True story. A neighbour came to the door tonight very concerned.

Her: I know you started our street's WhatsApp group and you know everybody so maybe you already know what I'm going to ask...
Me: No, what?
Her: I think one of our neighbours is a member of ISIS.

Thread...

Me: Gosh, that would be... What makes you say that?
Her: Well I don't know what his name is or which number he lives at, I just know he's in the group. And don't get me wrong. He seems ever so nice. When my car broke down he offered me a lift...

Her (cont'd): But when I looked at the profile pic on his private message it had an Arabic symbol, right there, just bold. On show, you know. Like he's proud of it. I sent it to a friend who knows about these things and he said it's an ISIS thing. My sister thinks so too.

Me [on a hunch, searches Google images]: It wasn't this by any chance, was it?

Her: Yes! Is that ISIS?!
Me: Sort of.
Her: [gasp]
Me: This is what ISIS painted on Christian homes and businesses in Iraq to mark them out for persecution. It's the Arabic letter "N" for Nazarenes cos that's what they call Christians (Jesus being from Nazareth, you know).
Her: Oh

Me: So about 6 years ago a whole bunch of Christians started owning the Arabic N for themselves, to stand in solidarity with persecuted Christians.
Her: Oh!
Me: And to stand against ISIS.
Her: Oh!!

Me: And by the way, it was me.

And you know what hurts? It's not that she mistook me for a terrorist, it's the fact she couldn't recognise me from a 6 year old photo. Just 6 years ago...!

I blame the kids.