peer pressure

[Igby]

i think that it is the case with me that i didnt feel peer pressure when i was younger like other people did because a result of my stutter was that i had to not care what other people thought of me as much. Therefore i didn't feel the need to do things like drugs to try and impress other people or fit in because i had accepted that i was different.Do other people feel the same way towards peer pressure?

[AGOFCR]

Igby,

Lucky you . . . I was caught dead center of the peer pressure ordeal when I was in high school. Being that I was a part of the high school heavy metal music scene back in the day, I was sucked into "doing as others were doing". However, I look back and know that I am grateful to have experienced everything I did 25 years ago because I lived first hand (not through word of mouth) and it made me the person I am today.

On a related note, peer pressure is not always negative . . . Although that's what society has made it out to be. Due to peer pressure one can also become a better athlete, a better student, a better musician, etc. It all depends on what group is exerting the pressure.

Cheer!!!

[Standingtall]

I was caught between both worlds. I really wanted to be part of the cool crowd, yet didn't really fit in. Didn't want to be part of the geek side, wasn't that smart. I'm sure many of you guys can relate.

I really enjoyed team sports, found that I really got an competitive attitude. I guess I found that I had a positive look on life. That positive peer pressure, showed the positive side of me and the kind of person I am. Peer pressure can be positive, I guess it all depends on how you want to look at it.

[Jeff99]

I didn't really feel that much peer pressure in my younger days til about 12 then i moved from the country to the city and everything change i had to try and make new freinds igot sucked into doing alot of stuff i didn't want to do iused to blame it on my speech but now i know that it was my speech but just me being a coward no being able to say no in fear of not having any friends does this ring any bells with anyone???

[bignick]

Never had any peer pressure as never really had what you would call friends in school, bullied in school as I had the added bonus of being fat as well as having a stutter and very easy target for bullies.
Peer pressure after I left school, I never had any with my friends and group I was hanging around with, if I didnt want to do something I didnt do it, quite stubborn and once I set my mind on something I stick to it (OK, 95%).
Dont think anyone would dare bully me now.

[Standingtall]

Dont think anyone would dare bully me now.
After seeing your picture I have to agree, BIGNICK.

[Igby]

in my opinion i dont see peer pressure as a positive even if people pressure you into doing something good i think that is a negative. My thoughts are that although its fine to take into consideration other peoples opinions, when it comes to things that affect your life; decisions should always be made by you in the end doing what you think is best not what others have forced you into doing.
If you want to become a better athlete, a better student, a better person you have to want to do it for yourself not for somebody else.

[Standingtall]

I see your point of view. Every decision you make is your own, even if you think someone forced you into it. I didn't feel the pressure to take drugs or drink myself silly, and how many fights I turned down just because someone wants to prove how tough they are. I agree if you want to become a better athlete, you have to be motivated to become one. To go beyond what you think is your limit, is your decision to make. I am easily influence to play on any sport teams, as I am easily influence to have an Rikards at Hooters.

[Dianne]

Submitting to 'peer pressure' comes from a need to 'belong' and to be 'accepted'-both neccessary if you are to have a troublefree time at school but because I was 'different' due to my stutter I realised no matter what I did to be part of 'the group' I would never measure up so I chose to be myself and to be true to my belief's and thus school was hard and at times traumatic for me but in hindsight I can see that at least I never compromised myself for anyone else even if I was classed a 'geek' and a loner.Strength to all the 'geeks' and loners in the world-I'm hearing you all!

[Requiem]

Ah peer pressure...I remember when I first started college all the friends I used to hang around with a group of friends who all smoke and I was the odd one out. Despite me being curious about what smoking was like I also felt that I wanted to be part fo the group and smoke as well. I didn't like it at first but then one of the girls kept encouraging me to keep trying it. It was something lile socialising. After a couple on months my dad found out I was smokin and wanted me to tell my mum that I've taken up smoking but I didn't want her to know so I stopped right then and there. Luckily I was strong enough to say no to drinking and drugs and sex but I'm actually glad I gave up smoking.

[Dianne]

Good on you for stopping smoking and good on your Dad for giving you the incentive!(So Mum never found out?)You showed good judgement not partaking in the other vices-you are obviously a person of good principles and strong mind. My son and I checked out your my space page-you put a lot of work into it and we really liked it.My son is about your age and has introduced me to many of the bands mentioned on the page-Korn is my favourite.Keep on being yourself and take care.

[Requiem]

Good on you for stopping smoking and good on your Dad for giving you the incentive!(So Mum never found out?)You showed good judgement not partaking in the other vices-you are obviously a person of good principles and strong mind. My son and I checked out your my space page-you put a lot of work into it and we really liked it.My son is about your age and has introduced me to many of the bands mentioned on the page-Korn is my favourite.Keep on being yourself and take care.

Hey thanks for checking out my page I'm glad you liked it. Does your son have myspace aswell?

Well with all the stress and illness that my mum is going through (she smokes too) I didn't think I needed to bombarred her with any more problems.

[Dianne]

Requiem I have pm'd my son's bebo page to you .And to anyone experiencing unwanted peer pressure don't succumb to it if that is not what you want-instead stand staunch and be proud.When things get too much turn to us your friends at the forum.

[happy7117]

Peer Pressure!! Luckily I never felt I had to be apart of any sort of crowd to "fit in". I always did my own thing. I never got pressured by others to do things that might of made me feel weird or uncomfortable. I think I thought more about consequences of giving in to peer pressure, and that's what made me not be affected by it!

Has anyone here got pressured into using drugs!!??

Not me. I guess I always thought McGruff was cool so I always followed what he said!!

[Clairy]

I'm 15 and I used to feel peer pressure.. I turned to drink when I was younger because when I was drunk I felt so free and I was so fluent..
I realise now that everything I done was so stupid and it was insecurity.. I am still really insecure about myself and have no confidence in myself whatsoever.. But now I am with my REAL friends and my boyfriend who try their best to keep me happy!..

[timitao]

i think when your young you naturally want to fit in, well i did. So i rebelled quite alot when i was young you could say it was peer pressure.

But deep down ive always been a misfit, different views and ideas of the world, and soon enough that rises to the surface.