creeping americanisation

[timwilky]

We are definitely becoming americanised.

When I left school we were told to p1ss off and not come back. When my kids left school they attended a valedictory night of expensive frocks, limousines, dancing and speeches, then off somewhere to party. Son went up to where it was being hosted to mock the loosers.

Tonight we (wife and I) have to attend my mates house to see off our god daughter in her expensive posh frock and limousine. But to her "prom".

FFS I ask you, it was bad enough when they dressed it up and called it a valedictory, now they call it a prom. Why do they do it. My friend has paid over a month of her wage for her daughter to go on this one night out. She is fortunate that they are a two wage (But not highly paid) family. How do "poor" kids cope?

I know from my daughters they never wore their posh frocks a second time and a hundred quid hair do only lasts the night. I know it is probably the last time they will see most of the people who bullied them, mugged them, stole from them and generally made the last 5 years horrible. So why are mostly girls so damm eager to spend a fortune of their parents money for a night with people they don't even like?

[dizzyblonde]

They called it a 'prom' way back in 1993* Tim, and most likely in years prior to that too.

Its not that much of a new thing.

* I now feel very old!

[timwilky]

I obviously attended the wrong type of school. (All boys).

My kids were quite forcibly told it is a valedictory night.

But at the end of the day. Why are parents put on the spot to pay out a fortune for their kids to have a night out at a local hotel. The function is not a bad price. It is the stupid competition they get into for the hair, make up, frock and limo. FFS don't drop of little Britney in the family focus, she will die of embarrassment.

[Quedos]

A what night?!?!?

i left 1994 and we had a school disco and that was it - the awards ceremony was at the end of term andto date that all they still get. 6th years have the options of going outhwith school but everyone else is a disco in the school hall

[Bedhead]

They called it a 'prom' way back in 1993* Tim, and most likely in years prior to that too.

Its not that much of a new thing.

* I now feel very old!

We call them "Formals" in NI and it's bloody money making racket! Mrs BH's son had one a while back, so he needed a new suit, his GF, who he dumped a week later needed a new frock, they were conveyed there in a stretch limo and after drinking half their weight in alcopops were poured into a taxi home which needed paying for. :rolleyes:

Total cost wasn't that much shy of £500, the Limo alone was £150.

In fairness he wears the suit most weekends, looks like a cross between Marilyn Manson and Al Capone.

[dizzyblonde]

We had our prom at school. I was head of 'theatre props' back then so decorated the main hall to suit.

I know these days they go to a hotel for some schools. Whats the harm in getting dressed up for your leaving school do?


I just think you're being grumpy again! :)

[Quedos]

I had a black velvet jasper conran dress for mine.

tho i was yearbook photographer so i was doing other things!!

[TamSV]

I had a black velvet jasper conran dress for mine.

tho i was yearbook photographer so i was doing other things!!


Yearbook???? It's getting worse. :rolleyes:

[timwilky]

Yearbook photographer!

FFS the police could have supplied 3 photos of each of all my year.

[Dave20046]

I just haggled in oxfam for a suit and walked there tinnys in hand. Is that the British equivalent?

[keithd]

Kids having some fun and enjoying themselves!!! Whatever next? They should all go out and get jobs and get their hair cut

[tigersaw]

I bet we had much more fun at the end of year disco than all this prom nonesence.
Smoking was cool, beer was cheap and girls all wore short skirts in the 70's.

[Bedhead]

I knew I was leaving school after 5th form, but by some minor miracle, I had passed 9 GCSE's, I walked in, got my wee slip and our year teacher, who was the most egotistical wee git ever to walk the earth says "It pains me to say this, but I have to offer you a place in 6th form"

I told him to shove his school up his @r$e and walked out, that was my leaving do!

[_Stretchie_]

We are definitely becoming americanized.

Corrected for you

[tweakedtay]

Americanisation is a very iffy subject for us. Being so damned close to eachother, we keep struggling to keep out own national identity, but keep being bombarded by the american's.

I wish we could pick up the country and move someplace other than neer them.....

[Bedhead]

Americanisation is a very iffy subject for us. Being so damned close to eachother, we keep struggling to keep out own national identity, but keep being bombarded by the american's.

I wish we could pick up the country and move someplace other than neer them.....

Aren't a great many of you practically French? :confused:

[timwilky]

Aren't a great many of you practically French? :confused:

Love them or hate them, at least the French have the Academie Francaise to keep their language French.

It is funny being in a conversation that includes French, English and French Canadians. The French do not understand French Canadian words. I guess just like we do not understand the language the americans call English.

[Owenski]

Was called a prom for us in 2000, and irrc that caused some stink amoungst the students that thought of it as anything more than a pi55 up.
Surely though tim its down to the parernts to decide if the kids get a new outfit or if they go in limo instead of dads taxi. Cant blame the kids for costing all the cash when the parents have the magic power of saying "no".

[bathwiggle]

ours was 'The leaver's do' in 2004 maybe, but everyone just called it prom as it was shorter. For me the dress was from a charity shop and a taxi with a couple of friends as no parents could take us, including the ticket and drinks was less than £100, some of the girls spent twice that just on the dress.

None of us cared about how much it was costing, just an excuse to have a party
Although the dress kept being used until i got fat :D

[Milky Bar Kid]

In 5th and 6th yr we had Ceilidh's. Were before Christmas but that was the only do we got at school. But yeh we spent a fortune getting hair, make up and dresses sorted. And we had 2 of them to attend!

[MisterTommyH]

in 1999 we went to Drayton Manor then some went camping and had a few beers (unofficially of course).

In 2001 we went for a leavers meal with the staff, then we all went onto a club.

Kids having some fun and enjoying themselves!!! Whatever next? They should all go out and get jobs and get their hair cut

The problem is I've heard of even primary schools having 'proms' for their year 6's.

It's all just forcing kids to try and grow up sooner. Why not do kiddy things like going to a theme park.

We all know that year 11's and sixth formers probably drink, but schools shouldn't be sanctioning it. Half the fun was trying to sneak the stuff in.

[JamesMio]

This seems to be as good a place as any for this particular little rant...

It's 'got'. Regardless of context.

You 'got' drunk.

You have 'got' to get here.

We have gone and 'got' ourselves lost.

Anyone not from the USA that uses that bast@rdisation 'gotten' on here risks having their thumb snapped off with a ring spanner.

Stop it! Now!

[BigBaddad]

This sees to be as good a place as any for this particular little rant...

It's 'got'. Regardless of context.

You 'got' drunk.

You have 'got' to get here.

We have gone and 'got' ourselves lost.

Anyone not from the USA that uses that bast@rdisation 'gotten' on here risks having their thumb snapped off with a ring spanner.

Stop it! Now!

For a Scotchman, your English has gotten right good.

[Balky001]

I thought it was gitten?

End of term disco for me in 1984. But last day at school was eggs flour and marker pens

[STRAMASHER]

Some yoofs on here were going to the HG "store" the other week. I was having palpatations. Its a shoap!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnGPgCVJUsI

[andrewsmith]

ours was a p*** up that included the staff.
We drank ourselves daft as we could at the bar rates 6 year ago (£3.50 a pint)

[Ed]

1979, I don't remember TBH, but I ain't never been back.

[DJFridge]

My kids were quite forcibly told it is a valedictory night.

Sorry, I'm with Quedos on that one. What the f is a valedictory night? We had an end of year disco (which was sh1te btw).

Still, well done for spelling americanisation with an s, not a z. My pet hate is having to constantly add words to the dictionary on my browser because it underlines anything that isn't spelled the American way. And, while I'm ranting, colour has a u in it, as does honour, valour etc, etc

[Tim in Belgium]

|It was a leavers do at our school, because we were leaving, simple!

[Lozzo]

I left school in 1978 - we didn't have a prom or a disco, we had a fight with the rival school in the next village.

[timwilky]

I left school in 1978 - we didn't have a prom or a disco, we had a fight with the rival school in the next village.

Sounds familiar, our school badge as worn by the 3 nerds in the first year was a red cross with one of the letters SABS in each quarter. St Augustines battered Southlands. As I said no leaving do for us. Although one of the lads lived on a farm near to the school and had a tractor mounted welder. So gates welded shut with all teachers cars behind.

[Sir Trev]

Didn't have anything at school in 1985 or college in 1987. Was a do organised in 1991 for graduation but it was a BALL - black tie for us chaps and the girls dressed up too. As it was the end of four years of student poverty and we were hardly kids any more it was not about showing off or spending lots. Thankfully.

I can imagine some of my daughter's friends taking it too seriously when they get to that stage - currently 14 so not too long now. Groan...

[SoulKiss]

Sorry, I'm with Quedos on that one. What the f is a valedictory night? We had an end of year disco (which was sh1te btw).

Still, well done for spelling americanisation with an s, not a z. My pet hate is having to constantly add words to the dictionary on my browser because it underlines anything that isn't spelled the American way. And, while I'm ranting, colour has a u in it, as does honour, valour etc, etc

You COULD just set your dictionary to "British English" (may be English (UK))

no?

Besides its not just the Yanks that like to lose letters.

Essex hasn't seen an "h" or a "th" in decades...

[tweakedtay]

Aren't a great many of you practically French? :confused:


Actually, it's a common misconception. Only about 1/10 people is french, and they only stick to Quebec. Thank god for that.....

[Milky Bar Kid]

Actually, it's a common misconception. Only about 1/10 people is french, and they only stick to Quebec. Thank god for that.....


On a completely random note, the friends I am house sitting for are currently in Calgary. They found a street on the map called "Shaganappi" and we think this is hilarious and they are gonna try and find it and get a pic....

Anyway, piece of random info for you there!:thumright:

[hongman]

I thought it was gitten?

End of term disco for me in 1984. But last day at school was eggs flour and marker pens

That was the year I was born! Great year, I tell you!

You COULD just set your dictionary to "British English" (may be English (UK))

no?

Besides its not just the Yanks that like to lose letters.

Essex hasn't seen an "h" or a "th" in decades...

The amount of people that call me "ong" instead of Hong is downright evil. I'm told by people round here that I speak posh just because I pronounce letters!

Crazy.

Our leavers do (not prom, not valesomething) our group of friends all chipped in for a Limo (about 10 of us) and I saved up my own money (worked part time nights in Year 11) to buy my own suit.

That's how the "poor" kids coped.

[tweakedtay]

On a completely random note, the friends I am house sitting for are currently in Calgary. They found a street on the map called "Shaganappi" and we think this is hilarious and they are gonna try and find it and get a pic....

Anyway, piece of random info for you there!:thumright:

It's named after an aboriginal (or fist nations) tribe from the area.
It's on the north side of the city, it's a major road, shouldn't be too hard to find and snap a pic :)

[missyburd]

We've had proms a while now, you really don't have to spend a fortune but some people seem to think you do and it's daft.


But at the end of the day. Why are parents put on the spot to pay out a fortune for their kids to have a night out at a local hotel.

I believe I fell in this "poor" category you speak of, my parents didn't pay a penny but I still attended our end of year "prom" and yes we splashed out and got a limo to the hotel where the do was. I borrowed a dress and found the money because I had a job.

In my opinion a teenager at 6th form age should be paying for stuff themselves where at all possible and if you as a parent feel you have been put on the spot to cough up for it all then I'm sorry but tell them where to go. It's not like it's a spontaneous event that they can't save up for :smt102



Anyone not from the USA that uses that bast@rdisation 'gotten' on here risks having their thumb snapped off with a ring spanner.


Haha brilliant :)

[hongman]

It's not like it's a spontaneous event that they can't save up for :smt102

Sums it up perfectly.

I held a job working in a factory at nights from end of year 10 til I left school, not becuase I needed it at the time, but I just fancied contributing to the house upkeep and stuff. I was a good boy :D

I see/know kids that left school 2-3 years ago (more even) and still doss about relying on mummy and daddy for everything and moaning they are always broke.

Having worked since I have been legally able to with my biggest employment gap being 6 weeks as I'd broke both my wrists, I guess I just dont see how young adults as they are supposed to be manage to survive the way they are.

[Quedos]

I din't work when I was at school or Uni. My fourth year of uni I worked at the local function suite to get experience but that was it.

[missyburd]

I din't work when I was at school or Uni. My fourth year of uni I worked at the local function suite to get experience but that was it.
Wow lucky! I had 2 different jobs at the weekend during GCSEs through to Alevels while travelling 40 miles a day on buses....then had a job for first and second year at uni. All good fun, don't regret it though but I'm not sure I'd have done it if I'd been given the choice. Had to have money though (to pay for bus fare for a start!) and I started paying parents board from age 15.

Wonder how many American kids have to do that lol.

[Milky Bar Kid]

It's named after an aboriginal (or fist nations) tribe from the area.
It's on the north side of the city, it's a major road, shouldn't be too hard to find and snap a pic :)

Do you get why we find it so funny?

[hongman]

If my son ever starts giving me keep without me asking I'd probably stick it in a fund for him to use when he really needed it - i.e for his DAS and bike ;)

[Milky Bar Kid]

Wow lucky! I had 2 different jobs at the weekend during GCSEs through to Alevels while travelling 40 miles a day on buses....then had a job for first and second year at uni. All good fun, don't regret it though but I'm not sure I'd have done it if I'd been given the choice. Had to have money though (to pay for bus fare for a start!) and I started paying parents board from age 15.

Wonder how many American kids have to do that lol.

I worked from 14. did 16-20 hours a week waitressing. Worked a Wednesday night and then either 2 of the weekend nights. I was only a mile n half from school so mum used to drop us off on the way to her work in the morning and then we would walk home later ourselves. Once I was working, I didn't pay keep to mum and dad but I didn't expect them to pay for my lunch or anything, and I would usually pay for most of my clothes and trainers and stuff myself.

My brother, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish. He is working full time and still has to get hand outs cos he is completely clueless about money. Much to my annoyance.:smt091

[missyburd]

My brother, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish. He is working full time and still has to get hand outs cos he is completely clueless about money. Much to my annoyance.:smt091
Yeah my brother's 17, not working yet and not paying board yet either...nice and fair lol.

Think we need a new thread :D

[metalangel]

It is funny being in a conversation that includes French, English and French Canadians. The French do not understand French Canadian words.

Stop sign in France: "Stop"
Stop sign in Quebec: "Arrete"

I am told that Quebec French is to modern French what Victorian English is to modern English.

I guess just like we do not understand the language the americans call English.

American English is closer to whatever you have decided is 'proper' English than the regional borderline gibberish spoken in much of the UK.

[yorkie_chris]

I don't remember TBH,

A concise summation of events as always Ed, pretty much fits the bill for our end of year p*ss up too!

I remember completely blowing my modest budget (£3.50 an hour for carrying bricks and making tea at the time!!) on a pack of lambert and scuttler and a cheap bottle of scotch, only to find the bar was quite happy to serve us all booze anyway. Bit foggy after that, pretty sure it kicked off at some point.

[Quedos]

Wow lucky! .

I'll admit I was - I wasn't the rich kid just not materialistic minded then. We didn't go into town much and when i did we made a fiver go far. Mum would drop us at the station and that was us. At school i helped round the house but studied a lot of the time or wander round to mates. I need to study as it didn't come easy and wanted good grades.

Uni - I was the last intake to get the student grant and I stayed at home so no wild partying for me - the last bus back was abt 11 at night and taxi was abt £36 quid.

I worked from 14. did 16-20 hours a week waitressing. Worked a Wednesday night and then either 2 of the weekend nights. I was only a mile n half from school so mum used to drop us off on the way to her work in the morning and then we would walk home later ourselves. Once I was working, I didn't pay keep to mum and dad but I didn't expect them to pay for my lunch or anything, and I would usually pay for most of my clothes and trainers and stuff myself.


The only rule in our house was once you were working a third went on digs. It what my brother had and I argued to have the same as they wanted to do something different. Most of the wage went on books, petrol and into the company that i was helping run at the same time.

[Milky Bar Kid]

I'll admit I was - I wasn't the rich kid just not materialistic minded then. We didn't go into town much and when i did we made a fiver go far. Mum would drop us at the station and that was us. At school i helped round the house but studied a lot of the time or wander round to mates. I need to study as it didn't come easy and wanted good grades.

Uni - I was the last intake to get the student grant and I stayed at home so no wild partying for me - the last bus back was abt 11 at night and taxi was abt £36 quid.



The only rule in our house was once you were working a third went on digs. It what my brother had and I argued to have the same as they wanted to do something different. Most of the wage went on books, petrol and into the company that i was helping run at the same time.

They didn't take digs off me cos I was still at school. I pay digs now.

[beabert]

A what night?!?!?

+1 :D

[Shawthing]

This seems to be as good a place as any for this particular little rant...

It's 'got'. Regardless of context.

You 'got' drunk.

You have 'got' to get here.

We have gone and 'got' ourselves lost.
Anyone not from the USA that uses that bast@rdisation 'gotten' on here risks having their thumb snapped off with a ring spanner.

Stop it! Now!


What are those greedy PROMENADE oranisers going to do with thier Ill-GOTTEN gains?

English enough?

[Lozzo]

Didn't have anything at school in 1985 or college in 1987. Was a do organised in 1991 for graduation but it was a BALL - black tie for us chaps and the girls dressed up too.

A few months after we'd left school we were invited back to collect our O Level and GCE certificates. Me and quite a few mates had joined the army by then, so we asked for a weekend leave from our respective COs which was granted to all and we arranged to turn up in No. 2 uniform. We arrived en-masse, strode in and mingled with our mates until the ceremony started properly. Certificates were being handed out in alphabetical order and my surname beginning with "Bi" meant I was one of the first to walk up. The Deputy Head and I had been the subject of a non-stop three year battle of wits which had ended with him getting a serious slapping and me officially getting expelled instead of sitting my history exam. He was the one handing out the certificates and made a snide comment about being surprised I got one O level let alone the five I did then held out his hand to be shaken. I took the certificates, looked at his hand, said "I really don't think so" turned to my army mates and said "I'm going down the pub, you coming?". All of them walked up and started rifling through the pile of certificates until they got theirs and followed me out.

Twenty minutes after we trooped into the pub a horde of our old schoolmates stormed in certificates in hand. Apparently the deputy head had called a temporary halt to the ceremony after we'd left and shot off to the office for some reason - when he got back five minutes later there was a crowd of kids helping themselves to their certificates and waiting for their mates to find theirs. The ceremony fell apart and everyone left to join us at the pub. An hour later we were joined by a handful of our old teachers who were in fits of laughter at the way the deputy head had been trounced - he was not a popular man with any of them.

That was the first and last certificate ceremony the school ever held.

[BanannaMan]

creeping americanisation?

Hmmm...Last time I was there, I think I dumped some out of my pockets next to a trash can outside at Ed's previous house.
Who knows how far it's spread now?









Anyone not from the USA that uses that bast@rdisation 'gotten' on here risks having their thumb snapped off with a ring spanner.





I don't recall ever saying 'gotten' on here but it's nice to know I'd be safe doing so. Even if I am the only one. LOL


Hey, how many of yall done gotten yall's thumbs snapped off yet fer sayin that???? http://cenvachristiansportbike.homestead.com/redneck2.gif

[JamesMio]

:0P You don't count!
;)

[kellyjo]

I thought it was bad enough that 16 year olds want prom dresses, limos etc but yesterday my daughter went to a pink/black party and the mum hired a stretch limo just to drive them around the village 4 times - the birthday girl was 11!!!

I refused to buy my daughter a new dress as it wouldnt get worn again and ive told her NOT to expect anything like that for her birthday, taking a few friends to the cinema and for pizza will do just fine.

[dizzyblonde]

ive told her NOT to expect anything like that for her birthday, taking a few friends to the cinema and for pizza will do just fine.


You sound like me.....I'm so mean I take the eldest sons birthday in the school hols as an excuse not to have birthday parties:eye:

I'm not really, but when you can't afford to take loads of kids bowling, or you work all weekend, its a sigh of relief when its a school holiday your childs birthday is in:D

[metalangel]

http://cenvachristiansportbike.homestead.com/redneck2.gif

LOL!

*spit*
*ting!*

We need a beercan-against-smiley-forehead smiley!

[tweakedtay]

Do you get why we find it so funny?

Yes, yes I do. And I agree...bad name for a street. Or awesome name....you deciede.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Yes, yes I do. And I agree...bad name for a street. Or awesome name....you deciede.

I think it's awesome in its horrendousness....:thumright:

[Bluepete]

It's my daughters last two days at primary school.

Tonight is the leavers school disco, complete with party food organised by the school.

Tomorrow night is the "graduation prom" organised by the friends of school group.

It's been organised because some of the parents thought a school disco wasn't good enough. There have been all sorts of arguments and bitching about cost, clothing and so on, and needless to say, limos are involved.

THESE KIDS ARE ELEVEN!

It's nothing to do with the kids, it's purely the parents wanting to show off.

Pete ;)

[metalangel]

I remember those dances. The Simpsons captured it perfectly when the precocious girl with a cel phone joined Lisa's class and organized one: girls stand against one wall, boys against the opposite wall, the dancefloor is no man's land.

[Quiff Wichard]

£200 dress hanging in our loft that kali wore for her prom.. for one night !

[metalangel]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/14130942

Get over it already!

[metalmonkey]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14201796

This might interest some of you, its a top of American words used ect...

[metalangel]

I worry about some of those people.

[Mrs_giggles]

it was a 'leavers do' when i left in 2000 for me ours was in a local hotel, some people did go all out frocks and limo's but i was dropped off by my dad.
On the other hand i have also taken part in the american version in my gap year and the extent that the kids here go too is nothing to what some do over there.having prom kings and queens and royal courts.
Americanisation is bad in some ways yes but i can tell you there are some things that we could to take note of, the activities that american kids do through school is amazing to the things we get more based around real world applications of skill not just academic
ie event organisation,newspaper and journalism and polatics