Have you been the victim of online predators or Internet stalkers? I just visited a blog that I have been following online since I started blogging myself. The last post was a farewell to blogging, as she has been the victim of online predators stalking her through the Internet. There wasn’t much detail, except the fact that she definitely felt violated.
I hope she comes back, but understand if she doesn’t.
Online Predators
No, really…I’m a 13 year old girl…trust me.
This got me thinking…which can be a rarity…how often does this sort of thing occur with bloggers? I tend to take it for granted because I’m a man, and most predators are stalking women. Sure I receive a butt load of spam and email scams, I was even chased by a rogue gnome once, but I have yet to be stalked because of my blog.
So my question to everyone that blogs is, have you ever experienced a predator or been stalked because of your blog? If not, do you know someone who has?
Let us know if your blog has ever attracted a predator or stalker.
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{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
So far as I know my blog has not attracted any stalkers. Could be they are all scared off by my vicious guard dog. Don’t let his size fool you, he’s very protective
.-= ann´s last blog ..What to do with a daisy =-.
I don’t know of anyone who experienced online predators/stalking. I get the normal everyday spam on my blog and porn-spam on my twitter account. But otherwise, the closest I’ve heard was a friend who was getting snarky comments from someone. She was able to block them from commenting on her blog (how exactly, I’m not sure).
.-= Michelle H.´s last blog ..Day in – Day out =-.
I haven’t attracted any stalkers (that I know of) but, it is a fear. I’ve heard some nasty stories from women who have been stalked online and it isn’t pretty. It’s too bad some people think that they have to right to harrass and violate another like that.
.-= Raven´s last blog ..Sleepless in the Suburbs, Bear Traps, and Birdie Toys =-.
–>No stalkers online for me to date. I was stalked while on summer break from college when I did customer service over the phone in Northern Virginia.
Common sense rules, if you don’t want something to appear on the front of the newspaper, don’t post it online or email it. My blogging philosophy is to talk about things after they happen. Plus, I like to mention that I live with my husband, a dog, security system and A Gun, on occasion. All true too.
What are your thoughts on using real names?
If Dooce and The Pioneer Woman (after an easy google search) can, why would the small time blogger worry?
.-= WebSavvyMom´s last blog ..Flashback Friday (part 57) – Not America’s Sweetheart =-.
I DO have a fellow FBook friend that is being stalked right now by an old boyfriend…On FBook! She’s in the middle of the “cleansing” and reporting…What a hassel! I told her I could come “visit” with my pals Smith & Wesson, but haven’t heard back yet…LOL…damn Creeps! No jobs and nothing else to do but terrorize Others…Texas has laws…her state doesn’t…
hughugs
.-= Donna (Texas)´s last blog ..The Brenda Photo Challenge (5-22-10) Flowers =-.
Never been stalked, but I do believe in the death penalty for spammers!
How many times can I win the lottery in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon? And even if I needed THAT much viagra, I’d never admit it!
UP
.-= UP´s last blog ..School’s Out! =-.
I cant say that I have. I am sure it is scary though. I cant really see someone stalking a bunny blogger anyway.
This is interesting, and helpful to know that there is a potential for this to happen to you. I have often wondered if my blog has any invisible reader, so I tend to be a little careful, but still that is not the same as a stalker.
.-= Ocean Girl´s last blog ..A Reflection =-.
I (thankfully) haven’t as of yet – but I’m also very careful not to reveal exactly where I am in Small Town America, because there are some really crazy people out there in cyberspace. I’d rather they not be in my back yard.
.-= Stacy (the Random Cool Chick)´s last blog ..Some Weeks Can Be More Stressful Than Others =-.
Great, one more thing to worry about. I already have safety issues.
Thanks for the comment on my site. I have lurked here a couple of times….I admit it….but I am not stalking you.
Thank goodness, I have never been stalked or known anyone who has. The internet has a serious creepy sites. I try to stay out of that part of town.
I hope and pray this NEVER happens to me!
.-= Kari Anne´s last blog ..Cool Website… =-.
Wow – that’s so sad and upsetting. I’ve never had anything like that happen to me, and don’t know what I would do if something ever happened. Just the idea is so frightening.
@All ~ It’s good to hear that maybe this isn’t a huge problem, and probably occurring on a limited basis anyways.
No stalkers but I do get comments in Chinese characters, which, off course, I can’t read. Also they don’t lead back to any information regarding who is sending them. I usually just delete the comment.
I have not encountered this problem; because I’m a teeny, tiny fish I think. I cannot bring myself to pull words or punches.
At least I think not…
Hope I never have to deal w/ the problem, it does seems to be painful and would be costly if you were not teeny, tiny fish.
.-= Lisa S´s last blog ..Queen Day – Thursday =-.
Yes — I had been blogging for 4 years when a local mentally ill person latched on and started saying nasty things and threatening my youngest daughter.
*raises hand* Yeah. I’ve had my fair share over the years. I’m sure it’s a much more common issue among females. I get emails, ‘offers’, admirers, etc. Some friendships have been made out of them. Some I half read, cringe and hit delete.
I am lucky enough to have a computer genius as a husband and he helps reduce ‘issues’ that may arise (tracking down IP’s, blocking IP’s, etc). Ironically my worst experience with a stalker was with a female who really, REALLY didn’t like me. It was rather amazing the time and energy she put into making my life hell.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! xo
.-= Vixen´s last blog ..Do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight =-.
Never been stalked because of my blog. Thank God! Sounds scary.
Um, I’m not stalking you. I promise.
BTW, something totally unrelated, you said popcorn just isn’t the same without the drinks…
Vodka? Champagne? Water?
.-= Dutch Donut Girl´s last blog ..Let’s get this party started right! =-.
That’s really scary.
@carol ~ Yes, the Chinese characters do make their way around.
@Lisa S ~ That’s me, a teeny, tiny fish in a big pond.
@Polly ~ Hopefully you were able to take action against him?
@Vixen ~ Welcome! I would imagine that it would be a much larger problem with the female bloggers. I can only imagine what that might have been like for you.
@Dutch Donut Girl ~ Why blue mountains of course (Coors light), but cabo wabo would do in a pinch.
@Blond Duck ~ Yea it is pretty creepy.
yes, i have…two actually…and i have another friend that has had one…i am dealing with one right now…
.-= brian´s last blog ..160 – m-pathetic =-.
Never been stalked, keeping my fingers crossed about that one. What is wrong with some of those people? I know of a few bloggers that have had the problem….. I am very careful what I put out there. And my husband is very strong, and protective. No questions there.
You asked about the lens, I mostly use the 50mm, and the 55-250 telephoto macro to shoot. I tried to right hand click to see the properties but it wouldn’t work. I also use the 100mm macro. Hate the kit lens that came with the camera, I would like to throw it away, absolutely useless.
Figured out today that I have lens envy. All those other birders walking around with the $1000+ lens on their cameras. All of us furtively checking each other out.
Jen
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Last of the Lilacs =-.
Being a guy probably eliminates most of the on-line stalker issues, but I’ve had a married woman “stalking” me at work… she just won’t take “no” for an answer… It’s just not what I want or need in my life… plus, her husband is a cop… YIKES!!!!
~shoes~
@brian ~ And to think I was under the impression that it was limited to female bloggers. Now I know better.
@jen ~ You take some incredible shots, thanks for the info.
@Redshoes51 ~ That sounds like double trouble…work, cop…YIKES is right!
yeah, i used to as well. its scary stuff. ultimately if you cant ward them off, you can take it to the police and they will take care of it. not sure if everyone realises that…
.-= brian´s last blog ..160 – m-pathetic =-.
I try to be extra careful. I do not disclose any personal information.
Enjoying your blog…
.-= Weekend Cowgirl´s last blog ..Prickly Pear Cactus =-.
No, thank Heaven. It’s a scary thought. I use my name on the blog but Amy Smith is like Googling Jane Doe! I do not use my husband or children’s names. I “shop” out any identifying marks like shirt logos, street numbers. I can’t follow my kids schools on Twitter because of it either.
Still, a reader whom I know well emailed me a couple weeks ago and said she’d just seen my husband and kids at the grocery store (without me). She totally recognized them from my blog. So it’s a smaller world than we think I guess.
I like the new header!
@brian ~ Good info to know, I think many feel you cannot do anything unless something has actually taken place.
@Weekend Cowgirl ~ I think we all go through that “what do I include/exclude” with just about every post.
@amy2boys ~ You’re just more famous than you think.
@Blond Duck ~ Thanks!
hey – new reader…took me a while to get over here (work must block ya or something?)
So me – I haven’t been stalked online. I try to keep stuff all anon and shit. Thank GOD. And sorry for your fellow blogger, that just blows.
@MommaKiss ~ Welcome! You’re gonna have to request they stop blocking my mojo.
So glad you haven’t experienced this.
I have not been stalked online, however, I was stalked in person… not as flattering as some may think! Way creepy!
Online seems more dangerous because the stalker is hidden though.
.-= jennifer´s last blog ..Free Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Chick Fil A! =-.
@jennifer ~ The potential for violence is present in both, but it takes a physical presence for for it to occur. I think that online stalking may lead to what you experienced, which I believe to be more dangerous.
hey man. going to be calling out my predator tomorrow on my blog and wanted to link to this post. though i would check with you before i did…
Knock wood, I’ve never been stalked or bothered by anyone.
Fortunately, I haven’t personally been stalked either.
I haven’t had a stalker, but have had someone track me down on my blog and post unwanted mean comments while I was away on vacation and not checking my post. I did almost give up on blogging, but after the support of my followers and some lessons on “moderating” comments I am still here.
I also called the person out in one of my posts. Crazy, just leave us alone, we are just doing something innocent and fun.
Welcome…that would be very upsetting, it’s difficult enough tending to spam comments, add comments from a hateful person and that could get overwhelming. Glad you kept going though!
No stalkers, thank heaven. I did have one guy who took issue with a post I wrote about high school bullying (Portrait of a Tragedy), actually defending the bullies, and blaming the victim, who had ultimately killed herself. Other commentors thought I should have deleted the comment, but I left it there, and let others react. It worked. He never came back.
Great…now we have to contend with Internet bullies.
I started my first blog in 2003. I loved blogging, and met a lot of nice people. I started a group for LDS kids going off to non-LDS colleges, since it is often hard to find people with similar standards right off that bat. It was a good support group for a lot of people, and I’m glad I helped out some people. Unfortunatly, I did meet one guy who would seemed really nice, and he was from a small town, and a bit older than every one else – but he seemed like a really genuine guy. After a few months I let him view my blog (which was private). He commented on everything, and I thought it was nice. We did chat a bit in the comment section, but eventually he started being very… needy. If I didn’t respond, he would send me messages, and he started referring to me as “Sweety” and “honey” and then started talking about us getting married. And then well… it just kept going. I had to cut him off.
I know it’s not quite stalking, but even things like that make people (women?) uncomfortable. Sheesh.
Oh no Jessica, he was definitely stalking you! Not only that, but it sounds like he might have been suffering from some form of delusional thinking. If you would have let it go on, it would have just gotten worse and worse.
Mind if I stalk you, Cowboy?
Everybody needs at least ONE stalker, right? Okay, maybe not.
I’ve been the victim of online harassment. They pulled every stop from emailing all my members, creating a blog about me, getting past the ban I set, abusive emails etc. It was terrible.
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