always wondered how the men/earring trend started

[Rokinronda]

A man is at work one day when he notices that his co-worker is wearing an earring. This man knows his co-worker to be a normally conservative fellow, and is curious about his sudden change in "fashion sense."



The man walks up to him and says, "I didn't know you were into earrings."


"Don't make such a big deal, it's only an earring," he replies sheepishly.


His friend falls silent for a few minutes, but then his curiosity prods him to say, "So, how long have you been wearing one?"


"Ever since my wife found it in my truck"


I always wondered how this trend got started

[beady]

Cute Rhonda ..... I like that story much better than the real reason which is..... Sailors who crossed the equator won the right to wear a gold earring, usually a small gold hoop.

[Sidney Lanier]

When we went around Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos) in January, we were told that in the olden days (actually I feel pretty olden myself...), sailors who completed that route--an accomplishment in those days--got to wear a gold earring in one ear (I forget which ear) and got to wear one in the other ear after doing the same around Cape of Good Hope. Whatever truth there is to the story. We also learned where the name Cape Horn came from....

[Taltarzac]

When we went around Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos) in January, we were told that in the olden days (actually I feel pretty olden myself...), sailors who completed that route--an accomplishment in those days--got to wear a gold earring in one ear (I forget which ear) and got to wear one in the other ear after doing the same around Cape of Good Hope. Whatever truth there is to the story. We also learned where the name Cape Horn came from....


I do not know how accurate this is but I found this via Google-- http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_were_traditional_nautical_tattoos_and_piercin gs_sailors_got_and_why