[SirTech]

I go to a crazy school ...
every day there are about nine 14 to 15 year old girls that go behind the school to smoke ... they think it's cool but yet again most teens think it's cool to smoke .... those girls also happen to drink and i've heard rumors that 3 of them aren't virgins ..umm ok normal
we also have guys that smoke but it seems the acceptable cuz everyone's making a fuss over the girls only
maybe all schools were like that ...(sarcastic)

any thoughts / questions ?

[Annie]

Sorry thoughts on what?
The fact that people make their own decisions?

[Iceman]

Just regular teenage behaviour in my opinion, most are probably only following what others do.

[SirTech]

Originally posted by Annie
Sorry thoughts on what?
The fact that people make their own decisions?

do you think it's ok ? that's all i'm sayin

[NettoSuperstar!]

All schools are like that...you live and learn

[Lauren]

Teenagers are all about acceptance. Maybe subconsciously, but largely consciously.

They smoke, to gain acceptance. By smoking they're taking a risk and their peers appreciate that by putting them on a pedestal.
By having sex, they're taking a risk and "growing up" - their peers appreciate that, and put them on a pedestal.
By acting out, the same thing happens.

I just say, let them. We all might do it eventually, at least they're going off the rails now in the confines of the school, rather than at around 16 when they can get on much worse things much easier.

[SirTech]

Originally posted by Lauren
Teenagers are all about acceptance. Maybe subconsciously, but largely consciously.

They smoke, to gain acceptance. By smoking they're taking a risk and their peers appreciate that by putting them on a pedestal.
By having sex, they're taking a risk and "growing up" - their peers appreciate that, and put them on a pedestal.
By acting out, the same thing happens.

I just say, let them. We all might do it eventually, at least they're going off the rails now in the confines of the school, rather than at around 16 when they can get on much worse things much easier.

Lauren always has a reasonable opinion

[Annie]

Originally posted by SirTech

do you think it's ok ? that's all i'm sayin

Oh right.
Yes I think its quite acceptable, remember that people "mature" at different stages and some people might feel that they are ready for sexual relationships before others, and 15 isn't really that young to be loosing your virginity. Well this is comparing it to my school and maybe had lost it by 12/13.
As for the smoking thing, maybe people do this to follow the crowd and although you may say that is wrong and they shouldn't do it for health reasons. People will do anything to be part of something, a group of friends etc. Its not right smoking and especially at a young age but at the end of the day they are nearly adults and are starting to make their own decisions in life, some you learn from, some you don't.

As long as you are happy with what you are doing in life and are happy with who you are inside yourself then you don't need to worry about others your age.

[hannah.]

I sneaked off and smoked when I was that age, drank aswell.. I like to think I've turned out alright lol, although I've not really changed other than I don't smoke out my bedroom window anymore lol

[pinkmichk]

at that age i was smoking in secret having sex and i was also drinking its not done me no harm i'm 25 dont smoke (although i find it really hard to not buy a packet of fags almost daily) and i am now tee total its just teens finding out who they are and stuff

[arista]

Originally posted by Iceman
Just regular teenage behaviour in my opinion, most are probably only following what others do.

Yes a bunch of Sheep.

[Firewire]

There are lots of people in my school who smoke/drink.

[Shaun]

Teenage years are fun. I'll agree with Lauren - it's all about finding social acceptance and finding out where you stand.

I'm glad the dramatic aspect amongst my friends is over now...well for most of them anyway, I hated the days of backstabbing and two-faced people. At the time, everything seems to matter so much (because there's no past or alternative time of their life to compare it to) - but as a young adult now... I wish I'd spent more time concentrating in class instead of messing around, skipping lessons and not bothering with homework :P

[MrGaryy]

I'm sorry - 'crazy school'?! that's just normal teenage behaviour it happens everywhere, nothing surprising. Most kids I know started smoking when they were 12/13.

[Conor]

Its the same here too. Smoking and drinking aren't cool - dunno why so many people think it is. I will never smoke and I never drink to show off, just to have a bit more fun

[Harry!]

There a few people who smoke at my school. The worst thing is the teachers smoke and that's sets a bad example to to the kids.

[Conor]

^ loats of staff smoke at my school. Probs the stress lol

[hannah.]

Originally posted by Shaun
Teenage years are fun. I'll agree with Lauren - it's all about finding social acceptance and finding out where you stand.

I'm glad the dramatic aspect amongst my friends is over now...well for most of them anyway, I hated the days of backstabbing and two-faced people. At the time, everything seems to matter so much (because there's no past or alternative time of their life to compare it to) - but as a young adult now... I wish I'd spent more time concentrating in class instead of messing around, skipping lessons and not bothering with homework :P

ditto

[Noel]

Everyone in my school looks down upon anyone who smokes LOL. I think it's because they think they're all posh and mighty (I'm not btw :P) But yeh, I would NEVER smoke, but I take the occasional drink now and again, but I don't do it in public in the middle of town and laugh loud then excuse myself, because "I'm so drunkkk". I think most people do it to fit in and to look "cool". TBH, does anyone think smoking looks "cool" any more? I don't haha.

[Axiom]

The fact is, it's becoming more and more common for teenagers to lose their virginities at age 14/15 than it was before. As for the smoking, well it's always been this way. I know some people in older generations whi started smoking when they were 9/10 years old. I think you're just shocked that you are growing up, and seeing all these "adult-like" qualities develop on you and the people around you. I was like that too, shocked by certain things, but have now come to accept it. However, the people who lost their virginities around age 12, were generally the people who failed at school, and are now no-hopers. I don't know what connection this has with grades etc, but I think it does hold true because our community and society reflects this.

About drinking. Some police officers unfairly stereotype every kind of teenager, believing them to be drunks and vandals, which is really unfair. Then again, there are others who are just great with kids. But there is a difference between kids who get drunk for the hell of it and to show off, and kids who drink to enjoy themselves. I think that if you're 14 or over, drinking is acceptable so long as you are responsible. At the end of the day, people make way too much fuss about all these topics, because when you're older and looking back over your life, you think "God, what a laugh we had when we were young". Imagine if you never drank when young, or never had any fun or never lost your virginity, imagine how empty and life would feel. You would regret it for the rest of your life. Growing up (the period between 13-18 years) is one of the best times of life.

[arista]

I can see how some think Smoking is Sexy and Cool
as in Old movies,
but the Stench and Damage it does to you
slow death at the end.


Smoking Is No Way Cool.

[bronaaaa]

The majority of my year drink every week. A few of them smoke, and a few do drugs\ have sex and all that. A few second years even be at that. Alot of its just because there's jack all to do here for teenagers, and the towns bad, like if you asked my class to get drugs, the majority would know where to get it from.

I personally hate the way girls go out drinking \ fighting on the streets, like it just looks a bit tr*mpy imo, like the odd drinks not so bad, but there's ones gouing out every weekend getting full, ending up going with each other's Bf'd etc,

Like every week I'm left trying to sort out problems with my friends as they've made a balls of everything over the weekend.

It is all just being a teenager though, I haven't got to that stage yet

[bigbr0ther]

Smoking is a teenage behavior? Gee, I guess I wasn't aware that only teenagers smoked. Because I don't know any adults who smoke. </sarcasm>

[NettoSuperstar!]

Smoking is no way cool. Love it!

[Stu]

Originally posted by Harry.
There a few people who smoke at my school. The worst thing is the teachers smoke and that's sets a bad example to to the kids.

Anybody who starts smoking because they see someone smoking and think ''gosh, I better smoke'' probably deserves all the negative health effects they get from the drug. I really dont buy that argument at all. Should we stop the teachers from driving to school too? We dont want a load of fourteen year olds nicking Volvos and going for a spin, do we?