Chastity Rings

innerSpaceman · 03-16-2007, 08:25 AM

Which is what I think the main purpose of a wedding ring is anyway. I don't think it's a symbol so much to the wedded couple, but a signal to everyone else ... a marking of territory, if you will .. that this person or that is unavailable - - - so keep your mitts off.

Strangler Lewis · 03-16-2007, 08:40 AM

It can be both. We know what wedding rings and engagement rings look like and the finger they are generally worn on, so, yes, they are public symbols.

We also recognize other styles of rings, jewelry, etc. that are not related to marriage. Chastity rings probably fall within this category, at least to my untrained eye. The commitment they embody to the wearer would be entirely personal and private, much like the cilice worn by the albino in The DaVinci Code.

Alex · 03-16-2007, 10:03 AM

Yes, it certainly can be both. I used to wear a ring that had a very specific symbolic meaning to me, it was publicly displayed but I was the only person in the world who knew of its significance.

I know my sense of the dividing line between public and private is overdeveloped but private symbols worn externally aren't private unless there is a similarly small circle of people who know what it means.

Even if it is unrecognized by 99% of the people, I don't know why you'd openly profess your BDSM predilection on a car bumper sticker (and once you know the sticker you see quite a few of them out there) nor why you'd openly profess that you've vowed to wait until you get married to have sex.

To me, it is not that these things are shameful, just that they are private.
It seems to me that part of our societal change over the last 40 years has been the idea that the only reason to keep something private is shame and therefore to not be ashamed requires making it public.

LSPoorEeyorick · 03-16-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Even if it is unrecognized by 99% of the people, I don't know why you'd openly profess your BDSM predilection on a car bumper sticker...

Hmm. I'm google-stumped.

Alex · 03-16-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

Hmm. I'm google-stumped.

Click on the picture for Wikipedia (work safe) details.

03-16-2007, 08:25 AM	#1
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Which is what I think the main purpose of a wedding ring is anyway. I don't think it's a symbol so much to the wedded couple, but a signal to everyone else ... a marking of territory, if you will .. that this person or that is unavailable - - - so keep your mitts off.
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03-16-2007, 08:40 AM	#2
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	It can be both. We know what wedding rings and engagement rings look like and the finger they are generally worn on, so, yes, they are public symbols. We also recognize other styles of rings, jewelry, etc. that are not related to marriage. Chastity rings probably fall within this category, at least to my untrained eye. The commitment they embody to the wearer would be entirely personal and private, much like the cilice worn by the albino in The DaVinci Code. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
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03-16-2007, 10:03 AM	#3
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Yes, it certainly can be both. I used to wear a ring that had a very specific symbolic meaning to me, it was publicly displayed but I was the only person in the world who knew of its significance. I know my sense of the dividing line between public and private is overdeveloped but private symbols worn externally aren't private unless there is a similarly small circle of people who know what it means. Even if it is unrecognized by 99% of the people, I don't know why you'd openly profess your BDSM predilection on a car bumper sticker (and once you know the sticker you see quite a few of them out there) nor why you'd openly profess that you've vowed to wait until you get married to have sex. To me, it is not that these things are shameful, just that they are private. It seems to me that part of our societal change over the last 40 years has been the idea that the only reason to keep something private is shame and therefore to not be ashamed requires making it public.
	Submit to Quotes