An orchestra short of a pianist?

[redshoot]

This man has been all over the news yet no one recognises him what do you think?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4550069.stm

[acw]

A "translater" is a "translator" spelt incorrectly due to a simple typing error.  It is a pleasure to clear that up for anyone who was confused. 

[MargeB]

yeah, i don't think it's the foreign bit that makes him a mute.

what makes it less likely to be dementia of some kind is that he was prepared to express himself (drawing), but not by words. This makes you look a little more closely at autistic roots. Or it might just be a problem with speaking. Not being able to speak might make you a bit of a sociophobe.

[acw]

If I may offer an answer to your question natalie - the girl who was suing them, finally admitted she had planted the finger and it was all a scam.  The story's more detailed than that.  It can be found on any decent news service online I'd have thought! :-)

[natalie_1982]

Thanks acw, I'm always a bit dubious about searching for things when I'm at work and I'm not sure what will pop up!

[GOD.]

MargeB if you native tongue is English and you read a French book you are your own translator.

[netibiza]

Has anybody else noticed that his jacket is hand made - look at the collar with the sun on it, beautiful hand stitching - so charity case or artrisocrat?? The plot thickens.

[emma12]

I think he's an ALIEN

[lillylampost]

Just on the news he�s not the French street musician the street musicians sister said she had seen him in Nice yesterday so the mystery goes on

[MargeB]

God, je ne comprends pas

[graemer]

Sorry Natalie, had to sleep (different time zone) Asacw said the woman planted the finger, which actually belonged to a friend of her husband! She had a history of scams against corporations, Wendy's sales have dropped by millions.

[Artful]

If he's French, the French aren't recognising him. His picture is shown on the news in the fait divers section; this morning it was said that France and Scandinavia (or was it just Norway + Sweden) no longer interested the authorities re this case.

And if he was just an eccentric Brit? I like MargeB's idea os self-promotion. If it isn't a prank I do hope the poor lad gets himself an identity soon...