Not wanting to go to Prom

[Angie7F]

i only got to go to one year 7 social in Australia.
When I see my friends in their year 12 ball, it makes me feel like i missed out on so much.

I was pretty social until i entered college so I guess I would have had fun.
At the same time, i think I was lucky to finish highschool in japan where we have no such traditions what so ever.

 

[Comocat]

You only get one prom. If you have legit reasons for not going, that's cool. But think about in 10 years if you really did something awesome rather than hanging out with your friends on prom night. Dicking around in front of your computer is cool and all, but trust me, when you hit your late 20s you're going to ask yourself if spending the prime physical years of your life inside was worth it. I'm not saying its bad, just when you have a life filled with responsibilites where you cant do whatever you want all the time- how are you going to remember a time that you could?

 

[teebeeohh]

well we kinda had something like this at the end of school but everyone was 19/20 by that point so it was much more enjoable. we were about 95 people graduating and most people got along well and i was kinda sorta involved in the planning (since people decided i should be class president and was kinda good at it).
the most important thing however was that we were allowed to invite extra people and thus pretty much my entire "core" group of friend and my gf at the time were there and it was really enjoyable.

basically: will people you like to hang out with be there? because the best party in the world sucks if the people are shit

 

[verdant monkai]

Similarly to American High Schools, here in Britain we also have proms at the end of elementary(?)/secondary education.

For me, that date is closing in, and I don't know if I want to go, as I don't enjoy parties, I hate wearing suits/dressing up for occasions, and I would only go to spend time w/ my friends.

The counter-argument is that I'm a "boring" person/loser if I don't go, and I feel that my own family will bully me into going, as otherwise, they'll think that I'm addicted to my PC being the point of no return, also they desperately want to deny that I'm a "nerd". (Apparently, it hasn't clicked for them, or it has to do with the fact that my mum is 53, and my brother is a "Bro", except not stupid, and that most people in my home country are intolerant jackasses(Yes, I'm bitter))

So I will ask you, Escapists on whether or not I'm in the right, or if I'm just being boring.

Before you go... have a bit to drink. It's what I'm going to do before I go to my stupid British prom, I'm going to hang out with my friends and then insult everyone I hate before I leave.

It sounds like I am impossibly scummy and maybe I am but, because of the repulsive drink culture we live in everyone will think you turning up quite drunk is fine. Anyone you insult will probably forgive you if you phrase the apology along the lines of "sorry mate/love I was pissed out of my skull". The apology can be used to excuse terrible dancing and pretty much all cringe worthy behaviour.

Everyone here is saying do it your way don't go. They are wrong because that's not how you get anywhere socially. You NEED to go to parties to meet women/new friends, and as you know it depends what you want. If you are happy sitting at home thinking "Yeah fuck everyone else I'm cool being by myself" then great if you are happy. Otherwise get out there and play the field, you'll find social awkwardness and refusal to party goes after you let mr Ethanol round for a visit.

 

[FFP2]

I didn't go to my high school prom for many reasons...

-Everyone was fake as hell in my school. Like Gossip Girl in real life.
-I knew that the music selection would be awful.
-Like 4 months before the stupid thing all the girls were acting like it was their fucking wedding and that really pissed me off.
-It's impossible for me to get drunk so I didn't go to the after party either. I was underage anyway.
-I don't dance. Not ever.

I just stayed at home with some vodka and played video games.

 

[natster43]

For me Prom was kinda boring, I ended up asking a friend to go to it with me which was pretty cool, but it was mostly just a kinda alright night. I mostly liked going as now I have a nice tuxedo if I ever need to dress up for something. But yeah if you don't want to go to prom don't. It isn't that interesting.

 

[Baron von Blitztank]

You're definitely in the right here. If you don't want to go then don't!

I've got my sixth year secondary school prom in a couple of months time and I'm still on the fence about going.
Fortunately I'm not being pressured to go but my girlfriend is pretty much obligated to attend since her friend is going and wants her to go with her. I'm not seeing much incentive to go to be honest, even with my girlfriend going. All it means is I'll be stuck in a shitty room with shit music and shit people getting shitfaced while I'm constantly looking at my watch thinking of all the fun I'd be having playing Team Fortress 2 and acting as the third wheel while my girlfriend buggers off with her friend.

 

[MiskWisk]

I didn't go either. Luckily, I didn't get a hard time because I was in the circle of people who weren't going.

I'm also glad I didn't go as, apparently, the only people who had fun passed out drunk. This was a little surprising as the zero tolerance alcohol policy clearly failed. This was at a prom chaperoned by an ex-army teacher everyone was scared of and another who had mastered the ability to be heard anywhere on the school grounds from any location.

OT: Just don't go. If anyone gives you a hard time just say meh and leave it at that.

 

[IamQ]

As a Swede, I have no idea what the big woho is about the prom. Isn't it just like... a dance? Or not even that, just a party? What are you going to miss? Most parties are the same.

 

[JLink]

Another American here who didn't get to his senior prom either:

1.) I only had a few acquaintanes in high school (the two friends I had went to other schools) and only one of them was going to the prom.

2.) I was only into rock music at the time and I knew I wouldn't like what they were going to be playing.

3.) I don't like dancing.

4.) I hated the people who went to my highschool in general.

5.) The athletes at my school were especially full of themselves. If I went I would get to see them acting like they are god's gift to mankind (even though they weren't going to amount to anything in live) and why would I want to see that?

6.) A prom ticket isn't cheap.

So, with all those things put together it's no suprise that I didn't want to go. And to the OP, it doesn't necessarily make you a boring loser. All it means is that the prom is not your idea of a good time. Hell, it's been 10 years since I was a senior in high school and I still don't regret not going. How about you come up with an alternate plan with your friends instead? Who says that you have to go to the prom that night or do nothing at all?

 

[cikame]

I was in the same position as you in the same country, really didn't want to go but due to friends and recently getting my braces removed i was on a high and decided to go dressed as Hitman (i just wanted a red tie).
It began with me finding somewhere to sit for the rest of the evening where the bullies couldn't see me, then a girl who barely knew me wanted me to get up and dance, ended up 'dancing' the rest of the evening which was alot of fun.

Didn't turn me into a party animal and i haven't been to a club or done anything similar since, but i'll admit to getting some fun out of it.

 

[Froggy Slayer]

I didn't feel like it, but it was on the Amazing Spider-Man release night anyway so instead me and my friend from another school just went to see that.

 

[saoirse13]

If you really don't want to go then don't, no one can force you. But my suggestion,if it was me and I was in that position before is, get a group of your friends, whether you take dates or not to the prom is irrelevant, just go with your friends and make an absolute laugh out of it. When I went me and my mates took the piss put of all the supposed popular people there. It was fun though I was in a dress and was told I should have came in a suit as I was the only girl in a group of guys. We made it the best night we could. We acted ourselves totally crazy weirdos. But hey probably one of e best nights I've had.

 

[Gecko clown]

I'm not going to my prom, none of my friends are so what would I do?

FYI: Our secondary school is America's middle/high school (I think) the last two years of high school is our college/6th form and our university is their college.

 

[Genocidicles]

It wasn't on my radar at all. I guess I would've liked to have gone, but by the time I was even slightly bothered about going it was too late to buy tickets, so whatever.

 

[BishopofAges]

In my area, our prom was split into two events, the dance and the after party. I was never really excited for the dance, chiefly due to not having someone to dance with, so I went to the after party in my street clothes both junior and senior year.

The after party was sponsored by a local parent group against underage drinking/driving, and they decked it out to the nines. Loads of free food and drink, Rock Band set in the game room (it just came out so naturally, everyone wanted to play) along side dozens of casino games to win tickets to win stuff off the prize table. Like the game-player I am, I inquired about the rules and the principal said the only real rule about the prize table is that you can only win ONE item, so if your name comes up on different items, you only get the first.

With that in mind, I put all my tickets into one thing both years, won both. Had a great time with my friends and didn't have to spend a dime on a tux, rental car, or any of that mess. Do I wish I had someone at the time to dance with? Sure, but I didn't so I made the best of it.

 

[Tomaius]

The prom that my high school had when I was 15 was pretty poor. Only went because I felt like I had too, and I didnt put much into my appearance or getting there.

The various end of year balls at university have always been a blast, mainly because its not a social thing its more about getting drunk and having a good time.

 

[Space commando 75]

I stayed at home and ordered a pizza and played some halo 3 instead of going to mine. Hated high school and i'll be happy if i never see those &*#*#* i had to call classmates again.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

Didn't go to mine and didn't think much of it. Even if I had somebody to take with me, I'm pretty sure I'd rather take them somewhere else.

 

[Hardzero]

If you do not have a date, then don't go. Here in 'murica, it is kind of embarrassing to go without a date. If you don't want to, then just don't go. If someone has a problem with that, pull up dealwithit.gif.