Cyber-bullying and Cyber-stalking are the same thing. They are serious dysfunctional behavior flaws in a person who causes tremendous danger to their victims. It is a criminal offense even if it rarely gets prosecuted. Stalking almost always escalates from the initial contact into anything from constant bombardment of hateful and angry slander to physical abuse and even death. Sometimes the death occurs from the stalker themselves and sometimes from the victim who commits suicide to escape the unrelenting torment.
Stalkers are very sick people. They are usually very lonely, insecure, and feel a sense of entitlement for their actions. They also think everyone behaves this way, so in a way they see it as normal. They are not doing anything anyone else wouldn’t do. And they believe the victim deserved it for not placating their wishes.
“According to the Supplemental Victimization Survey (SVS), individuals are classified as victims of stalkers if they experienced at least one of these behaviors on at least two separate occasions. In addition, the individuals must have feared for their safety or that of a family member as a result of the course of conduct, or have experienced additional threatening behaviors that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.” –Bureau of Justice Statistics
The SVS measured stalking behaviors as:
- Making unwanted phone calls.
- Sending unsolicited or unwanted letters or e-mails.
- Following or spying on the victim.
- Showing up at places without a legitimate reason.
- Waiting at places for the victim.
- Leaving unwanted items, presents, or flowers.
- Posting information or spreading rumors about the victim on the internet, in a public place, or by word of mouth.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics:
- During a 12-month period an estimated 14 in every 1,000 persons age 18 or older were victims of stalking.
- About half (46%) of stalking victims experienced at least one unwanted contact per week, and 11% of victims said they had been stalked for 5 years or more.
- The risk of stalking victimization was highest for individuals who were divorced or separated—34 per 1,000 individuals.
- Women were at greater risk than men for stalking victimization; however, women and men were equally likely to experience harassment.
- Male (37%) and female (41%) stalking victimizations were equally likely to be reported to the police.
- Approximately 1 in 4 stalking victims reported some form of cyberstalking such as e-mail (83%) or instant messaging (35%).
- 46% of stalking victims felt fear of not knowing what would happen next.
- Nearly 3 in 4 stalking victims knew their offender in some capacity.
- More than half of stalking victims lost 5 or more days from work.
So what can we do as victims of stalkers?
- Avoid these people at all cost, don’t play into their hate and anger.
- Keep a record and journal of everything that happens.
- Keep all emails, text messages and phone calls for proof of the stalking.
- Notify the police, even though they most likely will do nothing, at least it’s on court record.
- Block the cyber-stalker from all access to your social networking accounts.
- Report stalkers to those same social-media companies, so they have a record of the assaults.
- Get new email accounts.
- Change your phone number and/or block the stalker from calling.
- Let close family and friends know of your dilemma in case of foul play. If you know the stalker give these confidants your stalkers name and information just in case it is needed by the authorities.
- Talk to a professional or a support group to help you cope with the torture.
- Talk to the media about the stalking to make it public knowledge.
- And finally, live a happy fulfilled life, it removes the stalkers power over you.