2008 Woodie Awards
Dishing out peer pressure
I'm bringing sexy back - and hazing too
Russell Howe
Issue date: 3/30/07 Section: Opinion
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There is a problem at this school. This problem is frightening and virtually invisible, lurking in the shadows, hungrily smacking its lips at every passing student. When no one is looking it pounces on unsuspecting victim after victim. It prefers freshmen but even seniors can be snared by its predatory feasting. I am of course talking about the lack of peer pressure here on campus - an ugly monster indeed.
It is a naive fiction that peer pressure is some awful experience to be avoided at all costs. Peer pressure can be a pleasant and wonderful thing. And yet it is the negative side that we are taught as children, in grade school and even here at UPS.
"If Johnny jumped off a cliff, would you do it also?" The question makes the rather large assumption that your friend Johnny has the brainpower of a hamster. What if I asked, "if Johnny got an ass-kickin haircut which made him the most popular kid in school, would you get one too?" Now that is an example of peer pressure that isn't completely idiotic. Saying "yes" doesn't sound so criminal, does it?
I would like to focus on one of the most common examples of peer pressure: sport teams. It is no secret that many sport teams have initiation ceremonies for new players. These ceremonies can be as simple as giving the initiates a lollipop and a pat on the back to complex arcane rites involving burning candles and barnyard animals.
For the most part, enormous amounts of peer pressure are involved in these ceremonies. Gigantic amounts. They carry it around in buckets and dump it over the heads of anybody showing signs of hesitation. Then for good measure, they repeat the process with buckets containing alcohol. If that doesn't work, buckets of bricks. The initiates have no chance of rebellion; they will do whatever they are told to do - which is the whole point, after all.
What happens next is of the utmost importance. If the initiates are made to brand their foreheads and drink motor oil, then yes, this is a horrible ceremony which should never be allowed. However, I believe that most teams, especially here at UPS, aren't so fanatic. Are we really supposed to believe that it is wrong to use peer pressure to force initiates to come to a party?
It is a naive fiction that peer pressure is some awful experience to be avoided at all costs. Peer pressure can be a pleasant and wonderful thing. And yet it is the negative side that we are taught as children, in grade school and even here at UPS.
"If Johnny jumped off a cliff, would you do it also?" The question makes the rather large assumption that your friend Johnny has the brainpower of a hamster. What if I asked, "if Johnny got an ass-kickin haircut which made him the most popular kid in school, would you get one too?" Now that is an example of peer pressure that isn't completely idiotic. Saying "yes" doesn't sound so criminal, does it?
I would like to focus on one of the most common examples of peer pressure: sport teams. It is no secret that many sport teams have initiation ceremonies for new players. These ceremonies can be as simple as giving the initiates a lollipop and a pat on the back to complex arcane rites involving burning candles and barnyard animals.
For the most part, enormous amounts of peer pressure are involved in these ceremonies. Gigantic amounts. They carry it around in buckets and dump it over the heads of anybody showing signs of hesitation. Then for good measure, they repeat the process with buckets containing alcohol. If that doesn't work, buckets of bricks. The initiates have no chance of rebellion; they will do whatever they are told to do - which is the whole point, after all.
What happens next is of the utmost importance. If the initiates are made to brand their foreheads and drink motor oil, then yes, this is a horrible ceremony which should never be allowed. However, I believe that most teams, especially here at UPS, aren't so fanatic. Are we really supposed to believe that it is wrong to use peer pressure to force initiates to come to a party?
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