First, good luck on the film. I've read the book and corresponded briefly with the author.... very tragic.
I lived in Montvale - right there on Grand Ave....same as Harry. I'm class of '75 and remember him very clearly.
The kids I went to school with at PHHS were not very nice. I was a recipient of much taunting and abuse...verbal, physical (beaten up in the girls bathroom more than once) I made very few friends and doubt that anyone would remember me - in fact most of the few friends I had there are now deceased. I moved as far away as I could get - to California and have been here since 1976. I'm happy to say that I went on to have (and continue to have) a great life - working in both the entertainment and design industries for over 20 yrs. but can still remember hiding in the 7-11 back room on Grand Ave (near Harry's) to escape the torment. Ah, nothing like childhood trauma to give you the desire to be the best you can be !
The teachers at that high school humiliated Harry as well as other children. What a nasty place. The student body picked on the weak or the different and these poor souls could find no shelter from the teaching staff. The student body ws well aware of these bullies. They either supported it or ignored it, but no one cared enough to step in and put a stop to it. How anyone can be proud of growing up in Montvale or staying there is beyond me.
Trust me the nastiness lives on.. only now they can reach new levels.. with the internet... someone needs to pop the bubble that surrounds Montvale .. and expose it for what it really is...
I’m going to say first, that I failed Meledandri’s (sp) humanities class. Probably her French class too, anyway this site is like a scene out of Jay and Silent Bob, but without the funny. (clip rated “r” for new jersey movie language) All these melodramatic accounts of 30 year old traumatic hell from high school, and never any names or details. I didn’t go to Hills, the people who did never relayed these horror stories to me. I can detail what when on in my school, and who did it, and what the outcome was.
I ask everyone who reads this site to take everything with a whole shaker of salt, as most of this is probably blown way out of proportion. There is no way Hills was as bad as Tech, and I can tell you many of us loved our high school experience. I run my class’s website, and can back this up with testimonials from the class.
Maybe if anyone put up real details, the offenders could offer some solace or an apology. Instead we have a select few that were horribly scared for life by some school antics. I would like to again put up numbers, there had to be at least 500 graduate from Hills, most of those students are not heard from. Take that into account when reading from the few here that had issues.
That said, I would give anything to go back to those times so my kid doesn’t have to grow up in this oppressed country of stupid adults. America is a horrible place to grow up, kids dare not step out on to the streets for fear of harassment by fascist police force. Most of us in my groups are leading normal lives. Had we done now, what we did back then, we all would have been jailed, our lives ruined, for harmless pranks. Believe me those were glory days, it really sucks to be a kid now days. One last clip from ‘73, they tried to tell us.
Aren't you the person who said that you saw someone get picked up off the floor by their balls at Bergen Tech. Sounds harmless, unless this student eventually wanted to have children. Did you think this was normal? Did you do anything to stop or aid this fellow student? Did you do any thing to aid or stop any of the harassment that Harry experienced? Did you turn a blind eye just like the Montvale teachers, police, and elders did? Montvale sucked and so do the do nothings that let these abnormal activities continue. Must have been the water in that creek behind Huff's. You weren't suppose to drink that stuff.
This is not about me, this is about Montvale. But since you bring it up. Nope I would not stop the harassment, because I think it is vital to growing up. Like I have said before it is natural selection for the weak to be picked on and eliminated. American culture is about winning, is it any wonder that losers like harry got tormented? Notice how the loser of a football game gets all the accolades and praise in the press? We are win win win, how long is a ceo around if he fails? Don’t even tell me every kid should be protected and never see pain and heartbreak of being different. That is where adults come in, the blame is ultimately on the adults for not properly coaching kids that suck. The adults need to make kids like harry comfortable and helping them to find thier place. Harrys was not military school, that is for damn sure.
And again where are the actual stories? The classmate of mine was Tom Camphousen, he quit tech after that. There were 20 of us that stayed the course for 4 years there. Most of my classmates can tell stories of physical abuse. Real abuse, beaten with chain and pipes, hosed down and locked in a freezer. I guarantee that not one of our 20 will complain about the antics. If you are wondering, no I was never a target, nor was I an aggressor. Where is someone saying I saw harry get beaten up? I saw this teacher piss all over harry? And then have confirmation to back it up.
Here you all are saying, Montvale is soooo bad, I’m one telling everyone else there are plenty who don’t believe all your whiney crap. Montvale was a great place to grow up! Man if you couldn’t deal with a Pleasantville like Montvale, imagine how you’d have done in Paterson.
And Helen? We had no Helen in Montvale in the class that would be 76’s. I was well known, Doc Russo (science teacher, fieldstone) gave me the nickname as in, “chicky baby you have had it this time” Or “chicky you are one sick bastard” that was in class! If you are not from Montvale you don’t know me. Everyone else from the class should.
What is the matter with you. You think twisting some poor boys genitals and than lifting him off the floor by them is about growing up. Your sick. I was kicked in the balls by Ray Janovic at the bus stop one snowy morning so hard I blacked out. Other kids were there and did nothing to help. Janovic laughed. He was a sadistic MF. I suppose you think children starving in Darfur is also about growing up. You and your classmates who inflicted or endured physical abuse are sick puppies. You should read what your writting. It isn't normal. What were the teachers doing while you and your fellow classmates beat each other with pipes and chains. Locking children in freezer? What's wrong with you. Your postings are proof that Montvale, Park Ridge, Hillsdale, and Woodcliff Lake were not populated by normal people.
Jebus this site is like Larry, Kent I’d like you to meet Mohammad, Jugdish Sidney and Clayton. I said I failed humanities, meaning I think humans are a waste of O2. The whole species does nothing but devour and destroy what it touches. I’m just as guilty, I’m just saying. I’m posting to defend my teachers. If the teachers saw Prisco do that he would have been expelled. None of the teachers put up with any shit, they have had to take students out before. Our classes were in industrial environments, there was no possible way to watch over everything. Horticulture was responsible for the entire grounds as well as the shop and greenhouse, that is a lot of real estate to get into trouble. Same with carpentry, masonry, boiler room, there was just a lot of places to get nailed. In 76 we had the largest class that ever had graduated from tech. Despite the "lessons", we all seem to have come through fine. Tom, was a flaky student, he was absent a lot, he was not real bright. It was an unfortunate event, but does seem to support my “only the strong survive” theory. I had thought about adding a bit about the teachers after my post, I figured someone would call me on it. We had great teachers, most of us loved our school.
As far as starving in the 3rd world, I don’t give a shit about that either. Remember the survival of the fittest, damn, nova is on pbs and it is free, they have educational shows you know. In Pennsylvania they say they have to kill deer because they will starve. How exactly is man better than deer? (you know there is no point in answering that question that won’t end up in some theological BS)
The point of my posts are not who got abused, it was:
Montvale did not suck!
Statisticly this site has a high population of "harry" types, obviously there were bullies as well. All I ask is that readers toss the high and low and see that there were hundreds that are not in those demographics. Last thing is a funny little 2mb movie!
U STATED THAT RAY JANOVIC WAS A "SADISTIC MF", I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHO U ARE. HE IS NOW DEAD AND CANNOT DEFEND HIMSELF, DID U NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG WHEN U WERE A TEENAGER?????? HOW WELL DID U REALLY KNOW RAY JANOVIC TO SAY SUCH A THING????
I saw Ray Janovic and Ron Ziegler put some poor bastards head in the toilet and flush it during the pledge to the flag during homeroom in the bathroom in the cafeteria. This was around 1972. I did not intervene. I am a loser to this day. I am sorry that Ray is dead. He did seem to be sadistic and a bit stupid. I hope he was able to contribute to human kind during his short life. Lots of youngsters make teenage mistakes. Sadism is genetic and is difficult to overcome.
You reap what you sow ..............the victim is 39-year-old Raymond J. Janovic Jr. According to preliminary reports, Janovic, the father of two children ... erupted into flames and Janovic was pinned inside while the vehicle burned.
Apparently you feel you are the great judge of how people "REAP WHAT THEY SOW"
I hope you do not have children or any skeletons in your closet. I wouldn't want you or your loved ones to have to pay for your adolescent mistakes in a fiery crash. That would really suck...huh?
Normally, with age comes wisdom. That concept seems to lost on you.
Ray and his crew would shake down Harry on a regular basis for lunch money, cigarettes, and reefer. I guess the state of NJ should have provided these boys with free hot lunches so these under priviliged children would not have to steal for a smoke or a hot lunch. I was scared of these people so I kept my distance and a low profile. Not only did they enjoy hurting Harry they hurt other people too. This was not teenage pranks, it was agressive, antisocial behavior. Ray is dead, but that does not change the facts. He was a cruel bully that left a wake of innocent victims in his path.
Ray may have had his faults but he also was a man who knew how to repay his debts and be a man of his word. A lot of "nice" people don't have the character to behave as well. God loves Ray and that's all I need to know!
The group of young men you mention brings back a flood of memories. All of them bad. I saw Peter Higgin punch a kid without being provoked on the bus going to Fieldstone Middle School. The kid didn't even see it coming. His nose bled all over his clothes. There was this other kid with him that just laughed and laughed. His name was Flip as I recall. He was a real piece of sh*t. He later became involved in drugs as I recall. I lived in the same neighborhood as the Frasetta clan, they were trailer trash and gave Italian Americans a bad name. I agree with you on Janovic, but you must include sadism. I wonder what he died of? Please elaborate on Ben Gannerone and Mike Bauer. More facts if you will, I just can't seem to remember them. I have been away along time.
Mike Bauer had black hair and lived on Spring valley rd. near where Aker's Ave ends.
I remember trick or treating there and HIS PARENTS checking us out 'cause there was some kid they were "Out to get". Nice, huh?
Ben Gannerone lived up near Pear River, 2 streets after Montvale ave. In 1972/3 he was graduating Feildstone. He had the longest hair of anyone around and wore a Mickey Mouse denim shirt and saw himself as a music afficiando. Years later I saw him in a Pearl River Bar and was scared shitless. He still emmanated deep hate and disregard for humans. I think his sister OD'd and he was a friend of Bob Hughes.
Here's something I forgot.
Chris McCloud held that kid down when Rigney (Sp, again - sorry) poured lighter fluid on his leg and set a match to it.
Bauer and some guy named Pat roughed me up and stole from me in the bathroom of the Hills cafeteria.
Was dr. Sulma really spiked with LSD in his coffee?
Personally - I don't care which of these guys are living or dead
You live by the sword you die etecetera...
These guys - as Harry would become - WERE BAD MACHINES.
Ben's sister's name was Sara(h)? Her nickname was Seb. She is one of the deceased friends I referred to in the original post. She was really good friends w/Joanie Collens (affectionately known as "wormie")and the LeBeau brothers (IIRC, Jim drowned the week of graduation). I'm surprised to hear that Ben became anti-social - he was a sweet kid, with a really cool mom (she was very into yoga back in the 70's) Sad. Montvale - ick.
Bauer dosen't fit with the others.I knew Bauer and he was very nice to me and my friends.He always smiled and said hello.We were considered "Geeks" but he was always nice to us.I never saw him beat up anybody he just liked to party.
i don't know if anyone spiked dr sulma's coffee although i heard that too. he ran after me once out back and for a fat guy he could run fast. he almost caught me.
Mike Bauer IS my oldest friend. We've been neighbors and friends since 1962. I was fortunate to have 3 homes, mine, his, and the Skoglund's. You never had to have a reason to show up and were always welcome. As a young man I have witnessed Mike protecting not preying on the weak. At an early age he was able to stop a fight with words, not start one. He is a brother to me and his family is an extension of mine. There is no one that I would be prouder to have as a friend. Growing up was fun for us because we had great parents that were up to the task, THANK GOD!
Some of the people you mentioned like Higgins,Jay,Bouer were a bunch of dick heads thankfully I was always a big guy and never really got picked on that much,However there was a kid that lived by Davies locker that was a real tough guy that used to hit me every time I went into abes in town until one day I snaped and knocked the s**t out of him! Then he started buying me cokes!!!His name was Joey A, as for the Frassettos I was close friends with John,and Terry Wilkins who are now married and just lost there youngest son in Iraqi.He was killed by a roadside bomb.Thanks for the memories
All I can say is I grew up and lived in Montvale for 21 years, went to Fieldstone and Pascack hills AND graduated. Montvale was a fine place to grow up although there were some bad folk (teens) but that's anywhere you look. I've had my fair share of fights in school some of which I kicked ass and others I had my ass kicked but not too often. I was more of an individual as I got along with the jocks, nerds burn outs and remember this one "earthworms" (the girls who always got high out back). It was aklways funny how some kids picked on you one year and the next they would befriend you.
Anyway Walter Jahn if you read this here's my e-mail charliepuppy1@cox.net so drop me a message and if anybody out there knows wally's e-mail please send it to me it's been a long time since I've seen him. He was always able to guzzle a quart of beer faster than me.
Let's start with our names Mary, Eileen, Catherine, and Jim Bauer:
Our brother is Michael Bauer and we are proud to say that. The Michael we know is a wonderful brother, husband, and father. We learned how respected he is in his community when there was a fire in his house a couple of years ago. The amount of people who showed up and offered help was a tribute to the good person he is.
Please remember there are young children who go onto this web site and read what you write. Do you really want these kids to read that there are adults out there who are still carrying such anger inside themselves almost 30 years later. To have a list of people you want dead is unbelievable to us. We hope in time you can let the anger go.
One more thing and then we will sign off for good. The comment about our parents is unbelievable. They gave so much to the town of Montvale, between starting the football league in town and all the time my parents gave to coaching baseball, football, and girls softball. Your accusation was unfounded. They are wonderful people, great parents and grandparents who we are all very proud of and love.
Mary, you wrote:
"...Please remember there are young children who go onto this web site and read what you write. Do you really want these kids to read that there are adults out there who are still carrying such anger inside themselves almost 30 years later..."
Mary, why do I have to sensor myself to protect your kids from what they read? Isn't that your job? There isn't any pornography on this site? There isn't anything illegal on this board? You should have more control over what your kids read and don't read.
I agree with everything else you say in your message, but please don't ask me to raise your kids for you. That's your job!
If you should make it back to this cesspool of stupidity, that is this board please say hi to your family for me. Also please ask Eileen to mail me, or you may, and I will explain. I doubt you remember me, but I’m sure you knew my dad.
Remember these are almost all anonymous comments, therefore invalid. If they can’t prove it, it never happened.
Thanks for posting, not so much as to defend Michael but to show there are normal people from Montvale. This page has gotten 485 page loads so far this month,(as of today)not that many posts. Most people will not waste their time with such nonsense, just blow it off and be gone.
Thanks again for having the courage to speak up and use your name.
Mike and the entire Bauer family were great people!
January 27 2006, 10:14 PM
Well said Mary, I am outraged by the comments made on this board. What amazes me is the posts are made by "grown adults?!?!?!?" Come on people.....
As far back as Memorial School and right through to PHHS I was friendly with Mike. He was and I'm sure still is a great person. Evidently all of you anonymous people never took the time to know him or his name would not have been mentioned!! To Mike and the entire Bauer family I hope this post finds you all well and this is the end of the nonsense about you and your family on this board. Peace - Kim
Re: Mike and the entire Bauer family were great people!
January 28 2006, 1:19 PM
Thank You Kim! I didn’t know Mike, but your courage helps balance this place out.
I am posting to explain a few things. You may see a lot of posts missing, and edited. I got mail from one of the people edited and will tell what happened. She was tired of all the crap being spread anonymously around this forum. Everything from her beating up kids, to getting knocked up. Not true, and no way to clear her name. She asked that the forums remove anonymous references to her, citing a new law. The new law is meant to prevent cyber harassment, much like the phone harassment laws. You can read about it here (link will open in a new window) That is not to say you can’t post, if you spout off stupid crap about naming people the board can be held liable for not putting in place some sort of registration system. They log ip addresses, but do not require e-mail, or verification.
They wrote back and said they were far too busy to maintain the forums, and just went ahead and deleted all of her posts. Kinda like having a kid and abandoning it and refusing to pay child support. That is how the forums have gotten so out of control. Her posts were ones supporting Montvale and Pascack Hills. Her goals were to reconnect with long lost classmates and talk about our happy childhoods.
I’ll admit I have extremely harsh on the boards, but without supervision, this place was nothing but innuendo and lies. Like her, I have been saying Montvale was not that bad. That is the whole point. We enjoyed growing up in Montvale as did most of the children from there.
Re: Mike and the entire Bauer family were great people!
January 28 2006, 3:42 PM
Ray...
There are a few good software packages for hosting a meesage board like this one, and most all of them have modes that require registration and confirmation in order to use them, as well as spell checkers, "smilies", the ability to edit posts after you've submitted them, and the ever-so-important "ignore user" feature, which allows a user to block posts and responses from annoying or offensive posters.
The master administrator of the message board (in this case, Staline Films) can then assign moderators to specific sub-grouped thread topics. You, TC and others who were here from the beginning could have been assigned moderator status for specific areas of the board, which would allow you to edit or delete others posts, block or ban users for violating forum rules, etc.
In other words, there are ways to control and maintain a public forum and ensure that it meets whatever standards the owner/administrator/moderators define in the forum mission statement.
It wouldn't take much to put that into place here - it is probably already built-in to the feature set of the software Starline is using, just not implemented fully.
While I disagree with some of the sentiments you;ve expressed here, it is obvious that you care about Montvale above and beyond the De La Roche film (as evidenced by your thread about setting up a reunion site) and I think you would make a good moderator.
You beat each other with pipes and chains, a teacher pissed on Harry, a kid signaled out for abuse is labeled "a loser" Tom quits school because his testicles were mangled (sounds like a smart move), locking kids in a freezer, not stopping the harrasement of a fellow student, natural selection? both my girls were born way under weight. Do you suggest that I should have let them die? Forget Montvale. No wonder the rest of the country thinks NJ is a toxic waste hole. You should be the ambassador.
How much does this ambassador job pay? Is it enough to live comfortably in Montvale?
Ok you made me break out a cliché. I’ve tried science and logic, that don’t work on Americans, so I’m breaking out the multimedia, enjoy! (clicks may be offensive, mp3's will open in a new window)
I guess hills didn’t have a debate team either. I can see why you people had such a hard time, man you are just asking for it. In 30 years you would have thought you would learn not to set yourself up for a fall. I don’t like making fun of people I don’t know, but if I wanted to hurt you, there is a multitude of responses that would send you through the roof. (didn’t learn anything from Mr Kotter didja) In forum terms you are known as an accidental troll, you don’t mean to, but you are primed to be crucified. I am not pointing out specific people, yet I come under attack for relaying truths. I have illustrated that I was not involved in any of this abuse, I mention it happens everywhere, in every town in every country. There are biological reasons for all this behavior, just as there reasons that girls go for jocks, even thought they know they are idiots. Matt Groening has a great bully story in one of his comics, but I’m not going to scan it. WOW there were bullies in Oregon too?????? You can keep your head in the sand, you can go on tormented by events 30 years old, but to think you are unique and anyone should care about you is ludicrous. I WISH!
It still comes down to I don’t think Montvale sucked, nor do I believe that getting your ass kicked is a bad thing. You are supposed to learn from failure, not continue to fail. If you would like to keep up the name calling please use my mail, I will be happy to go into detail about everything that is wrong with the human race.
what is wrong with you? are you so hate filled that you think children from the special olympics can not contribute to our society. I would not call anyone retarded. Parents care about and love their children no matter where they fall on the athletic or IQ scale. You seem to have some issues with your own life. Did you go to college? Do you have your own childeren or are you impotent? If you are impotent, have you considered being a foster parent? What are you doing to make the the United States better for our youth? Do you have a lover or not? Are you homophopic? Do you believe in Darwin or creation? How often do you eat at a fast food restaurant? Do you speak French or Latin? Do you think posting pictures of retarded chidren is funny? If I killed my grandmother by pushing her down a flight of steps would you think that is just setting one up for a fall? F**k you and the horse you rode in on.
OMG!!11!!!1 It is horrible someone made a tasteless joke! Isn’t that what school was about? Geez I wonder where all these mutant children that get made fun of come from?
Where do you get hate from? Your delusional world of bon bon’s and soap operas? I present facts and figures and they are misrepresented as hate and homo bashing. Nice try at spinning, I don’t care much for the human race as group, I’m not prejudice against any one of them. Here is a quote from my mentor: “Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life.”
You may not know this but there are a lot of homo’s in the entertainment business. Realy it is true, you can look it up. I was in this industry for many years and was tech director for a ballet company. The fru fru’s I worked with would not like you calling me a gay basher. (it did kinda creep me out when they talked about the boys locker room) you know they get make fun of people and get drunk like normal guys? Go figure! As mentioned above I’m not going to waste time going in to the other stupid remarks. But I keep being attacked so I have to respond. I was being nice too, and still am.
So for the people who still have a sense of humor, here is a slide show of work a friend of mine did for fark. The other 2 pics above are also from friends. This is tasteless humor, impeccably done. Enjoy! Have a happy friday!!!
You are right, I was wrong. I have made other mistakes in life also. When you say only the strong survive, this is true. Your pictures are funny. Being wrong is not the worse thing in the world. Learning from one's mistakes is a good thing. I am not fond of Montvale. I even think it sucks, but that is my own opinion. Your arguments were strong. Good luck. I am most humble now. LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS GOOD IN MONTVALE.
What was Good in Montvale?
Abes
(had the greatest selection of Rock magazines on earth)
7-11 (still the greatest work of art on this grey earth)
Food Town
The deli next to Abes
All the woods near the RR tracks
Dairy Queen
The farm
Huffs
Garden State (Remember the chocolate milk in glass bottles and the donuts?)
The park on Christmas Eve
Halloween
The brook that ran/runs into the Electric Light pond
Montvale pon
The old school across from 711
Now think of Abes and the Deli and how it was then. The character.
Wasn't it so much better than the plastic Ridgewood-esque monolith that stands there now? Complete with nail salon and sushi bar and more Realators -yay! just what the fuck we need: Nice nails and assholes selling every available piece of land.
Oh yeah also another great thing about Montvale was the Brady drunk / methadone-addicted guy standing on the corner of Grand ave and Kinderkamack drinking out of a paper bag and puking all over as he stumbled up Grand ave...another fond memory.
All the folks mentioned as bullies .... they were and probably still are scumbags today, if they're still alive. If they are alive they're probably shot mentally and physically and hopefully someone is giving them some payback.... their wife, kid, maybe some (other, equivalent) scumbag.
I remember Herb in I guess ninth grade,He used to give me crap about the way I dressed.There must have been something to it cause he could pull a chick in a min! Andy lived by the bank was also a friend for a short time.I just found this web site.A blast from the past111 wALT
"Like I have said before it is natural selection for the weak to be picked on and eliminated. American culture is about winning, is it any wonder that losers like harry got tormented?"
"...nor do I believe that getting your ass kicked is a bad thing. You are supposed to learn from failure, not continue to fail."
What gives you or any one else the right to decide what personal attributes exhibited by an individual merit an ass-kicking? The person who posted here about getting their head flushed in the toilet - you're saying they somehow DESERVED that kind of treatment at the hands of some psychotic bully? To teach them a lesson about failure? Huh?
I think you need to step back a minute and listen to what some of these people are saying. Sure, as a percentageof the total graduating class of 1976 there were more good folks than bad, but that does not change the fact that there was an inordinate amount of bad.
There is already a concensus here - Ray Janovic, Mike Bauer, Flip Acapinti (SP?) and the Frassetto's and Higgins' were Bad Asses. Jon Felz had some anti-social belief systems. The list goes on (although I don't see Ray Ciccarello on it) which should show you that the level of abuse at Hills was not statistically trivial in the '70s. For you to dismiss it as "whiny crap" is a diservice to those who were truly traumatized by their experience, and more than a little insensitive. The fact that "[you were] never a target, nor an aggressor" means you don't get a vote, although I guess you are entitled to your opinion however callous it may be.
And by the way, enough with the cutesy MP3 files from Frank Zappa, John Lennon, and Robin Williams. If they knew you were putting their words in your mouth to defend your indefensible position, they would send you cease and desist letters.
Lets see: A) early morning post on Christmas eve. B) Whining about someone’s opinion. C) Bringing nothing to the table. D) Hides behind an anonymous post. Yep we got a troll!
My posts are based in behavioral science, what happens in the rest of the world. Let’s say 20 out of Harry’s class had miserable daily problems with school. That number I think is high, that is 4% of the total class. Meaning 96% are fine. Get over it! It is no different than any other school in the world, except that there is a place to cry about it 30 years after the fact!
I do have a new theory now, and that is that unbeknownst to the victim they had it coming. While this differs from the Simpson’s theory that dorks give off pheromones and attract bullies, I think the above post supports my position. And that is, some people just need an ass kicking. They may not know it, or why it happened, but everyone around does. I’ll go as far to bring the Chef from south park into it. He said “he is a mean and vengeful god and wants to see you miserable”. There is another can of beans to toss in the ring. And I won’t even go further, but it would be fun. Cuz God hates dorks or else he would have protected them.
As for my files, if is perfectly legal to use small samples. 2 of those made their living making fun of stupid and the 3rd wanted to be in monty python. And I do want to thank you, because of your post they have gotten more hits. So you have helped to spread the funneh around! I have a life long history of helping people and community service. I look at things differently. I stand by my thoughts and have nothing to be ashamed of. Prove me wrong!
"Meaning 96% are fine. Get over it! It is no different than any other school in the world, except that there is a place to cry about it 30 years after the fact!"
'I do have a new theory now, and that is that unbeknownst to the victim they had it coming.'
This is preposterous. An innocent person, going about his/her business, gets accosted and beaten by a bully for no reason other than the bully believes they had it coming. Do you hear yourself? Does a rape victim "have it coming"? Rapists have said as much in confession and/or trial, does that make them right and the victim wrong?
'My posts are based in behavioral science, what happens in the rest of the world. Let’s say 20 out of Harry’s class had miserable daily problems with school. That number I think is high, that is 4% of the total class. Meaning 96% are fine. Get over it.'
If 96% of priests are fine, does that excuse the 4% who molest alter boys? Did the alter boys 'have it coming'? Should those victims just 'get over it', or should the priests be put to justice - after all, it may have been 30 years ago too.
Your theory is absurd.
'D) Hides behind an anonymous post. Yep we got a troll!'
At least my thoughts are my own. You hide behind cute Photoshop jpegs and other peoples lyrics and video clips, then you lean on 'behavioral science' to support your insensitive viewpoint. Just because 96% (your math) of Hills students *didn't* pick on people doesn't excuse the 20 or so who did.
I'd rather be an anonymous 'troll' speaking the truth from the perspective of one who has been beaten and abused, than an apologist for the inexcusable behavior of those doing the abusing.
Michelle Berry (always made me laugh)
Christine DelPizzo
Greg Deer
Janice Facko (RIP)
Angela Gagliardi
Ritchie Hanson (nice Mustang - still has it!)
Lisa Krause
Kenny Landers (nice Mustang, big Poco fan)
Tracy Mariott
Brian Mills
Debbi Noss
Sue Noss
Beth Schlict
Cindy Schlict
Jeff Stumpf (total wise-ass, loved his AMC Javelin)
Jimmy Rice (took forever on my car, but I loved hanging out with him)
Jody Truman
Randy Viraldo
Mr. "My first name is Ben, don't rub it in" Gay
Original 7-Eleven owners (circa late 70's)
Davy's Locker
Dairy Queen
Huff's (of course)
McDonald's Steakhouse on Kinderkamack
Montvale Lanes
Montvale Pontiac
Not So Nice:
Leslie Askew
Robert Brady
Flip
Donna DelPizzo
Doreen Frasetto
Billy Hanson
Tom Higgins
You were married to one of the families on the Not So Nice list, were you not?
I am not a coward, I'm protecting my identity as I was physically assaulted and abused by some of the very people mentioned in these threads. Just because almost 30 years has passed does not mean that any or all of them have changed.
As I have stated in a previous post, I graduated in 1985 and I have no horror
stories to share. When I went to Hills, it was just your "usual, run of the
mill" teasing. I don't recall anyone being terrorized. Hills in the 70's
sounds like a complete nightmare!! The stories of abuse documented by
former students is appalling. My sister graduated in the mid 70's and I
can remember her coming home crying on numerous occassions.
I think all these stories of abuse support the case that Harry didn't kill
his family because of the torment he suffered in high school. If that were
the case, all these former students would have slaughtered their families as
well. Harry was mentally ill. Plain and simple. I don't care how much
a "child" is picked on or teased, it doesn't drive them to murder unless they
already have a mental illness. If homicide was going to be a reaction to
non-stop bullying, etc. I feel the victim would be more likely to kill fellow
classmates. Ex. Columbine and all the other high schools where students have
snapped.
This is just my opinion. Although I have a degree in Psych., I am definitely
not a psychiatrist.
I've been reading all these posts for the past 2 days and finally realize that I wasn't the only one to be "harrassed". Still thinking about it makes me sick. It wasn't just the 70's but the 80's as well. I graduated in 89 and let me tell you how relieved I was to get the hell out of there! I was tortured from kindergarten to senior year and beyond....I did make some great friends, most of them from surrounding schools. I don't believe that being teased, tormented, almost run down by an upperclassman with her car while walking home from school or in Fieldstone with the entire upper hallway (by Ms. Grasso's room) screaming at me was very conducive to my learning anything when I always had to look over my shoulder. Those of you who say that it's part of growing up need to know something. Some of you speak of Colombine...well it almost happened in Fieldstone...you see my dad owned a gunshop and the day of the hallway incident I seriously considered going home, to get my dad's pistol and finally stop being abused. A kid can only take so much so I can sympathize with Harry in certain respects. But being well brought up and having a family who stuck together I actually didn't go home but snuck into the principal's office and hid. I still remember Ms. Rosen running up the stairs asking if a riot was going on. My questions are why didn't the teachers do more to protect me and those like me? Why didn't the parents of these jerks take their kids in hand and explain to them that what they were doing wasn't right? I have to say that I did get one apology senior year from someone who had been in on it from the beginning ( you found me walking home from Woodcliff Lake after my accident....Thanks J!) I have a son now and do not not ever want him to have to deal with the crap my so called peers dealt me. I don't dwell on the past. I am very happy with my life, my wonderful husband and my son. I try not to think about Hills to much anymore and my experiences but I felt I had to speak out today. Anyone on this board who is just looking to get back at the people that were horrible just need to think about this.....what comes around goes around...eventually.
My bad *REMOVED BY STARLINE FILMS*, I was told that you married a member of one of the families listed (who happens to share your first name). Bad information on my end.
This message has been edited by starlinefilms on Jan 27, 2006 4:08 PM
I feel like all you saw was the negative. I was also in the class of '75. For me, school was great. Yes there was some bullying, and i am not saying its rights to have bullying, but it happens everywhere. Yes it was wrong but i feel like you are missing the positives. I had a group of friends who i liked very much we hung out and i had a great time! I loved high school. You guys make it sound like a horrible place. I feel like you are over-exatgerating.
Well, if getting your ass kicked several times without provocation or having your head forcibly shoved in a toilet bowl while you are held by someone against your will while another flushes the toilet with your head in it is over-exagerating, then I guess so.
Ask anyone who has been the victim of physical assault at the hands of bullies how they felt at the time. Try to imagine being accosted in or outside of the school (a place that should be a safe-haven), having someone or a group of someones slam you against a wall and start punching you about the face and chest, all the while verbally abusing you when you've done nothing but be yourself.
I know that it says more about the person bullying then it does the person being bullied, but that doesn't help you when you are 15 and powerless.
"You guys make it sound like a horrible place."
Unless it has happened to you you can't imagine how humiliating it is, nor what it does to your self-esteem. It makes school a horrible place for the person being abused.
"i am not saying its rights to have bullying, but it happens everywhere."
I'm not so sure - it seems to me that, in the '70s at least, an inordinate amount of it went on in Montvale and Park Ridge compared to, say, Pascack Valley, TZ or Pearl River.
No doubt Chicky and **EDITED BY STARLINE FILMS** were most likely part of some "group" on the "Inside" or had their own little peer mafia that insulated them and kept them happy in the sh@t hole called Pascack Hills (or High school, does it matter?) Who hell goes to or wants a reunion anyway?
Yea. Frank Zappa rolls over in his unmarked grave at the fact that these dullards steal his music as sound bites. They never LISTENED to it anyway. He detested his High School and Hippes - yea, hippies who smoked dope and took LSD - why else would as ******* who played bongoes in the dirt become a yuppie?
It's funny this board proves a point. AmoriKKKa can't let go of it's teeneage years.
For some stupid reasons and perhaps for some valid ones.
Yes, people were infact traumitized. It can happen. an often lethal combo of: Shiity home life, so-called progressive education, sadistic *******s (tell me, please, where is it considered a simple prank to hold down a kid and torch his leg, huh?)...how many High Schools in this area had girls run away to become big bucks prostiitutes in NYC? Or groupies screwing Rastafarians?
No doubt. there was some fun to be had to in the mid 70's.(Go to I Remember post)
But to ignore the fact that there were some serious *******s who were sadists is naive.
The names that've come up on this board are people who had no regard for people's well being, safety or life itself. I'm sure if it were today they'd be inclined to kill.
Alot of people suffered due to their general mean spiritedness. And I hope it's come back to them in turn.
Right on Notta.
You can tell by reading these posts who had the cohones to think for themselve's, cultivate goodness and call a spade a spade.
Now go read Teenage Nervous Breakdown by David Walley (Zappa's 1st biographer) and play
The Idiot Bastard Son by Uncle Frank.
This message has been edited by starlinefilms on Jan 27, 2006 4:13 PM
Look -
Did it ever occure to you that people don't want their names on the web next to people they despise? Out of respect for their friend who was savagely gunned down by his brother? I look at that Alumni list and I see so many poor excuses for human beings. They were not good people when I went to school with them in the 70's nor were they any better when I ran into them in the 80's or 90's. As for calling it as it is. I see alot of that on the mess bored I mean board. Shoot, I'm only 45 too. Still look fetchin' .
To my eyes the most interesting story is the one that unfolds on the board. People have been telling some good stories. They are better than the boring ole - Harry doesn't mind if he kills the whole family - trip. That story can be told on Law and Order CI in an hour. After 911 where we all got to see (And smell) burning bodies dry dive from the towers, what use is this story, who cares? It's the 21st cent - the age of tyranny and mutation (LOL).
So I say scrap the poorly titled Anyone's Son and film a series of documentary interviews about Hills and the area, yea?
"Be in my video!" - Frank Zappa
Anyone wanna pose for my video camera? I'm seriously thinking about doing it. At least I won't be mining a message board for free research info.
"Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?" - Johnny Rotten
P.S. I still think that people who graduated from Hills between 1975-80
should not have been allowed to reproduce.
love on ya all
Sincerely,
Happy, single and as Patti Lee used to sing -
Outside society
I want to make a video. If you are interrested let me know and we can comunicate off the board. I was there. I know all the players. I know how to tell a story with moving images, and I have the resources.
OMG!!11!!!1 It is horrible someone made a tasteless joke! Isn’t that what school was about? Geez I wonder where all these mutant children that get made fun of come from?
