Angry Mike sighting last night in Powderhouse Park

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

I had my first encounter with the Yelling Guy last night, crossing through Powderhouse Park. Someone had warned me about him by name sometime recently, but I couldn't remember it, though now I see from previous comm posts (thank you, tag "local characters"!) that it is Mike.

I didn't see or hear him until I rounded the corner on the path and came up behind him. He turned around, saw me, and that's when the yelling started. Mostly alternating sequences of "Get [the fuck] outta here!", mumble mumble, "... Whore!"

(Maybe it was the motorcycle jacket.)

... I understand that he's sometimes been physically aggressive with passersby, but in a sad way I got almost the opposite vibe: like I could walk right through where he was standing. Like there was no substance to him, no resistance, no personality, only a rogue burst of discorporated sound and fury fading into the night. Is this what it's like to see ghosts?

His nose was running. I felt sad. I passed him and walked on.

I will have to try addressing him by name next time. I hear that gives the user power over angry spirits.

Comments

[dphilli1.livejournal.com]

I've heard that if you flash him the peace sign he gets happy.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

My latest Mike encounter featured him trying to pick a fistfight with me for no reason. I just very sternly told him that it was unacceptable and he wandered into traffic. I wound up needing to call the cops before he picked a fight with somebody who didn't know who he was.

[frankmcs.livejournal.com]

I walk a 4 mile loop around Somerville almost daily and have encountered Mike frequently at Powderhouse. It usually alternates between us tossing each other the peace sign or him yelling obscenities at me. When he tries to talk with me, I take off my headphones and try to figure out what he is saying. I think he might be deaf, because of the way he talks. He is really hard to understand and he gets very agitated if you don't know what he is saying. He has never got physical with me, just yells obscenities. I think he is mostly harmless. I'd really like to learn more about him.

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

I just saw him this morning. He flashed me the peace sign first, seemed mellowed out. I get a little worried about him because it is flippin' cold out and he is just in a sweatshirt. Also, I often see him running into traffic. Who is responsible for his care?

[whitefire.livejournal.com]

He will leave you alone if you give him cigarettes.

Mike "Shouty Guy"

[zymurgist70.livejournal.com]

He's been largely harmless towards me, but I'm a 6'0", 210 lb. dude, so maybe he doesn't want to get physical with me. Not that I'd hurt him or anything. He's clearly suffering.

I've seen Mike around Powederhouse, Union and Davis for the past 15 years. I have found the peace sign works, especially if he flashes it at you first. I don't think he's going to hurt anyone, but it must be disturbing to meet him for the first time late at night at a bus stop.

Cheers,
Joe