The Prom- Did You Go?

Sage · 01-12-2007, 08:30 AM

Times may have changed, but when I was in school the only people who went to the prom were the jocks, the cheerleaders, and the jock/cheerleader wannabes...basically, the people whose whole lives revolved around school and who seemingly would have spent 24 hours a day there if they could have.

However, I have found my school experience to be quite different from that of most of the folks here, so I thought I'd ask for a little feedback on this.

*Melanie68* · 01-12-2007, 08:32 AM

No. I wasn't asked and I wasn't brave enough to go alone.

Hammerite · 01-12-2007, 08:32 AM

we live in the UK, we shouldn't have one full stop!
but here i am feeling all stressed, because i'll be going alone.

[toj.cc]Phantom · 01-12-2007, 08:37 AM

I didn't go to the first prom that I had a chance to, because I didn't have any one to go with. I'm going to go to the second one though, even if my girlfriend and I don't last that long, although I'm really hoping we do. For some reason this girl makes me feel way different then any other.

Jazhara7 · 01-12-2007, 08:46 AM

We didn't have a prom per se. We once had a Senior School Dance, which was organised by some of the people in the Student Life Organisation, that were generally very involved with the SLO. I knew them (I was in the SLO Office a lot, what with being a Senior Prefect myself. I tended to be the girl for doing all kinds of odds and ends. My actual job was to advertise new activities, but I also made advertisements for other things like our yearbook [I was part of the Yearbook team], and other such things.), and they were definitely no jocks (hell, they were a few classes below me! We didn't have many jocks at our school, luckily).

You had to sign up for the dance. If we hadn't gotten enough people to come, it would have been cancelled. Luckily it wasn't. I went to the dance, and it was a lot of fun. Everyone came in very formal clothes, but it was more like a very well dressed disco. And it was a lot of fun when they brought out the neon glow sticks (I made myself a kind of headress from those, by sticking them in my hair, which I had modelled after Mazzy Fentan's hairdo from Baldur's Gate II. Karasu commented I looked like a Neon Ceres/Demeter that way...or was it Diana/Artemis? Gah, I can't remember!), there was a lot of silly fun.

Oh, and our head of SLO even danced! He denied it afterwards, but I saw it!

-

Jatsie · 01-12-2007, 08:47 AM

My school had what they termed "The Summer Ball."

After never attending a single extracurricular event, I decided as I was finally leaving I would go to the ball.

It was terrible, the food was cold, the music was not to my tastes, and I couldn't even get drunk to numb the pain, as the idiot who scheduled it didn't take into account that some of us had exams the next day.

On the plus side, I looked fabulous in a dinner suit.

Jelena · 01-12-2007, 08:49 AM

When I went to school there was something that resembled a Prom. A Swedish version, which means less formal. (we're talking mid-80s) We went there on our own or in large groups. No dates with the result that everybody went as it was the last night together before everyone left town for uni, travelling or whatever.
I guess what bothers you Hammerite is that you're expected to come with a date, not the prom itself? I really don't like ideas the school comes up with that excludes their own students. I'm assuming here that it is the school that are throwing the Prom. Correct me if I'm wrong. The school should make such arrangements that the majority of students are welcome and feel comfortable with the event.

ATMachine · 01-12-2007, 08:52 AM

Dancing? What is that, and why should I care about it?

Yes, I'm in a really bad mood right now.

I never went to proms anyway, they seemed a waste of time to me. Not that it was inconvenient to go, as my high school generally held dances across the street from my house...

Jazhara7 · 01-12-2007, 08:56 AM

Oh, and I forgot to mention, the dance wasn't really too centered on asking people out, thank the gods. Many people went there without company, and some just came with their normal friends. We were allowed to bring people from outside the school, and some past graduates were there. And if someone had come alone, the people there did not just let them sit there when the others danced, but included them in the fun (Yes, I speak from experience.

).

It really was a lot of fun.

-

Lucien21 · 01-12-2007, 10:01 AM

Prom? What Prom?

We didn't go in for those American traditions.

Had to settle for behind the bike sheds.

colpet · 01-12-2007, 10:08 AM

Yep.
This was in 1975 in Montreal. We graduated high school after grade 11, so most of us were 16 years old. Since we were underaged for drinking (and driving), the official prom dinner was a sedate affair. The all night after parties were a lot more fun

.

Dasilva · 01-12-2007, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sage

Times may have changed, but when I was in school the only people who went to the prom were the jocks, the cheerleaders, and the jock/cheerleader wannabes...basically, the people whose whole lives revolved around school and who seemingly would have spent 24 hours a day there if they could have.

Excatly. All the popular kids went to the prom, I didn't want to go because I hated most of the people who were going. I dont regret going, I went out for dinner with a class mate instead.

bulldog · 01-12-2007, 11:18 AM

My High school had a "Theme" for the Junior and seniors. My junior year it was called Remember. I was dating a guy from a rival High School so I went to his prom; his school wasn't as stuffy as my High School. My senior year my graduating class deicide that they wanted to spend their prom night in Disney World. So we all raised money (well the people that wanted to go) raised money and went to Disney World. I spent time with my friends. I don’t regret not going to my senior prom. I probably wouldn't have gone to the junior prom if it had been at my school. But since it was at another school and the people were friendly, that is why I went.

RLacey · 01-12-2007, 01:10 PM

My school didn't have a prom (well, it might have done, but if it did I was ignoring it), and I wouldn't have gone if it had done. I can't dance, I hate large social gatherings and I hate parties, so it's not really my thing.

For the same reasons I'm deliberately avoiding the ball that my college is organising this summer

.

Spiwak · 01-12-2007, 01:40 PM

Need I bring up that thread again?

Squinky · 01-12-2007, 03:53 PM

I went to mine, although it was officially referred to as the "grad banquet", which took place in a nice hotel and was the sort of event you brought your parents to. I went stag, surprised all my friends by wearing a dress (practically no one had ever seen me in one before), and enjoyed some really good seafood pasta and dancing. It wasn't all it's made out to be in the movies, seeing as I didn't get drunk or lose my virginity, but it was okay.

Lee in Limbo · 01-12-2007, 04:17 PM

I didn't go to the prom because it was quite spendy, and frankly, I wasn't interested in any of what they had going on, or the people who were going. I wasn't even particularly interested in attending my graduation, but family of my friends insisted I go and actually paid for my gown to get me there. Ultimately, I can't say I feel like I missed anything. I suspect not. My fondest memories of that school were all in the art department anyway.

MoriartyL · 01-14-2007, 02:18 AM

I've never heard of a real-life prom before now, so I've always figured it was some sort of American cultural thing that only had any significance in movies and stories.

Erwin_Br · 01-14-2007, 04:58 AM

No proms here either.

--Erwin

Kolzig · 01-16-2007, 02:17 PM

I think we don't have proms in Finland and if we had, I woud never go.
It has always felt to me like some only in America kind of tradition.

View Poll Results: Describe Your Prom Experience
I went, and it was great!	6	15.38%
I went, and it was lame.	4	10.26%
I didn't go, but wish I had.	4	10.26%
I didn't go, and didn't miss it a bit.	12	30.77%
Prom? What prom?	13	33.33%
Voters: 39. You may not vote on this poll

01-12-2007, 08:30 AM	#1
Sage Bad Influence Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Birmingham, Alabama USA Posts: 5,547	The Prom- Did You Go? Times may have changed, but when I was in school the only people who went to the prom were the jocks, the cheerleaders, and the jock/cheerleader wannabes...basically, the people whose whole lives revolved around school and who seemingly would have spent 24 hours a day there if they could have. However, I have found my school experience to be quite different from that of most of the folks here, so I thought I'd ask for a little feedback on this. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Ignorance is bliss, denial is divine, and willful ignorance is a religious experience. Share the love. <3

01-12-2007, 08:32 AM	#2
Melanie68 Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,907	No. I wasn't asked and I wasn't brave enough to go alone. Share Share this post on Twitter

01-12-2007, 08:32 AM	#3
Hammerite kamikaze hummingbirds Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Over there. Posts: 7,946	we live in the UK, we shouldn't have one full stop! but here i am feeling all stressed, because i'll be going alone. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ The bin is a place for household rubbish, not beloved pets!

01-12-2007, 08:37 AM	#4
[toj.cc]Phantom The Punisher Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Pleasant Plain, Ohio Posts: 771	I didn't go to the first prom that I had a chance to, because I didn't have any one to go with. I'm going to go to the second one though, even if my girlfriend and I don't last that long, although I'm really hoping we do. For some reason this girl makes me feel way different then any other. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ I've got a bad rap as a senseless killer. Let me point out that I am a very sensible killer.

01-12-2007, 08:46 AM	#5
Jazhara7 Ale! And keep 'em coming! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Beyond the Pattern of Reality...or Germany Posts: 8,527	We didn't have a prom per se. We once had a Senior School Dance, which was organised by some of the people in the Student Life Organisation, that were generally very involved with the SLO. I knew them (I was in the SLO Office a lot, what with being a Senior Prefect myself. I tended to be the girl for doing all kinds of odds and ends. My actual job was to advertise new activities, but I also made advertisements for other things like our yearbook [I was part of the Yearbook team], and other such things.), and they were definitely no jocks (hell, they were a few classes below me! We didn't have many jocks at our school, luckily). You had to sign up for the dance. If we hadn't gotten enough people to come, it would have been cancelled. Luckily it wasn't. I went to the dance, and it was a lot of fun. Everyone came in very formal clothes, but it was more like a very well dressed disco. And it was a lot of fun when they brought out the neon glow sticks (I made myself a kind of headress from those, by sticking them in my hair, which I had modelled after Mazzy Fentan's hairdo from Baldur's Gate II. Karasu commented I looked like a Neon Ceres/Demeter that way...or was it Diana/Artemis? Gah, I can't remember!), there was a lot of silly fun. Oh, and our head of SLO even danced! He denied it afterwards, but I saw it! - Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ - "esc(x) cot(x) dx = -csc(x)!" Dennis added, and the wizard's robe caught on fire. "Gosh," Dennis said, "and some people say higher math isn't relevant." >>>Inventor of the Mail order-Assassin<<< And This...is a Black Hole - BYE!

01-12-2007, 08:47 AM	#6
Jatsie Lovable rogue Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Great Britain Posts: 6,378	My school had what they termed "The Summer Ball." After never attending a single extracurricular event, I decided as I was finally leaving I would go to the ball. It was terrible, the food was cold, the music was not to my tastes, and I couldn't even get drunk to numb the pain, as the idiot who scheduled it didn't take into account that some of us had exams the next day. On the plus side, I looked fabulous in a dinner suit. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "Jatsie is amazing." - Jazhara "My mental image of Jat is a gentleman sitting in a leather armchair, wearing a robe. The light in the room is dim and strangely he's not sitting in front of a computer, but next to a small, round table with a box of cigars on." - Jelena Gay-Nerds.com

01-12-2007, 08:49 AM	#7
Jelena Lazy Bee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 7,518	When I went to school there was something that resembled a Prom. A Swedish version, which means less formal. (we're talking mid-80s) We went there on our own or in large groups. No dates with the result that everybody went as it was the last night together before everyone left town for uni, travelling or whatever. I guess what bothers you Hammerite is that you're expected to come with a date, not the prom itself? I really don't like ideas the school comes up with that excludes their own students. I'm assuming here that it is the school that are throwing the Prom. Correct me if I'm wrong. The school should make such arrangements that the majority of students are welcome and feel comfortable with the event. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Temporary guest in your life

01-12-2007, 08:52 AM	#8
ATMachine Retired Buccaneer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 779	Dancing? What is that, and why should I care about it? Yes, I'm in a really bad mood right now. I never went to proms anyway, they seemed a waste of time to me. Not that it was inconvenient to go, as my high school generally held dances across the street from my house... Share Share this post on Twitter

01-12-2007, 08:56 AM	#9
Jazhara7 Ale! And keep 'em coming! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Beyond the Pattern of Reality...or Germany Posts: 8,527	Oh, and I forgot to mention, the dance wasn't really too centered on asking people out, thank the gods. Many people went there without company, and some just came with their normal friends. We were allowed to bring people from outside the school, and some past graduates were there. And if someone had come alone, the people there did not just let them sit there when the others danced, but included them in the fun (Yes, I speak from experience. ). It really was a lot of fun. - Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ - "esc(x) cot(x) dx = -csc(x)!" Dennis added, and the wizard's robe caught on fire. "Gosh," Dennis said, "and some people say higher math isn't relevant." >>>Inventor of the Mail order-Assassin<<< And This...is a Black Hole - BYE!

01-12-2007, 10:01 AM	#10
Lucien21 Psychonaut Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 5,114	Prom? What Prom? We didn't go in for those American traditions. Had to settle for behind the bike sheds. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

01-12-2007, 10:08 AM	#11
colpet Easily amused Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,091	Yep. This was in 1975 in Montreal. We graduated high school after grade 11, so most of us were 16 years old. Since we were underaged for drinking (and driving), the official prom dinner was a sedate affair. The all night after parties were a lot more fun . Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Occasionally visiting Uru Live (KI 00637228).

01-12-2007, 11:18 AM	#13
bulldog Second Degree Black Belt Join Date: May 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 6,086	My High school had a "Theme" for the Junior and seniors. My junior year it was called Remember. I was dating a guy from a rival High School so I went to his prom; his school wasn't as stuffy as my High School. My senior year my graduating class deicide that they wanted to spend their prom night in Disney World. So we all raised money (well the people that wanted to go) raised money and went to Disney World. I spent time with my friends. I don’t regret not going to my senior prom. I probably wouldn't have gone to the junior prom if it had been at my school. But since it was at another school and the people were friendly, that is why I went. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Lord make my words as sweet as honey, for tomorrow I may have to eat them. “Pretty badass and tough and won't take crap from anyone” -Squinky

01-12-2007, 01:10 PM	#14
RLacey The Thread™ will die. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 22,542	My school didn't have a prom (well, it might have done, but if it did I was ignoring it), and I wouldn't have gone if it had done. I can't dance, I hate large social gatherings and I hate parties, so it's not really my thing. For the same reasons I'm deliberately avoiding the ball that my college is organising this summer . Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ RLacey \| Killer of the Thread™ I do not change to be perfect. Perfect changes to be me.

01-12-2007, 01:40 PM	#15
Spiwak is not wierd Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,148	Need I bring up that thread again? Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Spiwak! It's Kawips spelled backwards!

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01-14-2007, 04:58 AM	#19
Erwin_Br Under pressure. Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Apeldoorn, The Netherlands Posts: 3,773	No proms here either. --Erwin Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ > Learn more about my forthcoming point & click adventure: Bad Timing! > Or... Visit Adventure Developers: Everything about developing adventure games.

01-12-2007, 03:53 PM	#16
Squinky Unreliable Narrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Le Canada Posts: 9,873	I went to mine, although it was officially referred to as the "grad banquet", which took place in a nice hotel and was the sort of event you brought your parents to. I went stag, surprised all my friends by wearing a dress (practically no one had ever seen me in one before), and enjoyed some really good seafood pasta and dancing. It wasn't all it's made out to be in the movies, seeing as I didn't get drunk or lose my virginity, but it was okay. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Squinky is always right, but only for certain values of "always" and "right".

01-12-2007, 04:17 PM	#17
Lee in Limbo It's Hard To Be Humble Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,557	I didn't go to the prom because it was quite spendy, and frankly, I wasn't interested in any of what they had going on, or the people who were going. I wasn't even particularly interested in attending my graduation, but family of my friends insisted I go and actually paid for my gown to get me there. Ultimately, I can't say I feel like I missed anything. I suspect not. My fondest memories of that school were all in the art department anyway. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Lee Edward McImoyle, Author Smashwords eBooks

01-14-2007, 02:18 AM	#18
MoriartyL Not like them! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Israel Posts: 2,570	I've never heard of a real-life prom before now, so I've always figured it was some sort of American cultural thing that only had any significance in movies and stories. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ -Mory My first game My second game My third game

01-16-2007, 02:17 PM	#20
Kolzig The Reggienator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Vaasa, Finland Posts: 5,519	I think we don't have proms in Finland and if we had, I woud never go. It has always felt to me like some only in America kind of tradition. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "The old standby, that never got old in the first place. We come back to them weekly, nightly, for hours at a time--and they always deliver. They are pure, timeless, and often taken for granted." - Nick Breckon - Shacknews My gamesale list updated 26.8.2007 Hey, dear people please buy my games, I need money to conquer Europe! Or do something similar.