A heartening story, well told. So many of us here on Substack are bound to be Festers. The creative and deep-thinking people of the world are rarely jocks. Fascinating how physical prowess is relentlessly valued over wit and creativity in high school and society when both make valuable contributions to the human experience.
Hey Jay! Excellent piece. It's so interesting to me the memories we hold. The slights, the slurs, the absolute meanness, whether we're queer or not. Part of growing up? Yeah, I think so. I came out in high school in 1976. Maybe not the best decision, but I was already shunned for being a little odd, a little rebellious. And I was the only one (that I was aware of) who did come out in a class of 3000. I love the way you flipped it for yourself and your peers. Very heroic, empowering, and self-loving. AND I love that you still have the invite you created "A decade later, I would become a New York City street activist with ACT UP and Queer Nation." And then some, Jay. You've never stopped being an activist, working for change. That's something I admire greatly about you. So maybe the hazing we experienced informed the rest of our lives? I think so, and in a way, I'm grateful, because it certainly helped me discover my path in life and my priorities. Thank you for your wonderful writing.
A fabulous essay– though frankly, a bit painful. I was a big, witless, typical American make adolescent, and although my mockery and ill treatment of the class nerds never reached the level described here, I was guilty. (As the essay half-surmises about the bully without his posse, I was so hopelessly insecure and self-loathing that my nastiness was a projection of my own unhappiness onto weaker schoolmates.) Guess who turned out to be the most interesting adults. That's right. And our version of the Festers have turned into an accomplished cohort , whereas the other guys, while perhaps prosperous bankers, insurance agen ts, what have you, reachedf their lives' peaks back in hiugh school. The classmates and near-contemporaries I'm still in touch witth at 81 were all, yep, Festers. My grandmother used to say, and how right she was, "Too soon old, too late smart." Well, better tlate than never. A compelling essay, Mr. Blotcher. Thanks.
This is a great story, well-told, with that delicious foreshadowing by a participant in an emerging cultural change. We older writers keep in our memories the emerging hints, rumbles, and tentative steps that eventually shape society. Our willingness to write these stories provides readers with a magic telescope through which to see the past and make sense of how the present came to be. Thank you Jay Blotcher. Thank you all you oldster writers. I keep learning more and more about roots and the evoution of life through time.
This is so great! Almost makes me think of how the Democrats are responding to the current bullying — in a more overt way than you did, but also with humor and dismissiveness, which is the best way to combat it! Well done!
As a cheerleader in high school, I loved cheering for you, Jay! “Two bits, four bits, six bits a dollar. All for the Festers stand up and holler!” Thanks for such wonderful writing.
Me too! But in upstate NY. I knew I was "weird" - and I embraced the zingy movie quote, "We ARE the weirdos, mister!" when The Craft came out in my 20s. 🖤
I was sheltered by being in a mostly self-contained gifted program within a big San Diego high school. When I ventured out for gym and for chem lab, the experience was unpleasant. What a relief to graduate to a nerd college and a nerd career! And now further liberated to write nerdy novels.
Well, this brought high school barreling into my morning coffee time! "I was outraged. And flattered." Ah...the conflicting emotions of being 17. I remember it well. ♥️
MAD was a major part of my HS curriculum. It put adult politics into a mocking human sized context that helped us understand things that were disguised by deadpan news. Guys were being drafted and not coming back.
MAD was a translator and opinionated revelation that shaped me more than discovering the rapier wit of Gore Vidal!
I got to meet a couple of those creative rabble rousers over a decade later and it was surprisingly empowering. Some are still alive. I think they inspired thousands of activists. It’s been a fine tradition for centuries.
In fact that spirit is alive and well: don’t fear the bullies: mock them to their knees.
A heartening story, well told. So many of us here on Substack are bound to be Festers. The creative and deep-thinking people of the world are rarely jocks. Fascinating how physical prowess is relentlessly valued over wit and creativity in high school and society when both make valuable contributions to the human experience.
Also, truth!
Hey Jay! Excellent piece. It's so interesting to me the memories we hold. The slights, the slurs, the absolute meanness, whether we're queer or not. Part of growing up? Yeah, I think so. I came out in high school in 1976. Maybe not the best decision, but I was already shunned for being a little odd, a little rebellious. And I was the only one (that I was aware of) who did come out in a class of 3000. I love the way you flipped it for yourself and your peers. Very heroic, empowering, and self-loving. AND I love that you still have the invite you created "A decade later, I would become a New York City street activist with ACT UP and Queer Nation." And then some, Jay. You've never stopped being an activist, working for change. That's something I admire greatly about you. So maybe the hazing we experienced informed the rest of our lives? I think so, and in a way, I'm grateful, because it certainly helped me discover my path in life and my priorities. Thank you for your wonderful writing.
A fabulous essay– though frankly, a bit painful. I was a big, witless, typical American make adolescent, and although my mockery and ill treatment of the class nerds never reached the level described here, I was guilty. (As the essay half-surmises about the bully without his posse, I was so hopelessly insecure and self-loathing that my nastiness was a projection of my own unhappiness onto weaker schoolmates.) Guess who turned out to be the most interesting adults. That's right. And our version of the Festers have turned into an accomplished cohort , whereas the other guys, while perhaps prosperous bankers, insurance agen ts, what have you, reachedf their lives' peaks back in hiugh school. The classmates and near-contemporaries I'm still in touch witth at 81 were all, yep, Festers. My grandmother used to say, and how right she was, "Too soon old, too late smart." Well, better tlate than never. A compelling essay, Mr. Blotcher. Thanks.
This is a great story, well-told, with that delicious foreshadowing by a participant in an emerging cultural change. We older writers keep in our memories the emerging hints, rumbles, and tentative steps that eventually shape society. Our willingness to write these stories provides readers with a magic telescope through which to see the past and make sense of how the present came to be. Thank you Jay Blotcher. Thank you all you oldster writers. I keep learning more and more about roots and the evoution of life through time.
This is so great! Almost makes me think of how the Democrats are responding to the current bullying — in a more overt way than you did, but also with humor and dismissiveness, which is the best way to combat it! Well done!
YES! 💙💙💙
As a cheerleader in high school, I loved cheering for you, Jay! “Two bits, four bits, six bits a dollar. All for the Festers stand up and holler!” Thanks for such wonderful writing.
I was Fester (but in my high school on Long Island) and I didn’t even know it until now. Loved this.
Me too! But in upstate NY. I knew I was "weird" - and I embraced the zingy movie quote, "We ARE the weirdos, mister!" when The Craft came out in my 20s. 🖤
I was sheltered by being in a mostly self-contained gifted program within a big San Diego high school. When I ventured out for gym and for chem lab, the experience was unpleasant. What a relief to graduate to a nerd college and a nerd career! And now further liberated to write nerdy novels.
Thank you for your service in the trenches, Jay.
Well, this brought high school barreling into my morning coffee time! "I was outraged. And flattered." Ah...the conflicting emotions of being 17. I remember it well. ♥️
I was a Fester, too! Thank you for sharing your triumph. Go Fess! Go Fess!
I'm cheering for the Festers of today.
“ But I had my wit, nurtured by MAD Magazine. ”
MAD was a major part of my HS curriculum. It put adult politics into a mocking human sized context that helped us understand things that were disguised by deadpan news. Guys were being drafted and not coming back.
MAD was a translator and opinionated revelation that shaped me more than discovering the rapier wit of Gore Vidal!
I got to meet a couple of those creative rabble rousers over a decade later and it was surprisingly empowering. Some are still alive. I think they inspired thousands of activists. It’s been a fine tradition for centuries.
In fact that spirit is alive and well: don’t fear the bullies: mock them to their knees.
I love this and think you should make it a screenplay. What a great and inspiring story. Bravo!
I want to join the 3FC.
Revenge of Nerds, indeed. High five!
That was marvelous, thank you