h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

As a recent immigrant to the US I find this whole prom mania very puzzling.
Of course everyone in the developed world is exposed to US culture to some degree so I was previously aware of "The Prom"
but I was not aware how much of a big deal it was. The whole town knows when its happening (the hairdressers etc are booked solid that day)
the UK has its own Proms by the way , the Proms short (I believe)for the Promenade concerts are a series of classical concerts ending with "THe last night of the Proms" which involves a lot of flag waving and frivolity and culminating in the playing of "Pomp and Circumstance" to which the crowd (I hesitate to say audience) sing Land of hope and glory. Its pretty cool but nothing to do with what you were talking about. sorry.
I would be interested to know how highschool proms got started a little about the history etc

I don't know how it alll got started but not everyone wants to go to prom. I never had any urge to go and didn't sit at home depressed and alone.

OK, recent immigrant, here's an explanation for you:

The prom is one of three things, depending on what type of person you are.

For the athletes, cheerleaders, and bland socialites-to-be, it's a chance to play grown-up for the evening, and show off their families' affluence.

The lower social strata divide into two categories: Those who have been quietly anticipating this opportunity to mingle with the in crowd in hopes of finally being cool, even for one night, and those who have been less than quietly anticipating this opportunity to dash the in crowd's dreams of a perfect, romantic night.

I was in the latter category, and only went to one of my three proms. I laughed in the faces of two girls who were devastated that they had bought and worn the same prom dress. My friends and I got the DJ to play "The Time Warp", then got out on the dance floor and did it. (The in crowd, to their credit, cheered us on. A few even joined in, although they'd never seen the Time Warp and botched the whole thing.) Frankly, I think our way was the most fun, but that's just me.

And that's the big deal about proms. Ah, high school!

Um .. okay.. this seems like a slightly cynical version of the Prom. I was by no means popular, but I went to both of my proms and homecoming dances. I loved buying the dress and getting the beautiful things.

The Prom can be a time for an ordinary guy or girl to dress up and feel like royalty. You sometimes get a limo...often have a very fancy dinner beforehand... I always loved showing off how pretty I cleaned up.

I was never a jock, cheerleader or sociallite, but I had lots of fun dancing and dressing up. It can be a sort of "rite of passage" to growing up... not unlike catillions in the south.

Some people hated the prom, some considered it a big popularity contest, I just thought it was a fun time and a chance to dress up.

Krissy, for once we agree. Scary, huh? I recently graduated from high school (June 8) and the only prom I went to was my senior one which was May 5, so it is still fresh in my mind. Now, I can't exactly claim to be particularly UNpopular, but I certainly don't fit in to the jock and cheerleader category.

I wasn't going to go but someone talked me into it. Since it was a little late when I finally decided to go, I didn't have a whole lot of choices of who to ask to go with me, but although I didn't know her very well, I am very glad that I asked the girl I asked because she is a great person and now we're friends. (And I'm not just saying that because she's an h2g2 member and might read this.)

Anyway, I had lots of fun. It was nice to live "the good life" for one night, riding in limos and wearing tuxes, and all that jazz. It was also a rite of passage like Krissy said, and it was especially important since it was the last dance before graduation, ie. the last time to see almost everyone together. I understand how people who don't like most of their classmates might not want to go, but that's not necesarily true either. I know this one kid Nick who's not very popular at all. He get's treated pretty mean sometimes, and he doesn't associate with the socialites at all. However, he went to the prom with his girlfriend and they had a great time.

And the king and queen thing only matters to the people who actually have a shot at winning it. The rest of us could care less.

But all said, this article did highlight some of the irony of prom. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks!

I agree whole heartedly. I went to I think four proms in all because I went with someone a grade higher than me, and the eating out thing is way too overrated. The first time I went the place we were *supposed* to eat at lost power, so we ended up eating at a sub shop just before it. The best time I ever had.

I would tend to agree with the fact that the people that are really alianated from their class will still go, I saw them do it just last year. They'll go and have their own fun, just because they can. At least we got out DJ to play some Beatles tunes, instead of this Pop crap that's polluting the Airwaves in the States.

And anyone mention the fact that somethig always goes wront, no matter how hard you try? There is always an insuing arguement about where to go after the dancing and mucking about. At least in my experience. It was my job during these discussions to sit there and try not to interfere, let the warring parties burn themselves out.

going out to eat after the prom?
not in my town.
where i live it is tradition for prom goers to go out bowling after the prom, i'm not sure why but every year without fail the bowing alley is packed with young people in their fancy clothing and bowling shoes trying to make a srike wearing a tux or long finger nails that dont fit into the bowling ball. Its a change of setting after the fancy dance. Odd though as bowling is otherwise an unpopular hobby outside of prom night.

We always did a fancy dinner before the dance.

Then after there were either parties or hotel rooms or home.

Although my boyfriend and I did once drive out to a field after prom, then after the after party, and talk until 10am when we went to Denny's and had breakfast. I got home at 2pm the next day.

LMAO at the bowling story! I'm going bowling tonight as a matter of fact, but I'm certainly not dressing up! My limo went to the Olive Garden after the prom and we were like the only people in the restruant cause it was almost midnight and they were about to close. Very surreal. I didn't eat anything, just had a pop. There was food at the prom itself too. Anyway after the Olive Garden we kind of went our seperate ways, got dropped off different places. I went to an after-party, and staying true to the article, got drunk off my ass. I didn't get pregnant though. That would have been a big shocker, especially since I'm a guy.

Our high school does an alcohol-free after prom, which no-one would go to, except that they hire a hypnotist, and I'm told that it's way funnier than watching drunk people anyway.

I'm in a historical re-enactment-type group (SCA; it's medieval/Renaissance), and I'm thinking of going in totally Elizabethan costuming with a guy from that group. People have done similar things at our proms before.

I am a junior in high school in America. I just had an idea recently. With the internet being what it is, I figure within a year or so, an organization of nearly every high school student could be formed with the purpose of changing things, as this is the only way that it can happen. If every single person I met online posted information about this at their school, and every single person at their school talked to every single person they met online, and so on, well, you can imagine. The goal, of course, would be a nation-wide strike, which, as you can imagine, would go over well with most students. I feel that this is the only way to change our system, and this is my idea of what it should be. Attendence will be optional, but people will still go. Not every day, but this should not be the case anyways. People will go because the school will teach things that they actually need, and want, to know. An example of this would be a project in which students will design and build a small structure, which would be very interesting to me, and I would attend this. To someone else, this may not be interesting, so they may want to attend the pottery class, or whatever. But the point is, the environment will not be one in which children feel that their only escape is to bring automatic weapons to school, and shoot their peers. There will be no tests, as tests and grades are the basis of negativity and degredation in our school system. Take me for example, I am afraid to miss a day of school, even if I am throwing up every 10 minutes. I am afraid to do this because I will fall so far behind that I am guerenteed an average or less grade on a test, which will hurt my grade in the end, which will in turn lessen my chances in the future. It's no wonder that teenage depression is so high! Things will change.

To Sir Per...
I am also a reenactor, but in the civil war (used to do SCA! but switched foreward in time)
I know many people who went to their proms in civilwar ball gowns and military dress uniforms. They always had a blast, I guess.

I have to say, the Irish experience is a little different. First of all, you can drink at 18, so most people do. You go to the school and have a little presentation of diplomas, and then you go to a hotel, have a meal, and then get on with the debauchery. (hee hee) Also, it's held anytime from the late summer to the end of Autumn. The following morning there's usually a bunch of people hanging around the town all dressed up and noplace to go. I can't believe mine was almost two years ago!

I don't think making school voluntary would work. no one would want to learn the dull stuff and a lot of that is necessary these days. maybe a lot of people would turn up but many would just not bother. then what? teenagers hanging out on street corners with nothing better to do are already a problem.
inside a generation americas idea of high tech would be banging two rocks together

Wow. Hi Myran, as a fellow Irish researcher greeting and salutations.

Considering I've been to my 10 year reununion about 2 years ago, we were no longer hanging around with no-place to go the next morning, we could now afford taxis, as well as a lot more drink.

I have to say that I've enjoyed reading the postings about High School Proms. I thoroughly enjoyed all of my proms and often wish that they held proms for adults now! I would like to indulge in the excitement of dressing up, dancing, eating and drinking and sharing a fun time with my friends once more. The only thing that comes close, is being invited to a wedding, but it's not really the same thing. I would like to slip into a long, sexy gown and dance the night away!

I chose not to go to any proms... for they were only for
the Noticed to go and BE Noticed. The Proms are known for
getting all dressed up, having an overpriced dinner
with dull conversation... and once you got to the dance the main
goal was to A. get drunk and B. see who could have sex first.

Gee.. what did i miss?
I kinda had more fun staying home with my "non-cool" friends.....

Kudra

"Proms" started eons ago, which is why they have evolved into the ridiculous form you see now. The Neanderthal men used to hit a prospective mate with a club, drag her back to the cave, and make her his wife. When the world became "civilized," men danced with girls at parties, bedazzled them with their superior qualities, dragged them back to their "cave," and married them. Now, the girl dresses up (spending $1000 or more) and promenades for all the eligible young bachelors. After teasing all the boys, her date gets her drunk, takes her to a hotel, and gets her pregnant. It's a long tradition that must be upheld for the continuation of our species.

(please, notice the sarcasm)