Hey Anna - I've been a lurker in this thread for a while and generally have been too appalled by Nick's behavior to want to acknowledge him, but I wanted to chime in now that you're here participating and revealing details about him. I am so, so sorry that you've become entangled with his perversions and mental problems. But I know you aren't here at all for pity and I see that you talking publicly about him is a way of taking back control, getting support and well-deserved empathy.
...but at the same time this sets off warning bells for me. This might be some latent Mama Bear syndrome on my part, but I genuinely worry that, with you acknowledging him publicly, especially since (as he implied) he can read posts here or at the very least knows you are active here now, will perpetuate and increase his obsessions with you and possibly put you in danger. Any attention or any space that he occupies in your mind is not only a victory in his minds eye, but further "proof" that his delusions will come true because you are still thinking about him. I worry that discussing him here could motivate him to take action or level-up his sick fantasies.
I am sure this has crossed your mind and I know that you know him better than anyone here, however unfortunate, so I try to trust that you know what you are doing, but I won't lie, I am concerned about what this attention from you means to him right now. I don't mean to silence you or censor you, because I love seeing there's a supportive outlet and group here for you, but I wonder if there's a way to hide stuff here from him to protect you, if those measures haven't been taken already. I saw Null's tweet to Nate earlier and was stoked to see that there's some protection in place.
Tl;dr: glad you're here, be careful, nick is a delusional fuckwit.
It has all crossed my mind, yeah. The primary reason I wasn't terribly concerned was that...well, I feel like there's not much more he can do online. (Granted, I'm probably wrong, he's always finding new and special ways to outdo himself. That being said, I don't think he could get
more obsessed with me at this point. I'm trying to imagine it and it's making my brain break a little.)
I will say that the initial reason I chose Ancani as my username is because it's not one I've used anywhere else, at all, ever. Was hoping that would provide a little protection from him finding this, at least, but considering how it's one of the first Google results for "nick bate"...yeah, didn't really think that one through.
Now, all that being said...
Anna has known him since he was, what, 14? Does she think there's anything to be concerned about? What's a few harmless albeit creepy, disgusting comments between a guy and his Internet, eh?
I do think there's a fair bit to be concerned about with the guy. Not just in regards to me, either. I'm in full agreement with Coldgrip--it's not really a matter of intelligence. After all, think of the numerous serial killers there have been with subnormal intellect.
Realistically, I'd be an unlikely first victim if he ever took his twisted murder fantasies out on the world. There's the distance thing, for one (thank God!), and for all he has no respect for me as a human being, I'm not entirely convinced he'd
kill me. Rape? Absolutely. Psychologically abuse? Already happened. Kill people I hold dear? Probably. But I'm not convinced he'd kill
me. It wouldn't fit his weird view of what's "supposed to happen". But I
do think he has it in him to kill
someone--my money's on a family member--and to be perfectly honest, it wouldn't surprise me too terribly much if he at least tried to.
And to all the people asking about restraining orders: it's technically possible and it was definitely on the table at one point, but from what I've read since then, it wouldn't be worth much. If we lived closer I would likely have gotten one a long time ago, but as it is, all it would do would be to prevent him from communicating directly with me. Unfortunately, as much of a terrifying cesspit as his Twitter is, I'm not entirely sure any of it would
technically violate a restraining order.
to happen. You have been warned.
