One woman has caused minds to blow across the Twitterverse after tweeting out what some are calling a life-changing discovery: you are supposed to remove the transparent plastic backing on new earrings.
Chelsea Smith tweeted a photo of her discovery on Saturday (Aug. 1), stating: "After my nineteen years of living I have now realized that you are supposed to take the plastic part off [earrings]."
The tweet has since been retweeted about 44 thousand times and has made countless headlines. People have responded to Smith's findings with a wide range of emotions, including utter disbelief, gratitude, embarrassment and an urgency to learn more about how to remove the annoying plastic pieces:
Others, however, are downright dismayed. They accuse Smith of ruining lives everywhere, claiming that the tiny plastic piece serves the important purpose of balancing the weight of heavier earrings to prevent them from drooping or -- even worse -- sliding out of the piercing and being lost forever:
Still, others have no idea what the big fuss is about, and feel the decision to keep or remove the plastic backing on your earrings comes down to personal preference and should be left at that:
In an effort to settle the dispute, Us Weekly reached out to a jewelry designer, Kendra Scott, for answers. She said the plastic is, in fact, there for added support for heavier earrings, however, isn't necessary for lighter jewelry.
"The plastic earring backs offer more... stability, which comes in handy with larger or heavier styles," she told Us Weekly. "For smaller studs and more delicate styles, the smaller backs might be more comfortable. Less coverage lets a style be worn with multiple piercings."
So, there you have it. To discard the plastic backing or to keep the plastic backing? That is the question. Weigh in on the discussion in the comments below.
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