Why is it that people have such a hard time differentiating opinion from fact? I get that not everybodylikesthe work I do, and I don’tlikethe work that everybody else does. In fact, I’m not always so fond of what I do. It’s taken me a long time to embrace the duck foot nail, for instance.

But my portfolio is heavily influenced by what my clientele chooses to wear. So, after a while, you start seeing the beauty in more styles than just what you personally prefer to wear. So doing other people’s nails day in and day out has really helped me develop an appreciation for multiple styles, tastes, and trends. And joining the professional nail industry has given me a backstage pass to the industry behind the salon. Which, I admit, I sometimes forget that not everyone has the opportunity to witness or experience. Especially what with the Internet and all those “blurred” lines I’ve been talking about, bringing non-salon professionals into our folds. I tend to think that there’s more awareness, understanding, and appreciation for what the professional nail industry has to offer for other professionals.

And then, last week, the BF tells me that he left a link open for me on his computer that he thought I would be interested in.

So I sat down and read the article. I knew as soon as I saw the title that I was looking at a sensationalist piece of “reporting” on a subject that the author obviously chose to write about without bothering to learn anything about first. Which is like waving a big flag over your head that says, “VIVA LA IGNORANCE!”

The article is about the fantasy nail art competitions at the Nailympics: http://theweek.com/article/index/239704/5-frightening-photos-from-this-years-nail-art-olympics#disqus_thread

I just haven’t been able to wrap my head around the notion that there actually seem to be people who honestly believe they are looking at real-world nail art. Even though the author of the article mentions that this is a competition for nail artists, it seems that people — including the author, possibly — think that this is intended for daily wear.

Well whatever. Be ignorant, stay ignorant, celebrate your ignorance if you want — but seriously? And I get accused of being “hateful?” Is the fantasy nail art really “frightening?” The average person really isn’t capable of looking at that and being awed? At appreciating the work that goes into creating these designs?

I get — from nails to fashion to paintings — that there are styles of artwork that not everyone likes. But to feel the need to stand up and shout, “Ewwwww! That’s so gross!” — well, that just seems unnecessary.

But then, I have seen very little nail art that I didn’t like. Maybe people just need to see more nail art.