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Roller-skating homeless man has a clothing label named after him
John Wesley Jermyn agreed to a deal that entitles him to 5% of "net profit" from clothing sales. He signed the contract without speaking to an attorney or family members. So far, he's refused to accept much cash, preferring to be paid in food, liquor and paper for his art projects. (Wall Street Journal)
November 14, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
I feel for the sister, but it doesn't seem to me like these guys want to hurt Mr. Jermyn. If his sister is "collecting" his SS checks, but he doesn't want $$, I'm guessing she's SPENDING his SS checks also. I doubt she spends it all on his food either. Maybe she's more concerned about her own well being than her brothers? But who knows?
Posted by: Cherie | Nov 14, 2007 7:18:16 AM
He kind of looks like Terence Stamp with a goatee.
Posted by: thomas | Nov 14, 2007 7:43:49 AM
Having an actively mentally ill person in the immediate family is very trying. But at certain point, if they can convince the authorities that they are ok; then its time to back off and ask yourself the "look in the mirror question" How much am I willing and able to do for this person?
The answer is usually that people want to do things, but largely things that cannot be done (Get my sister to stop acting so nuts) so they aren't actually able.
Help has to be Available, Desired, and Warrented.
Posted by: NellAgain | Nov 14, 2007 8:06:29 AM
In the South they are called "eccentrics", and usually well thought of and protected by their community. I'd like to see his paper art projects. They might speak volumes in defence of his uniqueness.
Posted by: thomas | Nov 14, 2007 8:12:34 AM
I watched his videos and read what he'd blogged on the myspace page created for him. he obviously has some serious psychological problems. There are homeless like him in every city. We have one man that sticks out in my mind in Toledo. Its sad that more cannot be done for these people.
Posted by: Cherie | Nov 14, 2007 8:50:42 AM
yeah. In SF we have Frank Chu, he lives off state support, and protests every day, in a suit and tie. What is he protesting? Mainly the 12 galaxies and then an assortment of other nonsense words.
He's started out renting Ad space on the back of his sign, and he eats for free in a variety of SF resturants.
Also, we named a bar after him. He's probably runner up to Emperor Norton as San Franciscos best eccentric.
Posted by: boynamedsue | Nov 14, 2007 8:53:21 AM
Sometimes these lovable, homeless eccentrics are not as naive and innocent as they seem:
http://electricstorytime.blogspot.com/2006/05/big-timmy.html
Posted by: Crephonso Morgenstern | Nov 14, 2007 9:04:35 AM
**disclaimer: yea i may sound bitter but after having met enough fancy pants kids i know what i'm talking about. and yea, in a way if the guy is truly happy who are we to tell him what to do? now......
i think this is utter bulls**t. they are typical wealthy young "hipsters" - not interesting people themselves, so they have to go and steal this guy's image just to come up with some sort of "job" for themselves(you know, so they can tell their grandparents they are actually "working" as they ask for more money). and we all know how hipsters love to ape classes lower than theirs for the ironic hilarity of it. but secretly (or perhaps not so secretly) they loathe these types of people. you can bet they wouldn't give a second glance to a "normal" homeless person.
Posted by: so@sad.com | Nov 14, 2007 9:40:30 AM
This guy is a freakin' nutjob and needs to be institutionalized and perhaps undergo electroshock treatment. And the doofus hipsters trying to make a buck off of him need to have their asses kicked, preferably by the denizens of a mental hospital dayroom.
Posted by: Dick Tater | Nov 14, 2007 10:17:27 AM
My husband is severely mentally ill. He was seeing things, hearing things, extremely paranoid, said God was sending him messages and all sort of things like that. All of my attempts to help him, to have him 302d, to have him arrested, to see a doctor, did nothing. It is sad. And for all of you who say someone like me needs to look in the mirror, you need to walk a mile in my shoes.
Posted by: Cracker Crumbs | Nov 14, 2007 12:22:29 PM
If he's healthy and not a danger to himself or others... what's the problem? Sanity is not a black/white kind of thing. If he's unhappy or a danger, that's another matter.
Doesn't the Declaration of Independence's inalienable right of the pursuit of happiness still exist? If this is how this guy wants to live... who is anyone else to deny it of him?
Of course, I don't really know the whole story, but I don't think he's being taken advantage of as much as the sister does. And I really wonder about her cashing the SS checks...
Posted by: Paul | Nov 14, 2007 12:51:01 PM
Cracker Crumbs
Th "look in the mirror" is not a knock on caregivers for mentally ill relatives. It's a call to, at some point that you decide, step back. One person neither can nor should attempt the full time care of someone severly disabled by mental illness.
I had the misfortune to have someone close to me go through repeated shock treatments. The treatments took the person and left the monster.
Posted by: NellAgain | Nov 14, 2007 1:02:24 PM
Ahhh... Frank Chu.
I remember seeing him almost every day when I worked at the Flood Building beside the Gap in downtown SF. I've always wanted to talk to him and see what he's like without the sign but I never got up the nerve to do it. Now that the office I am in has moved off of his general path, I never see him. I hope he's still out there getting the good word out about the 12 galaxys.
Posted by: Another Jon. | Nov 14, 2007 1:12:39 PM
I love the 'hipster hate'. You guys are two years behind on your internet memes.
Posted by: Sean, Torrington CT | Nov 14, 2007 1:14:23 PM
All,
Dick thinks I'm okay with him forgoing his daily meds. I still sneak valerian and valium into his tea. He's really quite a comedian, and not nearly as intolerant as he seems. Just yesterday he bought me a new axe handle and carved my initials in the haft.
gotta go,,,,he just got back from a pro life rally and he'll be a little grumpy. Tea time!
Posted by: Mrs. Tater | Nov 14, 2007 1:41:18 PM
consider yourself lucky, sean, apparently you only have to deal with hipsters via the internet...
Posted by: natallica | Nov 14, 2007 3:15:44 PM
