Please Stop Laughing At Me...: One Woman's Inspirational Story
by Jodee Blanco
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While other kids were daydreaming about dances, first kisses, and college, Jodee Blanco was just trying to figure out how to get from homeroom to study hall without being taunted or spit upon as she walked through the halls. This powerful, unforgettable memoir chronicles how one child was shunned -- and even physically abused -- by her classmates from elementary school through high school. It is an unflinching look at what it means to be the outcast, how even the most loving parents can get show more it all wrong, why schools are often unable to prevent disaster, and how bullying has been misunderstood and mishandled by the mental health community. You will be shocked, moved, and ultimately inspired by this harrowing tale of survival against insurmountable odds. This vivid story will open your eyes to the harsh realities and long-term consequences of bullying -- and how all of us can make a difference in the lives of teens today. show lessTags
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This is a must-read for parents and educators. It's amazing that Jodee survived her childhood; she must have an incredibly resilient spirit. I could hardly believe that most of the adults in her life kept telling her that the bullying she endured was just "kids being kids." I share her outraged opinion that kids ganging up on one other kid to literally beat her black-and-blue is NOT normal kid behavior! While some of the teasing and cliquish behavior may be typical of kids--especially teens--that does not mean it's acceptable. Jodee's resulting depression and eventually thoughts of violent revenge show how important it is for adults to help stop and prevent bullying.
was unimpressed and a little confused when I first read this. I was a teenager. The person who gave me it, did so after she finished it. I read (ha ha) -far- too much into what she was doing at the time. I finished it, gave it to a consignment shop, and put it out of my mind for the next twenty years. Now, a few days ago as of this writing, I read it again via ebook. It's no wonder I was confused by this book as a teenager.
This is a memoir. I had thought it was fiction upon first read because of how poorly it was written, I thought back then. Surely no one would write about such bullying as an adult and it would never be a popular read. As an adult who is uninterested in memoirs, I neutrally note: any memoir can be published and popular show more for any reason. I'm not being snide; I'm neutral on the whole.
I believe the author went through what she said she did. I believe the teachers indeed ignored the whole thing and gaslit her. I believe her parents indeed victim-blamed her and sent her to a shrink. And in the seventies, when there was an enormous stigma attached! I am truly sorry for what she went through.
There's an incredibly insightful introduction...she wrote to her own memoir...which is a huge sign of her own ego. Uh, wow, okay. One of her colleagues makes wonderfully astute remarks about bullying and -why it's pardoned.- I do not -care- why people bully. I care about why it's pardoned! I care that victims are just told to get over it, by teachers and others! I care that bullies are totally shocked when victims can violently lash out. The author's colleague addresses all these, and the author reflects on that.
And promptly ignores it for the entire book. Lots of cognitive dissonance going on there. Gross.
She's writing about her childhood and teen years through an adult lens. She is fucking insufferable. I kept reading, waiting for her to cool off. Not for a moment did she stop being pretentious. Sure, she dialed it down when describing the harms, but that's because she's still understandably affected. Her Catholic worldview is slathered on every single page. In fanfiction, she'd get called a Mary Sue and told to go to counseling. Seriously, your bullies -magically- think you're so hot all along? And at the reunion, one of her tormentors sheepishly asks if she's in the bullying memoir. Indicates the bully knew what she was doing was wrong! Teenagers share qualities of sociopaths, some branches of psychiatry note. It's evident here. She -magically- forgives every single bully at that reunion. WHAT THE FUCK IS SHE ON?!
Or more nicely: why the hell did she decide to forgive them at the snap of her fingers?
-That- would be an excellent time to link it to her Catholic worldview. Her reasons for forgiving them are never, ever examined. It's like the audience was just supposed to go, "Oh, horrific treatment and physical beatings are totes okay, it was the seventies, it was a different time haha kids will be kids." Because that's how the adults around her treated it. But no, there's no stated reason.
Why did she even go to the reunion? I just can't wrap my mind around that one. She glosses over a -lot- of her own emotions, simply recounting bullying incident after bullying incident at different schools and how adults blamed her and refused to intervene. Multiple bullies said to her "Let me know if I can help writing your book!" which I took to be a cruel joke of the "laugh off my behaviors and thank me in the acknowledgments section! You came to the reunion, so clearly you're not upset" variety.
She...smiles in the center of a photo with all her bullies at the end, and forgives them all, and they put their arms around her.
I just--what?. In fanfiction, this is what would happen to a Mary Sue. It's explained with the same amount shallowness and "if -you- don't get this, reader, then -you- are emotionally stunted."
I wish I could wish upon her healing and peace. But uh, happy photo so she's already got it?
I don't recommend this book for -anyone-, ever.
AND THERE'S A SECOND MEMOIR?!
(original paragraph was so mean-spirited that I decided to redact it)
Save time and brain cells and skip this. show less
This is a memoir. I had thought it was fiction upon first read because of how poorly it was written, I thought back then. Surely no one would write about such bullying as an adult and it would never be a popular read. As an adult who is uninterested in memoirs, I neutrally note: any memoir can be published and popular show more for any reason. I'm not being snide; I'm neutral on the whole.
I believe the author went through what she said she did. I believe the teachers indeed ignored the whole thing and gaslit her. I believe her parents indeed victim-blamed her and sent her to a shrink. And in the seventies, when there was an enormous stigma attached! I am truly sorry for what she went through.
There's an incredibly insightful introduction...she wrote to her own memoir...which is a huge sign of her own ego. Uh, wow, okay. One of her colleagues makes wonderfully astute remarks about bullying and -why it's pardoned.- I do not -care- why people bully. I care about why it's pardoned! I care that victims are just told to get over it, by teachers and others! I care that bullies are totally shocked when victims can violently lash out. The author's colleague addresses all these, and the author reflects on that.
And promptly ignores it for the entire book. Lots of cognitive dissonance going on there. Gross.
She's writing about her childhood and teen years through an adult lens. She is fucking insufferable. I kept reading, waiting for her to cool off. Not for a moment did she stop being pretentious. Sure, she dialed it down when describing the harms, but that's because she's still understandably affected. Her Catholic worldview is slathered on every single page. In fanfiction, she'd get called a Mary Sue and told to go to counseling. Seriously, your bullies -magically- think you're so hot all along? And at the reunion, one of her tormentors sheepishly asks if she's in the bullying memoir. Indicates the bully knew what she was doing was wrong! Teenagers share qualities of sociopaths, some branches of psychiatry note. It's evident here. She -magically- forgives every single bully at that reunion. WHAT THE FUCK IS SHE ON?!
Or more nicely: why the hell did she decide to forgive them at the snap of her fingers?
-That- would be an excellent time to link it to her Catholic worldview. Her reasons for forgiving them are never, ever examined. It's like the audience was just supposed to go, "Oh, horrific treatment and physical beatings are totes okay, it was the seventies, it was a different time haha kids will be kids." Because that's how the adults around her treated it. But no, there's no stated reason.
Why did she even go to the reunion? I just can't wrap my mind around that one. She glosses over a -lot- of her own emotions, simply recounting bullying incident after bullying incident at different schools and how adults blamed her and refused to intervene. Multiple bullies said to her "Let me know if I can help writing your book!" which I took to be a cruel joke of the "laugh off my behaviors and thank me in the acknowledgments section! You came to the reunion, so clearly you're not upset" variety.
She...smiles in the center of a photo with all her bullies at the end, and forgives them all, and they put their arms around her.
I just--what?. In fanfiction, this is what would happen to a Mary Sue. It's explained with the same amount shallowness and "if -you- don't get this, reader, then -you- are emotionally stunted."
I wish I could wish upon her healing and peace. But uh, happy photo so she's already got it?
I don't recommend this book for -anyone-, ever.
AND THERE'S A SECOND MEMOIR?!
(original paragraph was so mean-spirited that I decided to redact it)
Save time and brain cells and skip this. show less
Bullying is seen from inside out in Jodee Blanco’s book of school-age memoirs, from her elementary school years through her high school graduation. By revealing what it felt like to be the subject of bullies who both verbally and physically abused her over the years, she reveals an often dark and hidden side of childhood. Hoping to expose this issue to parents and teachers, she is also providing a forum for those who suffer from this issue as well as those who torment others to finally be frank. At the end of her own story, Blanco provides a resource list for those who either want to learn more or share their stories.
Truthfully, I was appalled by the content this book. Maybe this is the behavior of schoolchildren now, but I don’t show more remember such physical assaults on taunted kids from my own period of youth. Perhaps I was in a more protected environment or perhaps I was oblivious to it. I do remember the loneliness of being “left out”. However, what was described in this book was even crueler than simply just being “left out”.
At first, I thought not to read the book as it seemed written and directed to a younger readership. However, I decided to finish this book because I felt the subject was important, the writing style was engaging, and I’d wanted to know more about the subject of bullying.
What I took from this book was a warning for parents, teachers, and fellow students to be aggressive in the fight against bullying. Too often, it leaves scars that have a major negative impact on individual lives. People who think that much of themselves and who denigrate others should never be allowed that much power.
The ending of this book was disappointing. Instead of the author talking about available resources, she simply makes a two-page list. In addition, she goes to her school reunions and actually seems to make light of what was done to her as that, as they say, “is history”. My question is why no one was held liable for their despicable actions either at the time they occurred or even years later? Everyone, years later, seemed as if those cruel actions by individual children simply faded away with the present time and adulthood. show less
Truthfully, I was appalled by the content this book. Maybe this is the behavior of schoolchildren now, but I don’t show more remember such physical assaults on taunted kids from my own period of youth. Perhaps I was in a more protected environment or perhaps I was oblivious to it. I do remember the loneliness of being “left out”. However, what was described in this book was even crueler than simply just being “left out”.
At first, I thought not to read the book as it seemed written and directed to a younger readership. However, I decided to finish this book because I felt the subject was important, the writing style was engaging, and I’d wanted to know more about the subject of bullying.
What I took from this book was a warning for parents, teachers, and fellow students to be aggressive in the fight against bullying. Too often, it leaves scars that have a major negative impact on individual lives. People who think that much of themselves and who denigrate others should never be allowed that much power.
The ending of this book was disappointing. Instead of the author talking about available resources, she simply makes a two-page list. In addition, she goes to her school reunions and actually seems to make light of what was done to her as that, as they say, “is history”. My question is why no one was held liable for their despicable actions either at the time they occurred or even years later? Everyone, years later, seemed as if those cruel actions by individual children simply faded away with the present time and adulthood. show less
I was so excited when I saw this book on the shelf. I was badly bullied in school. I had a very similar background to Jodee. I am about her age, and at the time, school adminostrators ignored bullying or tried to blame the victim. My parents also moved me from school to school but that only made matters worse. I was also physically and mentally abused. I was also socially isolated in schools for most of my growing up.
I REALLY wanted to like this book. I However, Jodee turned out to be one of the least sympathetic victims I've ever read about. While she whined and complained about how much people hated her, she was EXTREMELY critical of others. She is unapologetic in describing some of her fellow unpopular collegues in the most show more unflattering ugly ways. I found her descriptions of students with disabilities to be condescending and insulting.
Because I was a victim of serious bullying growing up, I don't want to say that one should blame the victim.. but as an adult, I can see where my poor social skills and self absorption led to my being a target for bullies. I'm not saying that it justified their actions, but my actions did have an effect on people around me. Jodee seems to have had no revelations as an adult. She tells the story through the eyes of a hurt 12 year old. I saw no healing or self realization at all.
And I was disappointed by the ending. She sounded like a desperate little kid imagining her high school reuinion. "Woo. I am so important and I know all these celebrities... PLEASE LOVE ME, CHEERLEADERS!!"
Worst. Book. Ever. show less
I REALLY wanted to like this book. I However, Jodee turned out to be one of the least sympathetic victims I've ever read about. While she whined and complained about how much people hated her, she was EXTREMELY critical of others. She is unapologetic in describing some of her fellow unpopular collegues in the most show more unflattering ugly ways. I found her descriptions of students with disabilities to be condescending and insulting.
Because I was a victim of serious bullying growing up, I don't want to say that one should blame the victim.. but as an adult, I can see where my poor social skills and self absorption led to my being a target for bullies. I'm not saying that it justified their actions, but my actions did have an effect on people around me. Jodee seems to have had no revelations as an adult. She tells the story through the eyes of a hurt 12 year old. I saw no healing or self realization at all.
And I was disappointed by the ending. She sounded like a desperate little kid imagining her high school reuinion. "Woo. I am so important and I know all these celebrities... PLEASE LOVE ME, CHEERLEADERS!!"
Worst. Book. Ever. show less
In this day and age when bullying has been such a prominent issue in the news I feel like this book should be required reading for all teenagers, parents and educators. I don't think there is anyone alive who has not experienced some form of bullying, teasing or simply following the pack because their afraid of being teased (like so many of the perpetrators in this book did). We all could learn something from this novel. Those who have been or are being teased can maybe find some strength from it. Those who are the bullies might see what it was like to be on the receiving end.
The ending - my first thought was "That's it? She's just going to forgive them for the hell they put her through? WTH!" My second thought and in the end what I show more feel is the right thought - Rather than being vindictive and hateful to those who hurt her...she rose above that reaction and proved that they didn't break her, which itself is her vindication. show less
The ending - my first thought was "That's it? She's just going to forgive them for the hell they put her through? WTH!" My second thought and in the end what I show more feel is the right thought - Rather than being vindictive and hateful to those who hurt her...she rose above that reaction and proved that they didn't break her, which itself is her vindication. show less
Moving autobiography about a woman who was tormented and bullied throughout her school years because she had morals when the other kids didn't. I don't remember my school days being anywhere near as bad as hers, but I get the impression this is still going on. Because she stood up for what she believed in, and refused to back down about right and wrong, students and teachers turned against her.
I don't see what was so "inspirational" about Please Stop Laughing at Me. Mainly it was one long whine about how the author was bullied throughout her school years. I'm a survivor of severe bullying myself and her stories rang true, but Jodee Blanco's so-called "insights" rang hollow. She might as well have just said, "I got treated horribly in school, but I'm a stronger, happier person now" instead of having to stretch that one sentence into 276 pages. She also promised to provide answers to the bullying problem and resources for victims of bullying, and didn't adequately deliver on either of those either.
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6+ Works 905 Members
Jodee Blanco is one of the country's most trusted voices on the subject of bullying. As a sought-after keynote speaker, seminar presenter, and crisis consultant, schools regularly turn to Jodee for help. Thousands of students, teachers, and parents have participated in her anti-bullying program It's NOT Just Joking Around! (INJJA), an show more intuitive-based, compassionate approach to inclusivity. Jodee is also the author of Please Stop Laughing at Us, The Please Stop Laughing at Me Journal, and Bullied Kids Speak Out. For more information or to inquire about booking Jodee to speak, please visit Jodee's website, www.jodeeblanco.cora, or email Jodee at jodee@jodeeblanco.com. show less
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Has the (non-series) sequel
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2010-07-18
- People/Characters
- Jodee Blanco
- Epigraph
- Tiny, jagged hunks of mortar were being hurled at me from all sides. My hands over my face, I tried to run home, but the assault was too relentless. "Please stop," I pleaded. My knuckles and wrists were swollen and bloody.... (show all) Red welts covered my skin. I didn't know what was worse, the physical or emotional agony.
- Dedication
- This book is a labor of love. It is dedicated to people who have cried themselves to sleep because they were "different." It is also a celebration of the "inner outcast" in all of us, and a humble attempt to inspire toleran... (show all)ce, understanding, and acceptance. And to Niko...Opou eisai, s'agapo mexrt ta sinefa kai para pano.
- First words
- This is crazy.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I can finally forgive them....and myself.
- Blurbers
- Bradshaw, John; Canfield, John
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- 792
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- 34,896
- Reviews
- 29
- Rating
- (3.69)
- Languages
- Danish, English, German
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 19
- UPCs
- 2
- ASINs
- 4
