This is an occasion when I wish there was an option for reacting to a post with something other than 'like'. Because there's nothing to like about what you went through here. I thank you for sharing the story though. It's got to be awful to go over this ground again, but it allows your friends and fans to see what's going on. I admire and respect you even more now, for your resilience and your sensibility.
Hi Colleen. I'm so sorry to read all this that has happened to you. I live in the UK and for the past year have been harrassed by the resident in the apartment above me who does actually ha e mental health issues. I have tried to be compassionate about this and have a deeper understabding than the average person as i used to work in the mental health field. But eventually I have no more allowances to make and kindness to give, especially as she uses her mental health issues as her sword and her shield. She weaponise them when it suits her and hides behind them to avoid consequences. She is very sly and manipulative, very clever in her actions often walking right up to a slim line which separates her from legal ramifications, even stepping briefky over, but not enough to have action taken in my defence. Her issues have meant the police say their hands are tied as she is unwell and the housing association who is both our landlords have similar difficulties in dealing with the situation. Alhough our place manager has treated me with nothing but compassion, empathy respect and support, she is severely limited in what actions she can take and when. Last year, this drove me to very edge of suicide. I do have an exceptionally supportive GP and now have a psychologist also supporting me. I am disabled, live with chronic pain due a deformed and collapsing spine, fibromyalgia, chronic depression (all my adult life), severe anxiety and panic attacks and PTSD (which are the original reasons I was referred to psychology). When safe guarding was initiated last year due to the harrassment and the severe effects on me and my existing conditions, a social worker got I touch. Within a few minutes of talking to me she stated "You're living under the conditions of domestic violence ". This is despite that I am not in a relationship nor living with the person. This is because my entire existence is based on is the harrasser at home? When will she next be screaming at my door? Will she carry put her threats? Will she do worse than she's threatened? She is delusional and negatively fixated on me because when she moved in, I tried to make her fell welcome and helped her. We never had an argument or falling out... contact just petered out 2 years ago. Then suddenly she made me part of her delusions. She fluctuates between accusing me of spying, of witchcraft (what happens when her delusions tell her I've put an evil spell on her and the only way to break it is to kill the witch?), of violence towards her, of abuse since the day she walked in the building (which can be disproved by the times I transferred money into her account to cover getting credit on her phone, my letting her use my WiFi and Disney+ account... didn't disclose the passwords, just logged her in and many digital records to the contrary). Last year, despite that I had repeatedly reported harrassment to the police, with evidence including a disgusting and racist note she left in communal area regarding my Pakistani best friend who is also essentially my carer, who won a BBC are award for carer of the year 2 years ago when I nominated him because he's the best soul I know, when she made a spurious police report about me they still came to my door and when I was upset about them re-victimising me by doing so was told "Had she wanted to press charges we'd be having a very different conversation right now". I haven't had the strength and capacity to deal with making a formal complaint against my local police force for the repeated mishandling of my case last year, but have been encouraged to do so, repeatedly by the operators on the non-emergency police number and by victim services. Very few people who know me know what's been going on and this is certainly the most public I've talked about it.
People don't realise the effect this sort of incident has on you. Even when things aren't actively happening you live in dread of when will the next thing happen? How bad will it be? You live in fear every minute of every day. You live in a high alert state of fight or flight, but fight is not an option because then you would lose your right to legal protection of any kind. You live I'm perpetual stress and anxiety. You fear the accusations and fear not being believed or being ridiculed pr dismissed when you report something, especially as individual incidents on face value can seem very minor but as part of a relentless campaign of harrassment and abuse, every incident is minor. Your fear being ridiculed or dismissed. You find so much of your mental, emotional and physical energy is being spent on defending yourself from spurious claims, leaving you little or nothing for yourself for your basic daily living and functioning. You fear for your personal safety every time you step put of your home, so you start avoiding having to do that. In my case, because she lives in the building and has started intercepting deliveries and mail (some important mail), that is now an issue for me and home delivery is vital to me due to my health conditions and disability. Harrassers are very smart about how they contact you and the content of contact, so it can easily be defended or dismissed. However every contact from a harrasser is a violent psychological attack, every bit as damaging and often far more damaging than a physical one.
I have only been living with this for a year so far, although I was stalked about 15 years ago which is why I was moved to my current residence by the housing association... under place of safety conditions. The safety has been viciously tipped away from me.
I don't know how you survived so many years of what happened to you and I am in awe. The main reason I've written what I have here is to say to you, and to anyone who reads this who may be experiencing something similar, is to say you're not alone. That there are people who not only sympathise, of which there will be so many, but those who empathise. This is not a "poor me" or "jumping on the bandwagon" or "I have it worse than anyone else" post. I know there are people on far worse situations, suffering far more than I am. You suffered far more years of this and in a much wider reaching way (your professional life). It was just that your post hit so hard and close to home that I finally wrote something about what im experiencing, partly because the kastest incidences only happed last Thursday, after some time of no incidents. Thats almost worse because you start to hope that its finally over, only to be shattered even more when you find it was just a brief reprieve. I only discovered your work and this blog through backing the Good Omens kicstarter and I'm not one for googljng the ins and outs of a professional i admire, so i had no idea what you had been through. It sickens me and my heart breaks for you, but I am filled with admiration of what you've survived. Thank you for sharing. It has kind of helped me. It won't change ehat is happening and i can only hope that evetually something will be done about it by the relevant agencies. But in the meantime, i have some hope of evebtually coming out the other aide of all this and dont feel quite so alone...i'm single, live alone, my sister lives in the USA and due to health & disability, I'mlargwly housebound. I do have very good friends but havent wanted to drag the majority of them into this chaos, so only have a few who know, but they are wonderful and unconditionally supportive. Its just that neither i nor they can activeky do anything to stop or change the situation. We all feel as powerless as each other. I dont want to make them feel this abysmal powerlessness, so i dont always even turn to them.). It's been amazing following g your posts about the journey of this Good Omens work, thank you. And I cannot wait to receive mine when you are done. The images you've shared of the artwork are absolutely stunning and I'll be proud to add this book to my modest collection of first and special editions. (Sorry for any typos in this post - I'm on my phone and this box is small and difficult to proof-read. And sorry for where it's disjointed. As I say, this is the first time I've written anything at length about my situation, so it's a little disordered. I hope you don't mind that I've shared here.)
I’m blown away by this post, I’m trying to focus on work right now and cannot answer with the depth it deserves, but I am feeling for you. I am so sorry for your pain. To have some stranger fixate on you, or some acquaintance with whom you have shared a moment’s kindness, only to have them campaign against you for years at a time: no one who hasn’t been through it can possibly understand what it’s like. And to understand why you are careful about associations forever after. They just don’t get it. I sincerely hope you are able to get the comfort and aid you need. This is intolerable.
And you're absolutely right about being cautious about future connections. After the stalking incident 15 years ago (which continued from prison where he was for an unrelated incident so I had to write ti the prison asking then to stop him being able to call or write), when I moved here I vowed not to speak to anyone or make friends. I was so successful that my direct neighbours thought at one point I didn't even live there anymore. And kast year when the harrasser caused a flood affecting 4 otherapartments, including lime, and the affected residents gathered in the foyer talking about it, they all asked how long I'd lived here and were shocked when i said 14 years (longer than all hut 1, my direct neighbour on this floor) and said theyd never even seen me. My being predominantly housebound contributed obviously and being deliberately extremely quiet out of consideration, but I acknowledge it's unusua not to eveb see a neihbour even in passing from such close quaters as this small apartment building. But unfortunately after just over a decade of gradually feeling safer in my self-imposed isolation, my defenses lowered and when I bumped into this person in the foyer, I introduced myself and aaid if she ever needed anything to give me a knock. And when she flooded her apartment that day and water came through to mine, I gave her old towels and bedding to sop up the water as she hadn't yet moved in so had nothing. Such a big mistake. 9me I will NEVER make again. I'll never be able to trust a stranger again. To make new friends (other than online which offers some semblance of safety, although I don't do this as much now anyway) probably trust allowing someone new into my life enough to know where I live. Luckily I'm already 50 and I have an amazing circle of friends (even if I haven't opened up to more than 3 of them over this - I could, I choose not to burden them) who are very good-hearted people and like family to me. I can live with not making new ones. But as you know, it's an ongoing and lifelong effect of a harrasser. I feel pathetic when I say this, but it is very true for anyone who has experienced harrassment and stalking... it's just not fair! I acceot it, and it's essentially a choice, but it is not in any way fair to be at that point.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my comment and to reply. I knew as soon as I read your post that you would truly understand what this feels like, the nuances of things people don't think of or realise are an effect of harrassment (the hope, the "quiet times", the what ifs). I had no expectations of a reply- it just somehow felt right to write the comment. I means a lot you've taken the time to read and reply.
As a backer excitedly waiting for the finished work, I'd like to say I whole heartedly endorse your choice to stay in work mode rather than make a lengthy reply 😉 (sorry. Silly humour is MY sword and shield)
Btw I realised after I posted that I lost my thread on the bit where I said "it fluctuates...". It should say she fluctuates between what I have written and begging me to be friends again and how much she needs support. I then go through feeling sympathy and fighting the urge to be kind and then immesnse guilt because I choose myself and my own well-being. It's another trap harrassers put you in.
I'm only adding this bit in case someone else reads these comments and is going through a similar thing. This next bit is important.. As much as you may feel guilty about it and your instinct may be to be kind, to help, to support, (I do) the correct decision is not to engage, no matter what is said to try and persuade engagement. There is nothing to feel guilty about and you're entitled to take care of your own well-being. (I personally struggle with these things enormously, but recognise the validity of them enough to pass it on.)
That any one of these events happened is sad - but that it continued for decades?!! As a 61-year old comics enthusiast that I am just now finding out about this is significant as well. That this kind of abuse could persist so long in the comics community is so sad and disgusting. As an escapist medium, comics is like a magnet for folks who won’t or can’t deal with reality. Would an a young woman cartoonist today have a significantly better chance of escaping this kind of torment?
I gave your art to my daughter the same way I gave her Lzzy Hale, Pink and Christina Aguilera; to show her women who raise their fist, display their talent with no apology and in today’s vernacular, “slay”. I gave art to my daughter the same way you pack their school lunch; you want there to be nutrition and fuel for their day, but also some sweetness and joy, nourish their souls, because we don’t know what battles they are fighting when we’re not there. You pack that lunch that shows you listen, you see them, so you made them peanut butter and strawberry jelly, even though you think grape is better, and you resist the urge to give them a tuna and sprouts sandwich because nutrition only matters if they actually consume it, and…Thank you for being a part of the building blocks like protein that have made her the confident, curious, ambitious woman that she is today.
Remember falling asleep one late night reading A Distant Soil after picking up a copy from you at a recent con and then waking to the Discovery show on you. It was extra surreal because I never watched that channel and must have rolled over on the remote. Gave me a nightmare, and could only imagine the one you’d been living because of this dude.
I’m not sure if there’s a way to not sound like I’m virtue signaling, but I’m glad that my nerd oldest child chooses to research the creators he reads and watches and chooses not to support toxic, abusive, assaulty, and felon-type people. He’s a good kid, and I learn from him regularly.
Jesus. Stalkers (sorry to say I've had a few too) should be smashed under a giant gavel. I had no idea there was a docu about this. I'll check it out, wary of its "truth," mostly bc I'm curious as hell who's playing you
I'm sorry you had to go through such awful experiences. I hope that by writing about this it helped you to overcome the PTSD such a thing induces, and also hope that you can take solace in the fact that there are those of us out there who for years have respected and admired your art and dedication to comics.
Way to set the record straight! This post is already the first hit on Google when I search for “Walter Rose stalker”. Maybe the algorithm is factoring in some stuff it knows about me, but even so it was heartening to see it come up ahead of the Discovery show and everything else. EVERYONE remember that your clicks are votes - if you are looking into background, click Colleen twice for every other source you look at.
Glad to read that. Initially, I let it go, but found myself getting some mail about it, and a few letters scolding me for "putting your mother in danger". If you knew my mom, you'd know the only person in danger was the other person.
I'm sorry that you're still having to waste time on this guy, after all he's put you through. And as someone who greatly admires you and your work, I'm glad he wasn't able to scare you off or worse.
Colleen, thank you so much for saying all this. You are not alone, I’ve been through similar with all the legal troubles as well, and I have no doubt this is the seriously condensed version you tell here. I didn’t have an editor to help, but I do run a public facing business. Before all this I was so deeply naive and even still, it’s hard to tell the story because unless you’re been through it, it’s so crazy sounding that anyone else would assume it’s you who is nuts. So, I’m alone mostly, but I document and I’m vigilant and yea I carry pepper spray around my neck at all times. I’ve had multiple orders of protection and I have decided there’s a limit as to how much growth or exposure I’m willing to have for myself and business because I am afraid.
Thank you for speaking about this, and I hope someday I have the same courage.
Dear Colleen, stalking is such a violent crime that impacts the survivor during, after, and throughout one’s life. I’m so sorry you had to face this for decades and now. Your post here just touches the impact of stalking and gives a little bit more insight and understanding how horrible it is. It is unwanted and devastating to your / one’s mental, financial, career, other relationships and more. Thank you for taking the time and effort to share.
All I can say is I am sending you virtual hugs You should never have had to go through any of that. There are times I am seriously embarrassed to be a human
This is an occasion when I wish there was an option for reacting to a post with something other than 'like'. Because there's nothing to like about what you went through here. I thank you for sharing the story though. It's got to be awful to go over this ground again, but it allows your friends and fans to see what's going on. I admire and respect you even more now, for your resilience and your sensibility.
Hi Colleen. I'm so sorry to read all this that has happened to you. I live in the UK and for the past year have been harrassed by the resident in the apartment above me who does actually ha e mental health issues. I have tried to be compassionate about this and have a deeper understabding than the average person as i used to work in the mental health field. But eventually I have no more allowances to make and kindness to give, especially as she uses her mental health issues as her sword and her shield. She weaponise them when it suits her and hides behind them to avoid consequences. She is very sly and manipulative, very clever in her actions often walking right up to a slim line which separates her from legal ramifications, even stepping briefky over, but not enough to have action taken in my defence. Her issues have meant the police say their hands are tied as she is unwell and the housing association who is both our landlords have similar difficulties in dealing with the situation. Alhough our place manager has treated me with nothing but compassion, empathy respect and support, she is severely limited in what actions she can take and when. Last year, this drove me to very edge of suicide. I do have an exceptionally supportive GP and now have a psychologist also supporting me. I am disabled, live with chronic pain due a deformed and collapsing spine, fibromyalgia, chronic depression (all my adult life), severe anxiety and panic attacks and PTSD (which are the original reasons I was referred to psychology). When safe guarding was initiated last year due to the harrassment and the severe effects on me and my existing conditions, a social worker got I touch. Within a few minutes of talking to me she stated "You're living under the conditions of domestic violence ". This is despite that I am not in a relationship nor living with the person. This is because my entire existence is based on is the harrasser at home? When will she next be screaming at my door? Will she carry put her threats? Will she do worse than she's threatened? She is delusional and negatively fixated on me because when she moved in, I tried to make her fell welcome and helped her. We never had an argument or falling out... contact just petered out 2 years ago. Then suddenly she made me part of her delusions. She fluctuates between accusing me of spying, of witchcraft (what happens when her delusions tell her I've put an evil spell on her and the only way to break it is to kill the witch?), of violence towards her, of abuse since the day she walked in the building (which can be disproved by the times I transferred money into her account to cover getting credit on her phone, my letting her use my WiFi and Disney+ account... didn't disclose the passwords, just logged her in and many digital records to the contrary). Last year, despite that I had repeatedly reported harrassment to the police, with evidence including a disgusting and racist note she left in communal area regarding my Pakistani best friend who is also essentially my carer, who won a BBC are award for carer of the year 2 years ago when I nominated him because he's the best soul I know, when she made a spurious police report about me they still came to my door and when I was upset about them re-victimising me by doing so was told "Had she wanted to press charges we'd be having a very different conversation right now". I haven't had the strength and capacity to deal with making a formal complaint against my local police force for the repeated mishandling of my case last year, but have been encouraged to do so, repeatedly by the operators on the non-emergency police number and by victim services. Very few people who know me know what's been going on and this is certainly the most public I've talked about it.
People don't realise the effect this sort of incident has on you. Even when things aren't actively happening you live in dread of when will the next thing happen? How bad will it be? You live in fear every minute of every day. You live in a high alert state of fight or flight, but fight is not an option because then you would lose your right to legal protection of any kind. You live I'm perpetual stress and anxiety. You fear the accusations and fear not being believed or being ridiculed pr dismissed when you report something, especially as individual incidents on face value can seem very minor but as part of a relentless campaign of harrassment and abuse, every incident is minor. Your fear being ridiculed or dismissed. You find so much of your mental, emotional and physical energy is being spent on defending yourself from spurious claims, leaving you little or nothing for yourself for your basic daily living and functioning. You fear for your personal safety every time you step put of your home, so you start avoiding having to do that. In my case, because she lives in the building and has started intercepting deliveries and mail (some important mail), that is now an issue for me and home delivery is vital to me due to my health conditions and disability. Harrassers are very smart about how they contact you and the content of contact, so it can easily be defended or dismissed. However every contact from a harrasser is a violent psychological attack, every bit as damaging and often far more damaging than a physical one.
I have only been living with this for a year so far, although I was stalked about 15 years ago which is why I was moved to my current residence by the housing association... under place of safety conditions. The safety has been viciously tipped away from me.
I don't know how you survived so many years of what happened to you and I am in awe. The main reason I've written what I have here is to say to you, and to anyone who reads this who may be experiencing something similar, is to say you're not alone. That there are people who not only sympathise, of which there will be so many, but those who empathise. This is not a "poor me" or "jumping on the bandwagon" or "I have it worse than anyone else" post. I know there are people on far worse situations, suffering far more than I am. You suffered far more years of this and in a much wider reaching way (your professional life). It was just that your post hit so hard and close to home that I finally wrote something about what im experiencing, partly because the kastest incidences only happed last Thursday, after some time of no incidents. Thats almost worse because you start to hope that its finally over, only to be shattered even more when you find it was just a brief reprieve. I only discovered your work and this blog through backing the Good Omens kicstarter and I'm not one for googljng the ins and outs of a professional i admire, so i had no idea what you had been through. It sickens me and my heart breaks for you, but I am filled with admiration of what you've survived. Thank you for sharing. It has kind of helped me. It won't change ehat is happening and i can only hope that evetually something will be done about it by the relevant agencies. But in the meantime, i have some hope of evebtually coming out the other aide of all this and dont feel quite so alone...i'm single, live alone, my sister lives in the USA and due to health & disability, I'mlargwly housebound. I do have very good friends but havent wanted to drag the majority of them into this chaos, so only have a few who know, but they are wonderful and unconditionally supportive. Its just that neither i nor they can activeky do anything to stop or change the situation. We all feel as powerless as each other. I dont want to make them feel this abysmal powerlessness, so i dont always even turn to them.). It's been amazing following g your posts about the journey of this Good Omens work, thank you. And I cannot wait to receive mine when you are done. The images you've shared of the artwork are absolutely stunning and I'll be proud to add this book to my modest collection of first and special editions. (Sorry for any typos in this post - I'm on my phone and this box is small and difficult to proof-read. And sorry for where it's disjointed. As I say, this is the first time I've written anything at length about my situation, so it's a little disordered. I hope you don't mind that I've shared here.)
I’m blown away by this post, I’m trying to focus on work right now and cannot answer with the depth it deserves, but I am feeling for you. I am so sorry for your pain. To have some stranger fixate on you, or some acquaintance with whom you have shared a moment’s kindness, only to have them campaign against you for years at a time: no one who hasn’t been through it can possibly understand what it’s like. And to understand why you are careful about associations forever after. They just don’t get it. I sincerely hope you are able to get the comfort and aid you need. This is intolerable.
And you're absolutely right about being cautious about future connections. After the stalking incident 15 years ago (which continued from prison where he was for an unrelated incident so I had to write ti the prison asking then to stop him being able to call or write), when I moved here I vowed not to speak to anyone or make friends. I was so successful that my direct neighbours thought at one point I didn't even live there anymore. And kast year when the harrasser caused a flood affecting 4 otherapartments, including lime, and the affected residents gathered in the foyer talking about it, they all asked how long I'd lived here and were shocked when i said 14 years (longer than all hut 1, my direct neighbour on this floor) and said theyd never even seen me. My being predominantly housebound contributed obviously and being deliberately extremely quiet out of consideration, but I acknowledge it's unusua not to eveb see a neihbour even in passing from such close quaters as this small apartment building. But unfortunately after just over a decade of gradually feeling safer in my self-imposed isolation, my defenses lowered and when I bumped into this person in the foyer, I introduced myself and aaid if she ever needed anything to give me a knock. And when she flooded her apartment that day and water came through to mine, I gave her old towels and bedding to sop up the water as she hadn't yet moved in so had nothing. Such a big mistake. 9me I will NEVER make again. I'll never be able to trust a stranger again. To make new friends (other than online which offers some semblance of safety, although I don't do this as much now anyway) probably trust allowing someone new into my life enough to know where I live. Luckily I'm already 50 and I have an amazing circle of friends (even if I haven't opened up to more than 3 of them over this - I could, I choose not to burden them) who are very good-hearted people and like family to me. I can live with not making new ones. But as you know, it's an ongoing and lifelong effect of a harrasser. I feel pathetic when I say this, but it is very true for anyone who has experienced harrassment and stalking... it's just not fair! I acceot it, and it's essentially a choice, but it is not in any way fair to be at that point.
(Sorry, I won't keep adding afterthoughts)
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my comment and to reply. I knew as soon as I read your post that you would truly understand what this feels like, the nuances of things people don't think of or realise are an effect of harrassment (the hope, the "quiet times", the what ifs). I had no expectations of a reply- it just somehow felt right to write the comment. I means a lot you've taken the time to read and reply.
As a backer excitedly waiting for the finished work, I'd like to say I whole heartedly endorse your choice to stay in work mode rather than make a lengthy reply 😉 (sorry. Silly humour is MY sword and shield)
Btw I realised after I posted that I lost my thread on the bit where I said "it fluctuates...". It should say she fluctuates between what I have written and begging me to be friends again and how much she needs support. I then go through feeling sympathy and fighting the urge to be kind and then immesnse guilt because I choose myself and my own well-being. It's another trap harrassers put you in.
I'm only adding this bit in case someone else reads these comments and is going through a similar thing. This next bit is important.. As much as you may feel guilty about it and your instinct may be to be kind, to help, to support, (I do) the correct decision is not to engage, no matter what is said to try and persuade engagement. There is nothing to feel guilty about and you're entitled to take care of your own well-being. (I personally struggle with these things enormously, but recognise the validity of them enough to pass it on.)
That any one of these events happened is sad - but that it continued for decades?!! As a 61-year old comics enthusiast that I am just now finding out about this is significant as well. That this kind of abuse could persist so long in the comics community is so sad and disgusting. As an escapist medium, comics is like a magnet for folks who won’t or can’t deal with reality. Would an a young woman cartoonist today have a significantly better chance of escaping this kind of torment?
I gave your art to my daughter the same way I gave her Lzzy Hale, Pink and Christina Aguilera; to show her women who raise their fist, display their talent with no apology and in today’s vernacular, “slay”. I gave art to my daughter the same way you pack their school lunch; you want there to be nutrition and fuel for their day, but also some sweetness and joy, nourish their souls, because we don’t know what battles they are fighting when we’re not there. You pack that lunch that shows you listen, you see them, so you made them peanut butter and strawberry jelly, even though you think grape is better, and you resist the urge to give them a tuna and sprouts sandwich because nutrition only matters if they actually consume it, and…Thank you for being a part of the building blocks like protein that have made her the confident, curious, ambitious woman that she is today.
Remember falling asleep one late night reading A Distant Soil after picking up a copy from you at a recent con and then waking to the Discovery show on you. It was extra surreal because I never watched that channel and must have rolled over on the remote. Gave me a nightmare, and could only imagine the one you’d been living because of this dude.
I’m not sure if there’s a way to not sound like I’m virtue signaling, but I’m glad that my nerd oldest child chooses to research the creators he reads and watches and chooses not to support toxic, abusive, assaulty, and felon-type people. He’s a good kid, and I learn from him regularly.
Jesus. Stalkers (sorry to say I've had a few too) should be smashed under a giant gavel. I had no idea there was a docu about this. I'll check it out, wary of its "truth," mostly bc I'm curious as hell who's playing you
Feel for you Colleen. Take good care. I don’t think the documentary is available in the UK but I will check.
I'm sorry you had to go through such awful experiences. I hope that by writing about this it helped you to overcome the PTSD such a thing induces, and also hope that you can take solace in the fact that there are those of us out there who for years have respected and admired your art and dedication to comics.
Way to set the record straight! This post is already the first hit on Google when I search for “Walter Rose stalker”. Maybe the algorithm is factoring in some stuff it knows about me, but even so it was heartening to see it come up ahead of the Discovery show and everything else. EVERYONE remember that your clicks are votes - if you are looking into background, click Colleen twice for every other source you look at.
Glad to read that. Initially, I let it go, but found myself getting some mail about it, and a few letters scolding me for "putting your mother in danger". If you knew my mom, you'd know the only person in danger was the other person.
I'm sorry that you're still having to waste time on this guy, after all he's put you through. And as someone who greatly admires you and your work, I'm glad he wasn't able to scare you off or worse.
Colleen, thank you so much for saying all this. You are not alone, I’ve been through similar with all the legal troubles as well, and I have no doubt this is the seriously condensed version you tell here. I didn’t have an editor to help, but I do run a public facing business. Before all this I was so deeply naive and even still, it’s hard to tell the story because unless you’re been through it, it’s so crazy sounding that anyone else would assume it’s you who is nuts. So, I’m alone mostly, but I document and I’m vigilant and yea I carry pepper spray around my neck at all times. I’ve had multiple orders of protection and I have decided there’s a limit as to how much growth or exposure I’m willing to have for myself and business because I am afraid.
Thank you for speaking about this, and I hope someday I have the same courage.
Dear Colleen, stalking is such a violent crime that impacts the survivor during, after, and throughout one’s life. I’m so sorry you had to face this for decades and now. Your post here just touches the impact of stalking and gives a little bit more insight and understanding how horrible it is. It is unwanted and devastating to your / one’s mental, financial, career, other relationships and more. Thank you for taking the time and effort to share.
All I can say is I am sending you virtual hugs You should never have had to go through any of that. There are times I am seriously embarrassed to be a human
Holy christ, what a horrid man
Holy shit, I had no idea you went through that, but I'm glad it's over and you're ok.
Thanks Christy, just very relieved it’s in the rear view mirror.