Plastic or no plastic on the backs of your earrings? That is the question.
On Aug. 1, 19-year-old Chelsea Smith discovered that you can, in fact, remove the annoying plastic rings that sometimes cover the stoppers on studded earrings.
Smith shared her newfound life hack on Twitter, and has since been retweeted more than 45,00 times -- sparking a debate so heated it could tear this country in two.
After my nineteen years of living i have now realized that you are supposed to take the plastic part off pic.twitter.com/ejValCaa7G— Chelsea Smith (@Chelsea__Smithh) August 1, 2015
Some people were just as blown away as Smith to find that they could finally free themselves from those uncomfortable plastic barriers. After all, any earring-loving fashionista knows the pain of those tiny rings digging into their ears after a long day of wear.
@Chelsea__Smithh @InternetKidsO2L HOW DO YOU TAKE THEM OFF?! I HAVE FOUR EARRINGS IN RN WITH THE PLASTIC STILL ON— ✦ laura (@SmileItsO2L) August 3, 2015
@SmileItsO2L @Chelsea__Smithh I wish I knew— julia (@InternetKidsO2L) August 3, 2015
However, on the other side of the debate, many attest that those plastic pieces are there for a reason -- mostly to keep particularly heavy (and possibly cheap) pieces of costume jewelry from sagging or sliding out of your ears.
Some people also mention that people who have had their earlobes gauges or stretched find those little rings handy for wearing simple studs now that their alt-rock days are over.
@Chelsea__Smithh @zeldanarchy not necessarily, I had my ears stretched and when I wear regular studs the plastic/rubber is all that would— A DEV's Wife (@DEVsahw) August 3, 2015
@Chelsea__Smithh almost 40 thousand people will have saggy earlobes now chelsea.— all of the feelings (@jenna_valentine) August 3, 2015
@tornadoliese @Chelsea__Smithh saggy earlobes are rampant now in america. around the world.— all of the feelings (@jenna_valentine) August 3, 2015
@Chelsea__Smithh yo chelsea you keep it on. it helps your earring not look saggy. you still dont know everything at 19.— all of the feelings (@jenna_valentine) August 3, 2015
@Chelsea__Smithh @zeldanarchy not necessarily, I had my ears stretched and when I wear regular studs the plastic/rubber is all that would— A DEV's Wife (@DEVsahw) August 3, 2015
@DEVsahw @Chelsea__Smithh @zeldanarchy umm., we're talking about the basic earrings, which were made for folks who haven't stretched ears.— Jayacktiive (@Jayacktiive) August 3, 2015
@Chelsea__Smithh NO!!! The plastic piece helps distribute weight on heavy earrings and makes it more comfortable. Promise!— Jo Anne Smoot ºoº (@joannesmoot) August 2, 2015
Although Smith says in her original post that you're "supposed to" take the plastic parts off the earrings, it's not actually necessary. While your earrings are perfectly wearable without them, it's really all about preference.