Revenge or Defense?

[Patriot_Spear]

I've got a little freeper problem.

Locally, I'm pretty much an out in front activist and for the past few months I've had a freep stalker- minor league harassment; notes left on my car; bogus calls to the police about property violations (The police, to their credit, know this is an attempt at harrassment and let me know about it), etc. Through various resources I've discovered who is behind all these shenanigans.

After reviewing my states stalker law, I think it would be 50/50 on successfully getting a restraining order against this guy; and as it stands, he doesn't know I'm on to him.

I've come up with a plan to turn the tables on him which will allow me to remain anonymous while turning the heat up on him from several different angles- business, community, neighbors, etc.

My wife has some concerns about it- so I'd like to get an idea of what the folks here on DU think of it. My wife thinks this activity is the price you pay for being socially active and since the harassment is minor we should ignore it; I say it's only a matter of time before this guy escalates his efforts and the best defense is a good offense- keep him busy with the karma of screwing around with other people.

Everyone's opinion would be appreciated.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I agree with your wife

in that you shouldn't do anything retaliatory. Then if the freeper DOES escalate, you can go after him legally, and he'll have no defense. Besides, this way, the karma goes to him and not you.

[Patriot_Spear]

13. The only thing holding me back is the chance of not winning...

If I take him to court and fail to get a restraining order- I've blown it. He'll know it's me and I'll have to give up any covert efforts.

[BigMcLargehuge]

21. Fortune favors the bold and punsishes the timid

I say, take the battle to him. Be a ninja. Throw that karmic whip.

Give him a taste of his own medicine. Work outside the system to keep your tracks covered. If all else fails, use "proper" channels, but until such a time, take the battle to his front door.

[trof]

2. Is he a wing-nut?

Are you able to assess how stable he is?
If you go after him through the legal system is retaliation likely?
I understand your anger and frustration, but be careful about poking a hornets' nest. I know that sounds wimpy, but I'd hate to see this escalate into something tragic.
Good luck.

[Patriot_Spear]

3. Religious rightwing nut...

Without getting too specific, I know that he's also targetted about a half dozen other local progressives- and I'm sure they don't know who this guy is.

[unblock]

5. hmmmmmm

maybe you could pay a couple of raunchy-looking escorts to hook up with him at church, asking for drugs.

think jamie lee curtis' first scene from 'trading places'.

naw, that would be too cruel ... :evilgrin:

[trof]

6. What about clueing them in?

Even anonymously?
2 or more heads are better than one.
Sounds like a little non-violent guerilla warfare is in order.
If he's targeted more than one person then he won't know for sure where it's coming from.
Another thought:
Do you want him to cease and desist or do you want him to have a taste of his own medicine?

[Patriot_Spear]

8. That's part of my plan...

The first thing I had planned to do was to anonymously tip off all the other people he's been going after, kind of like handing the ball off to six running backs at the same time.

As to the second part- I'm not sure. I want his crap to stop but I also want to make it clear to him that when you rock the boat, sometimes it's you who falls out.

[unblock]

4. a small investment

in a well-placed camcorder might be useful?

i don't think a restraining order is 'revenge', as it doesn't really inconvenience the restrained person. he's still be able to work, etc., just not go within 100 ft of your house or whatever.

the only problem with the restraining order is that it obviously costs your anonimity.

for the moment i think laying low might be best, just keep accumulating evidence. think of laying a trap if you can. anything on tape would be huge.

good luck.

[Patriot_Spear]

7. I've contemplated the security camera thing...

That might be a way to go in the short term.

[trof]

9. Is he a public figure?

Someone who could be professionally embarrassed by being caught red-handed?

[Patriot_Spear]

11. No, but he has a home business...

That relies on the 'good will' of the public, local churches and colleges. I've come up with a three pronged approach to deny him this good will. At the very least it will put a percentage bite out of his income.

[Corgigal]

14. I waas going to say what Unblock

just did. You might even be able to set him up. A large sign in front of the house and then have the camcorder good to go. If you have him on tape doing any damage then you have won.
If hes a true believe Freeper it won't be hard to push his buttons to do something that is not in his best interest.

[radwriter0555]

10. Revenge Fantasy #1. All of you guys show up in his church... not even

together.

Don't say nuthin, just participate in the service.

He'd SHIT.

[Patriot_Spear]

12. If I could, I'd prefer to avoid tipping him off.

The CIA has a saying, "The secret of our success is- the secret of our success."

Beyond that, it'd be harder for him to retaliate if he didn't know I had him pegged.

[trof]

15. A personal story:

A few months ago I read a speech our state auditor gave at some Uber-Patriot, Wave-The-Flag rally. It was a waaaay over-the-top diatribe against all us hippie heathen libruls.
Here it is: http://www.bethchapman.com/stand%20up%20speech.htm

This at a public gathering by an official elected statewide. One who ethically should answer to and represent ALL the people.

I admit she pushed my buttons and I replied. It's too long to post here and I don't know how to provide a link. I can just say I raked her over the coals. We had a heated exchange of emails.

About a week later I discovered the driver's window in my pickup "shot" out. I say "shot" because I could not find a slug or pellet inside the truck. The truck was parked with that side facing the street. My wife had cut the grass the day before and it's possible that the mower kicked up a rock that ricocheted off of something and took out the window (about 4 feet above mower deck level). I didn't find a rock either. Also, we have a couple of young teen boys in the neighborhood who seem to be constantly in trouble.

So...it's probably just a coincidence that a week after our verbal dustup my window gets busted, but I'm just paranoid enough to wonder.
:shrug:

[Kamika]

16. Revenge all the way

Thats what i would do ASLONG as he couldnt trace it back.

But you shouldnt do what i say though im abit weird

[WilliamPitt]

17. The most important questions

1. If you continue to ignore him, do you think he will eventually give up and go away?

2. Are you interested in dealing with this person for the rest of your life?

Because...

1. I had several Freeper stalkers for a while. I did not ignore them - responded to them, etc. - andc all this did was egg them on. I finally completely ignored them, and they stopped.

2. If you crack this person, you will have validated their reasons for messing with you, and will give them good cause to mess with you further. You will be buying yourself a permanent buddy.

I don't know if it is revenge or defense. It could be both. The important question is how long-term do you want to deal with this. If you go after this person, if you respond, you will be giving them everything they were looking for. JMHO.

[Patriot_Spear]

19. Here's what I can say...

The problem has only recently become persistant, but I've had the occasional incidents since October of last year.

No, I am not interested in dealing with this person the rest of my life; on the other hand, it's not in my nature to be passive- which I see as an invitation to be messed with even more.

On the long term question, you have given me something to think about, thanks.

[Droopy]

18. If all you're getting is an occasional note on the car....

and a prank call here and there, I'd forget about it. The guy is not worth your time. If the harrassment escalates or you start getting your property vandalized, then it's time to bring in the law. Also, I would definitely make the others you speak of aware of what is going on and who is doing it. That way they'll be able to protect themselves if need be. So what if he finds out you know? Maybe that will stop the stuff he's doing now.

[Patriot_Spear]

20. Some things have happened that I can't attribute to him...

But I do suspect him. I had the back window of my car busted out- right where I had a 'Bush Cheated' sticker. Last month one of my tires mysteriously went flat. Last week, someone scrapped off one of my bumber stickers (FDR: NEW DEAL / GWB: RAW DEAL).

My car has a tasteful one or two bumber stickers on it while my wife's car has none. Yet all the problems I have always end up being with my car.

It makes me wonder.

[Patriot_Spear]

22. I forgot to mention why I posted this today...

As a fairly prolific letter writer, my local paper had another of my editorials in today- this usually preceeds a spate of 'freeps' activities.

[trof]

23. One more thing: HUMOR!

Nothing takes these folks down like being made the butt of a joke.
If you can find a humorous way to get his knickers in a twist, that's the route I'd take.

[amazona]

24. what I would do

A restraining order costs you, the victim, your time and anonymity and rarely accomplishes anything.

Since he has tried to get you in trouble with the police, he is the lowest form of scum and should be dealt with assertively.

I would inform (anonymously if you can) the other victims of his identity.

I would inform the IRS, the state government, and all the local regulatory agencies down to his homeowner's association about the home business. If he does not have all of the proper paperwork, which is highly unlikely, he could be shut down and he will at least be getting a correspondence audit. This was done to a friend of mine who got into a dispute with a neighborhood; they got him audited by the IRS because of his unreported home business and it cost him a bundle. If he has customers come to the house in a residential area, he is in all sorts of zoning violations so you can get him fined by the locals too. Again, you can try anonymous tips to the various authorities...but if you go the anonymous route, you will need PROOF such as photographs of customers parking in the neighborhood, etc.

These two steps alone should keep him busy for a long time to come -- and you haven't even done anything illegal.

If you do sit up surveillance cameras and get him on videotape committing vandalism of your property, be SURE to prosecute him in civil court (even if it must be small claims court) even if the prosecutor decides not to take him to criminal court. His homeowner's insurance will have to pay his claim, and insurance companies are looking for ANY reason to drop homeowners these days, as homeowners insurance is a loss leader item.

Again, you're keeping it legal...you have a perfect right to photograph your own property.

If someone has stalked you since October, ignoring him is not going to work and it is time to get him occupied with keeping his own ass out of court in my humble opinion.