theduisbergkid Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 Just back from a family holiday in the sun, cheapo all-inclusive thing, I'm quite serious when I say I was really bothered by the behavior of a VERY weird kid. He is about 14-15ish, not the usual leisurewear and gob, but glasses and bad haircut and head stuck in a book. I hadn't noticed him until he sidled up to me and passed me a letter and walked off before I could say anything. At first I assumed it was a letter to one of my 3 daughters, all in bikinis by the pool. It was (and I'll scan and upload it some time if anyone is genuinely interested) very odd. It was very scruffily written, 4 pages, using incredibly eloquent language to describe how he feels trapped, alone, angry, and can only communicate via letters to strangers he feels a connection with. Like me. He quotes (obliquely) Orwell, Huxley and some other stuff I can't identify. He says that he hopes I'm "one of us". He threatens to kill himself if I tell anyone and begs that I write back. This really freaked me (and the missus) out. I ignored it but he hung about with another note in his hand which I made sure he was never able to give me. He then sat near me, walked near me, and generally stalked me for a day. Luckily we were going home that evening so I was able to escape without having to deal with him. If this was in the UK I would have spoken to a friend in social services. As it is I'm just happy to be home. This has really bothered me and I'm not quite sure what I should do about it. The language was self-centred, rambling, and I found it mildly threatening. He signed using a pseudoname but it was addressed to me personally with my actual name. This is also worrying, my kids call me Dad, the missus calls me something different. I don't know how he worked my name out. The parents were ordinary Midlanders in tracksuits and tattoos who spent the day sunbathing and drinking (like 99% of the others at the resort). He had a little brother who looked geeky but normal. I felt a bit sorry for him, but am concerned about his behavior, and resent the fact he 'picked' me to communicate with. Not sure what to do about this, I found him very weird, and am a bit worried about what he might get up to (with others) in the future. :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 That woud have freaked/worried me too. Have you kept the letters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 Keep the letter. He'll probably grow up to be some kind of celebrated genius and you'll be able to auction it for thousands. Or in other words, yes, very freaky. Not sure it's the best advice, but I think I'd probably just try to pretend it never happened and hope you never hear from or about him again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 Name thing is an easy one, if he was that intense he'd have easily overhead you discussing your room number at some point and just asked reception. As for the rest of it, dunno! Far too easy to be flippant but then again he is attempting to put you in a difficult position against your wishes. If he left an address then hand the letter in to social services anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 Perhaps he really likes Gordon's restaurant nightmares USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 How upsetting, he sounds like Ian C spawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Keep the letter. He'll probably grow up to be some kind of celebrated genius and you'll be able to auction it for thousands. Or in other words, yes, very freaky. Not sure it's the best advice, but I think I'd probably just try to pretend it never happened and hope you never hear from or about him again. That behaviour suggests that he'll be famous in the future.....but for all the wrong reasons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Certainly sounds like the kid has some issue, possibly ASD/hyperlexic. This is also worrying, my kids call me Dad, the missus calls me something different. :confused: Is she still calling you Andy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpellypo Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Scanning and posting the letter would be a gross breach of his rights to privacy in my eyes. He's trusted you to read it, not a load of people on the Internet. Posting it could be disastrous for the lad. It sounds like he is savant or autistic, as mentioned above. They tend to lack social skills but make up for this in acquired knowledge. My nephew suffers from such and what you describe pretty much sums him up. He spends all his time either reading or on Wikipedia type sites. He can tell you every country, and every position they have come in, in the Eurovision Song Contest for instance. Amazing when you see how they channel their brains; albeit a little sad they can't combine that with social skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Scanning and posting the letter would be a gross breach of his rights to privacy in my eyes. He's trusted you to read it, not a load of people on the Internet. Posting it could be disastrous for the lad. True, something like that could go viral very easily. Reddit is full stuff like that . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 I'd be tempted to alert someone. All the conjecture on his condition is probably accurate, but since he mentioned killing himself why would you want to risk not getting him some possible required help by those that can assess the situation not remotely? It might be the case of course that it has happened before and the parents or whoever know it happens and have had others alert them to it before. Thus, no harm done in alerting people in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted June 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Dr P, he gave me the letter, I never asked him to, surely I can do what I want with it ? The letter doesn't have anything to identify him though, he signed off using a name that couldn't be his, but I won't upload it as I think the 'shame' would kill him. I know some autistic kids and while I am no psychologist this kid was waaaay off the 'spectrum'. Part of me feels sorry for him, the other part is scared and annoyed for being on receiving end of a very unpleasant episode when I'm trying to relax with my family. Anyhoo, let's leave it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted June 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 I'd be tempted to alert someone. All the conjecture on his condition is probably accurate, but since he mentioned killing himself why would you want to risk not getting him some possible required help by those that can assess the situation not remotely?It might be the case of course that it has happened before and the parents or whoever know it happens and have had others alert them to it before. Thus, no harm done in alerting people in my opinion. Bit late now though, we're home, he's somewhere else. Hopefully far from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Bollox. I paid him £50 to do that, and then you go and spout it all over the Internet, you fecker Seriously, though, I'd not worry about it. How many times have you met people on holiday and never seen them again. Getting your name and address from the hotel/resort wouldn't be difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 I'm just glad his parents were keeping an eye on him and are concerned as to his welfare. Letting him chat to grown men and pass letters to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpellypo Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Dr P, he gave me the letter, I never asked him to, surely I can do what I want with it ? The letter doesn't have anything to identify him though, he signed off using a name that couldn't be his, but I won't upload it as I think the 'shame' would kill him. I know some autistic kids and while I am no psychologist this kid was waaaay off the 'spectrum'. . With the greatest of respect fella, unless you're an expert, there's absolutely no way of identifying whether he is or not. Autism comes in so many guises, and knowing a few only gives you a very limited scope of awareness where the condition is concerned. My step son has it, and I've lived with him for nearly 7 years, as well as my sisters son having it, and my knowledge of the condition, and what the sufferers go through, is a mere scratched surface. Yes, the letter isn't signed by him, but I'm willing to bet he spends a lot of time on the internet, and as mentioned, once something goes viral, it can very easily and quickly end up on some very popular websites. As you said, the kid was displaying seemingly suicidal tendancies, so risking making those worse would be madness in my eyes. As you said though, it's up to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted June 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Understood, there's no good to be had by publishing it, let's hope the poor kid gets the help he needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 But (and no, not taking the piss) how will he get the help he needs if you don't do something about it. If there's an address on the envelope, why not write back (post it from the next county) and say sorry, not me, ask someone else. At least you'll then know you've (hopefully) done some good and he can find the next person to ask? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fizzbitt Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Personally i would still get in touch with the local social service and ask them for their advice. Weird and sad indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4ttm4son Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 With behaviour this weird, I'm sure TDK isn't the first to notice it His parents probably know all about it and just didn't notice him give the letter to you, but told all the other people he'd written notes to in the hotel that they saw. The only thing I'd suggest you could do is speak to the hotel. You won't have been the only one to notice and they may be able to speak to the parents or assure you that they know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 I'm with Mook on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted June 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 But - He didn't give an address, the name he used is obviously fake and I'm home now, I've no way of finding out who he is and don't want to ask the Hotel. I'm going to show the letter to a good friend, ex Cop now working for Social Services, and see what he thinks. It is a very weird letter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Leave Mrs Mook out of this Duisberg. You've still got that restraining order out against you from last time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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