The Flatbush Flasher

Very interesting thread happening on Flatbush Family Network, a Yahoo Group serving a wide swath of central Brooklyn. Seems somebody's been exposing himself and many folks are (understandably) upset.

A photo was taken, but the moderator of the Group asked that the picture not be posted, presumably not wanting to incite the mob against someone innocent-til-proven-guilty. Other comments focused on whether it was appropriate to describe the culprit on the basis of race. Still others have wondered aloud whether he's a pedophile; others seem convinced by their advanced armchair psychologist degrees that flashing is unrelated to pedophilia, which is more a mental illness or fetish.

Worse, the flasher has a goatee.

Another saw him masturbating near Brooklyn College. Yes, THAT Brooklyn College.

As I followed the thread back in time I noticed others concerned about an unaccompanied older guy hanging out in the playground next to the school on Cortelyou. He was a ""creepy guy in the outdated suit who was hanging around the tot lot today, a camera dangling off his wrist, opening the gate for people going in and out but acting surly when his help was refused."

It's really quite remarkable what happens when private thoughts become public on a listserve or blog. The "good" is obvious - ideas shared, community built, old items sold or given away. But spreading fear or misinformation is troubling - like gossip gone digital viral wildfire.

I hope the cops catch the flasher. I hope the creepy guy turns out to be the non-harmful guy "who has the key to the tot lot and opens and locks it."

But just as creepy old Geraldo Rivera suggested that ALL young black men not where hoodies, the Q thinks it would be wise if old men not act creepy or incriminate themselves by wearing seriously outdated suits.   

Come to think of it, has Geraldo been seen sporting a goatee lately? Near Brooklyn College?