Scary Guy visited Lewis-Palmer High School the first week students returned from Christmas break. With his powerful commanding voice, he captured the attention of everyone in the auditorium.

Using unusual methods, he was able to bring attention to bullying and hostility not only in schools, but also around the world. Other public speakers use direct stories and examples to convey the same message as Scary Guy, but he chose strange actions, like vomiting on stage and mocking audience members.

However, I admit Scary Guy’s influence didn’t stick here at LP for very long. Many students, myself included, thought he was very strange and not the best choice for anti-bullying speakers. It was a waste of time and money on the part of the school.

He would allow the audience members to ask questions, but would avoid giving straight answers to them. His presentation was entirely unrelated to the very subject he was talking about: we should love instead of hate.

He issued an easy-to-do challenge to the students: get 16 hugs per day. He also challenged the students to refrain from using degrading language for 7 days. These challenges were difficult as I or any of the students could attest.

Though the words were powerful at the time, they did not have a lasting effect. Within a few minutes of the presentation ending, students were already saying profanities and insulting each other.

Scary Guy may be powerful in other schools but I believe he wasn’t influential here at LP.