Crazy guy at 2/3 Eastern Parkway / Brooklyn Museum stop

rimley · June 2007

From what I understand, there are some homeless shelters that put people out at 7am and don't let them back in until 7pm. So, this man, if he is indeed a person who is utilizing that system, could simply be occupying his time by walking in an area he feels comfortable. I don't have first hand experience with this particular man, but I watched the video and I agree with so many of you who say to basically "LEAVE THAT MAN ALONE." I think that his level of scariness has to do with your level of fear and imagination. There are probably as many "crazy" people working in offices on Wall Street as there are hitting the pavement like this man everyday... and I'm not convinced that this man is more harmful than my co-worker who is known to shout during communication when he's trying to get his point across.

So, yes, you probably see more "peculiar" behaviour like this in NYC than in any other city in the world (hence the Welcome to NY sentiment...I hope), but I'd like to know who he's really bothering at this point? We all have our quirks.

Please don't go sicking the police or the hospital system on someone just because they make you uncomfortable. People will continue to make you uncomfortable throughout life, and you cannot sick the cops on them at your whim. We all have the same freedoms of expression.

sevenoneeighty · June 2007

rimley wrote:
Please don't go sicking the police or the hospital system on someone just because they make you uncomfortable. People will continue to make you uncomfortable throughout life, and you cannot sick the cops on them at your whim. We all have the same freedoms of expression.

Well...this is a little unfair. I see where you are coming from and we don't want to go overboard - even though the police can decide who is or is not a threat for themselves ( that is what they get paid for).

We are talking about mental illness here and not simply freedom of speech or expression. Sometimes extreme liberalism goes in to slippery territory...I also have the right to freedoms as an American, don't I? There are quality of life issues like picking up after your dog, noise, litter, yelling, spitting...Aren't there laws about these on the book? They all make me uncomfortable too.

When a person is so mentally ill that they can do harm to themselves and cannot help themselves it is okay to notify the proper authorities - including the police (sometimes this guy has no shoes on and his feet are in really poor condition and it could turn in to a serious situation for him). the issue of odor is also valid - this isn't just about strong perfume. We have to allow for some discussion and action about the care and safety of the mentally ill. Many mentally ill freeze to death in winter and die of exposure and dehydration...is this a civil right we are protecting or is it simply cruelty?

Yes, people make me uncomfortable every day and I'm sure I've made some uncomfortable. But we do ourselves- and the mentally ill- a huge disservice when we pretend that everything is okay - when it really isn't.
It is possible to be compassionate and responsible at the same time. The two are not mutually exclusive.

sterling2000 · June 2007

As per usual, I pretty much agree with SevenOneEighty...

...311 seems to be the path. Just because it's run by the government doesn't mean making a call to a helpful (my experience) resource is a bad thing. And getting the authorities involved should likewise not be viewed as a bad thing. These folks are there to help all of us -- we should utilize the resources at hand then.

Crazy guy at 2/3 Eastern Parkway / Brooklyn Museum stop

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