The Question and Answer Board

[sarals]

Perhaps a decent analogy is a neighborhood meeting or get together of some sort. Everyone knows who everyone is for the most part and yet it doesn't prevent us from participating. We don't hide in our homes afraid that the person down the street might stalk us because they know who we are. Why? Because we generally believe or are led to believe that we know who they are. We don't view them as a threat and hence are not uncomfortable with them knowing who we are. What's different here?

Well, the analogy is only partly accurate, at least for me. I have been stalked in real life before. I met the person in my everyday life near where I worked. After a period of several months, I thought it would be worth a date. Within one hour of having dinner with this person it became very apparent there was a serious problem. I asked to be taken home and was home before 10pm. This guy, after a two hour date started stalking me... showed up at my home in the middle of the night with a rose crying... then started putting threatening notes on my car at work. Pretty scary.

So I am as cautious in real life as online.