Rex Trulove
By definition and according to Merriam-Webster, a fad is a practice followed with exaggerated zeal. Often, there is no solid or logical reason to follow a fad and at times it can be harmful to do so, yet people still follow fads.
There are many examples of dangerous fads. For example, before makeup was invented, British and American women felt that a pale complexion was the ideal in beauty. Two ways they achieved the pale look were to paint their faces, necks, and shoulders with white lead or by ingesting small amounts of arsenic. White lead is produced by putting lead in vinegar or urine, then drying it and scraping off the white powder that resulted. Naturally, this caused many women to suffer from lead poisoning. However, the practice continued, even when they knew the risks.
Arsenic is a poison, as most people know. People knew it back then, too. Eating small amounts caused red blood cells to die, which gave the women the pale, anemic, slightly bluish look. Again, they knew the dangers and did it anyway. In fact, the mail-order giant Sears sold arsenic tablets for consumption at one time.
Sometimes, the fads that we follow are such that we don’t even realize that they are fads and could be dangerous. Thus, this poll to find out which of these fads you follow.
-
Question of
Only one percent of the population is truly gluten intolerant (Celiac disease), yet a huge number of people follow the fad of avoiding gluten. Do you avoid eating gluten whenever possible?
-
Yes
-
No
-
Yes, but I’ve been diagnosed as having celiac disease.
-
-
Question of
For thousands of years, one fad that periodically surfaces has to do with the injection of dye or ink under the skin to ‘paint’ images or symbols. The ancient Egyptians did this as a status symbol and tribesmen and women in Africa and South America did it to show the rite of passage into adulthood. Do you have any tattoos?
-
Yes
-
No
-
-
Question of
All over the world, there are wishing wells. The idea of this fad is that if you toss a coin into the well while making a wish, the wish will come true. Have you ever tossed a coin into a wishing well?
-
Yes
-
No
-
nice writingsi love it keep it going! photos
many mind blowing ideas never gone for them
When I was a child, I remember tossing pennies in a wishing well.
I really doing this poll since I answered no to all of the answers but the one about tossing a coin in a fountain would be a nice temptation to try.
Wishing wells used to be quite common. They aren’t as common anymore, mostly because of vandalism, I believe.
Great poll! I said no to all….but I would get a tattoo if possible.
I’m proud to say that I have no tattoos and no piercings, even though I’m Native American.
Well I see nothing wrong with either…lol.
Two reasons for me. First, I prefer to be an individual, so I won’t do it. So many others are and have that if I got a tat, I’d no longer be unique. Second, I prefer to put my artwork on a wall where it can truly be admired by everyone.
Wishing wells are a rare item these days but I have tossed many coins wishing away!
There are still some wishing wells here and there, though vandalism is a problem in most places.
Yes vandalism is such a problem, worse than ever.