A really good explanation that I felt deserved to be highlighted.
I think there are a lot of assumptions but it is still a good read.
It’s a good read, but as with absolutely any discussion around high school on platforms like this, it heavily shaded with the cynicism of the adult that looks back on their high school days bitterly and thinks little of the teenagers who don’t hate it as much as they did/do.
The whole comment is based on the assumption there’s some kind of FOMO-esc pressure to make prom incredible, where kids feel like they “must” go big or they’ll miss out.
But it sidesteps the simpler explanation: maybe some teenagers just genuinely enjoy making prom a blowout. Going big has been part of the tradition for a long time, and maybe it’s not pressure those teens are feeling, but simply excitement.
The basic notion of prom is that it is the night to go big. It is the last high school dance. It seems incredibly reductive to assume teenagers would not look forward to making it a special occasion if it weren’t for outside pressure.
Everyone I knew that made prom a big deal 100% peaked in high school, and incidentally, were the “popular” kids. So, it colors the perception a bit for me.
Yeah, it is fun, but some citations would be nice.
I sold drugs to go to my senior prom only to be ditched by my date so he could go with his girlfriend that I didn’t know he had. I thought I was his girlfriend. Prom is such a waste of money and so much effort for some bullshit. 🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
Any idea why he went with you instead of his actual girlfriend?
Oh looking back now, I know I was definitely the side piece and just didn’t know it. 🤷🏼♀️ It broke my heart but getting over it played into who I am today 🙂
prom isn’t important at all, just another meaningless tradition that gets trumped up. People frame it like it’s about the kids but it’s not.
“it’s their last chance to see each other!”
give me a break, especially in 20 fuckin 24
Eh prom was the last time I saw a bunch of people I was fond of. Granted I graduated before Facebook was a thing but I bet everyone these days says “we’ll stay in touch” but never does.
Prom shouldn’t be important but I hope people have fun memories
It definitely was the last chance I saw a lot of folks.
Yeah, I know, that means I wasn’t intentional enough yadda yadda yadda, but high school really was the last time a lot of folks are in an environment where social interactions are so passively encouraged. After high school, you’re no longer pressured to keep in touch with folks that you’ve known for 4, 6, or even 12 years, and a lot of people do naturally fall out of touch.
Another community event turned into a disgusting consumption pattern.
That’s capitalism for you.
It’s just the US in a nutshell
US pioneered this sort of idiotic consumption but this toxic behavior has spread it seems.
Asians seem to enjoy a lot of this. Aint that song Gangham style song literally mocks it? or is it venerating it?
I thought gangham style was about getting 45 year old women in hr to dance like an idiot, so that the next week she’d be more open to getting an ice bucket dumped over their head for charity.
Also, minor league hockey teams.
And all of this exclusively in a window of time about 10 years ago.
millennial spotted
I mean…yes?
I didn’t have the luxury of Prom ever possibly being anything more than just another exercise in futility. I get to stand around and be ignored while my friends are trying to get laid AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT?!
My partner is a high school administrator. They said that at the hotel chain ballroom they rented this year for prom they were charged for the number of electrical outlets the DJ used.
I was floored to find out this was a thing. Maybe it’s been around awhile, I don’t know, but they seemed surprised about it so I assumed it was new.
I never went to prom and reading the replies here reaffirms my decision
This is pretty much unsourced, obviously cynical, nonsense.
We have a prom approaching soon and it all seems rather over the top ridiculous. It’s being looked at as this hugely important event with kids that my kid will never see again.
I mean, that’s kinda part if it right? One last big night out with your friends before you all go your seperate ways. It’s kinda like a group coming of age party, only capitalism got is talons into it.
I mean, important? Not especially, no. But will never see again? I’d argue that’s true. The whole idea with prom is that it’s meant to be like the last big school event before graduation. Yeah, at some point in their adult lives they’ll get over dressed to dance badly, but this is the last time to do it and teenagers, with other teenagers.
Will they grow up wrong if they miss it, or if it isn’t the biggest, most likely expensive prom ever? No, of course not.
But what does it actually hurt?
Feels like the tradition isn’t just prom but also to make prom a big deal. And frankly, why not? Let the kids dress up and have fun. They will grow up, but it doesn’t have to be tonight.
Also curious where you have a prom coming up in late June?
It’s pointing to it anyway
I feel if you substitute “pron” for “prom”, it still works well.
“Pron was the only time you could be with a girl without your parents present”
Everyone wants to do it!
Interesting indeed
