Creep at Ercolini Park

[Creeped out]

Just an alert for everyone to stay vigilant at Ercolini Park. An uber-creep was hanging out there on Wednesday asking about all toddler’s names. Super creepy! One mom said he was overly interested in the diaper change she was doing.

He said his name was Brice and lives nearby with his brother. I told him to leave and he did, but EWW! I took his picture but I’m not sure what to do with it. (Not technically illegal to go to public parks asking for kids’ names, but still…)

Some parents mentioned to me there is another (different person) that hangs out at the same park usually on a bike wearing camouflage. Stay alert!

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[TanDL]

Just to let you know, there is a guy named Bruce in West Seattle who is developmentally challenged, who I think works at one of the local big box stores. He’s quite large, has thinning short hair and is loud. He can be intimidating but is harmless as far as I know. Maybe this is guy you spoke to?

I live close to Ercolini and will watch more closely as well as alert neighbors. Keep us posted. Thanks

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[Creeped out]

No, this guy was maybe 16 years old and wasn’t loud nor had thinning hair.

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[littlebrowndog]

Sounds like my neighbor, who has a developmental disability. That is his name. He asks virtually everybody their name. He is very friendly and outgoing but due to the nature of his developmental disability (autism) he has very awkward social skills and often does not understand social subtleties and nuances. I would suggest that if you are uncomfortable with something he is saying or doing then politely state what that is and ask him not to do it.

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[littlebrowndog]

Oh, I am not around this morning but will try to catch up with his parent later on or tomorrow to tell them about people feeling uncomfortable. Sometimes for people who have autism it’s a matter of directly teaching social skills and explaining how and when to use them as unspoken social norms may not be recognized and must be made explicit. Also, given the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders now (1 in 68 children, more than that among boys) it would be helpful for the general public to have more of an understanding so that it can be recognized when encountering a person who has an ASD. It can affect people in a range of different ways, but awkward social skills is almost always part of it. I would be happy to sit down over coffee to talk more about it, although not specifically about this young man.

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[KatieH]

I appreciate your compassionate response, littlebrowndog. Learning how to be in the community is very challenging for people with ASD. WHat other people pick up intuitively, they may have to learn explicitly. For example, my daughter has an explicit “social detective” program, where she and a coach observe and discuss how people behave in community situations. And they practice, practice, practice.

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[acemotel]

Good posts, Katie and LBD. My first thought when I read the original post was autism too. It’s heartbreaking to see these folks labeled “creeps” when they’re trying so hard to fit in, in their own way.

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[JoB]

a little compassion goes a long way

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[Seattle Trash]

I have an adult sibling with autism and we’re constantly working on these types of situations, and learning how to have socially appropriate conversations with strangers, especially with the opposite sex or with children.

I feel it’s harder in a place that isn’t as community minded, or is constantly on edge, which I feel Seattle can be (and perhaps that’s the same for other big cities.) My brother currently resides in a smaller city where most people know him, everyone gets to know one another, and is a more friendly community in general. It’s fantastic that this young man’s family encourages him to be independent and social–hopefully these types of situations don’t hold him back.

I’ll make sure my brother stays out of the camouflage and off bikes next time he visits.

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[SG]

I think if you feel creeped out that is your right. Trust your instincts. Maybe it was a sweet kid. But if someone if making me feel uncomfortable I’m not gonna stick around and to find out. How are you supposed to know if this kid had autism or not. It’s rare that 16 year olds hang out at that park and by themselves at that. That is a warning sign to me. Besides creeps come in all forms. Trust your gut.

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[JoB]

SG.. i agree that you should trust your gut

but first you should check it to find out if it reacts to real dangers or to anything that doesn’t fit what you think the societal norm should be..

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[littlebrowndog]

SG, your question about how you are supposed to know if somebody has autism or not is a good one. With autism spectrum disorders now being so common everybody knows or encounters somebody with one. I cannot provide you with the information and skills to be a diagnostician, but that is why I offered and continue offering a time to sit down with anybody who is interested and explain what ASDs are—in ordinary, understandable language that makes sense, not something clinical. The world can be a scary enough place already, so learning something that will reduce fear of the unknown is a good thing. Seriously, over a cup of coffee or just getting together at Ercolini.

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[ttt]

Thanks for this post & the I.d. Response.

As for the boy (teen) that wears all camouflage and is usually riding a bike in the area– I keep my eye on him mainly because he seems to play the military role a bit too seriously. I’m not sure where he lives, somewhere in the genesee area, but I have seen him playing army around the genesee hill school… Hoping he never gets his hands on a real gun as he looks as if he is always in a military role-play world. Thinking he may have autism as well…

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[JanS]

ttt…if you read the posts above, esp. #4 and #5, someone knows who it is, and indeed is autistic, was going to talk with his parents

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[littlebrowndog]

Alertness is a good thing and all of us would do well to stay aware of our environment. Describing somebody as an “uber-creep” is sad. I think sometimes we forget that any one of us may have a child born with autism at some point, or have a child in a terrible accident that results in a severe traumatic brain injury that changes their appearance and/or communication or behavior. Confusion and unfamiliarity by others might lead to discomfort, but I think if we became a parent of a child with such needs (and any one of us could) it would be a lot easier to understand why pejorative language is distressing. And don’t forget, as adults any one of us could start to experience neurological events ourselves and there is frankly a really good possibility we will sooner or later. I really am very willing to help people have a greater understanding, because with understanding will come empathy.

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[JanS]

littlebrowndog….well said ! :)

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[cbof]

Really great discussion here. I work with young people with ASDs. Here is a solid resource for more information: http://www.autismspeaks.org/

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[csw2119]

The original poster had every reason to think/feel/say, what she did. The guy was creepy to her. I would be uncomfortable as well in that situation. How could anyone know whether or not someone is autistic? Of course we (most adults) have compassion for autistic people, or mentally handicap. That doesn’t mean we let our guard down. Our instincts are there to protect us and our families. Hopefully, if it is a neighborhood kid, his parents will help him understand others boundaries.

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[miws]

The original poster had every reason to think/feel/say, what she did

I believe the OP had reason to be concerned, and cautious.

But, “Creep”, and “uber-creep”, are unreasonable, and should have been retracted in a subsequent post, after several points had been made that this Young Man is Autistic. Even before that fact was pointed out, I found the descriptions bothersome, and as such didn’t give the OP much credence. Reminded me a bit of some negative Yelp reviews, although nowhere near being as over the top as many of them are.

I’ve been wanting to comment on this, in more depth, but that will wait until I have a bit more time.

I would feel better about the OP, and would have much more respect for them, if they took up littlebrowndog on her kind offer.

Mike

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[ttt]

JanS

I think the original post was about two separate people? I’m talking about the boy on a bike who wears all camouflage . He is evasive — I’m wondering if anyone in the neighborhood knows him too and may be able to give helpful insight, as they did the other boy…

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[littlebrowndog]

Ttt, I don’t know him, but I vaguely recall at some point in the past he was mentioned in a post and a family member (sister, maybe) gave some explanation. I cannot quite remember what was said and am not sure how to search to find that post. Maybe somebody else knows.

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[mark47n]

I know the boy in camo and why would he not be evasive? Given the way all of you continue to discuss him as if he were a non-entity someone may take it upon themselves to do something…ill advised. The boy in camouflage is autistic and just wants to be in the army, something he’ll never get to do, and you’d figure that out yourselves if you’d get a look at the heraldry on the uniform. I’ve known the boy for years. He’s kind, respectful and polite and the way that folks have spoken about him is downright shameful. Perhaps it’s time to ratchet down the paranoia and take the sex offender app off your phone, you’ll sleep better.

Before any of you get the idea that I “just don’t understand” or should just “wait until I have kids” allow me to inform you that I have two teenage daughters, one who roams Ercolini routinely as it’s her favorite park and the other who goes to school with Camouflage’s sister. I also know his parents. Both of them survived.

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[littlebrowndog]

This Saturday morning at 10 I will be hanging out in Ercolini Park. Some people have posted “How would I know if somebody has autism?” I cannot teach you to be a diagnostician, nor am I sure the world needs more of them, but for anybody who is interested I will explain Autism Spectrum Disorders in ordinary language. Since uncertainty and unfamiliarity is leading to fear in some of you, this will be a chance to get information that should help end that fear. And one less fear in our lives is a good thing! And if anybody wants, I can also explain more about other neurological differences that might lead to people feeling uncomfortable if not knowledgeable about them. My name is Donna, and I am a middle-aged (ok, maturing) woman with short reddish-brown hair and glasses, and I will wear a green T-shirt. No judgements, no blame, no condemnation from me, just dispelling some myths and stereotypes.

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[JoB]

littlebrowndog

thank you

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[wakeflood]

Thanks for the generous offer, lbd, unfortunately I can’t make it. But if you care to post something, I’d be sure to read it. :-)

I do think that we’re only partially to blame for our often over-amped and frequently misplaced fear. All one has to do is watch or read any mass media for a short while and you’ll be inundated with a thousand reasons to not get out of bed on any given day.

How often do they tease us with leads fraught with anxiety before the commercial and the actual story is merely confusion or sometimes nothing at all? All day. Every day. Fear. Anxiety. And most of it directed at either your neighbors or people you’ll never come into contact with or situations so random that you couldn’t avoid it if you tried.

Be afraid! Be vigilant! Be concerned! Why? Hang on, we’ll cook something up. But for godsakes, WATCH US!

It’s probably easier to just be paranoid about everything now than to not be.

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