Pacione Pathology

I was going to write a blog post about my friend Ramsey Campbell this morning, a man who had the utter audacity to complain about and report every post made by a cyber psychopath named Nickolas Pacione. You see, dear Mr. Campbell just won't drop the subject and move on to post happy, banal status updates about the weather and what he had for lunch last Wednesday. It seems that his annoying habit of tracking and reporting the various delusional accusations and violent threats made by Mr. Pacione are just, well...so icky, and are making the world less pretty for people who have never been viciously harassed and who - because they have never experienced what it is to be plagued by a predator day in and day out, a predator who is not satisfied focusing their demented rage on just you alone but also feels it necessary to target your wife, children, extended family members and fucking goldfish - believe that they know best how to deal with such a situation. Their advice? Just ignore the salivating cretin who looms like a black fungoid cancer in the dampest corner of the basement. Don't tell everyone about it. Don't give any other victims a channel for them to access, where they may feel safe knowing they are not alone. Heaven forbid we actually keep tabs on potentially dangerous lunatics. After all, it's not as though it's at all recommended by police to do such a thing...

Make reports to the police, even if you don’t prosecute. This will provide documentation for pursuing criminal charges later if the harassment and stalking continue. There must be two police reports before stalking charges can be filed. Record your telephone conversations. Keep all harassing messages left on your answering machine. Send a clear message that the relationship is over. Do not be even the slightest bit ambivalent. The type of person who is obsessive with another will take an inch and make it into a mile. Document, document, document everything. Keep all letters or notes sent. Keep a record or diary of these events.

Yes, I was going to post a long, ranty and expletive filled blog entry about the insanity of Mr. Pacione, but Brian Keene beat me to it.

Advice To Those Giving Advice To Those Dealing With Online Harassment

I suggest you all go read it before you even think about offering advice to someone about whose situation and experiences you know absolutely nothing.