Jack D Wrote:
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> HUTCH 7.62 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Bozo Texino Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > While both are talented rail photographers,
> it
> > is
> > > a shame that Drew Jackish felt attacked on
> this
> > > forum and likely decided that if he was being
> > > heckled and unappreciated he would go
> elsewhere.
> >
> > > Drew was entitled to his opinions even if
> some
> > did
> > > not agree with him.
> > >
> > > James A. Speaker on the other hand is a true
> > > menace, to his own safety, the railroads'
> > negative
> > > opinions about railroad photographers/fans,
> and
> > to
> > > the railroads. It would be best if he was
> just
> > > encouraged to stay away from the railroads.
> > > Unfortunately to some degree Mr. Speaker
> cannot
> > > help himself, as he is autistic. A mental
> > health
> > > professional who worked with autistics for
> over
> > 30
> > > years, who as a railfan, observed Mr. Speaker
> > in
> > > action, commented that "autistics can be
> highly
> > > manipulative." The character Dustin Hoffman
> > played
> > > in the movie "Rain Man" was autistic,
> although
> > Mr.
> > > Speaker is somewhat higher functioning. He
> does
> > > know right from wrong, but chooses to do
> things
> > > "his way," often on impulse, regardless of
> the
> > > consequences, or what he has been asked or
> > > repeatedly told. Frequently these actions
> are
> > > taken at the risk of his own safety, and
> > > frequently bothering other people.
> > >
> > > Does tripping along, in a busy railroad yard,
> > > wearing headphones, or earplugs, listening to
> a
> > > recording of "Jingle Bells," walking on
> tracks
> > and
> > > ballast with untied tennis shoes sound safe
> to
> > > you? That is Jim Speaker. Does climbing
> high
> > > tension towers for photos sound safe? Does
> > heading
> > > for Donner Pass in only sneakers and a
> > > windbreaker, in March, sound like a good idea?
>
> > > That is also Mr. Speaker. Ask Mr. Speaker
> > about
> > > just about any town, with a railroad, in the
> > > Western United States, he can tell you how
> law
> > > enforcement field interviewed him, and a few
> > times
> > > arrested him. At least twice he was turned
> > back
> > > at the Canadian Border by Canadian and U.S.
> > > Authorities when they ran his record. Ask
> Mr.
> > > Speaker about the vandalism he has done to
> > > railroad property, and bragged about.
> > >
> > > Ask him about the time he was on the old
> Santa
> > Fe
> > > Surf Line, when challenged by authorities for
> > > climbing Santa Fe signals, he ran, leaving
> > behind
> > > a briefcase. A briefcase a bomb squad was
> > called
> > > to detonate, containing only an old tape
> > recorder
> > > and paper. Ask him about the trespassing
> > > citation, and fine, mailed to him by CSX, for
> > > being caught on video in one of their
> > intermodal
> > > facilities.
> > >
> > > Mr. Speaker and his parents were visited at
> > home,
> > > in the early 90's, by railroad special agents.
>
> > It
> > > was explained to them that Mr. Speaker needed
> > to
> > > stay away from railroad property, and not
> make
> > > threats of vandalism. The Speakers were also
> > > specifically asked to not allow him to call
> > train
> > > dispatchers and other railroad employees at
> > work.
> > > Some autistics have demonstrated telephone
> > > "skills," and in Jim Speaker's case, he has
> the
> > > ability to discover unlisted numbers, then
> > > repeatedly make a pest of himself. These
> phone
> > > calls consisted of asking inane, often
> > irrelevant
> > > questions. Often he was not capable of
> > > understanding the answers, thereby prompting
> > > repeated nuisance calls. Amtrak and others
> > have
> > > long since blocked his phone. Needless to
> say
> > > the home visit by the special agents did not
> > have
> > > a lasting effect. Being a particularly
> > > manipulative autistic Mr. Speaker prefers to
> > > ignore that and similar episodes in his life.
>
> > > His father passed away years ago, and his
> > mother
> > > has always had "a bolt loose." Therefore
> there
> > is
> > > little control over where Speaker goes or
> what
> > he
> > > does. Most law enforcement agencies and
> courts
> > > let him go, possibly regarding him as
> > "harmless,"
> > > in comparison to criminals they normally deal
> > > with. However, closer to the truth is he
> would
> > > cost money to feed, jail, etc., while
> awaiting
> > > trial, all expenses of which would be borne
> by
> > > whatever "lucky" jurisdiction held onto him,
> > and
> > > he would be unlikely to pay any fines levied.
>
> > > Therefore he is normally field interviewed,
> > > warned, and sent on down the road, to become
> > > someone else's problem.
> > >
> > > So that he does not become your problem, if
> you
> > > encounter him, encourage safe behavior,
> > although
> > > he often pretends not to undertand, and will
> > > argue, or continue asking inane questions.
> Be
> > > prepared to call law enforcement. If he
> > latches
> > > onto you, he can be like the dog that wants
> to
> > > hump your leg. Friendly but a nusiance.
> Just
> > ask
> > > a few well known railroad photographers,
> > > railroaders and certain editors, who have
> > > encountered him.
> >
> > wow a complete bio on Jim Speaker. wow my
> uestions
> > have been answered. BTW how do you know so muck
> > about Jim?
>
>
> Geez Hutch! Hitting the sauce a little early
> today, aren't we?

Naah, was out the door and typing fast.