freaked on the street...

[bertha katzenengel]

I was walking back from lunch when I heard behind me someone speaking softly --

Suddenly a man was passing me and he said, more loudly, "mumble mumble mumble mumble BLOCKIN' my muh-fuckin' way!"

Looked me right in the eye as he passed, and my skin crawled. He spat a little when he talked and the spittle hit my arm. He had an unkempt beard and wild hair under a black stocking cap. There was no way to tell if he was crazy or just a very angry man. I don't think he was a street person.

I didn't even know he was there. What's more, the sidewalk was wide enough for two of me, three average people, to walk abreast.

:scared: But I wish I hadn't been. He's another human in the world...

[bertha katzenengel]

1. kicked because i want feedback - would you have been scared?

???

[ulysses]

2. no.

Then again, I'm a guy. Pinch of salt and all that.

Maybe he was having a bad day?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Hi, Bertha.....

I don't know if I would have been scared...that would depend on a number of things.....

Was I in a familiar neighborhood?

Was it a place I normally feel safe in? and like that....

If everything was strange, and I felt at all unsafe...then I most likely would be afraid.....

I'm sorry you had to endure this......


:hug: :loveya:

[progmom]

4. Sounds like your instincts kicked in.

Always listen to your instincts.

[I Have A Dream]

5. Yes - I would have been scared.

I wish that the world were an ideal world, but it's not. We can deny how we feel all we want, but our feelings are still our feelings, and we can't begin to understand them until we admit to them.

You're correct -- he is another human in the world, but some humans do hurt other humans, and he was doing some things that could have felt threatening. You were not prejudging him; you were acting/feeling in response to his actions.

[flvegan]

6. Driven by anger, bk, as you said.

It's like flippin' off the guy driving in front of you too slowly. It's all about me. We all feel that way sometimes, regardless of what lanes are open or how much space we have to pass...

Be apprehensive/scared. I do, however, have to give you great big huge Godzilla sized props for this: "He's another human in the world..."

Your sentiment there...nails it, buddy.

[bertha katzenengel]

7. I like your .gif image! And thanks - thanks to everyone who responded.

:bounce:

[REP]

8. Natural, Normal Reaction

Trust your instincts; they're there for a reason. If a person makes you uneasy, there's a reason and it's okay to avoid that person. Yes, kumbaya and all, but on the other hand, I've been the object of too many attempted muggings to even care about being 'nice' when someone creeps me out.

[Trigger Hippie]

9. I woulda been freaked out.

Angry men are scary and seem very dangerous to me. You never know what they'll do next. :scared:

Like another poster, said trust your instincts. :hug:

[Misunderestimator]

10. Listen to your skin crawling....

Our fear is our protection... heightens our senses and awareness. Unfortunately, we share this world with a lot of different types of humans. Some are dangerous. Too many.

He could have been crazy or angry... either way, his behavior should have alarmed you. And YUCK about the spittle.... :puke: That would have flipped me out.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

11. Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you

I was just having a bad morning.

[bertha katzenengel]

12. hahahahahahaaa....

Are you better now?

I actually asked the guy, "Feel better now?" But under my breath and when he was well out of earshot. :scared:

[Patiod]

13. One of the things that sucks about life in the Big City

Don't know if you're in Baltimore or a smaller place, but it sucks.

Philadelphia is rife with schizophrenics. Not as bad as it used to be (I hope because they are getting treatment and not because they're being shipped elsewher). But I really hate it. Aggressive beggars who curse you if you don't give money, and random encounters with crazies like the one you had.

Slight OT story: Was interviewing a local shrink about a schizophrenia drug. Asked her the definition of "remission". She said "I know what you want to hear . But my definition is that when one of my really severe patients comes in and says 'doc, I've been feeling better this week. The voices are only telling me to change the TV channel, not to kill my sister." Yes, and her patients are wandering around the train station....

[bertha katzenengel]

14. It was in Washington, DC, quite near the law firm where I work -- on the

line of Foggy Bottom & Georgetown. Business/office area with tony homes & rizty hotels, embassies, law firms, Geo Washington U & GW Hospital, etc. :shrug:

Schizophrenia crossed my mind, but who am I to know?

:hi: Patiod.

[maveric]

15. Being from Lawrence MA that encounter wouldnt have scared me.

Most of the residents of my hometown are like that.

[Left Is Write]

16. I would have felt creeped out.

Depending on where I was and how busy a street it was, I might have been scared too.

[bridgit]

17. i wasn't "freaked on the street", but i seen an old homeless chick...

across from the lightrail station on K st, pull her crusty old sweatpants down to her knees, squat & pee right in front of a Starbucks on the sidewalk in broad daylight with others walking all about & taking little other notice...some may think that these are strange days

Strange days have found us
Strange days have tracked us down
They're going to destroy our casual joys
We shall go on playing or find a new town

Strange eyes fill strange rooms
Voices will signal their tired end
The hostess is grinning
Her guests sleep from sinning
Hear me talk of sin and you know this is it

Strange days have found us
And through their strange hours
We linger alone
Bodies confused
Memories misused
As we run from the day
To a strange night of stone

[seemunkee]

18. I attract wackos in the street

For some reason they always come up and talk/yell/threaten me. So, I've just gotten used to it.

[bigwillq]

19. I would not have been scared

Crazy people here in New Haven say all sorts of things on the street but glad you're ok.