Tosh wrote in message
...

Go out and sit with them and talk to them about basket weaving train
spotting or stamp collecting , they'll think you're a nutter and keep
away

Sorry, unlikely to work. You go out and initially they'll move away
after giving a bit of lip. If you move towards them they'll move a
little further away until it turns into a game for them.

I've seen the planting of pricklys work well. Rosa rugosa starts small
but then accelerates so that the long-term intention is not immediately
clear.

Getting a reputation as a 'nutter' (not a term I like - those who know
me will know why) would be likely to create long term problems with such
people. You'd just be encouraging their prejudices and fears.

--
dave @ stejonda