toadspittle, hope you’re still reading, because I’ve got an idea so nuts, it just might work.
Tell your friend to buy his new neighbor a housewarming gift. Nothing too big, just a little token of welcome. Take it to the guy, find out his name, TALK to him. Get to know him. Once he knows the guy, he won’t be afraid of him anymore. What’s more, when they pass each other in the hall, they can say “Hello, (name)” instead of being nervous or scared.
And when your friend’s friends tell him “he could be a terrorist!!” your friend can tell them honestly, “his name is Steve and he was born in Arkansas!!!”
Look, everybody, let’s not get mad. It kinda sounds to me like everyone’s doing the right thing here.
The guy from Newton gets a funny feeling about something, but he’s not too sure about it, so he asks a trusted friend. The trusted friend, instead of claiming to know everything, turns to an Internet forum where perhaps all of the smartest people online congregate.
I, too, am human; I do have some thoughts that are irrational or just plain wrong. Just like the man from Newton, I don’t unhealthily keep these thoughts to myself; I share them with my trusted friends, and willingly accept any advice or criticism.
There is a simple reason for that. Those folks have only heard one side of the story, as seen through the Newton guy’s eyes. Of course they are likely to emphasize with his views at that point. Even if they disagreed, they’d pretend to agree. Perhaps out of politeness, or more likely, because most people are unwilling to argue about an event without all the facts.
Can’t speak for the others, particle, but I’d known of that when I posted before. Nope, doesn’t change my stance a bit.
the article warns of uncredible potential threats to high rises, which may or may not take place and may or may not include bombs outside the building etc.
You know what - I wouldn’t wait to tell the authorities myself. I’d go and blow this murdering, Osama-loving, fundamentalist-islamic, fully-paid-up Al Qaeda guy terrorist up myself.
Because NO WAY IN HELL is he some quiet hindu indian bank clerk. No sirree!!
He’s down in that there basement cooking up a nasty nuclear surprise to blow up the Western Free World as we know it…
Well, that’ll teach me to ask the SDMB for advice.
Thanks, Chris, for actually bothering to read and respond to the question in the manner it was intended.
I’ll consider this thread closed, unless someone has something new to add. I have no desire to make my first-ever post in the Pit … especially when I’m not sure what the heck the argument is about or what I’m supposed to be defending.
spare me ** toad** - most of the response were to the OP as written. “Should my friend notify under these circumstances”? Can’t help it that many of us thought that the circumstances were so weak.