A debate over the correct way to wear earrings¹ is raging over Facebook after a man posted that you should remove the plastic backing from ear studs before they are worn. Joseph Ayoub wrote: 'After my 19 years of living, I have now realized you're supposed to take the plastic part off.'

一位名叫约瑟夫•阿尤布的男子在脸书上发帖说，戴耳钉前应该把那层塑料塞拿掉，原文是：“活了19年，我现在终于知道了应该摘掉塑料耳钉塞。”之后，如何正确戴耳钉的话题在脸书上引起唇枪舌战。

More than 71,575 people have 'liked' the post, with 10,000 users weighing in on the discussion, including a huge number of women insisting that you are meant to keep the plastic on to protect your ears.

超过71575人“赞”了这个帖子，1万名用户加入了此话题讨论，很多女人坚称应该戴上塑料耳钉塞以保护耳朵。

Others expressed shock about the revelation with one woman in disbelief that she had been walking around with 'plastic things' on her ears for years.

还有人表示被这一发现惊呆了。其中一名女子说，多年来她一直戴着塑料耳钉塞。

After finding out the news, another wrote: 'My whole life has been a joke,'

知道了此消息后，还有人写道：“我的人生完全是一个笑话。”

And even a jewellery shop worker voiced confusion over the post. Ej Bonifacio wrote: 'I worked at a jewelry² store for three years and my brain just exploded.'

甚至珠宝店员工也对此帖表示困惑不解。Ej Bonifacio写道：“我在珠宝店工作3年了，我的脑袋简直炸开了。”

But a counter-argument is gathering³ pace as many comments suggest you should be keeping the backing on.

但是反对派也在渐渐发声，很多评论称应该戴着塑料耳钉塞。

One of the most popular comments with over 3,000 likes said the plastic provides a purpose. One woman said: 'It keeps heavier or larger earrings in place so that they don't hang down on your ear.'

其中一条评论人气很高，已收到3000多个“赞”，评论称塑料耳钉塞自有它的用处。一名女子写道：“它可以把较大较重的耳钉固定住，这样它们就不会在耳朵上垂坠着。”

Another said the plastic prevents the piercing from stretching too much and can stop you from having saggy⁴ lobes⁵ later in life. Colleen Lyons wrote: 'It's for people whose ear piercings have stretched with age.'

另一人说塑料耳钉塞可以防止耳洞变太大，也可以预防晚年耳垂过大。科琳•莱昂斯写道：“随着年龄的增长，有些人耳洞会变大，这时塑料耳钉塞就派上用场了。”

But some people have now decided⁶ to take the plastic off following on from the Facebook debate. Carolin Koch wrote: 'The moment when you realize your ears are stretched and you don't care about the plastic.' Claiming she knew along, another said: 'Everyone knows to take the plastic off, I feel smart for once.'

看了脸书上的讨论之后，有些人已决定摘下塑料耳钉塞。卡罗琳•科赫写道：“当你意识到你的耳朵被拉长的那一刻，你并不在意塑料耳钉塞。”另一人表示她一直知道不要戴耳钉塞，她写道：“每个人都知道把它摘掉，我总算做过一次明智选择。”