So ... a scary thing happened to me on the way here.

[Rath Darkblade]

On the weekend, I did two concerts at a cathedral here in the town centre. Lots of appreciative people in the audience, good music, lovely soloists, and even the fact that it was bitterly cold (and the heating broke down) didn't dampen anyone's enthusiasm.

So far, so good. But ...

The cathedral is opposite our biggest train station here, and outside the station, there's always some guy shouting about how Jesus is love, Jesus is peace, all you need is Jesus, etc.

As I was coming out of the station, he was doing his usual schtick -- and as I passed him, he shouted at me: "And if you don't worship Jesus, I will punch you in the face!"

Of course, I backed far, FAR away from him. That's not how to make friends and influence people!

What makes this even more ridiculous is that inside the train station is also a police station. I think this guy might be getting a stern talking-to. At least, when my concerts finished and I was going home, that guy was replaced by someone else who was also yelling about Jesus. So maybe he learned his lesson? I don't know, but I'd like to think so ...

[BBP]

Rath? It was Jules who first joked about your idiot magnet here:
viewtopic.php?p=8372#p8372

I got to rehash that joke a short time later:
viewtopic.php?p=25451#p25451


Then again here:
viewtopic.php?p=25451#p25451

and here:
viewtopic.php?p=58247#p58247

and here:
viewtopic.php?p=64394#p64394

and here:
viewtopic.php?p=64394#p64394

and here:
viewtopic.php?p=64394#p64394

and here:
viewtopic.php?p=96768#p96768


Would you like a nice demagnetiser for your birthday?

[Tawmis]

BBP beat me to it.

You do seem to attract a lot of unwanted attention.

But glad you're safe.

Yet again.

We get a lot of "Jesus" extremists at Conventions in California.

Who talk about repent, comics, movies, anything fun is a sin, created by Satan to lure you away from the scriptures, etc etc.

But other than their protest shouting, they generally do not get in anyone's face.

[Rath Darkblade]

Thank you, BBP. And yes, I do run into some idiots from time to time. Maybe I should just (in the words of the famous song) let it be, and not worry about them. But some of their antics are so weird and ridiculous, it's hard not to laugh.

I was once browsing in a supermarket in the inner city, when an early-20-something woman came up to me and said (very fast, and in an annoyingly high-pitched "California Girl" voice) ... "Ohmigawd! You need to do more drugs!!!" and ran away ... leaving behind a very confused chap thinking "WTH just happened?"

At one point (many, many years ago -- way before iPods or mobile phones existed), I was waiting for a late night train, when a group of Chinese tourists came onto the platform. The train was going to take 30 minutes to arrive, so to pass the time, the tourists decided to play charades. So ... it was weird, but wholesome, and harmless. Not the weirdest thing I've seen.

One of the weirdest things I've ever seen was on an early-morning tram (light rail) to work. A guy came on, wearing a bright pink full-body leotard, green flippers on his feet, a black life-saver (the sea kind) around his waist, and carrying an accordion ... and he started playing and singing old songs, and got everybody to sing along.

But then again, I live in an area that used to be famous for housing many, many bohemians and artists (and unfortunately, a few blowhards and drug-affected people). It's not very dangerous, but it's not upper-class, either. So I try to be careful.

I haven't run into too many "Jesus" extremists, though. That's a new one for me!