So, I am fairly sure I have a relatively harmless online stalker. I think it is a fairly harmless person with boundary issues combined with some sort of weird crush on me. If it is this person, I can easily handle things in an appropriate way and get things shut down. But, it might not be this person, then I might be a bit worried.
I am sorry for vagaries, but let’s just say I know. Also, I would rather not have this turn into advice to ALERT THE POLICE NOW. Even if it is not the person I suspect, it is not very scary stalking–just too much interest that creeps me out.
Whoever the “stalker” is knows my real name, profession and location. I suspect this person has a Google Alert with my name in it.
What I would like to do is somehow confirm that the harmless person is the one “stalking” me.
I was thinking there must be a way to set up a page or blog with some sort of IP tracker on it. I don’t have any personal webpage or blog at the moment. I do have a twitter account, but use it rarely, and any link from there will probably just be from the followers I have there. I am fairly confident the “stalker” won’t use any IP blocking or spoofing to view this page.
Complicated is bad–sure I can figure it out, but there must be an easy blog with a tracker or some other way of doing this. The link or blog would probably have to “set off”’ a Google Alert.
Any suggestions? Also, please don’t let my half-baked idea limit your suggestions, it’s the only thing I could think of, and I’m only moderately tech savvy.
There are many free webpage stat counters available. I think the ones at statcounter.com give you IP results. Many others do as well. You put their counter on your webpage and you can see who loaded that page.
Doesn’t google own one of the blogger sites? Blogger.com? Maybe if you create a page there it is automatically scanned by google.
What do you hope to find out with the IP address? That will usually only tell you which ISP or company owns the address. So you may find out he’s accessing the internet through Time Warner Cable, but so are thousands of other people.
Can you ask the harmless person directly if it’s them? IME, people with social issues sometimes respond well to blunt but non-confrontational conversations about actions and appropriateness. Or would that open up more cans of worms than it’s worth?
I do. It involves lawyers I work with and their Twitters/Facebook/Linked In etc. and someone bothering them about me or asking about cases I work[ed] on. Mostly fortunately, but not in this instance, many courts in Texas have online searches and even online case documents. Then there is PACER (federal cases).
It is not out-of-control or scary really, just odd with a tinge of creepy. But if it is who I think it is, it is something I can deal with fairly easily. I just need a way to know for sure. It’s nothing to get anyone in trouble at this point.
If it is the person I think it is then the general information obtainable will be enough since it is fairly unique i.e., out of the States.
Generally I would absolutely agree with you. However, social niceties and this person’s issues make me extra careful of any type of direct confrontation unless I know it is her/him. It is kind of a touchy situation that I only want to wade into and deal with hurt feelings and stuff if it is not him/her. So yeah, worms is right.
The information obtainable from the IP will be enough if it is the person as he/she does not live in the US. Plus, I have his/her IP from other stuff. If it’s anyone else, then we’ll see. But really, I intend to set it up as a sort of honey-trap for the one person I think it is. If I don’t get confirmation after a bit, then down it comes.
As for why, although harmless it is somewhat of a pain-in-the-ass and could get worse. If it is this person, then thwarting it now is good before he/she gets out-of-control as he/she is wont to do. But I am not lighting a match to that particular haystack unless I absolutely know it is him/her.
This website idea doesn’t have to be the answer, but it is the only thing I can think of for now.
So I guess I was wrong when I said it would be an “easy” thing to deal with in the OP if it is this person, I meant easy to stop, not easy to deal with the ramifications thereof.
Are you a lawyer? Maybe he is asking about your services? But since you say it’s harmless then I guess there’s nothing really you can do…If you want to track is IP address, get him to email you.
