# I'm boycotting the Prom **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 23, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355 "2003-01-23T03:21:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/21 "2003-01-23T04:02:03Z")
> [@](#): > > Throw a frog in scalding hot water, and it will jump out right away. But put that same frog in cold water, and slowly heat it up, and it will stay in there and be boiled to death. ['Fraid not, actually.](http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/frogboil.htm) Really, **Blaron** , I agree that testing everyone is probably over the top. But really, so what? You don’t have a right to be drunk at your prom. ---
**Author:** ![Cosmopolitan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/94ad74/32.png) [@Cosmopolitan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cosmopolitan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/22 "2003-01-23T04:02:41Z")
Oh, gimme a break. I strongly suspect that the school administration isn’t trying to boil you like a frog (a weird image at best) simply because they enjoy stomping civil rights or something. IANAL, but I figure that the administration’s trying to cover its’ own collective legally bound ass: They don’t want this to be the year that some (underage) asshole _does_ decide that he’s okay to drive home with alcohol in his system, so they’re taking precautions. They’re taking responsibility for the well-being of the students in their care. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/23 "2003-01-23T04:02:59Z")
We drank at our friend’s house on Prom Night, at a party we threw, with the permission of everyone’s parents. I’m amazed at how many parents freak about underage drinking. Most of us stayed overnight, no big deal. And frankly, most of us had been sneaking booze since middle school anyhow at mixers and various parties… I figure if kids want to do it, arrange it so they do it under your nose and in such a way that nobody’s driving til the next day. Then the school needn’t be involved at all. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/24 "2003-01-23T04:04:17Z")
ah, thanks **Ferret** … lack of quotes caused me some confusion… it is late at night after all. And **Blalron** > [@](#): > > I’m old enough to be drafted, to fight and die for my country. Yet my school insists on treating 18 year olds like babies who need to be monitored for their Senior prom. I’m not going to just stand here and take it, I will not be one of the frogs that unwittingly gets boiled to death. … it’s not the school’s fault! You’re ranting against the wrong bossman here. It’s the US Government, not your school, or you principal. He’s just doing what he has to do to protect himself under the law. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/25 "2003-01-23T04:05:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Oh, and I don’t understand “not guilty until proven innocent.” We are NOT “guilty until proven innocent” The assumption should be that we are innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around. We should not have to submit to an intrusive search to prove that we are innocent. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/26 "2003-01-23T04:13:45Z")
Fight the power, dude! :giggle: ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/27 "2003-01-23T04:17:10Z")
> [@](#): > > 'Fraid not, actually. [hijack] I hesistated to put in that analogy, since I knew somebody would be along shortly to refute it. But it really sounded neat and if anyone has a similar example that actually would be true I’d appreciate it. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/28 "2003-01-23T04:18:52Z")
**Mockingbird** : 1. It was a joke. Geez. Overreact much? 2. The OPer is a bit of a [nitwit.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=157367) 3. He’s protesting the school not wanting drunken teens at a dance. Which is illegal. Oh, the humanity! ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/29 "2003-01-23T04:19:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blalron \* > \*\*My school decided to implement a “zero tolerance” policy. You will need to take a breathalyzer to get into the dance, and if you have alcohol on your breath they will CALL THE COPS on you. \*\* Normally I think teenagers whine to much but I have to agree with part of what Blalron says. I believe it is completely unreasonable for the school to give every student attending the prom a breathalyzer. It may be legal for them to do so but I won’t support their actions. > [@](#): > > \*\* > I’m not going. Furthermore, my friends and I are considering organizing a protest. This is bullshit. Calling the cops is way too excessive. \*\* Calling the cops is pretty reasonable if they think a student has been drinking. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/30 "2003-01-23T04:21:54Z")
I have no problem with testing people who appear to be inebriated, but giving everyone a breathalyzer seems a bit excessive. It seems like to me that the brethalyzer should only be used for cause, not indiscriminately. Refusing entry to people that are obviously drunk doesn’t strike me as wrong, but calling the police seems a bit extreme. I would think that refusing them entry would be enough to protect the school from liability. It’s not their duty to ensure that students are not drinking after school hours, just that they are not drinking or drunk on school grounds. I’m not a big fan of random drug testing, either. IMHO, the same principle should apply: if a person gives cause, then they should be tested. Urinating on command into a cup is somewhat of a humiliating and embarassing experience. A breatalyzer is not as intrusive as a drug test, but it seems a bit unessecary to make everyone blow into a tube. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/31 "2003-01-23T04:22:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Calling the cops is pretty reasonable if they think a student has been drinking. What if it’s .01? What if it’s just mouthwash? Should we have to be scared of even using mouthwash because they might sic the cops on us? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/32 "2003-01-23T04:23:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silentgoldfish \* > \*\* > 3) He’s protesting the school not wanting drunken teens at a dance. Which is illegal. > \*\* He’s protesting them giving breath tests to everyone who attends. I do not believe his complaints are entirely without merit. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/33 "2003-01-23T04:26:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mockingbird \* > \*\*And another entry from the stupid jerk gallery is heard from. > \*\* Have you seen some of the shit **Blalron** has posted lately? Pardon me if I save my sympathy for the frogs. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/34 "2003-01-23T04:28:58Z")
> [@](#): > > … it’s not the school’s fault! You’re ranting against the wrong bossman here. It’s the US Government, not your school, or you principal. He’s just doing what he has to do to protect himself under the law. All he needs to do is deny entrance. He doesn’t need to call the cops. And he doesn’t need to test EVERYBODY. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/35 "2003-01-23T04:31:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MGibson \* > \*\*He’s protesting them giving breath tests to everyone who attends. I do not believe his complaints are entirely without merit. > > Marc \*\* My WAG is that the faculty couldn’t find anyone to volunteer to smell all the attendees breath for alcohol as they went in, which is what they did at all my high school dances. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/36 "2003-01-23T04:34:30Z")
What I’ll probably do is write something in the school paper. Better than standing outside on a cold, rainy oregon night. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/37 "2003-01-23T04:37:37Z")
**Lissa** , I’d imagine, though, that the school would still be liable (or at the very least the adult being the “bouncer”) if they sent the kid/kids away and something bad happened, without reporting it. **Blalron** , you need to really clarify what your issue is here. Are you arguing that students should be allowed to drink and then go to the prom? Your statements here lead me to believe so: > [@](#): > > This is but one of a series of crack down on students rights. Until a year ago, we could smoke on school grounds (not in the building, but adult students could go outside and smoke). Good old new principal shows up and starts this bullshit with no provocation for the sole purpose of asserting his authority. That’s a laugh. “Student rights”!?!? You have a right to break the law on school property? :rolleyes: Or are you arguing that your rights are being infringed upon by even being tested at all? This supports that interpretation of your argument: > [@](#): > > I’m old enough to be drafted, to fight and die for my country. Yet my school insists on treating 18 year olds like babies who need to be monitored for their Senior prom. I’m not going to just stand here and take it… And still, you’re being ridiculous. Your school does not draft you into the army, so the draft has nothing to do with the hypocracy or lack thereof of your school. As for being arrested for mouthwash use, does anyone know if mouthwash’ll actually make you blow something significant? And, **Blalron** as much as you might think the man wants to get you, in general, the cops would say, if you told them nicly that it was just mouthwash, “oh, ok kid… don’t do drugs,” and let you on your way. So, it might help if you’d clarify your rant and your position a bit. I know it’s not GD, but if you want to ellicit anything more than mild amusement from anyone reading this, you ought to get a little more focused. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/38 "2003-01-23T04:41:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blalron \* > \*\*All he needs to do is deny entrance. He doesn’t need to call the cops. And he doesn’t need to test EVERYBODY. \*\* Are you not reading here? _He does need to call the cops_. Imagine, if you will, teacher at the door, smells and/or breathalyzes student, and suspects student (or knows) of drinking, and sends him/her back out on the road. Kid gets in accident on the way home, and teacher/school is sued, teacher loses job, etc, etc, etc. The _only_ proper response from a person hired by the town to supervise minors in absence of their parents is to report underage drinking to the police, in all instances. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/39 "2003-01-23T04:42:58Z")
> [@](#): > > As for being arrested for mouthwash use, does anyone know if mouthwash’ll actually make you blow something significant? I’ve heard, but can’t swear to, that people with severe halitosis can fail a breathalyzer. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355/40 "2003-01-23T04:46:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blalron \* > \*\*What I’ll probably do is write something in the school paper. Better than standing outside on a cold, rainy oregon night. \*\* This is rich. You’re going to stand up for your rights and protest if the _weather_ allows? Jesus, you have less fiber than a bowl of chili. Haj [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-boycotting-the-prom/150355.md?page=3)