So my high school friends and I had a discussion about happenings back in the day. We mentioned things like folded notes in all varieties: coded, a “hey how are you” note, a dramatic story note. These notes were passed around to friends to hand off to other friends. One of my best friends still has a shoebox full of these past notes. I half want to read our youthful thoughts, and I half want to dispose of any nonsense written in those things.
There were also slam books. Honestly, I had to dig deep into my memories to remember that my group did once create a slam book in high school. This slam book was then passed on around the school.
A Slam Book is a notebook (commonly the spiral-bound type) which is passed among Junior high school students. The keeper of the book starts by posing a question (which may be on any subject) and the book is then passed round for each contributor to fill in their own answer to the question[1].
Slam Books can also exist in virtual formats. Web based slam book sites have attracted controversy for hosting virtual slam books in which individuals or organisations are targeted for criticism that constitutes bullying or defamation.[2]
Cliffs: you slam someone in a slam book. Or if you’re nice, you leave good comments. I remember coming upon my page to have (luckily) 1 sour message. It was kind of hurtful, yes. However, I still wanted to scroll through the pages to read everyone else’s comments. Are we just cruel to each other and ourselves? The point of the slam book was to anonymously compliment or shit talk. In the end, what good does it do? To hear compliments from crushes you have no clue who they are. To hear shit talking to come to the realization that some people dislike you. What if you didn’t know your page in a slam book existed? Maybe you’re better off.
I think the next time I head home, I’ll be rummaging through the drawers to see if anything surfaces.
-KTP