awww, that's sad. or brilliant

so today as i was walking from one class to another i say this kid carrying around a tripod with a little camera on it.   i feel it is important to note two particulars.  the first is that all the legs on the tripod were extended all the way out.  the second is that the man holding the tripod with the tiny camera attached to it, did not appear to originate from this country.  at least not utah.  so knowing these two little tidbits of information you will in no doubt understand that my first thought was, what in the h is that guy carrying around a tripod with a little camera on it.   so i decided to slow down a bit, maybe amble even so i could watch him as he slowed.   he soon stopped, at the top of some stairs that continued down two flights and led into a building.  my interest was really aroused now.  so i do what any beginning voyeur would do.  i promptly stopped right where i was and quickly untied my shoed so i could retie it.  this deft move of stealth bought me just enough time.  when i looked up from fastening the laces of my previously secured shoes i saw the person i was now hunting proceed  to a place where you could easily see the name placard "social behavioral sciences" on the building. then set up the tiny camera, that was already firmly affixed to the tripod with the legs extended, about 5 feet away.  with a quick check of the viewfinder he then pressed the button, walked 5 feet in front of the camera and  struck a nice wide smile.  the little red light flashed and the sound of a memory was made.  

whaaaaaaattttt????

who was this guy?

as i passed him i tried with all my effort not to completely just stare at this guy like a circus clown just walking around on a mid-major university campus.  

we need to review the following.

he had planned this to the detail.  and after watching the thing go down, you can tell his mission was that of style of a ninjitsu.

in 

out

no wasted time.

he had the tripod.

he had the legs extended.

he had the camera on.

and he had it already set to the timer function.

unbelievable.. 

so now my thought as i am doing everything in my power not to burn holes in him with my eyes that were aflame with curiosity asto how a person like this existed i realized....

oh, sad,  he has no friends..

bummer.

but then at the bottom of the two flights i walked down to go into the building that the guy just mission completed taking a picture of himself in front of to surely send to a loving parent not from this region,  i realized.....

that man was brilliant.  look at the alternatives.  not taking the tripod with the legs extended for the tiny camera he had would have meant the following:

waiting at an ideal spot for someone to walk by at 6 pm with it being 33 degrees Fahrenheit.

going through the awkward asking, showing how the camera works, posing, lightly jogging/hearty paced walk back to see if the person took the picture to his specifications.  

awkwardly thanking that person for taking the time to help him share his life with his kin.

then, as i open the door to the adjacent building where my class is held,  i think again to my involvement.  i would have been that person.  i would have been bugged that he asked me, i would have cheerfully obliged, while in the back of my mind plotting ways to drop him in a mixed martial arts move and cause him much pain for delaying my trip to class.  accepting his expressed gratitude while rueing the missed opportunity at snapping his forearm with my vicious arm-bar. and then letting his preposterous nerve of asking me to take his picture mess with my test review.

man, that guy is brilliant.