What's the deal with the creepy guy who asks everyone if they have a cigarette?

nkotsonis is wrong. His name is John and he is not a drug addict. I know this man. He is a human being and you should be ashamed of yourself for disparaging him in the way that you have!

He does live on Union Street between 6th and 7th ave. I grew up in that building, on the floor right beneath his parents. He was a regular guy when he was younger and actually a local baseball star like his older brother. One night, coming home from a Mets game in the mid-80's he was attacked in front of Dixon's bike shop by three men who attempted to rob him. They had knives and they chased him and beat him. His family took him to tons of doctors but the incident affected him and he has regressed from the break mentally.

As the years have gone by, his eye sight has also severely worsened. That combination means that he frequently asks the same people for cigarettes because he can't recognize anyone. He has known me my whole life and still asks me until I get right on top of him and I laugh and tell him I haven't smoked in my 30 years on this planet and he laughs and asks me to ask my father for one for him.

He is harmless but and I would not call him creepy. If you tell him no and keep walking, he doesn't bother you. Telling him yes and continuing to walk away says more about you then it does him, scott, esp if you gain some moment of satisfaction from it.

And again nkotsonis you have a lot of nerve just throwing information out there with no factual basis.

I was only recounting the story I was told Slope 1980.

If, as you say, he was attacked and his condition was a result, then I am doubly sorry for his tragedy.

Understandable nkotsonis but it's not the true story so that was why I got heated. Glad we cleared that up.

Scott, I think your lying. No one would take the time to post as you did and hold back the suggestive comment part. You def didn't bury the lead. I believe you just made it up but whatever, your free to call anyone anything you please.

Scott - I am sure that deep down you are a nice person. Perhaps next time you will buy him a pack of cigarettes - just to keep karma in check.

Scott, my parents have moved but they still live on Union Street. If ever in my hopefully long life I go visit them and I am lucky enough to be walking down Union Street and I see you treat this man like less then a human being who deserves some respect, I swear I'll be the one your dealing with.

And he isn't my friend, I too was unnerved by him...when I was 7. But I matured and realized that things happen to people and not everyone's life goes according to plan.