Cloudbuster said:

you first i'm right behind you. run fast

i'm sorry Rhonda he's started it

Rhonny, you better keep that shotgun handy.

MuthaFunka said:

I was just thinking THE SAME thing, but you beat me to posting it

Kissed by the ghetto
A beautiful Black teen
Rocking that 2-toned typhoon
and regal enough 4 the Queen

Graycap23 said:

.....oops, wrong thread.

What's homecoming queen? Is it just a popularity contest or do you have to achieve something specific to earn that title?

retina said:

oh my god rhonda! don't even respond to this bait! And the harem thinks I'M bad

and yet he wonders why I always roll my eyes at him.

Rhondab said:

Wtf? Not everybody is from North America you know? I have no idea what a homecoming queen is, or what is required to become one. That's why I asked. I have no clue why you would want to roll your eyes at me because of that?

retina said:

and there was a way to ask the question in a more appropriate manner.

Rhondab said:

Indeed. The tone of the question comes off as on the "offensive" as if you are in sports game and on attack. It sounded like a put-down, however it was intended.

Perhaps it would be of better ettiquette to simply ask " What is homecoming?" and let people know you're not familiar with the tradition. And actually, the org is such a familiar and casual place, one could even be more "peppery" and joking with the question, something like "hey guys can someone please tell me what the hell is homecoming??" and it would likely emit a supportive chuckle ...

However, the way you posed your question it sounded rather "loaded", somewhat fueled with judgement, and supposition to the point of well, near baiting. I doubt that those of us who take issue with it do so NOT because you are not American, rather than it being a simple issue of tone and ettiquette when adressing a mommy at a proud moment in her life in the raising of her first and only daughter

Rhondab said:

Indeed. The tone of the question comes off as on the "offensive" as if you are in sports game and on attack. It sounded like a put-down, however it was intended.

Perhaps it would be of better ettiquette to simply ask " What is homecoming?" and let people know you're not familiar with the tradition. And actually, the org is such a familiar and casual place, one could even be more "peppery" and joking with the question, something like "hey guys can someone please tell me what the hell is homecoming??" and it would likely emit a supportive chuckle ...

However, the way you posed your question it sounded rather "loaded", somewhat fueled with judgement, and supposition to the point of well, near baiting. I doubt that those of us who take issue with it do so NOT because you are not American, rather than it being a simple issue of tone and ettiquette when adressing a mommy at a proud moment in her life in the raising of her first and only daughter

Rhondab said:

Indeed. The tone of the question comes off as on the "offensive" as if you are in sports game and on attack. It sounded like a put-down, however it was intended.

Perhaps it would be of better ettiquette to simply ask " What is homecoming?" and let people know you're not familiar with the tradition. And actually, the org is such a familiar and casual place, one could even be more "peppery" and joking with the question, something like "hey guys can someone please tell me what the hell is homecoming??" and it would likely emit a supportive chuckle ...

However, the way you posed your question it sounded rather "loaded", somewhat fueled with judgement, and supposition to the point of well, near baiting. I doubt that those of us who take issue with it do so NOT because you are not American, rather than it being a simple issue of tone and ettiquette when adressing a mommy at a proud moment in her life in the raising of her first and only daughter

Ottensen said:

Well just because I didn't choose to be "peppery" or "joking" like you might have doesn't mean that I was being offensive. It's a simple and valid question, and if I'd been asked the exact same thing when mentioning a Swedish phenomenon like Lucia for example, I would have given a simple and valid answer.

In the case of Lucia, which is a yearly celebration of a saint where a girl is chosen to lead a choir, it basically is a popularity contest although the girl that gets chosen usually has long blonde hair since that's what the original Lucia supposedly looked like, and of course it's a big advantage if she has a good singing voice too. See, that wasn't too hard? No putdowns in neither the question nor the answer.

Maybe the term "popularity contest" is always something insulting in your culture, I don't know, but it isn't in mine. So before Rhondab and you jumped to the conclusion that I was trying to make an insult (why would I? I have nothing against Rhondab or her daughter), maybe she/you should have started by just answering the question (which by the way you still haven't done) so I could have learned what it is Rhonda's daughter should be congratulated for. A precise congratulation is always preferable over a generic hug and having no clue why you're giving it, in my opinion.



grammar edit
[Edited 10/13/07 6:18am]

You all DO realize that that was an innocent question. He's fucking Swedish. I doubt they have homecoming, and winning a fucking school thing generally is, umm, oh yes, a popularity contest. I've been in school.

Rhondab said:

Indeed. The tone of the question comes off as on the "offensive" as if you are in sports game and on attack. It sounded like a put-down, however it was intended.

Perhaps it would be of better ettiquette to simply ask " What is homecoming?" and let people know you're not familiar with the tradition. And actually, the org is such a familiar and casual place, one could even be more "peppery" and joking with the question, something like "hey guys can someone please tell me what the hell is homecoming??" and it would likely emit a supportive chuckle ...

However, the way you posed your question it sounded rather "loaded", somewhat fueled with judgement, and supposition to the point of well, near baiting. I doubt that those of us who take issue with it do so NOT because you are not American, rather than it being a simple issue of tone and ettiquette when adressing a mommy at a proud moment in her life in the raising of her first and only daughter

United States

Homecoming is an annual tradition of the United States. People, towns, high schools and colleges come together, usually in late September or October, to welcome back former residents and alumni. It is built around a central event, such as a banquet or a game of American football, basketball, or ice hockey. When celebrated by schools, the activities vary widely. However, they usually consist of a football game played on the school's home football field, activities for students and alumni, a parade featuring the school's marching band, and the coronation of a Homecoming Queen (and at many schools, a Homecoming King). Related "Homecoming Dances" can be either boy ask girl or Sadie Hawkins style.

History

The tradition of Homecoming most likely evolved from alumni football games held at colleges and universities since the mid 1800s. Many schools lay claim to having the first Homecoming, but four seem to have the strongest claims. The NCAA, Trivial Pursuit, and Jeopardy! give the title to The University of Missouri's 1911 football game during which alumni were encouraged to attend.[1] Baylor University and The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign both claim to have held homecoming-like events in 1909 and 1910, respectively. All of these events had homecoming-like characteristics such as a football game, visiting alumni, and a parade. It's likely that the traditions at these schools and others merged and spread nationwide. By the 1920s homecoming was widely celebrated across the nation.[2][3]

Ultimately, however, contemporary records and reports indicate that the University of Michigan played the first official homecoming football game against a team of its alumni on October 30, 1897.[4] However, the homecoming game and ceremonies associated therewith did not assume their modern form until 1900, when Michigan played Purdue University in an official homecoming contest.[5]

Homecoming Queen and King

The Homecoming Court usually consists of seniors. In high school, 16- or 17-year-old students in their final year are represented; in college, students who are completing their final year of study, usually between 21 and 23 years old.

Classmates traditionally nominate students who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to contribute to their school. Other times, students vote for the nominees. Once the Homecoming Court candidates are announced, the entire student body votes for the Queen and King (by secret ballot).

Local rules determine when the Homecoming Queen and King are crowned. Sometimes, the big announcement comes at a pep rally or school assembly one or more days before the game. Other schools crown their royalty at the Homecoming football game or dance or Basketball game.

Often, the previous year's Queen and King are invited back to crown their successors. If they are absent for whatever reason, someone else – usually, another previous Queen or King, a popular teacher, or other designated person – will perform those duties. Usually, the Queen is crowned first, followed by the King (for schools that have both kings and queens). The crowning method also varies by school.

Homecoming court members who are not crowned king or queen are often called escorts or royalty . They are often expected to participate in the week's activities as well. At some schools, a Homecoming Prince/Princess, Duke/Duchess etc. (often underclassmen nominated by their classmates) are crowned along with the King and Queen; sometimes, middle school and junior high students may partake in the high school activities.

After I read the thread of the title I planned to type that I have no idea what a homecoming Queen is but that I want to congratulate whatever it might be .
After having read it I'll just say "Congrats" .

Serious said:

its not about knowing but about how you ask.


and thanks...


and thanks jess