“Show me you’re okay shaking hands with a black man”

Sure, tell the mentally ill person in NYC "go Sox." Solid plan. Next time leave your MAGA hat and new gold high tops at home.

 

Sounds like your son wasn't sure exactly what he heard, kind of my point. If the guy rattled you and him, and you hear something similar said, but aren't sure you heard it correctly, it's easy for your brain to fill in the blanks. Just my hunch. Because, again, if this is so prevalent in NYC, a city of 8 million, that you heard it twice, organized black people asking white people to shake their hands, then I think it would be posted or reported somewhere else. Also, I can't think of any reason why this would be happening. What bad thing is going to happen if you shake their hand? But like I said, I'll change my mind if you can find a second source. I mean, it could be a new tactic of pick pockets trying to get close or steal your watch, or something, that's possible. I'm just not buying that there is a conspiracy of hand shaking black people up to no good for unknown reasons.

 

Tourist equals “weak” and vulnerable for a good chunk of New Yorkers.
If that’s all that happened to you while you were there and broadcasting you weren’t from there, you did ok. And yes the guy was a moron, who knows what is true end game was.

 

I've told this story here before but back about 20 years ago my youngest son and I had been to a Gator game that didn't get over until almost midnight. When we left I missed my turn onto I-75 and ended up several miles west of Gainesville. I pulled into a Circle K to get gas as I pumped gas I noticed I was the only white guy around. As I walked in to pay there was an old black homeless guy sitting next to the door. He asked me if I could spare some change so he could get something to eat. I forget exactly what I said but remember it was pretty rude. I came out and my truck wouldn't start. I popped the hood and fooled around with the battery cables a bit and it still wouldn't start.

The homeless guy came over and yelled at a couple of guys next to a pickup in the parking lot and asked them if they would come give his friend a jump. The truck still wouldn't start. When the guys in the pickup left he asked me if I had any tools. I pulled a small tool box out from under the back seat. He crawled under my truck and I could hear him tapping and fiddling with the starter. He hollered up to me, give it a try. I turned the key and it started. He crawled out and asked "Where are you going". I answered "Orlando". He said "Don't stop until you get there".

I put up my tools then took out my wallet. All I had left after the game was 2 twenty's I handed them to him and said "Here go get you something good to eat" He shook my hand and told me his name. I told him that I would never forget his name. LOL I was serious but I'm old and senile and I can't seem to remember his name but to this day I can't believe how helpful he was after I had stuck up my nose at him earlier. He may have been down on his luck but that was one of the nicest people I have ever met.

 

Engagement is the endgame. It's like a Kindergarten child who needs attention. These huksters will settle for the attention, but also grab a bonus if it's there. You and I know it will not be there 90% of the time, but imagine those other 10% of folk who are completely caught off guard. I'm thinking about folks with very little experience in urban settings. That's the adventure for the hukster.

 

That's super nice that you did something to help him........






......but only after you first "forget exactly what (you) said but remember it was pretty rude", and he then kindly bailed you out of a serious predicament.

 

I was walking around a park for exercise, looking at my phone as I walked, when this homeless/mentally ill lady on a bench started yelling at me "Stop taking pictures of me you @#$%'in pervert, you're disgusting, what are you going to do with those pictures, jerk off?, etc., etc." She kept going and I could hear until I was pretty good distance away.

 

The “f*** ***” was not a good idea, not to mention low class. Would harm have resulted from a smile and a handshake?

I had a homeless lady engage me recently. I’d seen her around and felt infinitely sorry for her and engaged her back. We chatted for 20 minutes or so. I gave her $50 and made her day. It pleased me, too. She was intelligent and the victim of rotten luck.

 

Maybe, but I’m honestly curious why not.

 

Sorry, but . . . SUCKER. It's likely that this story is laden with embellishment. At least you gave your money away.

 

Do you still have the pics?

 

Nah, they were too blurry,,,

 

You seem obsessed.

 

We need to get ahead of this in Florida and pass a law.

 

.

Absolutely. You should never say that to someone unless you preface it with "May I." (Even then, as a pickup line, it's not a good idea.)

 

You mentioned your son’s height, weight, and age and mentioned your own height and weight. I am sincerely curious about the height, weight, and age of the other guy and how those might have been relevant to your perception and feelings around the encounter.