i wrote a confessional about bullying last year. I still feel shame about the bullying I was sometimes a party to when I was young. your story is pure truth Andy. ooooph.
As a former bullying victim, this one was tough for me to read. It's amazing and horrible how cruel kids can be to anyone who's "different." Luckily for my former classmates, I was more inclined towards suicide than homicide. But it leaves a deep scar, even if the bullying isn't physical. Humans really suck sometimes. Stephen King's "Carrie" movie saved my life, though. It came out when I was in middle school and the similarities I shared with the title character freaked out the bullies... I much preferred it when they decided to avoid me. I couldn't afford movies back then, but I checked out the book in the library and I must admit to feeling a bit of evil glee at their irrational fear. Stephen King is a god.
Andy, this needs to be a novel or a collection of related stories because the kids who did it? What lives are they living now? They're our accountants and lawyers and doctors? The narrator (an adult, I assume) relates the events like a sociopath. I just crave the bigger picture. Horror is right.
It’s always heartbreaking when a group of children pick a kid to destroy. It’s such a gross, primal part of humanity. Totally modeled by our leaders right now, too. Fit in or the pack will take you down.
Very much like the story, though it made me a little sad 'cause I was Dwayne in middle school (until I got big and ornery and started knocking a few teeth out in return). The being spit on is the most humiliating, for sure. But it is interesting to read a story taking the POV of the tormentors rather than a sympathetic fellow student, which is probably how most people do it.
Andy, how do you make the animated images for your posts? I really like them.
That's one of my schticks. Instead of showing something awful as shocking I try to make it boring and normal, which is how I see things.
I make synthographs with Nightcafe (AI Art) and then I use Photomosh Pro (or it might be called Mosh Pro) to add the effects. Then I use the Eagle app to make it a gif.
A story of real life monsters. I found it to be an interesting twist how the narrator is one of the bad guys and the sympathetic character is the narrator's and his cohorts' victim.
Fucking hell, Andy! This wasn't just a punch to the gut - my guts have been thoroughly pummelled.
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Thank you and I’m sorry.
Your writing style makes me feel as if I am in the middle of the action, as both victim and perpetrator.
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Ugh, bullying stories always break me.
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I almost didn’t post it. But I have to practice what I preach.
And people are left to wonder why we are the way we are.
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I think about it all the time.
i wrote a confessional about bullying last year. I still feel shame about the bullying I was sometimes a party to when I was young. your story is pure truth Andy. ooooph.
🙏
It was hard to write.
So. Sickening. Kids can be the worst. Took me right back to middle school (and high school). Worst days of my life! Perfect portrait.
Thank you and I’m sorry 🙏
Ugh. Real horror.
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Man, what a lousy group of people. I'm in Dwayne's corner. And I hope they all have incontinence by thirty. Losers. Brutal story, Andy, but effective.
Thank you 🙏
As a former bullying victim, this one was tough for me to read. It's amazing and horrible how cruel kids can be to anyone who's "different." Luckily for my former classmates, I was more inclined towards suicide than homicide. But it leaves a deep scar, even if the bullying isn't physical. Humans really suck sometimes. Stephen King's "Carrie" movie saved my life, though. It came out when I was in middle school and the similarities I shared with the title character freaked out the bullies... I much preferred it when they decided to avoid me. I couldn't afford movies back then, but I checked out the book in the library and I must admit to feeling a bit of evil glee at their irrational fear. Stephen King is a god.
🙏
So sorry that happened to you. It was tough for me to write.
Andy, this needs to be a novel or a collection of related stories because the kids who did it? What lives are they living now? They're our accountants and lawyers and doctors? The narrator (an adult, I assume) relates the events like a sociopath. I just crave the bigger picture. Horror is right.
Thank you 🙏
Forcing the reader to imagine that is part of the horror.
Yeah, I agree. I would've sent every last one of them to reform school if I'd been in charge.
Andy, this also seems to me like a metaphor for what’s going on in America right now. Very effective story.
Thank you 🙏
The idea definitely percolated down from my observations of our current predicament.
It’s always heartbreaking when a group of children pick a kid to destroy. It’s such a gross, primal part of humanity. Totally modeled by our leaders right now, too. Fit in or the pack will take you down.
🙏
Pretty unrelated, but you reminded me of Cormac McCarthy's The Road, bro. Lines, vibe... something.
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I’ll take that as a compliment.
It is!
Very much like the story, though it made me a little sad 'cause I was Dwayne in middle school (until I got big and ornery and started knocking a few teeth out in return). The being spit on is the most humiliating, for sure. But it is interesting to read a story taking the POV of the tormentors rather than a sympathetic fellow student, which is probably how most people do it.
Andy, how do you make the animated images for your posts? I really like them.
Yes, as I commented on your satire of the agribusiness executives that really reminds me of that idea of the banality of evil.
It gives you a fresh take on something people have heard a million times and that’s pretty priceless.
Appreciate your work, man.
Thank you 🙏
That's one of my schticks. Instead of showing something awful as shocking I try to make it boring and normal, which is how I see things.
I make synthographs with Nightcafe (AI Art) and then I use Photomosh Pro (or it might be called Mosh Pro) to add the effects. Then I use the Eagle app to make it a gif.
it rings so so true. kids can be the absolute fucking worst. like a hive mind of meanness once there's a victim.
🙏 Yep.
A story of real life monsters. I found it to be an interesting twist how the narrator is one of the bad guys and the sympathetic character is the narrator's and his cohorts' victim.
🙏
Thank you. I'm always trying to shake things up.
This hit me hard. Kids are so evil sometimes.