Yeah, I don't like this.
> There was no crowd around him, no stage, no conference lanyard
The crowd, stage, lanyard — those are indications that "you can talk to me" or "here I am, this is my name, I'm speaking at this conference". Wearing a lanyard is an invitation.
> In one of his videos, Salvatore mentioned an upcoming local tradition: the Rietina di Campobello di Licata
> It was pure, absurd coincidence
It absolutely wasn't. He mentioned it, but politely declined meeting up, the author drove there anyway.
> just Salvatore on his evening walk in his hometown
I think it would have been courteous to leave him alone
> There was no crowd around him, no stage, no conference lanyard
The crowd, stage, lanyard — those are indications that "you can talk to me" or "here I am, this is my name, I'm speaking at this conference". Wearing a lanyard is an invitation.
> In one of his videos, Salvatore mentioned an upcoming local tradition: the Rietina di Campobello di Licata
> It was pure, absurd coincidence
It absolutely wasn't. He mentioned it, but politely declined meeting up, the author drove there anyway.
> just Salvatore on his evening walk in his hometown
I think it would have been courteous to leave him alone