I had the weirdest experience in East Liberty today... (Parker: fit in, day care)

[eschaton]

Just wanted to share this, because it was so odd.

Since the weather was nice in the afternoon, and I picked up my son early from day care due to a holiday concert, I decided to take the P1 home, stop off a few places in East Liberty, and walk the 30 minutes or so back to my house with my son.

Walking up North Highland Avenue, I passed by this guy. He was a young, relatively normal seeming black guy, with the exception of having a large number of face tattoos. He was smoking a cigarette and fooling around on his phone.

Right after he passed us, he turned around and began following us and filming me. I mean, not just from a distance, like walking only three feet behind me for two blocks. A couple times he walked around me too, making sure to constantly face his phone camera towards me. He had a neutral expression and said nothing during this whole thing.

This started to make me a bit nervous. Not that I thought he was going to rob me or anything - other people were on the street, and it was only like 5:15. But I wondered if he was on something. I basically just ignored him and didn't say anything. A bit later he just broke off following us and crossed the street to enter the William Penn Smoke Shop, just acting totally normal.

So yeah, WTF? Has anyone run into this dude? Is he like collecting footage for some sort of film? Is it a weird art project?

[gg]

I am around there often on bike or foot and I have never seen anything like it, but I will ask around next week when I have business there. Sounds odd. You handled it well of course. Sounds like a nice day otherwise though. Geez.

[norcider]

I understand not wanting to escalate anything, but if that happened to me while I was with my kid I'd have put distance between us while telling him politely to leave us alone.

[PghYinzer]

Maybe he was gathering footage for some sort of retrospective on the changing of East Liberty? A gentrification documentary? I am going to Warby Parker (a store where you buy things but dont take them home with you, which is peak new EL) today so I will let you know if it happens to me.

[gg]

Originally Posted by norcider

I understand not wanting to escalate anything, but if that happened to me while I was with my kid I'd have put distance between us while telling him politely to leave us alone.

I think eschaton did it right by not engaging. Once you speak, you might escalate. No need for that. It worked out okay.

Sure was odd. Maybe drugs? Really hard to say.

[tyovan4]

Originally Posted by gg

I think eschaton did it right by not engaging. Once you speak, you might escalate. No need for that. It worked out okay.

Sure was odd. Maybe drugs? Really hard to say.

It was a really odd experience.
In this case, I'd probably duck into a store or building - somewhere with other people. And if he'd follow, I'd tell him to stop following me. If he didn't, I'd be calling 911.

[norcider]

TO piggy back on eshaton's weird experience. I had one just this AM. I go to Breadworks twice a week for bread at 6:30 AM. Most days I get there at around 6:35 because they aren't always prompt in getting the store open on time. Today it was 6:35 and there were two older guys standing waiting and right away the one guy reminded me of somebody from the show The Sopranos. He was wearing a two piece matching track suit and newer sneakers but he was gray and around 70 years old. But in good condition. I asked if anybody rang the doorbell and they both responded no so I rang it and jokingly said "now I'll hide behind you two so I don't get in trouble." There's a woman who will get angry with people for ringing the bell but she's harmless. Anyhow the dude looking like Paulie from Sopranos says something like, "You better fess up you rang the bell because I'm always in trouble" or something similar. and laughing I said sure and did just that. Inside, despite being 3rd in line they let me go first. I put my order in and Paulie nudges me and says, "See, I told you I was always getting into trouble" and shows me his cell phone with two mugshots of himself many years earlier. It was clearly him, but his hair was dark and much longer/thicker and he tells me they were taken 40 years ago. So weird. When I left there was a newer, black Cadillac sedan that I bet was his. I've seen these guys at La Prima many years ago on Sunday mornings but it's been a while. There's no doubt in my mind this guy was/is in the mob.

[amattaro]

Originally Posted by PghYinzer

Maybe he was gathering footage for some sort of retrospective on the changing of East Liberty? A gentrification documentary?

Oh, well, in that case, it’s TOTALLY normal behavior.

[guy2073]

I don't think I would have handled it as well as you did. Either him or I would be explaining to a doctor how such a large phone could fit into a small hole.

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by amattaro

Oh, well, in that case, it’s TOTALLY normal behavior.

And most legit filmmakers would ask for permission or at least give a heads up. People in public don't have an expectation of privacy, but still.