[weegee]

These men were in uniform and near the object in question but anytime a lone person on the street starts asking me anything that doesn't sound like "directions", I think: "sales pitch", "beggar", or "crazy person" (not necessarily in that order).

I've seen people who were certifiably crazy (talking to themselves and forming no cohessive thought) out on the street and in bars.

This can also be a factor in detaining someone asking "odd" questions.

I don't avoid all people on the streets but then again I learned long ago not to talk to "strangers".

[Michael.SF.]

I've seen people who were certifiably crazy (talking to themselves and forming no cohessive thought) out on the street and in bars

I saw the same thing at the DNC convention, there were hundreds of them. It was a ghastly sight indeed.