indeed - it's been said that, beyond the age of 6-7, friends are
   the prime influencer, along with the surrounding culture and
   from that point on, they may placate their parents out of love
   and respect, but their friends/environments are #1 by an
   extremely wide margin... except for those times that life hits
   them in the face like a wet cold fish and their friends are no
   help smile emoticon