Preying Cultists
When I was a wee bit younger (sort of 18-24ish) I was from time to time waiting in bus stations overnight or stuck with nowhere to sleep in a strange town. One thing I noticed, wherever I was, is that there are people around who make a beeline for youngish people in this situation.

I would be asked if I had anywhere to go and they would then offer to take me somewhere in their van (always dented old vans or minibuses). I never took anyone up on any of these dubious offers and found that the occasional night sleeping rough is infinitely preferable to be taken who-knows where by strange men in battered vans.

One of the repeat offers of assistance (or should that be insistence) came from the Jesus Army. The camo-clad followers of that lot really, really wanted to take me somewhere in their minibus. Maybe they were well meaning, maybe it would have been fine but I had visions of barbed wire, indoctrinations and bottom abuse.

If they really wanted to bring me closer to their faith, a nice hot cup of tea would have done wonders for my opinion of their group.

"Are you sure you don't want to come somewhere nice with us in the van?"

"Um, yes. I'll just stay here where there are lots of people about, cheers".

In the US some religious groups used to use a technique called 'Flirty-Fishing', where the more attractive members of their sect were sent out into the world (i.e. bars and clubs) to chat up the opposite sex and bring them closer to the Lord. By shagging them. AIDS paranoia stopped this for a bit, don't know if it has started up again.

Why did no one ever try that on me? That's a rhetorical question btw.
(Wascally Weasel now with 100% fewer jokes., Fri 27 Jan 2006, 16:31, Reply)