Posted: 5/29/15 at 4:31pm
Posted: 5/29/15 at 4:32pm
It isn't common sense to simply avoid weirdo strangers in costume when it's not Halloween or Comic Con?
The south side of the Strip has a lot of similar costumed characters to Times Square. Even more fun is dodging broken plastic and glass!
Posted: 5/29/15 at 4:55pm
One that kept happening was when a stranger would bump into you, often shoulder checking, claim it was an accident and drop something that would break.When it happened to me the guy dropped a bag, a sound of broken glass was heard, but I saw a water bottle spill everywhere. He proceeded to yell at me and told me it was an expensive wine for his anniversary and now he has nothing for his wife. He demanded I give him money to replace it. I said "Sir, you bumped into me. I wasn't listening to music or looking down, I was staring straight ahead and you walked into me. I also didn't shatter that bottle, and this is water." and walked away, but he screamed nasty, hateful, bigoted things at me.
The next day the same thing happened to my boss, but he broke a man's glasses, bought the sob story, and gave him $50. I told him it was a scam and he looked it up online.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 7:25pm
All this scams are so obvious that it surprises me that people fall for them
I guess being from Brazil prepared me well for this situations LOL
Updated On: 5/29/15 at 07:25 PM
Posted: 5/29/15 at 7:43pm
Me and a friend were trying to take a picture in Times Square when some dressed up character came and got in the picture with us! Then he asked for a tip! It was unbelievable!
Posted: 5/29/15 at 7:44pm
Never fallen for a scam, but one thing that always irks me...
Sometimes when I am walking through Times Square to get to a show, I get thirsty, and might treat myself to a Mountain Dew. Apparently, some of those people hawking CDs or comedy club tickets on the streets see this as an open opportunity to scream in my ear at the top of my voice "THIS GUY IS EXTREME!! HE'S DOING THE MOUNTAIN DEW!!!"
I wouldn't mind this so much if they didn't feel the need to literally get right up next to my ear and scream this as loud as they can.
I keep my head down, and I walk as fast as I can, and I still get yelled at for my choice of beverage.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 7:53pm
^^^
That's the same moolie who complements your hat/sunglasses/shoes/whatever and when you don't say thank you, he comes back with "What's the matter? You don't like black people?". After assuring him twice that I do not dislike all black people--just him--he no longer bothers me.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 8:06pm
"I once had three Cookie Monsters and possibly an Elmo try to converge on me to give me a hug/swipe my wallet. I just yelled, "NOOOOOOO" and pushed my way through them."
"I never have a problem in Times Square but in my own neighborhood, if I feel hassled by someone asking for money, I just walk by acting as crazy as I want, mumbling and stuff."
I have found my people.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 9:18pm
I think the costume characters used to hang out on 6th ave. Close to Radio City Music Hall. That's where I recall seeing them years ago. I guess they moved to Times Square when it became more pedestrian friendly.
Los Angeles also has these characters on Hollywood Blvd. I didn't stop for any of them, being used to them in NY. But, it was a little creepier because a guy dressed up as Jason from Friday the 13th came up to me and touched my shoulder while I was photographing something. I gave him a dirty look and walked away. If it had been a situation where it was an accidental brush or I walked into him, that would be a different story. He definitely targeted me.
The people who I wouldn't worry too much about in Times Square are the ones handing out the flyers for Broadway shows. I think those are legitimate jobs. Plus they are just giving out info on shows. Not doing anything else or looking to scam you. Just watch for the people who claim to have tickets for sale. Especially if they are sold out shows like Book of Mormon or Wicked. Some could be real, but the prices are probably outrageous.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 9:32pm
"That's the same moolie who complements your hat/sunglasses/shoes/whatever and when you don't say thank you, he comes back with "What's the matter? You don't like black people?". After assuring him twice that I do not dislike all black people--just him--he no longer bothers me."
SMH
You do know what you just said?
Updated On: 5/29/15 at 09:32 PM
Posted: 5/29/15 at 9:38pm
I do know what I said. But I don't understand why you want to quote it back to me.
Updated On: 5/29/15 at 09:38 PM
Posted: 5/29/15 at 9:56pm
This is why my favorite people of Times Square are the guys who just stand there with signs that say "need money for weed". Zero hassle, all amusing honesty.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 9:58pm
I'm so sorry this happened to you. A similar scam is when they stage a falling bottle of perfume that smashes in front of you and claim that you broke it. If they start to make a scene, they usually have some shills that will be the audience to claim that you bumped into him, that is when you take out your phone or borrow a phone and call 911 and call the police and say that you are the victim of a scam artist who is harassing you on the street and that you fear for your safety. Just keeping telling the scam artist you are calling the police and watch how quickly they disappear.
Posted: 5/30/15 at 1:43am
"...After assuring him twice that I do not dislike all black people--just him--he no longer bothers me." And then I went into an amusing variation on the old Chris Rock routine. You see, there's Black people, and there's moulies. It's spelled with a "u" you know. And Black people are all, "Please to meet you, how do you do?" but a moulie asks why you don't like Black people.
Posted: 5/30/15 at 5:30am
Precisely right, Namo. Thanks for explaining it so succinctly to Jane, my word warden.
Moulie. Moolie.
Potayto. Potahto.
Posted: 5/30/15 at 8:05am
Susan, Jane understood exactly what you stated. It is you that didn't understand Namo's response.
Posted: 5/30/15 at 8:26am
"Precisely right, Namo. Thanks for explaining it so succinctly to Jane, my word warden.
Moulie. Moolie.
Potayto. Potahto."
Susanswerphone, you seem not to understand that your word is an offensive but perhaps less-common racial epithet. I'd only ever heard a version of it used by the ushers at the Music Box back when they didn't allow black ushers to work there.
And the Chris Rock routine actually used the so-called N word. Namo was mocking you, I believe, but you seem to have been as ignorant of that as you are the offensiveness of your word.
I am genuinely shocked that anyone would post what you posted to this message board.
Posted: 5/30/15 at 8:44am
Susie, what you said is the same thing as saying "ni**er." Get it? I hope so, because you TOTES didn't get what Namo said.
Updated On: 5/30/15 at 08:44 AM
Posted: 6/1/15 at 2:50pm
Common sense should prevail whether in Podunk USA or Manhattan.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 3:18pm
What we're discussing isn't common in "Podunk USA". That's the point. That's exactly why tourists are targeted in Times Square by these scam artists. Because they probably know nothing about these particular situations or how to respond to them.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 3:36pm
Skies, I think you are missing the point on this thread. It isn't just inexperienced people visiting New York for the first time who are victimized by these predators. I've seen them attack everyday working people anywhere from 34th and 8th Ave to Times Square. When someone bumps into you and claims you've just broken their $500 glasses and causes a commotion, unless you've heard of this scam before, it's easy to be taken in, whether you've lived in New York all your life or just visiting. Being victimized isn't being devoid of common sense, it's being inexperienced in the ways that criminals can scam you.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 3:42pm
If you're pretty street smart, you can smell a scam even if you've never heard of that particular one before.
Because of the difference between NYC streets and some midwestern streets, I'm saying that the NYers as a whole are probably more aware of what can go on, and less likely to fall for a scam. If we haven't experienced one ourselves, there's certainly enough coverage on the news to make us aware of them.
Posted: 6/1/15 at 3:45pm
"Skies, I think you are missing the point on this thread. It isn't just inexperienced people visiting New York for the first time who are victimized by these predators. I've seen them attack everyday working people anywhere from 34th and 8th Ave to Times Square. When someone bumps into you and claims you've just broken their $500 glasses and causes a commotion, unless you've heard of this scam before, it's easy to be taken in, whether you've lived in New York all your life or just visiting. Being victimized isn't being devoid of common sense, it's being inexperienced in the ways that criminals can scam you."
OH no, I'm not saying all victims, but I do think potential marks (including myself) need to be careful not to get close to strangers who are picking a fight with you. As mentioned, saying "I'm calling the police" is a common sense strategy. I was in a subway car in Rome and I said loudly to my companion "POLIZIA" and the scam artists/pickpockets quickly scampered.
Common sense won't prevent all scams happening, but it's a good start.
Updated On: 6/1/15 at 03:45 PM
Posted: 5/5/19 at 1:08am
