Check out what the Herald Sun said about the Schoolies Forum

[willo]

This was on page 20 of today's Herald Sun.

Schoolies post binge-boozing plans online

November 11, 2007 12:00am

THOUSANDS of Victorian teenagers are gearing up for an alcoholic rampage when end-of-school activities begin on November 17.

Forums on the national schoolies website -- www.schoolies.org.au -- have been bombarded by students giving details of their plans to drink to excess over the week-long festival.

Alcohol is now so cheap that teenagers can buy enough to binge drink using their pocket money.

For $50 the Sunday Herald Sun was able to buy two 750ml bottles of wine, a 700ml bottle of bourbon, a bottle of 700ml butter schnapps, four Vodka Cruisers and a six-pack of beer.

Drug and alcohol experts have called for Victorian schoolies to reconsider plans for boozy excess after the latest survey found four in 10 Victorian secondary students drank to harmful levels on a regular basis.

The web forums include more than 40,000 posts on more than 2000 topics.

A poll run on the website shows 81 per cent of schoolies plan to spend more than $500 on the holiday, with many declaring most money will be spent on alcohol.

"I'm only going for four days and I'll have about a grand . . . I'll spend it on grog mostly," one year 12 student wrote.

Another posted: "I'm bringing up $400 to schoolies for spending money . . . I was thinking $300 on grog and $100 on food," another said.

The site's forums are also being used by schoolies to discuss the most efficient way of getting drunk and for debating who will be able to drink the most.

One teen wrote: "I like getting a bucket, pouring two bottles of vodka in it, throw some ice in it and squeeze about eight lemons in . . . then drinking from the bucket.

"Also anyone know some decent ****tail/mix drinks that we could make at schoolies? Emphasis on getting friends smashed without them realising how much alcohol is in the drinks."

Spokesman for the Australian Drug Foundation, Geoff Munro, said it was disappointing binge drinking remained the greatest problem at schoolies.

He said teens still failed to accept the dangers of binge drinking, including alcohol poisoning and alcoholic overdose.

"Unfortunately assault, unsafe sex and sexual assault become a lot more common when people lose their senses to alcohol," he said.

Mr Munro said it was a sad reflection on society that young people were planning to get drunk as fast as possible.

Dominic Mapstone, social worker and moderator of the schoolies website, defends the site and its content.

"The national schoolies website is about facilitating a conversation among young people," he said.

"If young people want their dress up around their armpits when they wake up, or to be covered from head to tail in vomit, ultimately it's up to them."

[willo]

Was anyone here lucky enough to get quoted? I went through and found a few of them in the forums.

[willo]

Originally Posted by willo

Alcohol is now so cheap that teenagers can buy enough to binge drink using their pocket money.

For $50 the Sunday Herald Sun was able to buy two 750ml bottles of wine, a 700ml bottle of bourbon, a bottle of 700ml butter schnapps, four Vodka Cruisers and a six-pack of beer.

Oh, and can someone tell me where I can get all this grog for just $50! Hahaha, the Herald Sun journalist's are so stupid.

Also, they claim that there are over 40,000 posts on these forums. I added them up and the total posts on the forums are 37,000.

[sione]

Gearing up for an alcoholic rampage ay?

No $hit!

That sir, is groundbreaking journalism. Give 'em an award.

[petro]

50 bucks, is that with some sort of outrageous discount, gimme gimme hehe...

god thats annoying, dam stereotyping... well you can tell thay had a **** childhood lol :P

[Dominic]

I knew this was coming, as I answered the journalist's questions on email and chose not to shut the article down.

Here are the journalist's questions and my reply to the journalist's questions in full:

1. Do you think I did well? What would you have said beyond that or instead of? What is your comment now?

2. More to the point - do you think the forums play a constructive role in challenging young people to first determine before schoolies what is right for them and then be their authentic self during schoolies week in a peer education setting or do we need to regroup and refocus in that regard?

P.S. As Admin I get a historical reading just shy of 42,000 posts. So my statement was 'over 40,000' The journo got the stat from me based on my comment, based on the more detailed (or presented differently) info I have available to me.

Originally Posted by Email I got from from Journalist Shannon Deery

Basically concerned about the culture of schoolies being about drinking and "getting smashed" for the sake of it. Binge drinking is also a big issue.

On the www.schoolies.org.au forums there are many posts about drinking, where to get cheap booze and how to get smashed quickly, among other things.

1. Do you moderate or screen the posts that are left?
2. Are you concerned about the culture of schoolies week being purely to get drunk?
3. What are your general views on the matter?
4. How serious a problem is the drinking?
5. Do you post warning or recommendations on your site about excessive or binge drinking?

(Dom, the story is about teens and binge drinking, not about the schoolies website. I don't want to slam it or you - if anything just need your point of view so I can present a balanced view.)

See how you go, any questions give us a bell.

Cheers Mate,

Shannon Deery

Originally Posted by My Full Reply on Email to Journalist Shannon Deery

Year after year for a long time, the national media, from all corners of the nation have sought my comment regarding schoolies week. During November I get between one and several calls a day from journalists.

In the past they have steered clear of criticizing our work as I am one of the most fruitful commentators regarding schoolies issues.

My work supporting young people in crisis during schoolies week began in 1994. Since then I’ve become a Social Worker and continued to protect the interests of young people during schoolies week.

But I am open to criticism of our approach.

The National Schoolies Website is a peer education program. It facilitates one graduate class sharing their experiences with the upcoming graduate class, and then the next.

Having heard the tears of regret at schoolies week I’ve put those young people with insight and experience as former schoolies in touch with the next graduate class.

Content on the National Schoolies Website is written by current and former schoolies.

A team of several former schoolies with my support moderate the National Schoolies Forum. The team reviews the content and swaps notes remaining accountable to each other and me as volunteers.

A volunteer team of several former schoolies moderate the forums. The forums include over 40,000 comments on over 2,000 different topics. Hundreds of members have been banned, and many more refused membership. Mostly those trying to spam the forums, and in rare occasions schoolies themselves.

We have had adults with something to sell to young people register and pretend to be a schoolie then pimp out their product. They get exposed, laughed at for a few days then their comments removed and account banned.

If genuine schoolies are out of line in the forums we talk to them about their comments and ask them to review them. If a level head fails to emerge we ban them also.

I anticipate there is ten dozen different ways the National Schoolies Website could be criticized. We run it in a way that facilitates open and honest discussion amongst young people. As a peer education program we do impose limits but the value of a safe and open place to explore issues before schoolies has enormous benefits.

As a Social Worker who has seen the blood vomit and tears of schoolies year after year I know there is no point telling young people what to do and what not to do.

The National Schoolies Website is about facilitating a conversation amongst young people.

Former Schoolies have collaborated on a Survival Guide for Schoolies. The Schoolies Survival Guide includes advice regarding consumption of alcohol. But doesn’t attempt to tell young people what to do or what not to do.

The ethos of the National Schoolies Website is to challenge young people to decide before they celebrate schoolies week what is right for them personally.

Topics include drugs, alcohol, sex, violence, and a range of other issues. That way they are better prepared to be their authentic self during schoolies week.

If young people want their dress up around their armpits when they wake up or to be covered from head to tail in vomit ultimately it’s up to them.

Telling young people do this don’t do that is pointless. I’ve seen websites about schoolies that have do’s and don’ts lists. They are pointless. It’s in one ear out the other kind of stuff.

Our approach is to provide the space for expression and communication in a setting where your peers can reply and as often happens in the Schoolies Forums call into question your comments.

Young people questioning each other and challenging each other is the best way to prepare young people for schoolies week.

Parent’s have done their bit, schools have done their bit… schoolies week involves young people emerging from their upbringing and cultural formation at the hands of elders and celebrating their achievements and new found freedom.

If schoolies holds a mirror to the community elders, parents and schools reflecting how they have done as a culture in raising young people… alcohol misuse during schoolies is a reflection on Australian culture.

The National Schoolies Website is a place where young people can express themselves, have the freedom to say stupid stuff and explore the issues that will confront them during schoolies week and life beyond high school.

During this conversation amongst young people there should be comments that are called into question. I respect schoolies enough and trust young people enough to allow them the space to express themselves.

Schoolies Week is the most significant event in the national youth social calendar.

The real culture of schoolies week is the dash to a beach, running along the sand and diving into the ocean. Schoolies Week is that plunge into the ocean. All other cultural elements are borrowed from wider Australian culture.

Schoolies hasn’t cornered the market on binge drinking. Police from all states can attest to the widespread misuse of alcohol amongst Australians young and old.

I anticipate some young people drinking to excess every schoolies year.

Too much focus has been placed on alcohol during schoolies week.

To the point that it’s ten times easier to get drugs during schoolies than it is alcohol.

I’d like to see a greater focus on blocking drugs during schoolies.

When we established the website it was at a time that I had witnessed the growth of schoolies for over a decade and the greatest risk in its emerging culture was the number of vultures wanting something from schoolies was getting a free run.

The website hands power back to schoolies themselves.

It has enabled me as an advocate for young people during schoolies to challenge the more powerful stakeholders to ensure the interests of young people.

[sione]

Shannon Deery just a touch content-selective with his article then huh?

Siif a 'balanced point of view'.

[Keeron_Man_boy]

**** the sun is full of crap

just makes dom sound like a real c*nt



ur response to the journalists questions were spot on dom

[willo]

Originally Posted by Keeron_Man_boy

**** the sun is full of crap

just makes dom sound like a real c*nt



ur response to the journalists questions were spot on dom

I agree. As for the balanced point of view, what a load of $hit. You obviously have to be diagnosed mentally retarded to be a journalist at the Herald Sun.

Good on you Dom, on your fantastic response.

Just out of curiosity, has the site had more hits than usual since yesterday's article?

[Jackle]

Lol, i love how the bit she quoted you saying dom makes it sound like you don't give a ****. How fkn rude, hopefully TT or ACA do a follow up story on how the schoolies users thought Shan was a fk stick.

[gilez]

I might be biased because i'm not anti-drugs or anti-underage drinking, but i think it's better that schoolies get all the info before they go so they don't make bad mistakes when they're drunk.

Even if that involves talking about if your going to take drugs and then giving tips about them ie- don't drink that night etc.

[Dominic]

That's good advice, you obviously get the point.

Originally Posted by gilez

I might be biased because i'm not anti-drugs or anti-underage drinking, but i think it's better that schoolies get all the info before they go so they don't make bad mistakes when they're drunk.

Even if that involves talking about if your going to take drugs and then giving tips about them ie- don't drink that night etc.

[gnome]

god all this **** is enough to drive you to drink... 2 bottles of tequila, a slab and 15 jager bombs

*awaits quotation in some half ass newspaper article*

[cohen]

how did they get all that alcohol for $50 it would be not the real brands or anything.

why dose the herald sun care so much people just finished 13 yrs of school and if young people today find that getting drunk is the best way for them to celebrate then let it be.

Its peoples fault how far they go everyone controls how much they drink and I'm shore people wont drink how much they have on schoolies again.

[Junglefarmer]

The open'esque of this forum is what really attracted me to join compared to other forums ive been involved in.
No matter what anyone says, if someone has an idea they're going to do it, with or without advice. This is the best aspect of this forum, we all know that a percentage of us will take drugs or drink to excess or to sleep around, and the only thing the rest of us can do is help them either weigh it up or know what to do. If someone is going to sleep around, tell them to use protection, if you're going to pop pills dont mix drugs and alcohol, etc etc.
I really enjoyed reading your reply to them dom, it really puts the article into perspective..
(oh and i also would like to know just where they bought all that grog from...)

[maj]

you guys gotta have high aspirations to beat my year, said it was the 'most drunkenness schoolies ever'

they say the same stuff each year... no one REALLY cares... all those articles wont stop you from seeing thousands of boys and girls unloading cartons and cartons of piss on saturday...

on another note... drink responsibly

[jess09senior]

I personally would take advice from a past schoolie, because they have had the experience and they aren’t trying to make out that schoolies are a s**t group of kids doing anything to brake the law. People are trying to stop schoolies doing certain things by accusing the group of being disobedient, testosterone filled, raging alcoholics, its not going to work. Only enrages kids more.

[hannahxx]

I hate the media. Enough said.

[Lindajh84]

First of all i would just like to say that i think anyone, not mentioning any names cough "Jess09senior" cough who cant spell break is a downright moron and obviously needs to repeat yr 8.

Why? Why do you feel the need to brag about drinking? I mean who cares right? Imitating a high pitched voice of a high school leaver who hasnt quite gotten through puberty "Oh look at me la la i'm soooo cool because i finished high school with very low grades mind you. I'm just so awesome." Umm hello no your not. High school was never that hard to begin with. Just use the brain God gave you. Common sense really. School and studying isnt over and if you think it is perhaps you should invest in living on the streets. You still have 4 yrs of uni or in some cases 6 yrs. You still need to experience life. Have a baby or two, find anyone who will marry you let alone go out with you. Life is alot harder. And once you can overcome those challenges, give yourself a pat on the back because you cant get through it with a childish attitude.

[richard124]

Originally Posted by Lindajh84

First of all i would just like to say that i think anyone, not mentioning any names cough "Jess09senior" cough who cant spell break is a downright moron and obviously needs to repeat yr 8.

Why? Why do you feel the need to brag about drinking? I mean who cares right? Imitating a high pitched voice of a high school leaver who hasnt quite gotten through puberty "Oh look at me la la i'm soooo cool because i finished high school with very low grades mind you. I'm just so awesome." Umm hello no your not. High school was never that hard to begin with. Just use the brain God gave you. Common sense really. School and studying isnt over and if you think it is perhaps you should invest in living on the streets. You still have 4 yrs of uni or in some cases 6 yrs. You still need to experience life. Have a baby or two, find anyone who will marry you let alone go out with you. Life is alot harder. And once you can overcome those challenges, give yourself a pat on the back because you cant get through it with a childish attitude.

ok, i would normally never reply/bitch on such a stupid post, but as no one else has i feel a STRONG need to. (tbh i get the feeling this guys jst stirring us up but w/e)
A. why repeat yr 8? i cant seem to recall a specific subject or module on spelling personally. (<<LOOK, I even made sure to put a gramatically correct full stop, just for you)

B. this site isnt about bragging about drinking, its about giving tips on how to keep your nose the way it is, and your heart beating, when your in the state of having a conversation with a lightpole.

C. anyone who says, "umm hello" is a dweeb or an american (apologies in advance for anyone who manages to use it in an undweeby way)

D.I'd like to see you theorise about imaginary numbers (4 unit maths), complete a critcal and comparitive study of 15 different texts, have a comprehensive understanding of einsteins special & general theory of relativity... etc. seriously dude, sounds like you dropped out in yr 10, congrats on learning to spell in yr 8 though

E. who says everyone at schoolies has bad grades????

F. who the **** says god gave me my brain

G. why do i have to have a spouse and babies to be successful or happy?

H. and if u only want to party hard and celebrate your achievements once you've completed every single one, gd luck partying when ur dead (& dnt give me some, ill pary with jesus when im in heaven crap, he would never hang out with an ignorant loser)

yeah, i feel better now.

[Estelle]

there making it sound much worse then what it actually is! Ovbiously were going to party and get drunk we just finished HSC! If schoolies was around when all these old journalists just finished their HSC i bet they would be doing the same!

[kezza]

Originally Posted by richard124

ok, i would normally never reply/bitch on such a stupid post, but as no one else has i feel a STRONG need to. (tbh i get the feeling this guys jst stirring us up but w/e)
A. why repeat yr 8? i cant seem to recall a specific subject or module on spelling personally. (<<LOOK, I even made sure to put a gramatically correct full stop, just for you)

B. this site isnt about bragging about drinking, its about giving tips on how to keep your nose the way it is, and your heart beating, when your in the state of having a conversation with a lightpole.

C. anyone who says, "umm hello" is a dweeb or an american (apologies in advance for anyone who manages to use it in an undweeby way)

D.I'd like to see you theorise about imaginary numbers (4 unit maths), complete a critcal and comparitive study of 15 different texts, have a comprehensive understanding of einsteins special & general theory of relativity... etc. seriously dude, sounds like you dropped out in yr 10, congrats on learning to spell in yr 8 though

E. who says everyone at schoolies has bad grades????

F. who the **** says god gave me my brain

G. why do i have to have a spouse and babies to be successful or happy?

H. and if u only want to party hard and celebrate your achievements once you've completed every single one, gd luck partying when ur dead (& dnt give me some, ill pary with jesus when im in heaven crap, he would never hang out with an ignorant loser)

yeah, i feel better now.

Couldn't agree more!

[Dominic]

Originally Posted by gilez

I might be biased because i'm not anti-drugs or anti-underage drinking, but i think it's better that schoolies get all the info before they go so they don't make bad mistakes when they're drunk.

Even if that involves talking about if your going to take drugs and then giving tips about them ie- don't drink that night etc.

I have to highlight this great point again... schoolies need to take every opportunity to talk to each other, especially previous schoolies.

[smartstart]

Originally Posted by gilez

I might be biased because i'm not anti-drugs or anti-underage drinking, but i think it's better that schoolies get all the info before they go so they don't make bad mistakes when they're drunk.

Even if that involves talking about if your going to take drugs and then giving tips about them ie- don't drink that night etc.

Do you really think they would listen to that sort of things? we are not in 90s. It's useless.