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[quinnox]

This message was self-deleted by its author (quinnox) on Mon Mar 4, 2013, 09:20 PM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[wilt the stilt]

1. GW Bush? n/t

[quinnox]

3. lol, no

Thanks for the comic relief though, I needed it.

[OKNancy]

2. Oh, for a second there I thought you were talking about Meta

but this is real life.

[Eleanors38]

31. Heard about this Meta. Is it on the far side of Mercury?

[Iggo]

4. .

[tblue37]

5. One early morning when I parked my car on the campus where teach, a man--normal looking--

Last edited Mon Mar 4, 2013, 11:11 PM - Edit history (1)

approached me and said I could not park in the metered spot where I'd parked. I told him I had a handicapped placard and sticker, which entitled me to park in handicapped designated spots but also (and for free) in metered spots if no nearby handicapped spots were available. As soon as I said that, he went from zero to 60, ranting and cursing at the top of his lungs and actually charging at me! I had to brandish my cane at him to get him to back off! I wasn't just threatening with it, either. If I had needed to, I would have thumped him thoroughly with it. I'm a 62-year-old woman, but I am way fiercer than I look!

The guy wasn't any sort of campus official or anything. He had just decided that HE was responsible for telling people where they coould or could not park. He was obviously mentally disturbed and potentially violent. He did charge me, after all, and only backed down when I threatened him with my solid wooden cane. The fact that I am an older female, handicapped, and small (5' 3&quot undoubtedly gives some people the idea that I would be an easy victim. It was just 7:30 a.m., too, so there was no one else around. It was adisrurbing encounter, though. I wonder what would have happened if he had encountered a woman who was as vulnerable as he apparently assumed I was.

[quinnox]

10. good for you

For sticking up for yourself ike that. I'm a good sized guy, 5'11 and 210 pounds with a muscular frame, although overweight. I could have kicked this bum's ass if I had to, so I knew I had the advantage if it came down to that.

I can't imagine being your age and a woman facing a situation like that. You are awesome.

[tblue37]

11. My guess is that the shock effect helps me. No one expects

someone who looks like me to be as fierce as I am. I look like an easy mark, and those who go after people who look like easy victims are typically pretty cowardly.

[Aerows]

20. I'm 5'3" as well

and petite. I had a thuggish-looking person approach my car threatening me at a gas station in a not so lovely area of town. I whipped out my "club" - the thing you used to lock your steering wheel in the early 90's and was prepared to use it as a "club". He backed off.

People will intimidate you if you let them.

[LiberalFighter]

37. There is a special spot to thump him. Actually two spots close together.

[Whats_that]

45. What you need is...

or...

[cbayer]

6. Sound like he, like many homeless people, may have an untreated psychiatric illness.

Calling him a bum and an idiot is not very compassionate. And perhaps offering to get him some help would have been better than basically just telling him you thought he was crazy.

Can you imagine being him for a second?

[cbayer]

7. It appears I may have fallen for some inside joke. If that's the case, please tell me so

I can delete my post.

Thanks.

[quinnox]

12. its hard to feel that way when he was being so aggressive and acting like he was going to punch and

kick me.

[cbayer]

13. His aggressiveness was most likely a reflection of his own fear.

I know that you are probably a lay person and I don't blame you for feeling afraid, but whatever you felt, I would bet he felt it 10-fold.

Walking away was your best option and I am glad you do not respond in kind. All I ask is that you consider the circumstances and have a little compassion.

[quinnox]

15. lets put it this way, I have a feeling if you had been facing what I did

you would feel very differently. Its easy to say things in the abstract when not facing them for real.

[cbayer]

32. I am sure that I would have been afraid, just like you.

It's your characterization of him that I object to. It's the lack of compassion. Do you really think he's just a vicious old idiot bum who harasses people for no good reason? Or do you think he, perhaps, suffers from some untreated psychiatric illness and is at the very margins of this society?

You are getting a lot of support here, though, which saddens me. Are we not liberals?

[Comatose Sphagetti]

39. Well said.

I, too, sympathize with anyone approached by someone behaving aggressively. Scary situation and I'm glad it turned out OK.

I often hear the words 'drunk, doper, loser, crackhead,' etc. used to disparage those who suffer from the disease of addiction; and 'crazy, wing nut, loony, nut job,' etc. to describe those who exhibit other psychological abnormalities.

Callous, ignorant, and arrogant responses.

Compassion is despised by many - primarily on the right but some on the left - who see mental illness not as a disease process but weakness, and feel those afflicted would be fine if they'd simply "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" or "get right with God."

[cbayer]

40. Also very well said.

It is the POV that mental illness is a weakness that is most difficult. This is the group of people in our society least able to speak for themselves. One never sees ribbons or bracelets or rallies in support of them. The lack of resources in this country is shameful.

No doubt, people with serious mental illness can be seriously frightening, particularly to lay people. But no one is more frightened than they are, in my experience.

[Jumpin Jack Fletch]

62. +1

I'm also wondering why the OP keeps talking about how he could "take" the guy. Okay, what of it?

[1983law]

49. You did the right thing.

The view from the cheap seats is always a lot clearer.

[Dash87]

19. How could the OP possibly help?

Walking away is the best way to not get a knife in your gut.

[Aerows]

23. You can't help people that are threatening you

Not if you want to survive with your skin intact. I'm all for compassion, but there are times when it isn't compassion that is called for, but self-preservation.

[cbayer]

34. I supported his walking away, but maintain that one can have both compassion and

self-preservation at the same time.

[Aerows]

44. I'm 5'3"

I can't help a person that is in my face, intimidating me and threatening me.

[Squinch]

30. +1

[lpbk2713]

8. Trying to get arrested maybe?

Could have been hungry or in need of medical care or just plain tired and in need of a rest.

[1-Old-Man]

9. Yeah, its a shame your battery was dead, you could have done the Christian thing

Did you offer him any help - you said he needed some. Do you think the police would have helped him in any way?

[Cali_Democrat]

14. I'm sorry, but I gotta do it:

Stay safe

[ChisolmTrailDem]

21. That guy always reminds be of BJ

of BJ and the Bear, Greg Evigan...



Anyways, I agree...cool story, bro!

[Cali_Democrat]

25. I also really liked this one:

I think its new.

Totally cracks me up.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

26. Yea, that one makes me laff every time too. He's got it down in that shot, lol. eom

[David__77]

43. Man of my fantasies...

Had to post a better picture of him.

[oldhippie]

16. What if you hadn't been bigger and stronger than this guy?

What would you have done then?

[quinnox]

17. probably ran

[MineralMan]

18. I'm glad there wasn't any physical contact

in this. Such things do occur, of course, but there's rarely any need for any real fighting. I'm sorry your day was disturbed in that way.

[quinnox]

24. thanks mineral man

[Aerows]

27. Me too

You never know what can happen in those situations. I just consider people that try to intimidate others thugs. I couldn't care less whether they are homeless, or have a million dollars. They are all thugs to me. It's one thing to panhandle or try to play a con game. It's entirely another to threaten another human being with physical harm and invade their personal space.

[quinnox]

29. yep. I never had that happen to me before

Because I'm a decent sized guy, not like Schwarzenegger huge, but not push over looking or weak appearing either. This is the first time I ever had some guy try to mess with me like that.

[WinkyDink]

22. I would call this man "poor," or "homeless," or "unfortunate," but "this old bum" sounds

Paul Ryan-ish to me.

[Whats_that]

47. Easy to say until one assaults you...

[DollarBillHines]

58. There are all manner of compassionate words and terms, but

when some street person is in your face and acting aggressively, "crazy motherfucker" usually pops up in my head.

[Whats_that]

67. Theory vs reality...

Reality usually wins...

[NutmegYankee]

28. We sadly outsourced our mental health system to the streets.

Last edited Mon Mar 4, 2013, 12:55 AM - Edit history (1)

It appears this guy needs some help alright. The problem is our society will only toss him in jail instead.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

88. I have had seen many cases that were much like the OP.

Many homeless people at the end of their rope to get into a hospital, they will do this so they can go in and they will be given their meds and health care they need. It makes it where they KNOW they will get what they need and get it on time if it is some sort of med that must be given at certain times. The slag for it is getting "Blue Badge". He more than likely went to find someone with a cell that will call.

[mike_c]

33. yesterday at breakfast my partner and I watched a middle-aged man...

...sitting on the curb outside the restaurant where we were eating, having an animated conversation-- arm waving, gesturing, shouting, jumping up and down-- with himself for about twenty minutes before he got up and walked off, still deep in conversation with someone no one else could see. During his tirade I watched several people walk past, on the other side of the street, careful to avoid him. As someone else noted up thread, we've outsourced public mental health care to the streets. It's sad.

[whistler162]

57. Nowadays he might just be on his bluetooth!

[Cleita]

35. Some like him do that.

They are mentally unstable and have found out that they can scare people into giving them some money. I had one yell at me that I had stolen money from him and to give it back. There was a market I stopped going to because of the harassment. The police will probably arrest him and then drop him off a few blocks away. Please be empathetic to these people. They need medical care and we have laws saying they can refuse it and frankly if they don't, it's very inadequate. Obviously, someone like him can't hold down a job.

[Sheldon Cooper]

36. ...

[Son of Gob]

61. +1

[Warpy]

38. That's likely what he was looking for

a ticket to jail for a few days, showers, hot food, and just hope the bunky isn't a weirdo. You'd have done him a big favor to call the cops.

It's still disconcerting, though. I'm glad he was pulling his punches.

[Leslie Valley]

41. A couple of weeks ago I hit a street level ATM in downtown Phoenix

Middle of the day. Some guy approached me and asked if I could help out. At first I thought he needed directions or something until I realized he was asking for money.

I politely explained that I only had a couple of 20s on me and he gave me a look like so? What's the problem?

As I was retreating back into the bank lobby he reached into his windbreaker pocket and came out with a wad of cash. He said he could make change!

He had more loot on him than I did.

[ret5hd]

54. Yeah, uh huh.

[Leslie Valley]

71. So that was you?

"Yeah, uh huh." That's exactly what you said when I told you I only had a few 20's.

Sorry for your misfortune but next time don't bring out the whole stash. Peel off a few ones and you will look much more credible.

Just trying to be helpful to a fellow human.

[Quantess]

73. Awesome.

So what did you get for "a couple of 20s?"

A chili dog, or a Cleveland Steamer?

[Leslie Valley]

79. No, It was enough for an order of Frank Zappa Zukes and some Lady GaGa's hot links

At Alice Cooper's Cooper'stown and to get out of the parking ramp though.

He was even there that day, although he usually is when he's not on the road.

[HipChick]

42. Assault with no physical contact? I was hit by a homeless woman in LA

apparently she thought I was trying to steal her imaginary babies from her. I was trying to give her a hot meal, and she launched at me...she looked as though she had been beautiful once, but her looks were long lost to her lifestyle. I don't think mental illness gets anywhere the attention it needs, these incidents are upsetting and more so if someone actually goes upside your head on you..

[lunatica]

52. Women homeless are very vulnerable to assault and the can be very aggressive because of it

I've often thought about how I would act as a woman on the streets. I think women who are homeless are probably very smart to act like they're crazed. It helps keep them safe. I think I would do the same.

[lunatica]

46. If you live in California he's probably mentally ill

I've had homeless men ask me for a cigarette, and when I smoked I actually gave them one just to be screamed at for whatever. In California we're used to it thanks to Reagan closing all the mental sanitariums in the state.

Other than assaulting you verbally, they're quite harmless.

[Whats_that]

48. Last time I was in San Francisco....

... The enjoyment of the whole trip was really brought down by the constant harassment from the homeless.

[lunatica]

50. Yeah, they're such a downer aren't they?

So sorry your vacation was ruined by the horrible homeless.

[Whats_that]

68. I should feel bad...

... because my wife was uncomfortable around the constant and continuous harassment of aggressive panhandlers, most of whom appeared to be under the influence of drugs?

My priorities lie with her and we won't be going back to the smelliest city in America until they solve the problem...

[ForgoTheConsequence]

85. San Francisco has a major mental health crisis.

But there are also a good amount of people from middle class backgrounds who become obnoxious trouble makers and panhandled to do it. I know a lot of them that travel back and forth between Portland, Seattle and San Fran, they involve themselves in the same "scene" as I do and I hear their stories all the time.

That being said those types of people ruin it for people really struggling.

[Texasgal]

53. Too bad.

I found the homeless population engaging and friendly... much more so than the residents.

[Whats_that]

72. I refer you to post 68...

[Richardo]

51. Sounds like a metaphor for Boehner's antics v the President.

[alcibiades_mystery]

55. In my experience, there are three reasons for an adult referring to somebody else as a "bum"

1) The person being referred to as a bum is a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers, or, by extension, some other beloved sports team that seems to tragically fall short when it counts.

2) The person being referred to as a bum is a referee or umpire or other official at a sports game, and the person referring to him or her as a bum is playfully angry about a call.

3) The person referring to another person as a bum is an ignorant asshole.

That's it. That's an exhaustive list.

Now, no doubt somebody will suggest that had I just experienced this "street assault" or any of the kind, I'd feel differently. Well, no. I grew up in New York City in the 1980's. I've experienced multiple dimensions of street assaults, from mob beatdown to spontaneous fistfight to, yes, subway stabbing. The one described in the OP is very mild indeed. A disturbed homeless person threatening you at a bus stop? We called that Tuesday morning on the way to high school. But, even if we set all that aside, I think a modification of Michelle Obama's statement is in order: difficult circumstances don't make you what you are. They show you what you are. The three reasons enumerated above stand.

[Quantess]

59. That's the big important message you derived from it all??!

The word "bum"?!

Oh no, not at all that mental health services were cut drastically under Ronald Reagan?

Nothing at all related to the way people with mental illnesses are treated. Just, the word the OP chose to use. Shame on you.

[Quantess]

56. Why are people thinking this is funny?

He was obviously mentally ill. I'm sorry that happened to you and I hope you get home okay.

[Whats_that]

74. Maybe he was just a jerk...

[quinnox]

84. Thank you, quantess

Yea, I got home ok, the guy finally left me alone. But I felt bad for other people that I thought he might go harass later on. The police hopefully were called eventually by someone, he was just acting so crazy aggressive.

[Brigid]

60. I am 4'9".

If you think I'm going to be full of the milk of human kindness when some stranger approaches me on the street, which does happen on a fairly frequent basis in this neighborhood, you are crazy. Most are just panhandlers, but I'm not a mind reader. I have the right to go about my business without being harassed.

[bluedigger]

63. Hallelujah!

[CreekDog]

64. You called them a bum because he threatened you or because he appeared homeless?

[Zax2me]

65. A 'bum?'

Sounds like he may have medical or mental issues. But the word 'bum' is tossed around a little too much to describe all homeless people.
I am glad that you are okay and hope this person finds the help he needs.

[Quantess]

70. word policing, just a little bit...

Think, people... how did we get here?
Oh yes, it all started when Ronald Reagan cut psychiatric services.

[Logical]

66. "could have taken him in a fight" is always funny to me......

The one thing you learn if you been in enough fights is never judge a fighter by his or your size.
You have no fucking idea the skills this person had.
Be smarter.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

75. And never fight someone who has nothing to lose.

[GP6971]

69. We have this guy

who comes over to the parking lot at work where there is a smokers pot and he curses anyone who is there and rifles the pot for usable butts. It's not what he is on.........it's what he is off. (meds).

[backscatter712]

76. That's what pepper spray is for.

Of course, you don't want to go out looking for trouble, but if some tweeker is getting in your face and threatening to violently assault you, a spritz of the happy sauce right in his eyes is just the thing to incapacitate him enough to get away.

[quinnox]

81. good idea

now that this happened, that sounds like something to get just in case.

[Rowdyboy]

77. Being verbally assaulted can be extremely painful...

It can really make you sick to your stomach.

[quinnox]

83. I had the adrenaline flowing for sure

I was in fight or flight mode, and I wasn't go to retreat any further at that point. I think the guy saw that in my eyes, and that is why he finally backed off.

[backscatter712]

78. How much do you want to bet that this guy was on meth?

Meth makes people freaky and violent.

[quinnox]

82. I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me

The dude was acting really weird. When I said you need help, he kept repeating, "Help? Psychological? Psychological? Psychological?" Like that, while he was pretending to hit and kick me, not quite making contact but close.

[left on green only]

80. It may be that I have just a tad too much English in me......

....or that I am one too kinky dude, but when I first read the top line of the OP, I thought to myself, "Oh cool, now this one *has* to be interesting".

[octothorpe]

86. Was he drunk, or do you suspect he was mentally ill?

I remember when I lived in Portland, OR, the place seemed to have had a disproportional number of mentally ill homeless people.

[Abe Lincoln]

87. Why didn't....

Why didn't you just do the smart thing and use a "call box", or go to a "safe-zone" or use a whistle?

[quinnox]

89. self-deleting as this happened yesterday and no longer needs to be discussed

The text of the OP:

I just had a bum assault me [View all]

Wow, I was sitting minding my own business waiting for a bus, and this old bum comes up real close to me and starts acting aggressive and all in my face. Calling me chickenshit and pretending to kick and punch me but pulling back at the last moment. At first, I tried to just walk away from him but he followed me. Then I told him he needed help and he sarcastically asked me if I meant psychological help. Finally I had enough of his antics and being all in my face, so I told him I wasn't afraid of him and stood my ground. I'm a decent size guy and could have taken him in a fight, he was skinny and a lot lighter weight than me. He then backed off and went looking for other people to harass.

Unfortunately my cell phone battery was dead otherwise I would have called the cops on this idiot pronto.