As a public service, might I remind people of the proper, approved spiritual technique for dealing with a street crazy? You know, one of those angry bag ladies or gnarly old guys who suddenly jump out at you as you're walking peacefully down the street and then rant at you?
Some might be tempted to interact with them, as they go on and on and on -- spewing literally thousands of words at you or anyone else who passes -- as if they were really talking to them. But they're not. They're talking to them- selves, and trying desperately to get someone -- anyone -- to talk back to them as if they were either sane, or worth talking to. But they're not. Doing so is not only a waste of your time, it reinforces the crazy person's delusions. In my experience, the most effective technique for dealing with crazies like this, whether you run into them on the street or on the Internet, is to reply using a single-word magical mantra -- "Whatever" -- and then walk away. Anything else is going to turn out like punching Uncle Remus' tarbaby. Just sayin'...
