[Davonu]

Anybody who thinks there is zero chance of injury to somebody has never seen folks at the square suddenly jerk around at the sound of his blood curdling scream as he thrusts his arms out into the space around him with baton in hand.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Davonu

Anybody who thinks there is zero chance of injury to somebody has never seen folks at the square suddenly jerk around at the sound of his blood curdling scream as he thrusts his arms out into the space around him with baton in hand.

For reference and context, this is what his baton looks like:



He doesn't thrust his arms out into the space around him with baton in hand, as you imagine it (and if you had actually seen it, you would know that). His scream isn't a blood curdling scream. It's sort of a Sam Kinison shriek, in 3 short sharp bursts 2-4 times during songs that he particularly enjoys. He moves around the square so no one is subjected to it the entire time he's there, and if you're on the other side of the square when he does it, you might not hear it at all.

When he "uses" his baton, he stands still near the stage. He faces the stage. And he pretends to conduct the band with just a few swipes of the baton immediately in front of him, just like a conductor would. He's not "aiming" it, he's not "thrusting" it - I mean have you ever actually been to a live performance of an orchestra? That's what he does. But only for a few phrases of any given song, and then he goes back to steady twirling/dancing around the square.

It's really not a big deal, except to people who want to find a reason to be annoyed.

[Road-Runner]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I just tried several google searches to find ANYTHING about this, even something that debunks it.

I tried
John Philip Sousa violence
John Philip Sousa maim
John Philip Sousa kill
Did John Philip Sousa assault anyone
John Philip Sousa baton

And got NOTHING.

Surely if this was a big scandal in the 1800's, it'd be somewhere on the first page of search results by now.

Sorry, this was my attempt at satire?

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by Road-Runner

Sorry, this was my attempt at satire?

You're fairly new here..... you'll learn most don't recognize or understand sarcasm here. I thought it was funny as hell.

[Davonu]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

For reference and context, this is what his baton looks like:



He doesn't thrust his arms out into the space around him with baton in hand, as you imagine it (and if you had actually seen it, you would know that). His scream isn't a blood curdling scream. It's sort of a Sam Kinison shriek, in 3 short sharp bursts 2-4 times during songs that he particularly enjoys. He moves around the square so no one is subjected to it the entire time he's there, and if you're on the other side of the square when he does it, you might not hear it at all.

When he "uses" his baton, he stands still near the stage. He faces the stage. And he pretends to conduct the band with just a few swipes of the baton immediately in front of him, just like a conductor would. He's not "aiming" it, he's not "thrusting" it - I mean have you ever actually been to a live performance of an orchestra? That's what he does. But only for a few phrases of any given song, and then he goes back to steady twirling/dancing around the square.

It's really not a big deal, except to people who want to find a reason to be annoyed.

Wow. I’ll wager I’ve witnessed him at the squares more than you have.

He often does what you describe. But he also mixes in exactly what I’ve described. The fact that it’s intermittent and unpredictable is the problem.

Usually it’s not a “big deal”. But if a person happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, it will become a bid deal for them.

And again, the screaming IS blood curdling. That alone turns his antics from harmless to very annoying and startling.

Acknowledging the possibility of a problem is common sense for most people, unless they go out of their way to ignore reality.

[Road-Runner]

Originally Posted by CWGUY

You're fairly new here..... you'll learn most don't recognize or understand sarcasm here. I thought it was funny as hell.

It's tough on a blog like this, anyone who knows me knows to never take me seriously no matter what I'm saying or how believable I'm saying it!

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Davonu

Wow. I’ll wager I’ve witnessed him at the squares more than you have.

He often does what you describe. But he also mixes in exactly what I’ve described. The fact that it’s intermittent and unpredictable is the problem.

Usually it’s not a “big deal”. But if a person happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, it will become a bid deal for them.

And again, the screaming IS blood curdling. That alone turns his antics from harmless to very annoying and startling.

Acknowledging the possibility of a problem is common sense for most people, unless they go out of their way to ignore reality.

Just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it can't or won't. And the scream or shout is, apparently, very startling to many. And the picture of conductors baton looks like the one I used to have. Giant bamboo needle. Capable of causing injuries, but not normally thought of as a weapon, like a letter opener.

[asianthree]

Don’t you love the posts that have never witnessed his actions at a square are the ones who want to inflict the most harm?

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Road-Runner

Sorry, this was my attempt at satire?

Don't apologize... It was blatantly obvious... AND funny!

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Don’t you love the posts that have never witnessed his actions at a square are the ones who want to inflict the most harm?

It's certainly is odd...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I just tried several google searches to find ANYTHING about this, even something that debunks it.

I tried
John Philip Sousa violence
John Philip Sousa maim
John Philip Sousa kill
Did John Philip Sousa assault anyone
John Philip Sousa baton

And got NOTHING.

Surely if this was a big scandal in the 1800's, it'd be somewhere on the first page of search results by now.

Please tell me you're kidding...

[davem4616]

he's enjoying himself doing his thing...might not be everyone's idea of a good time, but he's having fun

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Davonu

Wow. I’ll wager I’ve witnessed him at the squares more than you have.

He often does what you describe. But he also mixes in exactly what I’ve described. The fact that it’s intermittent and unpredictable is the problem.

Usually it’s not a “big deal”. But if a person happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, it will become a bid deal for them.

And again, the screaming IS blood curdling. That alone turns his antics from harmless to very annoying and startling.

Acknowledging the possibility of a problem is common sense for most people, unless they go out of their way to ignore reality.

There's a possibility of a problem even without Mark (I found out today that's his name, not Neil). There are dozens of drunk old people in the square every night, with two tiki bars available for them so they don't even have to go into a building to get their drinks. I'd be more concerned about them than I am of Mark.

I've actually watched some guy try to pick a fight with a woman who had returned to her seat from dancing, to find the guy sitting in her chair. Her pocketbook was under the chair, her drink had been placed on the chair and he took it off and put it on the ground next to her pocketbook. She was with a party of three, and they all came back with only two chairs available and HER stuff under the chair the guy claimed for himself. And he tried giving her a hard time about it, saying it was a free country and she shouldn't have gotten up if she didn't want anyone sitting in HIS seat.

People like that are much more likely to cause trouble than Mark.

[Tommyc6]

Try talking to him he’s a very nice guy.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Don’t you love the posts that have never witnessed his actions at a square are the ones who want to inflict the most harm?

To my knowledge, I'm the only one who has actually not witnessed his "dancing". I read the posts. I saw two sides. One side made him sound "potentially" a danger to himself or others. The other side ( possibly family, friends,) just folks more tolerant of what others see as unusual behavior.
I take exception to your comment that I, or anyone, "are the ones who [B]want to inflict the most harm[B]. If you read that a shooter was at some village and knew others were going there, wouldn't you want to warn them of what you deem potentially harmful?
No one here is trying to inflict harm. We only want to warn others to be vigilant in that area since, as the news might say, we have reports of an individual acting in an erratic and possibly hazardous manner. That's all. No one wishes him harm, and no one wishes harm to anyone else.