Postal Wierdness (with a request for opinions)

Message

trevor_macfee · #1 Post by **trevor_macfee** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:35 am

So, today at the church where I work I received a letter that was "Return to Sender: Refused." It came to me because the sloppily typed return address was my name and the church's address.

The thing is, I never sent the thing. It was addressed to a Maryland State Delegate, and was probably refused because it looked like it could have been from the Unibomber or something - everything on the envelope was typed (on an actual typewriter) with lots of overstrikes and even some Bible verse references interspersed with the addresses.

Inside was some sort of xeroxed newsletter about how McCain is the anti-Christ and other such stuff about Jews and the Catholic Church, etc. Also there was a lot of handwritten stuff scrawled in the margins of the first page.

There were no threats or anything like that, and no powdery substance, but it did make me feel very strange that someone had used my name to send that kind of material (there was no indication inside who it was from, so a recipient would only have my name/address to go on). I also wonder if this was the only thing the sender mailed; perhaps these went to a number of people and I just happened to get this back because it was returned to "sender."

I assume this person got my name from J!, and the address from our church website or whatever. All the other J!-associated recognitions, e-mails, and cards have been very positive, including contacts with folks I hadn't seen or heard from in 20 years, which has been quite cool. Much more of that than with Millionaire, but also nothing strange like this mailing with Millionaire either.

Anyway, some folks have said to just ignore it, some have said to take it to the post office just to have it "on record" that it didn't come from me.

What do ya'll think?

MarleysGh0st · #2 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:40 am

trevor_macfee wrote: Anyway, some folks have said to just ignore it, some have said to take it to the post office just to have it "on record" that it didn't come from me.

What do ya'll think?

I vote for putting it on the record. Not only is this creep besmirching your name, who knows what else he might try?

silvercamaro · #3 Post by **silvercamaro** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:41 am

I think you should report it to the authorities. Even though this envelope apparently included no threats or harmful substances, sometimes crazy people become even crazier.

ulysses5019 · #4 Post by **ulysses5019** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:45 am

silvercamaro wrote:I think you should report it to the authorities. Even though this envelope apparently included no threats or harmful substances, sometimes crazy people become even crazier.

Hmmm. Evilsquirrel asked to use my typewriter.......or was that anniecamaro?

peacock2121 · #5 Post by **peacock2121** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:45 am

I am in the report it camp.

Report it to the post office, report it to the FBI and report it to Homeland Security.

Waiting for it to escalate would not be a good thing. If it never escalates, that is a good thing as well.

silvercamaro · #6 Post by **silvercamaro** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:49 am

The next question is, if it looked like the Unibomber might have sent it, why the heck did you open it?

Strange, scary letters and unexpected parcels from people you do not know should not be opened.

Unless it's from me, of course.

BackInTex · #7 Post by **BackInTex** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:49 am

I'm with Pea on this one.

US Post Office security, FBI and Homeland Security. I'd rather go to them, than have them come get me out of bed some night.

tlynn78 · #8 Post by **tlynn78** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:52 am

Absolutely, report it. And if you get anything else like that, take it to the post office without opening it, please. We've kind of gotten used to having you around and would prefer it continue.

t.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #9 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:54 am

silvercamaro wrote:I think you should report it to the authorities. Even though this envelope apparently included no threats or harmful substances, sometimes crazy people become even crazier.

I agree. You should go to the police and have them take a report. That way it's on the record.

Rexer25 · #10 Post by **Rexer25** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:54 am

BackInTex wrote:I'm with Pea on this one.

US Post Office security, FBI and Homeland Security. I'd rather go to them, than have them come get me out of bed some night.

What he said.

and her, and her, and him, too.

ulysses5019 · #11 Post by **ulysses5019** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:55 am

Rexer25 wrote:
BackInTex wrote:I'm with Pea on this one.

US Post Office security, FBI and Homeland Security. I'd rather go to them, than have them come get me out of bed some night.
What he said.

and her, and her, and him, too.

How a bout me?

Rexer25 · #12 Post by **Rexer25** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:57 am

ulysses5019 wrote:
Rexer25 wrote:
BackInTex wrote:I'm with Pea on this one.

US Post Office security, FBI and Homeland Security. I'd rather go to them, than have them come get me out of bed some night.
What he said.

and her, and her, and him, too.
How a bout me?

Yeah, the photographer of the two holer, what he said, too.

mellytu74 · #13 Post by **mellytu74** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:00 pm

I join in the chorus of "Report it!"

Local police, FBI, USPS and Homeland Security.

ulysses5019 · #14 Post by **ulysses5019** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:04 pm

mellytu74 wrote:I join in the chorus of "Report it!"

Local police, FBI, USPS and Homeland Security.

Don't forget your Neighborhood Watch and the Inquisition.

trevor_macfee · #15 Post by **trevor_macfee** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:07 pm

Well, it seems unamimous.

I have to go pick my son up from tennis camp, but will swing by the Post Office on my way back to the church. I'll start with the postal authorities and go from there. When I return in a couple hours, I'll let the Bored know what happens.

Thanks for your input!

trevor_macfee · #16 Post by **trevor_macfee** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:09 pm

ulysses5019 wrote:
mellytu74 wrote:I join in the chorus of "Report it!"

Local police, FBI, USPS and Homeland Security.
Don't forget your Neighborhood Watch and the Inquisition.

Good idea.

Nobody expects the (Spanish) Inquisition!

themanintheseersuckersuit · #17 Post by **themanintheseersuckersuit** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:11 pm

Where's Deputy Barney Fife when we need him?

Deputy Barney Fife · #18 Post by **Deputy Barney Fife** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:16 pm

themanintheseersuckersuit wrote:Where's Deputy Barney Fife when we need him?

Riiiiiiight cheer, bubba. Sheriff done said if it's the U. S. mail, let the nice federal agents handle it. I would advise ol' Pastor Trevor to warsh his hands thoroughly immediately, if not sooner.

themanintheseersuckersuit · #19 Post by **themanintheseersuckersuit** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:19 pm

Deputy Barney Fife wrote:
themanintheseersuckersuit wrote:Where's Deputy Barney Fife when we need him?
Riiiiiiight cheer, bubba. Sheriff done said if it's the U. S. mail, let the nice federal agents handle it. I would advise ol' Pastor Trevor to warsh his hands thoroughly immediately, if not sooner.

We can all rest easy now that the Deputy in on the job.

trevor_macfee · #20 Post by **trevor_macfee** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:04 pm

Well, the folks at the local Post Office weren't real sure what to do with the thing, so they referred me to the Postal Inspector's Office.

I called them, and since I didn't have an "emergency" I got a "customer service representative" who was nice but had a very bad phone. It was a long process, but she got all my information and a real live Postal Inspector is supposed to call me tomorrow.

We'll see what happens.

themanintheseersuckersuit · #21 Post by **themanintheseersuckersuit** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:07 pm

trevor_macfee wrote:Well, the folks at the local Post Office weren't real sure what to do with the thing, so they referred me to the Postal Inspector's Office.

I called them, and since I didn't have an "emergency" I got a "customer service representative" who was nice but had a very bad phone. It was a long process, but she got all my information and a real live Postal Inspector is supposed to call me tomorrow.

We'll see what happens.

If his or her name is Barney let us know.

tlynn78 · #22 Post by **tlynn78** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:40 pm

Aren't you glad you don't post to a spy novel fans message board?

t.

Evil Squirrel · #23 Post by **Evil Squirrel** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:01 pm

ulysses5019 wrote:
silvercamaro wrote:I think you should report it to the authorities. Even though this envelope apparently included no threats or harmful substances, sometimes crazy people become even crazier.

Hmmm. Evilsquirrel asked to use my typewriter.......or was that anniecamaro?

I only wanted to use it to write a letter to my attorney. I always use the NSAS as my return address so I don't have to pay for postage....

WWTBAM Bored

Postal Wierdness (with a request for opinions)

Postal Wierdness (with a request for opinions)

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