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.

Yeah, it is fun, but some citations would be nice.

That's capitalism for you.

It's just the US in a nutshell

Any idea why he went with you instead of his actual girlfriend?

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.

"Pron was the only time you could be with a girl without your parents present"

Everyone wants to do it!

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