# I challenge you to find a bigger WTF than this WTF. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the Tree Man **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 18, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712 "2009-12-18T04:05:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/21 "2009-12-18T13:59:56Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > could be on a page of the GAP catalog. Especially if there’s a Gap in Fangorn Forest. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/22 "2009-12-18T14:47:32Z")
> [@mecaenas](#): > > Point being that if you think it’s gross now, you should have seen him when they [first found him](http://www.misterseed.com/images/treeMAN.jpg). Could have been worse. They almost couldn’t find his [grandfather](http://filmfanatic.org/reviews/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/Tree.JPG). ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/23 "2009-12-18T15:08:23Z")
I thought it might be [this tree man](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-467518/Man-robs-bank-disguised-tree.html). A definite WTF. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/24 "2009-12-18T15:47:07Z")
If this is the most WTF thing you’ve seen, you haven’t been on the internet long enough. And no, I’m not proud of having seen much, much worse. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/25 "2009-12-18T16:16:57Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > I thought it might be [this tree man](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-467518/Man-robs-bank-disguised-tree.html). A definite WTF. > [@](#): > > He chose a branch of the Citizens Bank on Elm Street, in the New Hampshire town of Manchester, to try out his woodland camouflage I’m assuming he went to the one on Elm Street because the location of the one across town, on Jefferson Road, wasn’t named after a tree … Seriously, the OP reminds me a bit of a friend of mine (the one who I mentioned in another thread passed away suddenly last week, not due to what I am about to mention, btw) - he had cycstic fibrosis, which resulted in small (“normal-looking”, ie nothing like “Tree Man” warts/bumps all over his body. I’m wondering if this is something similar … ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/26 "2009-12-18T17:42:16Z")
There’s no reason to be afraid of him. His bark is worse than his bite. I hear he’s an honest to goodness son-of-a-birch. In the picture he’s just sitting there. I wonder when he’s going to leaf? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/27 "2009-12-18T17:47:19Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > I’m assuming he went to the one on Elm Street because the location of the one across town, on Jefferson Road, wasn’t named after a tree … He’d be well-camoflaged on Elm St. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/28 "2009-12-18T18:14:52Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > I’m assuming he went to the one on Elm Street because the location of the one across town, on Jefferson Road, wasn’t named after a tree … > > Seriously, the OP reminds me a bit of a friend of mine (the one who I mentioned in another thread passed away suddenly last week, not due to what I am about to mention, btw) - he had cycstic fibrosis, which resulted in small (“normal-looking”, ie nothing like “Tree Man” warts/bumps all over his body. I’m wondering if this is something similar … I wonder if that’s what a woman I used to see in downtown Saskatoon had. She had warts all over her face (I don’t recall if it was over all of her body that you could see, or just her head). They were fairly big ones, too; you really couldn’t see what she looked like except for a completely bumpy face. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/29 "2009-12-18T18:36:49Z")
I haven’t clicked that article, but Dede has a “relative” of sorts in the skin growth category: The Coral Man. (He might have actually ben mentioned in it.) Not doing any links, but put it into Google Images, and you’ll see all you care to. Some other extraordinary cases are: Arianto, an Indonesian kid with half of his face abnormally large Jose Mestre, the man with no face Mandy Sellars, the girl with the giant legs Just to show that there are all sorts of unusual things that can go wrong. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/30 "2009-12-18T23:12:02Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > I haven’t clicked that article, but Dede has a “relative” of sorts in the skin growth category: The Coral Man. (He might have actually ben mentioned in it.) Not doing any links, but put it into Google Images, and you’ll see all you care to. > > Some other extraordinary cases are: > Arianto, an Indonesian kid with half of his face abnormally large > Jose Mestre, the man with no face > Mandy Sellars, the girl with the giant legs > > Just to show that there are all sorts of unusual things that can go wrong. The Coral Man seems to have the same problem as the tree man, only not nearly as bad. ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/31 "2009-12-19T03:21:26Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > It’s not really necessary to drag in other stuff and make personal remarks about the OP. Don’t do this again. > > twickster, MPSIMS moderator Perhaps I should have been more explicit. The OP issued a challenge, and I answered. I find it more of a WTF moment that someone who proclaims to be extremely cultured and impressed by his belongings would live in filth and yet make a mockery of someone who clearly has no choice in the physical manifestations of his illness. If lissener wanted to point and poke without any repercussions he shouldn’t have issued a WTF challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/32 "2009-12-19T08:18:18Z")
[Spock]Fascinating[/Spock]. Makes me wonder if this condition has had any influence on historical folklore or legend, and how people who were afflicted were viewed in the past—were they reviled or revered? ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/33 "2009-12-19T09:47:49Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > If this is the most WTF thing you’ve seen, you haven’t been on the internet long enough. And no, I’m not proud of having seen much, much worse. Agreed. There are horrors on the internet the average person can scarcely imagine. Should one challenge the internet on this, the internet wins every time. This I have learned. But what gets me about this man’s case is the energy that must have gone into producing those growths. And of what do they consist? skin? Hair/fingernail material? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/34 "2009-12-19T09:59:53Z")
Meh. Google the phrase ‘mr cream of wheat porn’ for a more confusing video. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/35 "2009-12-19T13:05:10Z")
> [@keturah](#): > > Perhaps I should have been more explicit. The OP issued a challenge, and I answered. I find it more of a WTF moment that someone who proclaims to be extremely cultured and impressed by his belongings would live in filth and yet make a mockery of someone who clearly has no choice in the physical manifestations of his illness. If lissener wanted to point and poke without any repercussions he shouldn’t have issued a WTF challenge. I understood you just fine – and I’m telling you that if you have a problem with **lissener** , take it to the Pit, don’t derail a thread about a separate topic with your hostile comments about his struggles with emotional issues. ---
**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/36 "2009-12-19T17:41:21Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > What’s amazing about that picture is that if it weren’t for the tree stuff, he looks like he could have come right out of a GAP advertisement. Seriously - the blue GAP shirt, the crisp white slacks, the long flowing hair - and he’s obviously a pretty handsome guy, underneath the growths on his face. If you completely removed all of the stuff growing on him, that photo, complete with the weathered-looking bench he’s sitting on, could be on a page of the GAP catalog. I noticed that, too. He’s a very handsome man with a very charismatic aura of relaxed calm. Even with all those growths, he has surprisingly little scarring. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/37 "2009-12-20T12:07:30Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > But what gets me about this man’s case is the energy that must have gone into producing those growths. And of what do they consist? skin? Hair/fingernail material? A lot of the medical talk in the [wikipedia article on his condition](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidermodysplasia_verruciformis) is a bit over my head - if someone a bit more knowledgeable in the field could give a plain-english summary, I’d be overjoyed - but it looks like it’s primarily warts. Possibly cancerous tumours, but I can’t find anything specifically stating whether he, specifically, has any. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/38 "2009-12-24T20:15:13Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > What’s amazing about that picture is that if it weren’t for the tree stuff, he looks like he could have come right out of a GAP advertisement. Seriously - the blue GAP shirt, the crisp white slacks, the long flowing hair - and he’s obviously a pretty handsome guy, underneath the growths on his face. If you completely removed all of the stuff growing on him, that photo, complete with the weathered-looking bench he’s sitting on, could be on a page of the GAP catalog. I had the same thoughts. As I looked through the pictures, I kept being struck by how surprisingly handsome he was; not just in some patronizing, disease-offsetting noble sufferer way, but, like, genuinely. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712/39 "2009-12-24T21:56:46Z")
And how used to his condition he appears to be in the pictures. I don’t even get the idea that it causes him any pain. That may be an editorial decision on the part of the people who released the photos, of course. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-challenge-you-to-find-a-bigger-wtf-than-this-wtf-ladies-and-gentlemen-i-give-you-the-tree-man/521712.md?page=1)