[SFSkol]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

It's a conductor's baton. A slim bone reed around 15" long and thinner than the average twig. It can't hurt anyone and would likely break in half if he tried slapping it on a rock. It was a gift from one of the patrons of the town squares, when they saw him pretending to conduct the band without one.

I believe his name is Neil (someone mentioned it in the other thread). He's completely and entirely harmless. He isn't on drugs, and doesn't drink booze at all. He carries a backpack with a 1-gallon jug of water in it, which he drinks from throughout his time there, which averages around 1.5 hours in an entire night. He does screech when he's grokking the music, usually to the beat (THREE TWO ONE!) and sometimes without words, just noise. It's jarring but most people who are regulars there are used to it.

While a few people complain, most people either a) tolerate it, or b) are cheered on by HIS enthusiasm and in awe of the fact that he can maintain all that movement without keeling over.

He's also a nice guy in general, and if you ever attempted to talk to him, he'd usually be happy to have a conversation with you. He also accepts elbow-bumps of greeting, being mindful of social distancing and not masking.

He also sweats profusely after he's been dancing for awhile, so it looks icky but it's really all just sweat.

He says he comes to dance as his primary form of exercise, it keeps him healthy. I think he's terrific. We call him Backpack Man.

Just another Stranger in a Strange Land. Well said!

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by spd2918

Maybe my earlier post was missed. He was on the sidewalk in Spanish Springs on the perimeter of the square in a congested space. He went from no movement to a fast spin with his long arms fully outstretched. He nearly struck my wife who was walking beside me, holding my hand, and looking sideways at the band. That is nothing like grandchildren running around (poor parenting if they are banging into people).

This is not acceptable inside a crowd.

He has control over himself and he chooses to act out for attention.
He cannot use a supposed mental condition as an excuse to act this way or scream in public.

give him a break. If he knocked into me I would get over it. If my husband assaulted him I would be furious at my husband. My husband knows better then to assault people.

[spd2918]

Originally Posted by JSR22

give him a break. If he knocked into me I would get over it. If my husband assaulted him I would be furious at my husband. My husband knows better then to assault people.

If he spun and hit you in the mouth or dropped you to the ground, I very much doubt you'd just get over it.

Your husband knows not to assault people? So does the man wildly swinging his arms into crowds.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by spd2918

If he spun and hit you in the mouth or dropped you to the ground, I very much doubt you'd just get over it.

Your husband knows not to assault people? So does the man wildly swinging his arms into crowds.

Try and keep up here. I'll type it one word per line for ya:

He
does
not
wildly
swing
his
arms
and
he
has
not
hit
anyone
in
the
mouth
or
dropped
anyone
to
the
ground.


It's a nothingberder. As for people whining about disturbing the peace: he does this while the band is playing. You're talking about a nightly event where crowds of people block out entire portions of the dance area with their group line dancing, paying no never-mind to anyone who might want to be trying to find a space where they can dance as well. You're talking about high-decibel sound coming from electric instruments and amplified voices through big speakers. You're talking about a bunch of drunken old people "stealing" each others' chairs the second the occupant gets up to dance. What "peace" are you even talking about?

[Davonu]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

It's a conductor's baton…It can't hurt anyone...

Maybe you’d like to prove that assertion by having someone poke you in the eye with one?

I didn’t think so.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by JSR22

give him a break. If he knocked into me I would get over it. If my husband assaulted him I would be furious at my husband. My husband knows better then to assault people.

OK, how many people who behave like him should be tolerated at the squares? 10? 100?

Just imagine what that would be like..

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by spd2918

If he spun and hit you in the mouth or dropped you to the ground, I very much doubt you'd just get over it.

Your husband knows not to assault people? So does the man wildly swinging his arms into crowds.

He has not hit anyone in the mouth and dropped them to the ground. My husband has class.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

OK, how many people who behave like him should be tolerated at the squares? 10? 100?

Just imagine what that would be like..

The sky is not falling. There is one person with Asperger's leave him alone.

[spd2918]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Try and keep up here. I'll type it one word per line for ya:

He
does
not
wildly
swing
his
arms
and
he
has
not
hit
anyone
in
the
mouth
or
dropped
anyone
to
the
ground.


It's a nothingberder. As for people whining about disturbing the peace: he does this while the band is playing. You're talking about a nightly event where crowds of people block out entire portions of the dance area with their group line dancing, paying no never-mind to anyone who might want to be trying to find a space where they can dance as well. You're talking about high-decibel sound coming from electric instruments and amplified voices through big speakers. You're talking about a bunch of drunken old people "stealing" each others' chairs the second the occupant gets up to dance. What "peace" are you even talking about?

I was there and he did.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by spd2918

I was there and he did.

He is harmless just walk away. Why look for a confrontation?

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by JSR22

He is harmless just walk away. Why look for a confrontation?

He is a nuisance and should not be tolerated.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

He is a nuisance and should not be tolerated.

Stop he is harmless. Being mean is unkind.

[Davonu]

Originally Posted by JSR22

Stop he is harmless. Being mean is unkind.

No one is being mean or suggesting it. But if you suggest that screaming like a banshee and startling nearby square visitors is harmless, I must disagree.

And for those of you claiming that nobody has witnessed his screaming or baton flailing…have you not read the posts in this thread?

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by spd2918

If he spun and hit you in the mouth or dropped you to the ground, I very much doubt you'd just get over it.

Your husband knows not to assault people? So does the man wildly swinging his arms into crowds.

If the Queen had balls she'd be King...

If, If, If...

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by spd2918

Maybe my earlier post was missed. He was on the sidewalk in Spanish Springs on the perimeter of the square in a congested space. He went from no movement to a fast spin with his long arms fully outstretched. He nearly struck my wife who was walking beside me, holding my hand, and looking sideways at the band. That is nothing like grandchildren running around (poor parenting if they are banging into people).

This is not acceptable inside a crowd.

He has control over himself and he chooses to act out for attention.
He cannot use a supposed mental condition as an excuse to act this way or scream in public.

Since he "nearly" struck your wife, maybe you should "nearly" get upset and not make it a bigger deal than it is. Everyone seems to be saying this. Maybe take the advice?