Saying No to Peer Pressure by Abby Neuens
Even if it doesn’t seem like a huge problem to some people, peer pressure can be a dangerous form of bullying. People can be pressured into doing anything if they don't know the proper tactics to save themselves.
Most of the time, people are pressured into doing things they don’t want to do, such as doing drugs, drinking alcohol, having sex before they’re ready, or stealing. Some common peer pressure tactics are withholding friendship, calling them a wimp for being apprehensive, daring them or acting as if they’ll be uncool or ostracized if they don’t do what they’re supposed to do. There are a lot of ways to pressure people into doing things, but none of them should be done. Forcing people to do things they don’t want to do can be illegal in some cases, such as when people coerce others to do drugs or have sex.
Ways to say no vary, and many students and faculty members have weighed in with their own way to protect themself from unhealthy ideas. One freshman with an interesting tactic is Evelyn Jackson, who says she tells the bully, “Uh nuh uh uh,” and begins to walk away, but turns around and tells them to “talk to the hand” before fully walking away from them. Mr. Neidlinger has a little bit more of a well-developed response for when someone is threatening to stop beign his friend for their own benefit. His conversation would look a little like this, “‘If you don’t do this, I’m never going to be your friend ever again!’ ‘Well, I really value our friendship, but I think one of the things I like about you is that you’re your person, and I’m my own person. If that’s what you think you need to do, do it, but I will go my own way.’” He has a very mature way of saying no, but as long as you’re confident in your answer, anything can work.
It is crucial that people know how to protect themselves from the pressure that others can put on them. It is all about confidence in their decisions to walk away from the bad ideas of others.
Most of the time, people are pressured into doing things they don’t want to do, such as doing drugs, drinking alcohol, having sex before they’re ready, or stealing. Some common peer pressure tactics are withholding friendship, calling them a wimp for being apprehensive, daring them or acting as if they’ll be uncool or ostracized if they don’t do what they’re supposed to do. There are a lot of ways to pressure people into doing things, but none of them should be done. Forcing people to do things they don’t want to do can be illegal in some cases, such as when people coerce others to do drugs or have sex.
Ways to say no vary, and many students and faculty members have weighed in with their own way to protect themself from unhealthy ideas. One freshman with an interesting tactic is Evelyn Jackson, who says she tells the bully, “Uh nuh uh uh,” and begins to walk away, but turns around and tells them to “talk to the hand” before fully walking away from them. Mr. Neidlinger has a little bit more of a well-developed response for when someone is threatening to stop beign his friend for their own benefit. His conversation would look a little like this, “‘If you don’t do this, I’m never going to be your friend ever again!’ ‘Well, I really value our friendship, but I think one of the things I like about you is that you’re your person, and I’m my own person. If that’s what you think you need to do, do it, but I will go my own way.’” He has a very mature way of saying no, but as long as you’re confident in your answer, anything can work.
It is crucial that people know how to protect themselves from the pressure that others can put on them. It is all about confidence in their decisions to walk away from the bad ideas of others.