LifeOnaPlate: A New Kind of Mopologist?

[_Doctor Scratch]

My attention was recently directed to some very odd remarks that occurred on the aptly named MADboard some time ago. A bit of background is in order:

Apparently, there was an individual in Salt Lake City who was standing around in full temple regalia. What was he doing? Was he an anti-Mormon, trying to protest the Church? The poster called "Sevenbak" fills us in:

Speaking of foolishness at Temple Square... I was driving past the day before yesterday and snapped a pic of this bozo with my cell phone. He's all painted white, in addition to the clothes. Anyone know anything about him?

I'm calling him the Whited Sepulcher.

Intriguing.... "Painted all white"? This sounds a bit eerie. Certainly, I know that I would probably want to steer clear of an individual such as this. Apparently, though, not everyone is as cautious as I am:

The man who has been standing near the temple grounds with temple robes and face paint is a member of the Church who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and is having something of a breakdown (or a high, really) right now. I have been in contact with his family for about a week now and have been following up with them. The man's name is Nick and he is simply not in his right mind. The family is working on getting him some treatment but given that he is an adult and has been stable in the past it is difficult for them to convince him anything is wrong. I suggest people simply leave him alone, and sadly, he could at some point become a threat to himself or others.

Wait a second here.... LoaP was "in contact with his family"? For a whole week? What's going on here? Was he (LoaP) just trying to be nice? Did he, too, assume the the man was an anti-Mormon? I know that I'm curious to know (A) why LoaP approached this individual in the first place (was it simply the seemingly anti-nature of the guy's activity/get-up?), and (B) why he was evidently digging into the guy's background and family life (and medical history).

If that weren't curious enough on its own, it turns out that LoaP was right in the thick of things during another critical event in SLC. Aaron Shaf, a noteworthy Church critic, was apparently mowed down by a car near Temple Square. Here is Pa Pa, elaborating:

Aaron is on another site talking about his accident. He was carrying his video equipment to tape Mormons stumbling over their words Got to love those edit features that makes him look so smart and us so dumb. Anyway a Temple worker hit him with his car and knocked him down causing minor injuries. But undaunted he turned it into an opportunity to challenge the temple workers faith.

Appallingly, some of the MADites used the event as an opportunity to gloat and to insist that Shaf had it coming to him:

Accidents like this may awaken the unfortunate person so injured to the reality of the frailty of human life, which could end in an instant at a time when one least expects it. Perhaps such reflection on the nearness of eternal judgment might lead Aaron to conclude that he may want to take a different approach in his dealings with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In a less direct way, LoaP seems to have been thinking along similar lines:

Parenthetically, I was standing at the entrance to the conference center right by the corner when I heard the chirping sound indicating it was safe to walk across the street. Almost immediately thereafter I heard screeching tires and a thump and a woman scream. I turned around to see a young skinny guy falling to the ground and then he got back up again. The driver got out and they discussed things. I was in a hurry so I hustled away, the guy who had been hit seemed fine, he was walking around, and there was a small crowd, and the cops were there really fast.

I thought to myself that it would have been odd if it was Shaf. I really am somewhat speechless to discover it really was Shaf!

It just gets stranger and stranger. First, we learn that LoaP has apparently been hanging around Temple Square, perhaps looking for anti-Mormons. He has been rather heavily involved in dealing with a white-faced bipolar man who wears his temple clothes outside in full view of everyone. Then, he just happens to be standing at the scene of a crime--a crime in which a notable anti-Mormon is struck by a car. And LoaP says that he "hustled away" from the scene. As an add on, he remarks that he'd been fantasizing/thinking/daydreaming about Shaf getting hit by a car.

So, what's going on here? Has LoaP begun to expand his Mopologetic activities beyond the sphere of the aptly named MADboard and his blog? Is he now patrolling the area around Temple Square, looking for anti-Mormons to.... Well, what is he up to? I just found all of this very odd. It makes me wonder how much of LoaP's life is devoted to Mopologetics.

[_Gadianton Plumber]

I got the impression that LoaP worked downtown or walked the strip on a regular basis. This would put him in range of seeing all kinds of interesting things on a daily basis along North Temple.

Now Nick, OTOH, is an interesting guy. He is friendly and well composed, if quirky. I talked to him and waved to him a couple times and was impressed with his sincerity. I do not think he is crazy nor is he likely to become a danger to anyone except losers that worship the temple and not the non-existent god (another thread). When I read about LoaP's interactions with Nick's family with his deeply involved knowledge of his medical history and such, that he knew him from before his demonstrations. Perhaps he is a family member who is ashamed of Nick and wants people to know he is crazy without sullying himself in some way.

Or he is just a jerk and wants people to think Nick is crazy. LoaP in an interesting person. I look forward to more crap from him.

[_Doctor Scratch]

Some provocative observations, Plumber. I was also confused about LoaP's motives. What, I wonder, led him to approach Nick in the first place? Was he worried about him? Angry that he was wearing temple clothes in public?

[_gramps]

I don't know about his motives. But I have always questioned his discriminating abilities. He came on recently and warned us all of the dangers of dashehist. At the same time, he is best buddies with the 'big up' lamanite madman. He just seems to be all over the board(s) (pun intended).

Who knows what is up with that guy? Does he know?

[_Gadianton]

This is stunning news, Doctor. LoaP is growing in prominance as sort of an apologetic filter for all events Mormon related. Patrolling the streets to make sure everything is under apologetic control is a new and powerful edition to the effort.

I have to wonder, though, as it seems like after learning about the TBM status of the man dressed up, quite a lot of effort was spent in communicating with the family to ensure his wellbeing. While, on the other hand, when an "anti-Mormon" had been struck by a vehicle, it was all he could do to get out of there with a quick, "he'll probably make it" thought. This man could have been suffering from internal bleeding or head trauma, and it might not have been an accident.

[_Sethbag]

I would urge you all to caution. I think it's quite likely there's far less here than would appear to some. All we know is he was there when Aaron Shaf was hit by the car, and that he knows, somehow, the family of the wierd dude wearing the white part of the temple costume.

I don't think there's a single one of us here, whether believers or non-believers, who regards the performance of that guy in the white makeup and costume as "normal".

Obviously something's up with him. Non-believers will think he must be delusional if he thinks that a putative Creator of the Universe wants him to stand on that corner with that get-up on. Believers will likewise think he's delusional if he believes that Elohim wants him to do that. It's entirely possible that LoAP was concerned for the guy's welfare, and went far beyond what any of the rest of us did in actually attempting to find out more about the guy and see if things were alright. Far from being sinister in nature, it's possibly a sign of virtuous intent. I also see the possibility of non-virtuous intent, if he was digging into this man's life with an eye to discrediting him in some way. I have no evidence either way, and so choose to give LoAP the benefit of the doubt.

[_bcspace]

So, what's going on here? Has LoaP begun to expand his Mopologetic activities beyond the sphere of the aptly named MADboard and his blog? Is he now patrolling the area around Temple Square, looking for anti-Mormons to.... Well, what is he up to? I just found all of this very odd. It makes me wonder how much of LoaP's life is devoted to Mopologetics.

Well, left wingers are prone to be in the vicinity of unjustifiable protests and other anti-social behavior. LoaP probably isn't getting his needs filled in a Church whose doctrine eschews poltical liberals so he has to find satisfaction on the street.

I would urge you all to caution. I think it's quite likely there's far less here than would appear to some.

Likely the case.

[_Mike Reed]

Wait a second here.... LoaP was "in contact with his family"? For a whole week? What's going on here? Was he (LoaP) just trying to be nice? Did he, too, assume the the man was an anti-Mormon? I know that I'm curious to know (A) why LoaP approached this individual in the first place (was it simply the seemingly anti-nature of the guy's activity/get-up?), and (B) why he was evidently digging into the guy's background and family life (and medical history).

Um... have you thought to ask LOaP? I mean... he isn't too hard to contact, since, after all, he is a registered participant on this forum.

Appallingly, some of the MADites used the event as an opportunity to gloat and to insist that Shaf had it coming to him.... In a less direct way, LoaP seems to have been thinking along similar lines

Along similar lines? What exactly in LOaP's quotes makes it "seem" this way to you? The fact that he is a believing Mormon, you’re tendency to assume the worst about the things they do?

It just gets stranger and stranger. First, we learn that LoaP has apparently been hanging around Temple Square, perhaps looking for anti-Mormons.

Or "perhaps" LOaP was visiting temple square, or "perhaps" the Church History Library, when he came across Nick. I saw Nick while doing these things. Or "perhaps" LOaP is friends with the family, and out of concern for him, went to check up on him.

He has been rather heavily involved in dealing with a white-faced bipolar man who wears his temple clothes outside in full view of everyone. Then, he just happens to be standing at the scene of a crime--a crime in which a notable anti-Mormon is struck by a car. And LoaP says that he "hustled away" from the scene. As an add on, he remarks that he'd been fantasizing/thinking/daydreaming about Shaf getting hit by a car.

You know... when my Grandfather and two uncles died in a car accident (just after they dropped off my father)... my father heard the crash and thought to himself, "I wonder if that was my family?" Was my Father "fantasizing" when these thoughts came to his mind?

So, what's going on here? Has LoaP begun to expand his Mopologetic activities beyond the sphere of the aptly named MADboard and his blog? Is he now patrolling the area around Temple Square, looking for anti-Mormons to.... Well, what is he up to? I just found all of this very odd. It makes me wonder how much of LoaP's life is devoted to Mopologetics.

Sigh...

[_Dwight Frye]

Blair has long come across to me as one of those guys who always wants to be in the thick of things and wants everyone to know he was there. This just confirms my impression.

[_Yoda]

Sigh...

I agree, Mike. I think that Scratch is making "much ado about nothing" in this case.