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Stalking is following or observing a person persistently and surreptitiously, sometimes done out of obsession or derangement. Stalking may involve the intent to acquire private information or objects. Common victims of stalking include celebrities, ex-husbands/wives and ex-boy/girlfriends, and teachers. In more extreme cases, stalking leads to threats or violence.

Examples are a fan stalking a celebrity, somebody stalking an ex-lover whom they want back, and other cases of non-reciprocal love.

The legality of the practice is defined differently under different jurisdictions; some define the act as it stands as illegal, while some only define stalking illegal once it becomes threatening or endangers the one being stalked.

Celebrities

Stalkers have been following celebrities around since the advent of yellow journalism. In some cases, the stalking behavior in question is harmless and does not go to extremes. In other cases, however, the celebrities being targeted have to leave their profession for many years while they build a new life (as was the case of Andrea Evans), or the celebrities being targeted by the stalker become the victim of violent attacks (some celebrities, like Theresa Saldana, have been able to live and tell the tale, while others, like Rebecca Schaeffer and John Lennon, did not).

Female celebrities

• Sheryl Crow - confronted by Ambrose Kappos
• Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis - confronted
• Gwyneth Paltrow - confronted by Ron Galella
• Rebecca Schaeffer - MURDERED by Robert Bardo
• Barbara Mandrell - confronted by Edwin John Carlson
• Madonna - confronted by Robert Hoskins who was shot but not killed by one of her bodyguards
• Olivia Newton John - confronted by Michael Perry who camped behind her house and later MURDERED his family.
• Jodie Foster - John Hinckley Jr. stalked her

Male celebrities

• Ronald Reagan - John Hinckley Jr. shot President Reagan to impress Jodie Foster
• John Lennon - murdered by Mark David Chapman
• Michael J. Fox - confronted by Tina Ledbetter
• Scott Bakula - confronted by Tina Ledbetter
• Steven Spielberg - confronted by Jonathan Norman
• David Letterman
• Michael Jackson
• Justine Bateman
• David Bowie
• Brad Pitt
• Mel Gibson
• Sonny Bono

What to do

Being stalked is quite frightening and uncomfortable. Anyone of any age or gender can be stalked. Some tips to prevent stalking include:

• Do not post pictures of yourself on the Internet. When you fill out information for websites, give as little information as possible. Saying that you live in Texas is plenty of information.
• Trust your intuition. If someone is making you feel uncomfortable, ask to be left alone.
• Do not be predictable. Try taking different routes to work or school.

If the unthinkable happens and you are stalked, alert the police and be very cautious. Tell your family and close friends about the situation; you would not want your stalker to call them and obtain information about you, would you? Do not worry about trying to convince them; more than anything, they will want to help you.

If the stalker attempts to contact you, only say that you want to be left alone; anything else will feed him and possibly weaken your case. If he tells you that he would like to meet you somewhere, DO NOT go. Keep a log of the stalker's attempts to contact you (phone calls, e-mails, flowers, etc). Find different ways to drive to work or school, so it is harder to be tracked down. If necessary, change your phone number or e-mail address.

In short:

• Be cautious, especially on the Internet.
• Honor your boundaries.
• Make it hard to predict your routine.
• Do not take this on by yourself. Contact the police and tell people you trust about the situation.

See also

• Erotomania

External links and references

• Benschop, Albert: Cyberstalking - Menaced on the internet. In: Sociosite - Peculiarities of Cyberspace.
• The Australian Anti-stalking and threat website

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• Crimes