JLTraveling
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2005
- Messages
- 2,709
Help!! I had a falling out with a family member in September 2009. Since that time I have not responded to her requests for contact, nor initiated contact with her (except one time that my phone accidentally texted her, and I got drawn into a short back and forth before I pulled back and requested no further contact). During that time, she has sent a litany of vaguely hostile (no threats, but repeated verbal attacks) emails and text messages, which I have simply ignored (but kept for documentation). It has gradually eased off in the past months, and I thought that we were finally done.
Three days ago, she decided to pick up right where she left off, this time involving my place of employment. I'm an independent contractor writing for a major health site with extremely high viewership. One of the things I offer on the site is the opportunity for readers to write in and share their experiences with the particular condition that I write about.
Three days ago, this relative wrote on my site--a slanderous attack that attempts to discredit me as a professional and stating a bunch of demonstrably untrue "facts" about my own sanity. Fortunately, she's not savvy enough to realize that the particular format she chose requires me to approve anything that is written in that format. So it can't actually be seen by readers. I'm not entirely sure whether it could be seen my editors and supervisors, however.
I saved a copy of what she wrote, and I'm considering marking it as spam on the site. Part of me wonders whether I should leave it alone as further documentation, but the rest of me is concerned that it could be viewed by my higher-ups.
Beyond that, should I be freaked out right now? I've read up on cyberstalking and internet harassment, and what she's been doing seems to match up 100%. I'm particularly afraid right now because I see this attack at my workplace as an escalation in her behavior. What is she going to do next?
A little background on the situation: I'm a full-time RVer. My legal address is a mailbox, not someplace that I actually live. I travel all the time. So the odds of her actually tracking me down at any given moment are fairly remote. However, she has visited the RV park where I spent a good bit of time. She's only been there once, so I'm not sure if she could find it again or not. Her father is backing her actions entirely though, and he lives in that area. It's possible that he might know where the park is. Thankfully, though, that park is gated. No one is allowed in without being escorted by a resident or member.
Since we last saw this person, we have legally moved to a different state and purchased a new vehicle. She does not know the vehicle or the mailing address. She's only seen the RV once, very briefly, so I doubt she could recognize it, especially since we now have plates from the new state.
Still, I keep thinking about "warning signs," especially since the recent tragedy in Arizona. This relative had numerous scrapes with the law as a juvenile (don't know the details, since she lives in a different state). She supposedly turned her life around and holds a state job as a social worker now. She has two tiny kids, and there was a mysterious situation awhile back where one of the kid's femur was broken and it wasn't discovered until her mother was babysitting several days later (the mother's a nurse). I don't know her mental health history; she's on several prescription meds, or was as of last September, but she didn't share what they were for.
I REALLY just want this to end. She can like me, hate me, wish me ill or whatever she wants. But I want her to leave me alone. Since I found out about the post on my website, I sent her a simple cease and desist email, and my dad texted her dad (his brother), asking him to ask her to knock it off. Don't know how much good that one will do though, her dad's currently not speaking to my dad.
WWYD? My dad thinks I should go to the police. I really want to avoid that if possible. But if comes down to it, I guess I will. Anybody know how intrastate restraining orders work? I helped a friend file one once, and it was a simple process at the courthouse, but everyone lived in the same town. This girl is in an entirely different state.
Sorry this is so long. Thanks for letting me vent.
Three days ago, she decided to pick up right where she left off, this time involving my place of employment. I'm an independent contractor writing for a major health site with extremely high viewership. One of the things I offer on the site is the opportunity for readers to write in and share their experiences with the particular condition that I write about.
Three days ago, this relative wrote on my site--a slanderous attack that attempts to discredit me as a professional and stating a bunch of demonstrably untrue "facts" about my own sanity. Fortunately, she's not savvy enough to realize that the particular format she chose requires me to approve anything that is written in that format. So it can't actually be seen by readers. I'm not entirely sure whether it could be seen my editors and supervisors, however.
I saved a copy of what she wrote, and I'm considering marking it as spam on the site. Part of me wonders whether I should leave it alone as further documentation, but the rest of me is concerned that it could be viewed by my higher-ups.
Beyond that, should I be freaked out right now? I've read up on cyberstalking and internet harassment, and what she's been doing seems to match up 100%. I'm particularly afraid right now because I see this attack at my workplace as an escalation in her behavior. What is she going to do next?
A little background on the situation: I'm a full-time RVer. My legal address is a mailbox, not someplace that I actually live. I travel all the time. So the odds of her actually tracking me down at any given moment are fairly remote. However, she has visited the RV park where I spent a good bit of time. She's only been there once, so I'm not sure if she could find it again or not. Her father is backing her actions entirely though, and he lives in that area. It's possible that he might know where the park is. Thankfully, though, that park is gated. No one is allowed in without being escorted by a resident or member.
Since we last saw this person, we have legally moved to a different state and purchased a new vehicle. She does not know the vehicle or the mailing address. She's only seen the RV once, very briefly, so I doubt she could recognize it, especially since we now have plates from the new state.
Still, I keep thinking about "warning signs," especially since the recent tragedy in Arizona. This relative had numerous scrapes with the law as a juvenile (don't know the details, since she lives in a different state). She supposedly turned her life around and holds a state job as a social worker now. She has two tiny kids, and there was a mysterious situation awhile back where one of the kid's femur was broken and it wasn't discovered until her mother was babysitting several days later (the mother's a nurse).
I don't know her mental health history; she's on several prescription meds, or was as of last September, but she didn't share what they were for.I REALLY just want this to end. She can like me, hate me, wish me ill or whatever she wants. But I want her to leave me alone. Since I found out about the post on my website, I sent her a simple cease and desist email, and my dad texted her dad (his brother), asking him to ask her to knock it off. Don't know how much good that one will do though, her dad's currently not speaking to my dad.
WWYD? My dad thinks I should go to the police. I really want to avoid that if possible. But if comes down to it, I guess I will. Anybody know how intrastate restraining orders work? I helped a friend file one once, and it was a simple process at the courthouse, but everyone lived in the same town. This girl is in an entirely different state.
Sorry this is so long. Thanks for letting me vent.
At one time, my mom's side of the family tried to take this person in and make her feel welcome, but they gave up on her drama years ago.
Some of you may remember my thread on the Disney drama of 2009...this is the same relative. One of the things that really has me intimidated is that her stepfather is the chief of police in their small town. If this escalates to pressing charges, I know it's going to be an uphill battle.
