Ken WhiteFeb 3, 2023

A mentally ill homeless guy walked onto a high school campus in my suburb, wearing all black, carrying a big duffel bag. Now, it’s reasonable to be concerned about that and want to identify who it is, assure he’s not carrying weapons onto the campus, and so forth.

But the community (as, perhaps, poorly represented on Facebook) is coming completely unhinged.

/1

Show threadKen WhiteFeb 3, 2023
/2 The cops found him at a local Starbucks, identified him, determined he had no weapons, and gave him a trespassing ticket. The community is OUTRAGED. They’re stalking him around the community and taking pictures of him at Starbucks and McDonald’s and demanding that he be kicked out. They want him jailed or institutionalized.
Show threadKen WhiteFeb 3, 2023

/3 They’ve found his Twitter and Facebook accounts and are printing out the stuff there - kind of crazy, not notably crazy on Twitter — taking it to the police demanding he be arrested. They’re keeping meticulous logs of his activities.

I am considerably more afraid of my neighbors than I am of this mentally ill homeless guy.

Show threadKen WhiteFeb 3, 2023
/4 The real question is .. will I keep my mouth shut and stay out of the neighborhood group where people are wigging out? Or will I comment?
Show threadKen WhiteFeb 3, 2023
/5 It is … not going well.
Show threadKen WhiteFeb 3, 2023
/6 when people unclear on the concept try to insult me
Show threadKen WhiteFeb 3, 2023
/7 Still not going well. However, I have worked very hard to be polite. I just had a donut, which I awarded myself for refraining from the phrase “mob of crazed torch-waving Karens”
Show threadKen WhiteFeb 3, 2023
/8 People have an absolute right to have fears, and voice them, even if the fears are irrational in nature or proposed remedy. But some people seem to thing that fears, particularly about children, should be above dissent or critique, which is weird.
Show threadKen WhiteFeb 3, 2023
/9 I give them this: they’re up front about it.
Show threadAlexFeb 3, 2023

@Popehat What a charm life that donut lives.

I wonder if he'd be comfortable knowing that I consider his activities to be stalkerish - and feel that he is the one exhibiting "concerning behavior".

Show threadWeakCookiesFeb 3, 2023
@mentallyalex My thoughts exactly! Let’s get that guy’s personal life under a microscope and maybe we will see who’s doing some “concerning” things.
Show threadAlex

@WeakCookies Honestly, striking fear into these types by explaining the areas they are hypocritical in, never works.

They aren't being an earnest person, they are trying to find someone who will openly support them. This is a scared little man who feels like he is immune to reprisal from punching down.

People like that are just a waste of anger. He's hopeful someone will fuel his rage and give him purpose. Ken is smartly acknowledging the bad-actions and appreciating the boldness of the claims. That'll make most people back away since the guy is obviously in the wrong.

Feb 3, 2023 at 7:13pmWeb