BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?

Subject: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,in San Diego
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 01:22 PM

My friend works in downtown San Diego. There's this guy who's been standing outside her building for the last week with a sign that says: "In 31 days, God will smite America for invading Iraq." (Tuesday it said 33 days. Monday it said 34 days. Sunday it--well, you get the idea.) He also shouts at passersby about this and says really convincing things like "Mark my words!" and told a guy in her office yesterday he should move to Canada to escape the smiting.

Not lacking a sense of humor about this, she's tempted to stand next to the guy with a countdown sign of her own that says: "In 32 days, this guy will get a clue." Probably not a wise idea, just because the sanity of the original sign holder is in question - not to mention the presence or absence of a sense of humor.

I told another friend about the sign guy, and his response was, "And she hasn't reported him to Homeland Security yet??!!?"

Hence, this poll: is the guy with the sign a potential threat who Should Be Reported, or just a harmless nutcase?

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 02:01 PM

he's,dangerous,shoot,him.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 02:05 PM

"Homeland Security" - that's straight out of some clone of 1984 isn't it?

What's it got to do with them? If God is planning to smite America, not much Homeland Security can do about it, and if he isn't, what's to worry about?

In fact, in a God-fearing country, even to try to interfere with what God might be proposing to do would be highly irregular and even blasphemous.

Mind you when Jonah tried this on Nineveh (after his whale episode) the Nivevans went and repented, and God changed his mind, and didn't smite them after all. Jonah was very pissed off about this, it is reported, since he felt that it wasn't fair on a prophet to have that kind of last minute reprieve.

So maybe something like that might happen. And after all, repenting never did anyone any harm. Sackcloth and Ashes are the new Black...

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 02:14 PM

Why not report him to the World Council of Churches instead?

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Gareth
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 02:58 PM

Mmmm ! any survivors fron Sodom and Gommorrah (Sp) wish to comment on the effectivness of Gods Wrath ?

Come to think of it, the wrath of which God ?

If it is the God of (Deleted took keep the peace) will God's wrath involve a slap over th wrist and two weeks probation ?

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 03:15 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 03:17 PM

I didn't mean to do that. I smote the submit button by accident. These things happen.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Gareth
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 03:54 PM

smote Krvin - a little more accuracy with yor thunderbolts.

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 03:58 PM

now - if it said "IN 31 days Sadaam will smite the US" or even 'in 31 days ALLAH will smite the US" there might be cause for worry.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Amergin
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 04:04 PM

tell him that you're god and you do not wish to smite anyone....

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 04:23 PM

Allah is just the Arabic for God - as featured in any Arabic translation of the Bible.

What's the actual date the smiting is due to occur?

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 04:25 PM

God can't be trusted to smite anyone these days. Ask Pat Robertson about that.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,She Whose Building It Is
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:12 PM

Hi. Apparently the date of smiting is August 31. I asked God if He really had any smiting in mind and He said, "Honey, you people smite each other enough without my help." That's a quote.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,in San Diego
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:14 PM

McGrath - the smiting is due to happen August 31st, if my friend's math is correct.

Walking Eagle - [grin] Yup. Or Oral Roberts. "Hon, if the phone rings, and it's God calling me home -- tell him I'm not here, willya?"

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:22 PM

He's definitely crazy. You'd have to be crazy to risk your own security that blatantly in the present-day USA! I see no reason to worry about anything except what may happen to him if he keeps it up and the authorities come after him.

As McGrath pointed out: if he's right and God is going to smite America then there's nothing to be done about it is there? Unless maybe there was some kind of mass repentance on the part of Bush, his administration, and so on... :-) Don't hold your breath waiting for it.

If on the other hand he is crazy, then there's little to worry about is there, cos it's not going to happen.

If he were a dangerous terrorist with an attack in mind I hardly think he'd be pursuing his present course of action unless he is an extremely incompetent terrorist or he is burdened with a tremendous sense of irony. :-)

There was a website for the past 5 years dedicated to the proposition that the Universe was going to smite planet Earth in May 2003 through the close approach of a large heavenly body. It didn't happen. They have not given up, though. They now say that it's still going to happen, but just not quite as soon as they had forecast... Yeah, right!

Worry, worry... Fret, fret...

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:28 PM

He's stating an opinion, right. Last time I heard that was a form of free speech. Homeland Security would be the LAST thing I'd think to call. Probably ought to just look at (him) and sigh.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:35 PM

I love people like this. They can be found in urban areas everywhere, ranting on the corners, in front of buildings--any New Yorkers remember Moondog, who used to stand outside the Warwick Hotel, dressed like a viking (or was it a druid) warrior? He even had an album out, as I recall. Or how about the soapbox orators and the fire and brimstone speakers in the parks?

These are endearing, harmless characters. Why would you want to call ANY authorities on the poor guy? Because he is different? From society's fringes? What a cruel thing to do to the guy.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:48 PM

"if he keeps it up and the authorities come after him."

What's he doing that's illegal? Or is that a silly questin these days?

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 06:12 PM

He is being odd, and in this era of the herd mentality, that justifies public stonings, and internment without trial under the Patriot Act.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Kim C
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 06:33 PM

I agree with Kat. He's in America and as long as he isn't armed and dangerous, let him be.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 06:35 PM

Sounds to me like the poor guy needs some medical attention...

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,in San Diego
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 07:03 PM

... especially if nothing happens after all. If this guy seriously believes there's going to be a big ol' thunderbolt happening August 31, and it's a no-show, it's certainly going to affect him.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 07:07 PM

Why do say he needs medical attention? Because he thinks the same way George Bush and hundreds of thousands of other "End Day" Christians think?

Since when is believing in and proselytizing about an impending apocalypse, cause for medical attention?

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 08:19 PM

" Since when is believing in and proselytizing about an impending apocalypse, cause for medical attention?"

Since dilusion takes many many forms...

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 08:20 PM

... including bad typing!

LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: catspaw49
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 08:39 PM

Why not just walk up and pee on his leg?

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Tweed
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 08:47 PM

Whew! Saw that thread title and thought this one was about me....and... Goddammit Spaw.. why is my leg wet?

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Amos
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 08:51 PM

Dilusion is when you are torn between equal and opposing unrealities, right, Clinton?


A

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 12:47 AM

Why? Because we are not you, Spaw! We have some sense of proper deportment when in public. :-) My dog thinks you have a great idea there, though.

The thing that would really freak this guy out is if you came running out a day or two before the day BEFORE he thinks God is going to smite America and started yelling "Oh my God! Texas and Mississippi just got vaporized! It's on CNN!!!" Would he ever be surprised, eh?

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,GOD
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 01:31 AM

Listen people! I'm gonna smite your asses one of these days. That's a fact, Jack! You can take it to the bank, Frank! Smiting just comes with the territory when you're God. But I'm sure as hell not gonna tell some whacked out idiot in San Diego friggin' California when I'm gonna do it. And I'm not gonna tell some jackass white honky preacherboy in Alabama when I'm gonna do it either. It's gonna be a
BIG SURPRISE!
So don't waste your time worryin' about it 'cause it ain't gonna do no good. Just relax. You can rest assured that the smiting will be done without regard to race, creed, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual preference.

Sincerely,

GOD

An Equal Opportunity Smiter

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,She Whose Building It Is
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 12:21 PM

Little Hawk wrote: "The thing that would really freak this guy out is if you came running out a day or two before the day BEFORE he thinks God is going to smite America and started yelling "Oh my God! Texas and Mississippi just got vaporized! It's on CNN!!!"

Consider it done. I'm also going out there with the sign this noon.

--She

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 01:11 PM

Still think y'all oughta' get somebody to pee on his leg while you're holding the other sign....................

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Mudlark
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 01:12 PM

Sort of reminds me of all the California Will Fall Into the Sea stories that circulated with much drama and belief in the first Woodstock era. I had a friend, otherwise seemingly normal, who believed this implicitly and begged me to move to Nevada (cheap future seaside acreage!) while there was still time.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,in San Diego
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 02:01 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,in San Diego who hit [enter] too soon
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 02:05 PM

Spaw - there's a fella in my friend's office who's been known to show up for work inebriated. Maybe she can get him to pee on the guy's leg...

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,She Whose Building It Is
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 03:57 PM

Hi God. I just had a response from one of Your Representatives (Protestant Lutheran Christian branch.) I asked about the guy outside and the smiting and...

... Seeing as August 31 is a Sunday, if the smiting takes place while
we're in church, will we get to heaven any faster? Or will
we have to wait until after the sermon?

And the Representative said:

You can be sure there will be no smiting until after the sermon.

. . . No doubt You agree.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 04:13 PM

Leave the poor guy alone, yeah? Seesh...

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 07:43 PM

It really is against my better judgment to get involved threads with names like this, but I already stuck my foot in it, so let me chime in again, in agreement with katlaughing.

And go one better, and quote some (hope you don't mind Fred!) from member Fred Miller in another thread. What he said seems to apply very well to these antics too:

"I'm just appalled, and embarrassed for people who don't have sense to be ashamed of themselves, don't seem to care what utter bullshit they go around saying. I don't feel like a depressed personality around my conservative buddies, but like a sunny boy-scout among rather bitchy cynics...It seems so mean spirited and nasty to always pick on the easy pickings, like everybody ganging up to bully the weakest kid, it's just so ugly, and cowardly."

I know, out of context, blah blah blah. I don't care, I quoted it anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Frankham
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 07:57 PM

It's another instance of the hysteria endemic in the country today. He is probably angry as many people are about the war but this is his only way of expressing it. Unfortunately it will not accomplish much.

It might be better ignored. At least he's not about to smite anyone since he trusts his "God" to do it instead.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,Chicken Charlie
Date: 02 Aug 03 - 12:41 AM

Little Hawk for President.


Actually, true believers can withstand a great deal of "disconfirmation," so nothing is gonna change.

CCC (cynical Chicken Charlie)

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Aug 03 - 10:49 AM

That's true. Nancy Lieder (search for "Zetatalk" on the web) had been saying for 5 or 10 years that a passing heavenly body (not Jennifer Lopez) was going to devastate the Earth in May 2003. It didn't happen. She now says that it is still going to happen, but at a later (unspecified) date. Her faith has not been shaken, apparently. The great thing about unspecified dates is that you can't be embarrassed by them when things don't happen on schedule. I think Nancy has made an adept move, rolling with the punches as it were... :-) Maybe the same thing will happen with the fellow outside your building if his prediction fails to materialize on schedule. We'll see.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,Jeezus's disciple
Date: 02 Aug 03 - 11:11 AM

He's right. He's absolutely bloody right I read it in my tea leaves we are all doomed we the infidel discpiles of Judas's descendants Bush the slayer and Blair the deciever. Why oh Why wont anyone listen its happening on the night of the 31st August you'd better all make your beds up for the sleep of eternal damnation. No more MudCat after that. No more anything. Just eternal damnation.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Aug 03 - 05:51 PM

You mean we're all going to be forced to watch American daytime television forever and ever, including an endless loop of reruns of "Three's Company" and "Survivor"? AAARGGHH! NO! There must be some way out! What if I repent fulsomely and wear sackcloth and ashes and agree to never disagree with Doug R or Wolfgang or teribus or Clinton Hammond again...even when they disagree with each other? Not good enough? Look, I'll do anthing to avoid it, anything! Just tell me what I have to do! (29 days and counting...)

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Amos
Date: 02 Aug 03 - 11:34 PM

No more Mudcat? Hmmm....is that a curse or a release from purgatory?

A

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,Johnny in OKC
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 01:34 AM

You people simply don't understand the seriousness
of this individual's threat to our National Defense.

"SMITE" obviously refers to a biochemical assault
on our precious bodily fluids, or perhaps even a
nucular attack.

Even as we speak, trained operatives of the Homeland
Security Agency are secretly tape recording this man's
every utterance. Marksmen with high powered rifles
are covering every move, in case he makes any attempt
to procure weapons grade uranium from Africa.

No need to report this dangerous subversive -- the
Authorities are already on the case!

JOHNNY in OKC

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: GUEST,Theo, as in Theologian
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 04:08 AM

The hell with "authorities."

31st. August is either the day of the judgement, or it isn't.

If it is the day of judgement nothing I do is apt to change it, so I won't get all worked up.

If it isn't the day of judgement, there is no reason to get all worked up.

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Gareth
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 06:37 PM

Hmmm ! - To rework the old Joke

If it's an American God doing the "smiting" will he hit the right target ?? - Or is it Goodbye Mars ???? - by "Fiendly Fire" ???

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 10:06 PM

If it's an American God he will make a pre-emptive strike in self-defence, then come in and hunt down our evil leaders one by one whilst "democratizing" the place and handing out reconstruction contracts to his favourite corporate angels.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 07:51 PM

I once knew a guy who lived way out of town, and he had several acres out behind his house. Every evening he would take a bottle of bourbon and a glass, and sit out on his back porch for hours. He would take a sip of bourbon every now and then and just stare off into the distance. When friends and relatives asked him what he was doing just sitting there, sipping bourbon and staring, he said, "I've never known what I was really supposed to do with my life, so I'm waiting for a sign from God."

One evening a meteor struck a couple hundred yards away. It slammed him back against the door, blew out all the windows in the house, spilled his bourbon, and left his ears ringing for days. It also plowed a two-hundred foot crater in his back yard.

Now he just sits out on his back porch with his glass and bottle of bourbon and stares at the crater. When friends and relatives ask him what he's doing just sitting there, sipping bourbon and staring, he says, "I figure that had to have been a sign from God, and it was something pretty darned important, too. Now, if I can just figure out what God was trying to tell me to do. . . ."

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Poll: harmless idiot or serious threat?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:46 PM

Ha! Ha! Ha! Great story! And not far from the truth either with a lot of people. I wonder if that is what our dog, Valdy, is waiting for? (He spends as much time in one spot as he possibly can, staring off into the distance, waiting for something to happen too....only he hopes that absolutely nothing will happen. Valdy resists change, to put it mildly.)

- LH