tell us why the soul desires the night, and it can't tell us the whole truth and nothing but the truth about why biting is bad.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: For Kids, Love Bites, Vamps or No
I have two kids, a 7 year old boy and 5 year old girl, and news like this scares the crap out of me. Can I not put them in stasis until they are 25? Biting?
May '10
Re: For Kids, Love Bites, Vamps or No
Whatever happened to hickies?
May '10
Re: For Kids, Love Bites, Vamps or No
I admit to being impressed with the perfect, future, and present conjugations of young Chloe's response.
Jul '10
Re: For Kids, Love Bites, Vamps or No
my wife worked in a psychiatric environment in which "cutting" was frighteningly common.
What's worse? Self-cutting or other-biting ?
Re: For Kids, Love Bites, Vamps or No
"Kids argue that biting and contact lenses are no more risky than two adult indulgences -- cosmetic surgery and tattoos." You know, I agree. The trend's a bit gross, but it just doesn't sound like such a big deal. I'm sure the risks are no greater than those involved in playing your average contact sport, and certainly less than riding in a car.
Re: For Kids, Love Bites, Vamps or No
Obsession with health and safety + the erosion of childhood innocence = a losing argument for parents already low on authority. My recommended last-ditch command: "At least bite where no one can see."
May '10
Re: For Kids, Love Bites, Vamps or No
I control the purse strings in my home. We will do more than 'Bite where no one can see!"