# Busted: "The Masturbator" ran away screaming **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 16, 2012, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177 "2012-12-16T11:41:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/21 "2012-12-17T18:57:50Z")
**SeaDragonTattoo** : wankers fear me, drunks tweet about me… ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/22 "2012-12-17T22:09:01Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Next on Cinemax: “Hidden Boner, Crouching Sea Dragon” … Golf clap … ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/23 "2012-12-17T22:18:53Z")
Don’t know about the running, but screaming should be part of any good self service encounter. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/24 "2012-12-18T00:29:31Z")
Thank you for that SeaDragon! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/25 "2012-12-18T00:33:51Z")
I’m just glad she tossed him off the train. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/26 "2012-12-18T00:38:36Z")
**SeaDragonTattoo** will cut a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/27 "2012-12-18T00:52:02Z")
Ahh. I love you guys. So gratifying. :eek: (yuk, yuk) > [@TruCelt](#): > > Be careful. This behavior could indicate meth use, and if so, he could get very dangerous very suddenly. > > Just sayin’. Totally get that. If I hadn’t been seeing this guy at least a dozen times before (done the wanking thing twice - this would have been the third) and never feeling like he was anything more than a weirdo pervert maybe occasionally off his meds, I just would have made myself scarce and not done anything. I realize there still can be danger at any time, but I have seen this guy often enough to feel pretty confident he would do nothing but run. It will be interesting to see if he recognizes me next time, and I’m sure there will be a next time if his pattern remains unchanged! ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/28 "2012-12-18T19:57:15Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > …It will be interesting to see if he recognizes me next time, and I’m sure there will be a next time if his pattern remains unchanged! The most perfect time and place for the Disapproving Stare of Death. Especially if you move to sit right in front of him. ---
**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/29 "2013-02-22T22:45:23Z")
Might this be the guy? Or are there now two of them riding the Redline on weekends … > **[Red Line Masturbator Sought By Police](https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130222/edgewater/red-line-masturbator-sought-by-police/)** > > Police released photos of a man they say exposed himself on a North Side train. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/30 "2013-02-23T00:32:54Z")
Not that I at all endorse jerking off on subway but I think folks are being somewhat judgemental here. If the above linked person turns out to be “him” I’d wager a bet that it turns out that he has a psychiatric history. If it turns out not to be the him and the OP’s him gets busted later I’d make the same wager. The most sympathetic thing I’ve seen said about him - and I agree with everyone who has brought up the ickiness, decrepit morality and inherent violation - is that he’s a meth head and potentially dangerous. I concede that this is a posssibility and should be accounted for. But there is another very compelling and moving thread [elsewhere on the board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=682232) where people express empathy not only for a fellow Doper but also a covicted sex offender and suspected pedophile. I personally think that thread is one of the bravest and most moving I’ve seen started on this board. What if this random **Masturbator** was Mithander’s friend instead of Dave? Would the same empathy be expressed? I think that **SeaDragonTattoo** did the right thing and I applaud her for that; but her description **The Masturbator** smacks to me of someone off of their meds. Buddy needs to be caught, medicated and supervised. **SeaDragonTattoo** was both brave and right to do what she did. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2013, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/31 "2013-02-23T01:09:16Z")
> [@FeAudrey](#): > > Might this be the guy? > > Or are there now two of them riding the Redline on weekends … > > [Red Line Masturbator Sought By Police - Edgewater - Chicago - DNAinfo](http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130222/edgewater/red-line-masturbator-sought-by-police) Sorry to say that’s not the guy I’ve been seeing. I did see him once since this thread was opened, he entered and exited the train car through the emergency doors after determining the car I was in didn’t meet the criteria for his hobby. I didn’t have a chance to get a picture. He seems to look for a specific crowdedness and maybe a certain mixture of men and women. He’s lighter skinned than the guy linked above and always has khakis on, wears his hair a little longer, and always has a backpack plus a plastic grocery bag stuffed with other grocery bags that he uses as a “seat.” He also, as far as I’ve experienced, doesn’t expose himself, but rather grabs his pants and manipulates himself that way. He makes a show of it by “sitting” on his plastic bags and stretching out - there’s no missing him as once he gets started, as he doesn’t move and people have to step over him to enter or exit the train. It’s really weird and kind of specific. I agree he’s probably cycling between being medicated and not medicated. I’ve never felt he was threatening to anyone physically, I’ve been riding CTA with crazies long enough to recognize those who should be left alone and walked away from. I wouldn’t have called this guy out the way I did if I thought he might get violent. If I do manage to photograph him in the act and have him picked up by police, it’s not jail time I would want for him, but some kind of additional mental health care made mandatory for him. I would feel differently if he was more physically threatening, though. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2013, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/32 "2013-02-23T11:23:54Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Be careful. This behavior could indicate meth use, and if so, he could get very dangerous very suddenly. > > Just sayin’. I’d be inclined to show him how they make wine in the old country. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/33 "2013-02-23T14:01:26Z")
El pajero busted! ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/34 "2013-02-24T15:15:31Z")
> [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > Not that I at all endorse jerking off on subway but I think folks are being somewhat judgemental here. Definitely. People weren’t so paranoid before 9/11, which ruined it for everybody. Thanks a lot, bin Laden! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/35 "2013-02-24T16:15:04Z")
Back when I used to ride the CTA on a regular basis there was an old man who used to masturbate on the red line, but was “discreet” in that he draped a newspaper over his lap while doing it. Because, you know, that would “hide” the rest of his movements, right? :rolleyes: This sort of thing has been happening since we had public transit. Disturbing, creepy, not usually dangerous. I sometimes miss the Big City. Other times… not so much. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/36 "2013-02-24T23:41:00Z")
That’s pretty awesome on your part. Must have taken a lot of courage. I think you touched on this but I don’t think I understand fully. Why didn’t you just mind your business? Weren’t you the least bit nervous he might do something violent? **Zeke n Destroi** , I see where your coming from and it’s worth pointing out. There really is no point in mocking him. This boards supposed to be about learning and we should be examining his behaviour to identify what might be going on. However, that was certainly not the time and place for empathy. I would contact the authorities, train station, and whomever else needs to know. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/37 "2013-02-25T00:08:19Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I’m a little curious what I’ll do when I see him again, too. What I think about doing in the meantime and what actually happens tend to be different things a lot of the time! I think I will try to get a pic or video next time, before yelling at him. Stab the sucker; don’t make empty threats. Just show him you meant what you said. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/38 "2013-02-25T00:39:34Z")
> [@panaccione](#): > > That’s pretty awesome on your part. Must have taken a lot of courage. > > I think you touched on this but I don’t think I understand fully. Why didn’t you just mind your business? Weren’t you the least bit nervous he might do something violent? I don’t know about courage. It came out of my mouth before I knew I was going to say it, really. I’m one of those “first responder” types, who tends to step in front of the crowd. It’s not always the best idea, but I tend to react and take action before my sane brain has a chance to second-guess me. I had seen this guy do the masturbating thing twice before, but had also seen him many times besides those, being a little more normal usually. If I had ever gotten a threatening vibe from him, I would have been more likely to move to the other end of the car and just call 911. Instead, because he literally sat at my feet and was so damn close and my mind just said “oh, hell no” I reacted with the stabbing threat instead. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/39 "2013-02-25T01:40:57Z")
Sounds like a fight or flight thing, huh? ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177/40 "2013-02-25T05:17:59Z")
I suppose you could call it that. I tend toward “fight.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/busted-the-masturbator-ran-away-screaming/644177.md?page=3)