We reported, based on a Brooklynian post back in July, about the Park Slope Flier Ripper. The issue has come back thanks to a series of emails on the Park Slope Parents Group. Now, someone who says he’s the brother of the man known in the neighborhood for tearing down fliers has come forward on Brooklynian. (The explanation is at the end of a long thread.) It does put a very human face on who the person is. It’s soooo worth reading through the very end, with compassion rather than anger or ridicule:
The man that you refer to – the man that pulls down signs in Park Slope – is my brother. To answer your questions and (hopefully) put an end to the debate here, I’d like to clarify a few things about him. First: my brother is, indeed, autistic. Thank you to the poster named “ljnd” who recognized this as a possibility. As a child, my brother displayed all the classic signs – signs that would be recognized and treated today. But it was the early seventies, and my mother couldn’t get a definitive diagnosis – much less a straight answer – from any of the various pediatricians, psychologists, or specialists to whom she brought him for help. He wasn’t diagnosed until he’d reached his late teens – significantly late in the developmental processes affected by the disorder.
No one really understood him, but everyone had something to say. I’m five years younger, and I was asked all the time if he was “retarded.” I stuck up for my big brother with all my might – even though I didn’t fully understand him myself.
Some things, at least, have changed. “Autism” is now a household term, children are diagnosed and treated early, and most people show a great deal of compassion for families living with all its heartbreaks.
I ask for your compassion today. Compassion for families living with autistic adults who did not receive treatment when it could have made a difference. Compassion for my mother – a retired senior citizen who is worried sick after reading – in the Brooklyn Paper – that people are “hunting” down her son. Compassion for me – a young woman who still fights for a brother she’s never been able to hug. And compassion for my brother, too. He does not pose a danger to himself or others. He does not pull down signs to hurt people, to be an “asshole” or a “killjoy,” or to ruin people’s stoop sales. He does it because he believes in the rightness of a tiny little law meant to keep public property clean. He finds some comfort in upholding that law in Park Slope – the neighborhood where he grew up, the neighborhood where he’s spent his entire life.
I wish he didn’t care about that law. My mother wishes he didn’t. And many of you wish he didn’t. But he does, and I ask you to please leave him be. Please post your signs (as the law does, after all, require) on the private bulletin boards available in local businesses. I have specifically asked my brother to make an exception for signs for lost pets, and he abides by that limitation.
If you know anything at all about my brother (physical description, etc.), please refrain from posting such identifying details online, where they will become available to those that apparently wish to do him harm.
I have tried, here, to appeal to your sense of compassion. But for those that are unmoved, I also feel compelled to note that I am an attorney. If my brother is harmed – in any way whatsoever – I will pursue all available legal avenues to vindicate his rights. I will never stop fighting for my big brother.
If you wish to contact me, you may reach me at: concernedsister11215@yahoo.com.
And that, friends, is the human side of this Park Slope story.
20 responses so far ↓
1 woodendesigner // Aug 18, 2008 at 10:53 am
Well said. I hope that everyone leaves him alone.
2 Anonymous // Aug 18, 2008 at 11:47 am
I’m glad he does tear the damned signs down. And it should be the people that put them up that should be criticized.
3 anonymous // Aug 18, 2008 at 11:52 am
He is doing the neighborhood a great service.
Most of the fliers posted on lamp posts are for out-of-the-neighborhood businesses, such as movers. And, sister is right, fliers belong on bulletin boards. Many businesses will also post fliers they judge to be of value in their windows.
4 Gersh // Aug 18, 2008 at 12:42 pm
In case anyone actually wants to see The Brooklyn Paper article on which the Ripper’s sister’s post is based, you can see it here:
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/31/32/31_32_gk_ripper.html
Thanks.
GERSH KUNTZMAN
Editor
The Brooklyn Paper
5 what it do // Aug 18, 2008 at 1:37 pm
i don’t feel the least bit bad that he’s a little off. sorry, there are dudes inventing the next iphone that are autistic. he may feel comfort from ripping signs down, but i feel comfort in getting them up right before a sale. change your sign bombing strategy to accomodate him, that’s what i did. do a midnight run then hit up his pull downs in the morning, then bomb during your sale. and use wood glue — that blew his mind, he couldn’t even peel some of them off. DON”T PLAY WITH MY MONEY
6 Trevor // Aug 18, 2008 at 2:35 pm
A Troll Grows in Brooklyn
7 ConcernedSister // Aug 18, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Thank you to Gowanus Lounge and to the first three posters for supporting my plea for compassion. Your words have restored a little bit of my faith in humanity after yesterday’s heartbreaking discovery that my brother has become fodder for such cruelty and ridicule online.
As for the comment from “what it do”: I can only say that autism does not always turn out so happily. Not all autistic children grow up to become eccentric (but brilliant) inventors or professors. As I explained in my original post, this is particularly true of autistic children who grew up before the widespread availability of the specialized services they so desperately need to lead normal lives. The world is different today, thanks to a multitude of dedicated professionals – physical therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists. My brother didn’t have any of that. And he is in no way to blame for the state of psychological care more than three decades ago. To suggest otherwise is patently absurd.
So feel absolutely free to post your signs with wood glue. But please refrain from posting tactless and hurtful comments on a tragic subject which you do not understand.
8 don't believe it or not // Aug 18, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Concerned Sister
Your civility, rationality and compassion have no place on the interwebs. Please leave us shrewd, insecure, lonely, sarcastic losers to freely criticize and mock what we don’t understand. You’re making us look bad!
9 Trevor // Aug 18, 2008 at 4:37 pm
ConcernedSister:
The fifth post (mine) also supported your plea for compassion.
The fourth post, which is what mine referenced, is a troll.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)
I was actually making a comment for the moderators of this comment board, who shouldn’t have let him past.
Either way don’t let his/her anonymous BS get to you.
Good luck.
10 ConcernedSister // Aug 18, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Many thanks, Trevor. Apologies for leaving you out of the original thank you list. I am, admittedly, a novice blogger. I had no idea what to make of the troll comment. Now it makes perfect sense. Thanks again for your support.
You, too, “don’t believe it or not.” I think 🙂
11 Ben K. // Aug 18, 2008 at 5:07 pm
But for those that are unmoved, I also feel compelled to note that I am an attorney. If my brother is harmed – in any way whatsoever – I will pursue all available legal avenues to vindicate his rights. I will never stop fighting for my big brother.
What this little piece of passive aggressive chicanery really necessary? Your impassioned plea was polite and well-intentioned until it took on this semi-threatening and ominous overtones at the end.
12 ConcernedSister // Aug 18, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Thank you for your post, Ben.
As I explained on Brooklynian this morning:
I struggled with whether or not to include that last bit about legal action. It was meant only for those, as I said, who remained unmoved by my plea for compassion and understanding. It was meant only for those who seemed intent on “confronting” my brother on the street. It was not meant for those who are capable of understanding the first part of the message. It appears from the responses here, to my great relief, that most people are in fact capable of such understanding.
Nevertheless, my brother is my only sibling, and I want to protect him. If I can do so through the law, I will. If someone physically hurt a member of your family, wouldn’t you seek to hold the offenders responsible? My intention was to make perfectly clear, to all who would harm my brother, that he has a family that would demand answers, a family that would demand justice.
If you read all the posts on Brooklynian and elsewhere, some of which specifically threaten physical harm to my brother, you will see that the threat level of my postscript pales in comparison, and that it was a perfectly reasonable response.
I hope this addresses your concern. Please let me know if I can provide further clarification.
13 ConcernedSister // Aug 18, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Thank you for your post, Ben.
As I explained on Brooklynian this morning:
I struggled with whether or not to include that last bit about legal action. It was meant only for those, as I said, who remained unmoved by my plea for compassion and understanding. It was meant only for those who seemed intent on “confronting” my brother on the street. It was not meant for those who are capable of understanding the first part of the message. It appears from the responses here, to my great relief, that most people are in fact capable of such understanding.
Nevertheless, my brother is my only sibling, and I want to protect him. If I can do so through the law, I will. If someone physically hurt a member of your family, wouldn’t you seek to hold the offenders responsible? My intention was to make perfectly clear, to all who would harm my brother, that he has a family who would demand answers, a family who would demand justice.
If you read all the posts on Brooklynian and elsewhere, some of which specifically threaten physical harm to my brother, you will see that the threat level of my postscript pales in comparison, and that it was a perfectly reasonable response.
I hope this addresses your concern. Please let me know if I can provide further clarification.
14 Leah // Aug 19, 2008 at 1:59 pm
as the younger sister of a schizophrenic who also wasn’t diagnosed until years after onset, my heart goes out to you. your brother is lucky to have such an articulate advocate.
15 ConcernedSister // Aug 19, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Thank you so much for your message, Leah. My heart goes out to you, too.
And I’m sure your bother is lucky to have you as well.
16 what it do // Aug 19, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Concerned Sister/Lawyer, it’s interesting you apply the same rhetoric of dismissal that so many have used against your brother. True, I was far too glib and hungover when I wrote that previous comment. But you’d be better off ignoring the apologists and making an effort to understand our point of view, as it really does capture the mindset of many individuals affected by his actions. Stoops sales aren’t always just about itinerant hipstres and Maggie Gyllenhall slumming it, there are actual cash dollars and community bonds involved. I for one back in June witnessed your brother being frogmarched six feet and having his skull smashed into a lightpost — and that was from some yuppie who I’m sure feels horrible about the about whole thing. Lord knows what a bunch of flunkies from some moving crew would do to him after realizing four or five sweaty hours of work had been erased within minutes.
Now, the truth is your brother is completely in his rights to do what he does. But you can’t have it both ways. Either he suffers from some awful, uncontrollable compulsion and the onus of responsibility is on you for not treating him OR he is a free agent responsible for his actions and your hands are absolved of guilt. Better to find a compromise, restrict the times and boundaries of his handiwork, or perhaps show some real compassion and accompany him on his rip down runs.
17 A. Nonymous // Aug 20, 2008 at 1:31 am
I have a pretty good feeling that the overwhelming majority of people will show the compassion that “Concerned Sister” is requesting. However, there will always be yahoos like “what it do” who lack both the insight and compassion to attempt to understand anything from a perspective other than their own.
I am guessing that, “what it do’s” brilliant remarks regarding your “rhetoric of dismissal” and having it both ways are based in ignorance with respect to a condition as complex as autism. He obviously does suffer from as he put it, an “uncontrollable compulsion” to pull down signs, or likely finds comfort in it. However, that only becomes a problem when others (like “what it do”) feel compelled to take matters into their own hands. My opinion is that they are the ones who are lacking the required treatment.
That said, I feel inspired by “what it do’s” comments and will join in your brother’s quest to rid Park Slope of illegal postings every chance I get. Also, I have just the tool for stubborn wood glue.
I too have a family member who suffers from autism…
18 gary l. // Sep 9, 2008 at 10:49 pm
he is the notorious park slope sign ripper,
iv’e seen him for years, the beady eyes mealy mouthed guy.
dressed like a freak and patrolling the slope for signs to rip down.
a troll like weasel man – claiming he is “empowered” by the
civic council (btw i spoke to one of their executives
and although they don’t condone his claim of
being empowered by the council, they like the nabe
clean of postings and sorta don’t mind his activities only his claim.
i have confronted and seen him confronted but to no avail.
he must have no life or brain, and probably needs help and
much t.l.c. as he has no rhyme or reason to his ripping activities.
i have tried to use triple reverse psychology and suggestive thought to try to get him to realize that the slope needs him to chill out!
sometimes my girlfriend and i yell out “rip.. rip.. rip..” or even run in front of him and rip an expired posting off the lamppost before he gets a chance, it really irks him (hopefully to think)
i guess it’s some revenge for some community postings of events and social activities i have posted and saw him rip down.
omg i’m becoming like him but on the other side of the equation…
by for now…
19 Matt // Sep 11, 2008 at 12:10 am
Instead of your “triple reverse psychology and suggestive thought,” try a little compassion…read through the Brooklyn Paper article and the references to the sister’s plea and maybe you and your girlfriend will realize what “ass.. ass.. asses” you were being.
20 Sunset Park resident // Jan 18, 2009 at 6:18 am
I stand on the side of Park Slope Flier Ripper and think he should be given a name with a better connotation like “Park Slope Streetscape Helper or Do-gooder”. Wait until you see the one inch thick madness on 8th Avenue lamp posts. If Mr. Do-gooder lives in my neighborhood there won’t be an one inch thick fliers. Fliers will lead to more fliers. I am grateful to learn about his work and his sister.