Park Slope’s Stoop Sale Flier Ripper is a legend in the neighborhood for walking up and down local streets and ripping down any fliers that have been taped up. We’ve watched him in action as has many Park Slopers as he goes from pole to pole tearing down everything that’s been taped up. (In this sense, he is not strictly a “stoop sale” sign ripper. He’s not fond of signs for lost cats or dogs, etc. either). In any case, there’s a new thread about him and his work over at Brooklynian:
Has anyone seen this guy? He’s white, got a slight build, knobby knees, usually wearing a large gardener’s hat? This past weekend I was walking back from the gym and he was going to every street post and tearing down people’s Stoop Sale signs. What’s the deal? I was going to confront him but I was already late and he has the sort of weasely little face that makes you immediately dislike him. He walked up 7th street between 6th and 7th Ave. I’m not sure if he lives there or was off to rip down other people’s signs. And these were for stoop sales that were currently happening… this really pisses me off. What gives him the right? If a cop comes and rips a sign down because it’s illegal to be on city property- that’s one thing (and they have better shit to do than waste time doing this) but when some one man army thinks he knows what’s better for all of us– that’s F’d up.
We know the man simply doesn’t like things being taped up on poles, but the question is–is that steely look of determination in his eyes as he grabs and rips that of the civic vigilante protecting his neighborhood from disorder and clutter or is it something more?
10 responses so far ↓
1 don't believe it or not // Jul 16, 2008 at 9:42 am
“I was going to confront him but I was already late ….” So instead I decided to whine to my computer about it. Thanks.
2 Carroll St. Resident // Jul 16, 2008 at 10:51 am
If i saw this guy i would punch him in the f-ing face. He tore down about 30 flyers i hung up for my record sale. DAMN YOU KNOBBY KNEE MAN!
3 Anonymous // Jul 16, 2008 at 11:37 am
Dont know if its the same guy but I saw a guy fitting this description rip down a sign and then walk into a building on the south side of 11th st. just east of 8th Ave.
4 Anonymous // Jul 16, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I applaud the guy. The signs taped up are illegal and unsightly. So ripping them down is not illegal. City has to repaint and spend taxpayers money.
Good for him.
You should confront the people that are putting them up.
p.s. I do this all the time on Smith Street.
5 bigmissfrenchie // Jul 16, 2008 at 12:44 pm
There’s at least one of these idiots in every neighborhood. I see people doing it in my neighborhood in Boerum Hill as a matter of course, as if flyers presented a threat to humanity. It’s so not right to tear down a posting that some has put up for a lost pet. The people who do it should be ashamed of themselves.
6 Rebecca // Jul 16, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I’ve seen several elderly gentlemen in williamsburg (including my former neighbor) tearing down fliers from lamposts, construction fencing, etc, like it was their job. I don’t know why they do it, but in my neighbor’s case i think he believed the telephone pole outside our building to be his personal property. The key is to post the flier low enough to read but too high for an old man with knobby, brittle knees to reach.
7 kyle // Jul 16, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I bet he is a sidewalk-chalk salesmen.
8 Jessica // Jul 17, 2008 at 11:28 am
I’ve seen him many times. He is selective in what he pulls down. He will leave missing animal signs, but hates the stoop sale signs. He tore down my signs about my lost cell phone too. I think he’s mentally ill.
9 Jacob // Jul 17, 2008 at 1:45 pm
It’s weird how there is one of these in each neighborhood. When we used to live in Carroll Gardens on Henry Street, the local sign ripper was a mustachioed retiree from one of the social clubs with a vague resemblance to Teddy Roosevelt. I remember staring him down so much that he didn’t rip down ones for ours (not that I’m an intimidating presence), but I always wondered what the motivation was. Some sort of mental compulsion, a political message against those gentrifiers, or what… but it would make for an interesting news piece I guess.
10 gary l. // Sep 9, 2008 at 10:44 pm
he is the notorious park slope sign ripper,
iv’e seen him for years, the beady eyes mealy mouthed guy.
dressed like a freak and patrolling the slope for signs to rip down.
a troll like weasel man – claiming he is “empowered” by the
civic council (btw i spoke to one of their executives
and although they don’t condone his claim of
being empowered by the council, they like the nabe
clean of postings and sorta don’t mind his activities only his claim.
i have confronted and seen him confronted but to no avail.
he must have no life or brain, and probably needs help and
much t.l.c. as he has no rhyme or reason to his ripping activities.
i have tried to use triple reverse psychology and suggestive thought to try to get him to realize that the slope needs him to chill out!
sometimes my girlfriend and i yell out “rip.. rip.. rip..” or even run in front of him and rip an expired posting off the lamppost before he gets a chance, it really irks him (hopefully to think)
i guess it’s some revenge for some community postings of events and social activities i have posted and saw him rip down.
omg i’m becoming like him but on the other side of the equation…
by for now…