Is it normal how media portrays american school life?

69% Normal
7 Comments

So, I'm not American, but I grew up watching films, tv series and reality shows from there. Definitely not the best way to learn about the culture. And while most things I see are clearly a blatant caricature of reality, there are certain things that are disturbingly consistent.

School culture in media is one of those things. So, I will just list a few of the things I recall and kindly ask you guys to tell me whether or not these things actually happen:

- Bullying to an almost criminal extent (swirlies, taking money, beating up people, etc).
- Smart people being discriminated. I don't know, in my school having good grades was a free pass to popularity.
- Jocks being a thing, and having them wearing their team jerseys all the time.
- Mean spirited people being popular (like Regina George).
- Being so sexually active.
- Having a group of people known to everyone to be "the" most popular in school.
- Discriminating people for being in clubs or music bands.
- People going with their own cars to school.
- Students bringing knives, guns or drugs to school.
- Food fights at the cafeteria (seriously, what a waste of food).
- Having an "official" seating place at the cafeteria.
- Stereotypical cliques (cheerleaders, goths, nerds, etc).
- Having these massive sports events that the whole city is interested in.
- Prom night?
- Spring break?
- Senior pranks?

Voting Results
69% Normal
Based on 29 votes (20 yes)
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Comments ( 7 )
  • mrbrownfinger
    7 years ago

    It's when the weird kid that you've been bullying all his life, brings his dads assault rifle to school that you know shits about to go off!!

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  • matthewkoehler
    7 years ago

    All of that is normal but of course in movies and tv shows it is overly exaggerated.

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  • Cheet0
    7 years ago

    99% of all of that is near 100 normal in the US...

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    • Cheet0
      7 years ago

      Not to mention picking on ppl for being "different" from the social "norm"

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  • mysistersshadow
    7 years ago

    Normal stuff.

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  • NeverHadPorkB4
    7 years ago

    Unfortunately its normal but it really doesn't depict how high school is. When I was younger, I always thought I was going to have tons of friends, go out to parties, drive a car when im 16, and just hang out and enjoy high scool. But the reality is, i hardly have any friends at school(most of the kids arent worth my precious time), I stay home all the time cleaning, I don't even have my permit yet, and I'm stressed just trying to maintain a fucking 3.5 average. I'm so ready to be done with high school.

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  • yourwaifu
    7 years ago

    It's all pretty much true in my experience as an American that went to public schools, but I think a lot of it has changed now to try to stop bullying.

    The only one I never noticed was the jock stereotype. Sports players weren't necessarily popular just for playing sports. And they weren't really as stupid as usually portrayed either.

    Also, a few "popular kids" were in marching band and/or honors classes, not just extreme nerds. But I guess that was kind of a recent change at the time.

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