# If you go after a threatening stalker & beat them bloody will they likely stop or not?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-go-after-a-threatening-stalker-beat-them-bloody-will-they-likely-stop-or-not/618778>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 14, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-go-after-a-threatening-stalker-beat-them-bloody-will-they-likely-stop-or-not/618778 "2012-04-14T19:49:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-go-after-a-threatening-stalker-beat-them-bloody-will-they-likely-stop-or-not/618778/1 "2012-04-14T19:49:05Z")

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I’ve heard and read of scenarios where obsessive stalkers will terrorize people for years on end, with the confrontations sometimes ending violently.

I’m wondering what would happen is a stalker picked on the wrong person, who after being harassed somehow cornered the stalker and beat them (with help if necessary) within an inch of their lives, or doled out some similar punishment.

Would this be likely stop a stalker or merely encourage them to start up again once they healed?

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**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-go-after-a-threatening-stalker-beat-them-bloody-will-they-likely-stop-or-not/618778/2 "2012-04-14T21:28:02Z")

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If you beat someone within an inch of their lives, its a good possibility the next time you see them they will shoot you. You are probably not dealing with rational folks anyway. There is an equally good chance they will identify you to the police who tend to take vigilanty justice seriously and will lock you up.

So no, I don’t think it will stop one. you might have to go beyond that supposed inch.

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**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-go-after-a-threatening-stalker-beat-them-bloody-will-they-likely-stop-or-not/618778/3 "2012-04-14T21:28:56Z")

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Since a fair number of them end up taking their own lives as well as their victim, I’d say it would not stop them. They’re not rational.

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**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-go-after-a-threatening-stalker-beat-them-bloody-will-they-likely-stop-or-not/618778/4 "2012-04-14T22:44:47Z")

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You beat me up? This shows that you care and that deep down you have feelings for me.

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**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-go-after-a-threatening-stalker-beat-them-bloody-will-they-likely-stop-or-not/618778/5 "2012-04-14T23:06:23Z")

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I guess it depends on the stalker. Some are mentally ill, some are socially awkward, some are controlling abusers, etc. So I don’t know. The controlling abusers would probably retaliate and escalate the violence. The other two would probably stop.