[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

From the video the baton man moves like Lurch or Herman Munster.

Only sometimes. Depends on the song and his mood. When he's spinning, it's pretty amazing to watch. He never bumps into anyone, and I've never seen him get dizzy doing it. I've seen him spin -on his way- to the square. Never saw him doing it when he's grocery shopping though so again, I think it's just the music that inspires him to move.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

You forgot to mention the chair hogs and stealers. Pillows and blankets on nine chairs for an hour with owners nowhere in sight. Get up from your seat for one brief moment, your chair has disappeared. Ask others around if they saw where it went, no one saw anything.

We bring our own fold-up rocking chairs with cup holders. We splurged.

[C. C. Rider]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

Years ago, I was told he had autism by a woman serving drinks in one of the huts. She gave me quite a long story about how long she has known him and had witnessed outbursts and unusual repetitive behavior. (usually associated with unexpected loud noises and music) Other than noise, she said he is harmless. If that information is incorrect, I stand corrected. Did not seem like the woman was someone who liked to gossip. Came off as someone who was concerned for another.

Autistic people are extremely intelligent and able to function. They repeat a behavior over and over because they cannot get it out of their head. You said it yourself in your post. People try to get him to stop but he just smiles at them. That is the nature of the disease. He is unable to control his behavior impulse. And, can not recognize that his behavior is odd or extreme. Music and/or noise sets his brain off. A normal person would stop the behavior when hundreds of people have asked him to do so.

This was the point of my post. Don't just discard someone and make requests to have them banned from the square without knowing about them first. I used the words severe mental problems because that is how it was relayed to me. She used the words severe autism.

Suppose that some guy had a similar problem in that whenever he heard certain music, he would not be able to resist grabbing the nearest woman by the A$$. If you were grabbed thusly, would you excuse it by saying, "Oh, never mind. He couldn't help it"?

If so, let me know when you're going to be on the Square and what you look like and we'll test the truthfulness of your answer.

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by C. C. Rider

Suppose that some guy had a similar problem in that whenever he heard certain music, he would not be able to resist grabbing the nearest woman by the A$$. If you were grabbed thusly, would you excuse it by saying, "Oh, never mind. He couldn't help it"?

If so, let me know when you're going to be on the Square and what you look like and we'll test the truthfulness of your answer.

We have been down this road with other posters. I thanked them for reminding me of the side I wasn't seeing. And, thank you for reminding me as well.

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

We bring our own fold-up rocking chairs with cup holders. We splurged.

Guess I should do the same. My luck, they'll take the cups in the. holder. Free Beer, everyone!

[pauld315]

Originally Posted by Lottoguy

Spanish Springs is a great place for people watching!

The Villages - The Conductor Invades Spanish Springs - YouTube

Is that the same guy who used ot stand on the wall ?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by pauld315

Is that the same guy who used ot stand on the wall ?

Yes. He used to dance while standing on the wall. I believe they asked him to step down because of the risk of slipping and falling. Not sure about the "why" of it but that seems the most sensible reason.

[Chi-Town]

He should stick to the wall. He was less of a nuisance.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by C. C. Rider

Suppose that some guy had a similar problem in that whenever he heard certain music, he would not be able to resist grabbing the nearest woman by the A$$. If you were grabbed thusly, would you excuse it by saying, "Oh, never mind. He couldn't help it"?

If so, let me know when you're going to be on the Square and what you look like and we'll test the truthfulness of your answer.

Great post!

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

You forgot to mention the chair hogs and stealers. Pillows and blankets on nine chairs for an hour with owners nowhere in sight.

That's BS. Just move the stuff and take the seat you want.

It's one thing if it's the middle of a show and the folks are out dancing, but if the show hasn't started yet and I saw a group of seat covered with nonsense, I'd just move it and take a seat.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

That's BS. Just move the stuff and take the seat you want.

It's one thing if it's the middle of a show and the folks are out dancing, but if the show hasn't started yet and I saw a group of seat covered with nonsense, I'd just move it and take a seat.

I've done that in the past (when we didn't have our own chairs, or when we don't bring them that night). I always check with whoever is seated closest with the vacant seats and ask how long the seats have been unoccupied. If it's more than 20 minutes, I sit down and tell them when their friends return, I'll get up.

[Whitley]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

We have been down this road with other posters. I thanked them for reminding me of the side I wasn't seeing. And, thank you for reminding me as well.

You were just being polite, right? You didn't see a comparison in that did you? Someone with autism letting out shrieks to music is not comparable to someone grabbing another persons ass. Calling him names is really a way to dehumanize him. I'm waiting for someone to suggest chaining him to a radiator in the attic so he is not a nuisance to the normal folks. I am so disappointed.

[Battlebasset]

All this thread has done is reinforce my decision to never go to Spanish Springs, unless the Hooligans or Spazmatics are playing. And from the looks of things, they don't schedule them there anymore.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by C. C. Rider

Suppose that some guy had a similar problem in that whenever he heard certain music, he would not be able to resist grabbing the nearest woman by the A$$. If you were grabbed thusly, would you excuse it by saying, "Oh, never mind. He couldn't help it"?

If so, let me know when you're going to be on the Square and what you look like and we'll test the truthfulness of your answer.

A autistic person..does not like to be touched, or touch anyone else. If one has spent anytime with autistic children, it’s one of the parents heartbreaking moments. Hugs, or affectionate move’s or even eye contact, cause them to withdraw, and can take hours or days to return to what is their normal life, no where near what your life is. Or what you are suggesting.

How do I know this one of our sons is a behavioral psychologist, dedicated his time to autistic children. I have watched him with low and high functioning children. It rips your heart at what the parents endure for their much loved child, yet can never express what many of us take for granted. Yes my son has experienced Mark, had conversations, and in no way felt threatened by Mark.

So many have their views about Mark, yet I am betting not one who thinks they know Marks behavior, has any knowledge of his behavior and what to expect.

Just a side note the most undiagnosed age group for autism is 70s to 90s. Those in that age group were never diagnosed, on the spectrum..just born too early for testing.