f o u r | stalking is the purest form of love

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

Okay, so. Hypothetical questions are everyone's favorite kind of questions, right? They're my favorite, being all...hypothetical. And nebulous. And definitely pertaining to me or my life.

[ there's a few seconds of dead air, then a sigh ]

A lot of us have powers, and a lot of us have abuse-able powers. In this book, "Webs", the author said that with great power comes great responsibility. I've always adhered to that---if you can stand up for others, you do it. If you are physically able to yell, you have to let your voice be heard.

If you have power, you do what you can with it. I was raised to believe that that's the difference between the good guys and the bad guys, no matter if you're a doctor or a superhero or a schoolteacher. If you're given a power, you don't waste it. I believe that. I really, really believe that.

So, hypothetical question is: when is enough? Where's the line between doing what you should when you should and abusing your powers? Does anyone have guidelines for this or are we all flying blind?

I mean, is there a line between keeping tabs on people you care about and, uh, stalking? Is it stalking if you're doing it out of love? There's a difference. Right? Big difference.

[ a pause. ]

Yeah. Uh. Inquiring minds.

Comments

[voice]

[rock-it-punch.livejournal.com]

...Dude, are you stalking someone?

[voice]

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

...nnnnno.

[voice]

[bornredy.livejournal.com]

Well, if it's someone you care about-

-and mainly for safety reasons-

-we don't see anything wrong with that.

[voice]

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

Don't think I haven't noticed, guys.

voice;

[prettymorlock]

Don't a lot stalkers think they love the person they're stalking?

voice;

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

But it isn't about love, really. It's like---worry, you know? Wanting to know they're okay.

[lyingbrat.livejournal.com]

Um... As long as you're not hurting people with your powers, or using them to help yourself at the expense of others- like using them in a competition... I don't think you're abusing them.

And I think it's stalking when they really want you to stop. No matter how you feel about 'em.

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

What? No! No, I wouldn't hurt anyone. Unless they were cruising for a bruising anyway, you know?

But what if they don't know? Now or ever?

[listen-bud.livejournal.com]

[ Holding the book up right next to his face right in front of the screen. ]

WHAT A FASCINATING BOOK YOU'VE MENTIONED. I THINK THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD READ "WEBS" BY PETER BENJAMIN PARKER, ACCLAIMED BOOK ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERS LIST AND AVAILABLE NOW AT A BORDERS AND BARNES AND NOBLE NEAR YOU.

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

Uh, yeah, it's pretty good. The writing's not great, but it brings up some solid issues. It's...mostly about you. Which is probably why you just went into infomercial mode.



Can you leave infomercial mode? I could use an honest opinion.

[liverletdie]

That depends on the person. What your motivations are, why you do it.

If you're doing it out of love, and not that creepy, obsessive love that means you're a psycho, then you're probably okay.

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

They're happy here. I want to keep that up. That's...it, basically.

[encrypted]

[rompot-iisous.livejournal.com]

It's not stalking if they don't know what the hell they're doing.

[encrypted]

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[roflsupmafia.livejournal.com]

Well, Reborn's always watching over Tsuna to make sure he doesn't get hurt or anything, so. I guess it depends on how they do it?

_{Even though Reborn totally beats Tsuna up all the time.}

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

It can be good. Right? It can totally be good!

[Text]

[digikaiser.livejournal.com]

From a legal standpoint I believe it's only stalking if your actions cause someone to fear for their safety.

Though I understand all too well what it is like to worry about abusing your power.

[Text]

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

Legal standpoint noted.

Yeah?

[helokitynkevlar.livejournal.com]

Explain...? It all depends on the motives. Out of love is too vague, and I don't know enough about love, anyway.

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

The motive is keeping someone safe. That's it. That's the extent of the hypothetical creepiness. And, uh, maybe getting to know them a little better, from a distance of a hundred yards,

[Voice]

[iamnotthemom.livejournal.com]

I think the difference is in how you do it. If you're not doing anything that you wouldn't mind someone else doing to keep tabs on you, then it's probably not stalking.

Unless you're crazy. Are you?

[Voice]

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

Where are these "yous" coming from? It's hypothetical! Why isn't anyone getting that?

Twenty-eight kinds of crazy according to a friend, but not the specific kind that creepers on people. I'm only the fun, borderline awkward kinds!

[deadredbird.livejournal.com]

"Keeping tabs on" implies a more casual schedule than "stalking", so the difference you yourself have drawn is that of degree or intensity. And I wouldn't say that's incorrect.

But what you're doing probably still qualifies as stalking. It's just well-intentioned stalking.

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

Stalkers usually have schedules?

[video]

[youmakemesmall.livejournal.com]

If you have to ask, that probably means you've wandered in dangerous territory. Infringing on someone's privacy-- even if you love them-- is never a good idea.

[Jan knows-- this JUST happened to her!)

[video]

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

Iiiiiiiiiiii know. I know.

But what if I'm keeping them safe? Isn't that legit?

[acrossyourpath]

I'm surprised hardly anyone has brought privacy into the equation yet.

[lapequenaarana.livejournal.com]

I knew asking this was a bad idea.

[Voice]

[fangsmile.livejournal.com]

Enough's enough when you want it to be. People with superpowers use them to help people because they choose to, not because they have to. Christ, do you believe everything you read?

And watching someone's back ain't wrong to do. You'll probably end up saving their ass. They're lucky anyone cares.