OT: Please Help.

[envisionelec]

If anyone can tell me what is going on... I have been contacted and harrassed by Toby Stevens (a poster from this board) on five occasions in the past two days. Below is a sampling of one of his emails toward me. Again, I have had no correspondence with this person since February, when our discussions were cordial and private. I have asked Mr Stevens to describe to me what exactly I have done to wrong him, and he refuses to answer.

I'm frankly afraid, given what has been transpiring the past few days. I'm usually not the type to go hide out or anything, but this man's behavior is alarming, to say the least.

Transcript below:

"You are the Kodak Aaron. Nice. I never got around to looking at the PE archives, to find out, until now. Thanks for all the disparaging remarks about my profession. You elitist jerk. I would NEVER talk that way to anyone. I don’t care if they cleaned toilets for a living.
You, my friend, are schizophrenic. How dare you call me a narcissist. I guess it takes one to know one, right?
You really ought to rethink that “I’m a Christian” badge you wear on your shirtsleeve -- because that’s all it is. I left the PE forum for a long time because of one your self righteous attacks. Please, do me a favor – do yourself a favor. Get some help."

"It’s funny how “stupid” you’re able to act when the time is right.
But just in case you’re really NOT getting it, here’s the skinny:
Back in February when this all blew up between us, you acted real dumb when I asked you about Kodak and our previous interactions. I assumed, based on your reaction (or rather, no reaction), that you were not that Aaron.
The irony, here, is I would have been fine about it if you had just been honest. You lied.
Let me ask you something. Do you like liars? Mr. High road who has no tolerance for bad behavior is a hypocrite in my book.
Enough said."

AND

"You have no idea how deep some of the things you’ve said cut.
I’ve never had the thickest skin, much of it due to ridicule and berating (abuse?) suffered as a kid from both of my parents. You just happened to hit some of the worst buttons possible. It’s the enemy."

The question is - What the hell did I do to this guy? I haven't the foggiest. It's as if I have some kind of accountability to him. What do I do now? Does anybody know this guy? How I can get him to leave me alone!?

[bogie]

That's just weird.

Buy a .38. I may be taking a little bit of vaction/travel time in the next coupla weeks (before starting another gig that may involve no vacation for an extended period), and I'll be happy to teach you to use it.

> If anyone can tell me what is going on... I
> have been contacted and harrassed by Toby
> Stevens (a poster from this board) on five
> occasions in the past two days. Below is a
> sampling of one of his emails toward me.
> Again, I have had no correspondence with
> this person since February, when our
> discussions were cordial and private. I have
> asked Mr Stevens to describe to me what
> exactly I have done to wrong him, and he
> refuses to answer.

> I'm frankly afraid, given what has been
> transpiring the past few days. I'm usually
> not the type to go hide out or anything, but
> this man's behavior is alarming, to say the
> least.

> Transcript below:

> "You are the Kodak Aaron. Nice. I never
> got around to looking at the PE archives, to
> find out, until now. Thanks for all the
> disparaging remarks about my profession. You
> elitist jerk. I would NEVER talk that way to
> anyone. I don’t care if they cleaned toilets
> for a living.
> You, my friend, are schizophrenic. How dare
> you call me a narcissist. I guess it takes
> one to know one, right?
> You really ought to rethink that “I’m a
> Christian” badge you wear on your
> shirtsleeve -- because that’s all it is. I
> left the PE forum for a long time because of
> one your self righteous attacks. Please, do
> me a favor – do yourself a favor. Get some
> help."

> "It’s funny how “stupid” you’re able to
> act when the time is right.
> But just in case you’re really NOT getting
> it, here’s the skinny:
> Back in February when this all blew up
> between us, you acted real dumb when I asked
> you about Kodak and our previous
> interactions. I assumed, based on your
> reaction (or rather, no reaction), that you
> were not that Aaron.
> The irony, here, is I would have been fine
> about it if you had just been honest. You
> lied.
> Let me ask you something. Do you like liars?
> Mr. High road who has no tolerance for bad
> behavior is a hypocrite in my book.
> Enough said."

> AND

> "You have no idea how deep some of the
> things you’ve said cut.
> I’ve never had the thickest skin, much of it
> due to ridicule and berating (abuse?)
> suffered as a kid from both of my parents.
> You just happened to hit some of the worst
> buttons possible. It’s the enemy."

> The question is - What the hell did I do to
> this guy? I haven't the foggiest. It's as if
> I have some kind of accountability to him.
> What do I do now? Does anybody know this
> guy? How I can get him to leave me alone!?

[bogie]

Forward the mess to your local copshop. They won't probably be able to do anything other than suggest a restraining order, which won't do a lot of good. You are also going to want to get an Ohio concealed carry permit. It's something you really oughta have anyway.

Keep an eye out for odd vehicles on your street, etc., and be vigilant as you enter/exit places like home and work. Think swivelneck, and don't just look at 90 degrees. Up and down some too, like under vehicles or inside adjacent vehicles in parking lots. Be wary of someone approaching you directly/rapidly.

Call Kodak, and see if they've got a record of the fellow. Their corp security may have flagged him. Could learn more. Knowledge is power.

314-920-6860

> That's just weird.

> Buy a .38. I may be taking a little bit of
> vaction/travel time in the next coupla weeks
> (before starting another gig that may
> involve no vacation for an extended period),
> and I'll be happy to teach you to use it.

[bogie]

Aaron, the nutjobs have been coming outta the woodwork since VT... Be damn particular for a while...

<A HREF="http://www.pesupport.com/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=333631">http://www.pesupport.com/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=333631</A>

[MikeV@parts-express.com]

Check your email.

[envisionelec]

> Forward the mess to your local copshop. They
> won't probably be able to do anything other
> than suggest a restraining order, which
> won't do a lot of good. You are also going
> to want to get an Ohio concealed carry
> permit. It's something you really oughta
> have anyway.

> Keep an eye out for odd vehicles on your
> street, etc., and be vigilant as you
> enter/exit places like home and work. Think
> swivelneck, and don't just look at 90
> degrees. Up and down some too, like under
> vehicles or inside adjacent vehicles in
> parking lots. Be wary of someone approaching
> you directly/rapidly.

> Call Kodak, and see if they've got a record
> of the fellow. Their corp security may have
> flagged him. Could learn more. Knowledge is
> power.

> 314-920-6860

IIRC, he lives in St. Louis - closer to you than I.

There is quite a difference between my online persona and my real life. I choose it to be this way, but have found my conscience to be clearer when I avoid direct conflict and watch my P's and Q's, especially now that I run a side business. So, I am totally flabbergasted at this sudden outburst of rage directed towards me. Nothing he is saying makes any semblance of sense to me.
Yes, I am afraid for myself and my wife, but I sure hope I don't have to watch my back!!!

[envisionelec]

> Aaron, the nutjobs have been coming outta
> the woodwork since VT... Be damn particular
> for a while...

>
> <A HREF="http://www.pesupport.com/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=333631">http://www.pesupport.com/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=333631</A>

Right, and he emailed me that same day (actually Feb 1st). In a couple days, it was resolved. Then he throws this. All I know is that he's not an Ohio guy, so I may be safe. But he's not far...

[paul_n_oneal]

No, it's no laughing matter. Make a police report, keep all correspondence, install a security system. Buy a gun--everyone is Texas has one and keep it handy. Maybe even get a concealed weapons permit to carry it on your person. Do everything in your power to be alert at all times. Look to see if someone is following you around. Just the basic **** they do on CSI.

Paul

[bogie]

> IIRC, he lives in St. Louis - closer to you
> than I.

Note to self: Answer the door with a shotgun for a few days...

See if you have any info - I can see if a friend can check him out. But you NEED to forward this to your local cops. Like TONIGHT. Call their non-emergency number, and tell them that you're receiving credible internet threats from someone who sounds mentally unbalanced. They _will_ do something.

> Yes, I am afraid for myself and my wife, but
> I sure hope I don't have to watch my back!!!

Guess what. You have to. You owe it to yourself. Because nobody else can do it for you. Doesn't take a lot of effort to maintain good situational awareness. And it can really help you out at times.

[bogie]

...to him who has a decent supply of Depends.

Take it seriously.

[envisionelec]

> Note to self: Answer the door with a shotgun
> for a few days...

> See if you have any info - I can see if a
> friend can check him out. But you NEED to
> forward this to your local cops. Like
> TONIGHT. Call their non-emergency number,
> and tell them that you're receiving credible
> internet threats from someone who sounds
> mentally unbalanced. They _will_ do
> something.

> Guess what. You have to. You owe it to
> yourself. Because nobody else can do it for
> you. Doesn't take a lot of effort to
> maintain good situational awareness. And it
> can really help you out at times.

Heh. This is outta control (off the chain, yo!). He hasn't threatened me physcially, but I will watch out. Thanks. :)

[bogie]

Call me. The way the stuff reads, it sounds like he's trying to work himself up to something. That is a fairly common practice... And not to be taken lightly. He imagines an injury, and the first physical threat may turn out to be the last. Be damn careful, okay?

[jmc]

Well, I am sorry if what I said happened to be what set him off - I in no way intended to upset people. But, man, why is he still upset after months when everyone else shrugged it off and starting building projects?

[Paul K.]

The reason Mat's dead is because guns are way too easy to get.
Paul K.

> That's just weird.

> Buy a .38. I may be taking a little bit of
> vaction/travel time in the next coupla weeks
> (before starting another gig that may
> involve no vacation for an extended period),
> and I'll be happy to teach you to use it.

[bogie]

> The reason Mat's dead is because guns are
> way too easy to get.

There aren't any background checks for #20 tanks of propane... Nutcases find a way.

[Paul K.]

I have no idea how big it is, but can someone stick a #20 tank of propane inside their coat, then pull it out and kill you with it from a distance?!
Paul K.

> There aren't any background checks for #20
> tanks of propane... Nutcases find a way.

[bogie]

It's what you have under your BBQ grill. It'll easily cast a "make go away" spell on a good-sized building.

Good thing he didn't drive his truck through the building too... The other guy coulda been killed too.

> I have no idea how big it is, but can
> someone stick a #20 tank of propane inside
> their coat, then pull it out and kill you
> with it from a distance?!
> Paul K.

[Wolf]

> The reason Mat's dead is because guns are
> way too easy to get.
> Paul K.

I disagree. Mat is dead because he had an imbecile neighbor that snapped. He would've thought of another way if he had it in his head to commit murder. It even sounds as though the perp had a background with weaponry, regarding a possible ex-military career. I think he had PTSD, due to his statements about the military gase fumes. That doesn't excuse his behavior, I know, but *he* shot Mat, not the gun.
Later,
Wolf

[georgeinaz]

Bullsh*t.

[unknownuser]

> If anyone can tell me what is going on... I
> have been contacted and harrassed by Toby
> Stevens (a poster from this board) on five
> occasions in the past two days....

The only thing that matters is if you are concerned. If you are concerned and you think this guy is a threat and can locate you then immediately go to the cops. Nobody is going to laugh at you for taking it seriously.



(Originally posted by: Tommy <NotAtThisAddy@yahoo.com>)

[envisionelec]

> Well, I am sorry if what I said happened to
> be what set him off - I in no way intended
> to upset people. But, man, why is he still
> upset after months when everyone else
> shrugged it off and starting building
> projects?

It wasn't you - it was my response to him. I guess?

[bogie]

Aaron, I talked to another PE person today. If you do not assume responsibility for your safety, we're gonna make you. Really. We like you. If you're not around, who would we abuse? So be paranoid. Be very paranoid.

[djjustice]

Yeah, besides carrying a "gat" (as African Americans call it in L.A.) , you can set up a trip wire sensor system around your house... maybe even an infrared system. AND, create a protocol system, as in, create a plan of what to do if someone breaks in. Regardles
of where I am in the house, I know where every single weapon and "jumping" place is- so if anyone breaks in with deadly intent, there basically screwed- either through my sword, samurai knives, short swords, my bootleg flame thrower, and................. a very heavy steel frying pan ; )

[unknownuser]

> If anyone can tell me what is going on... I
> have been contacted and harrassed by Toby
> Stevens (a poster from this board) on five
> occasions in the past two days. Below is a
> sampling of one of his emails toward me.
> Again, I have had no correspondence with
> this person since February, when our
> discussions were cordial and private. I have
> asked Mr Stevens to describe to me what
> exactly I have done to wrong him, and he
> refuses to answer.

> I'm frankly afraid, given what has been
> transpiring the past few days. I'm usually
> not the type to go hide out or anything, but
> this man's behavior is alarming, to say the
> least.

> Transcript below:

> "You are the Kodak Aaron. Nice. I never
> got around to looking at the PE archives, to
> find out, until now. Thanks for all the
> disparaging remarks about my profession. You
> elitist jerk. I would NEVER talk that way to
> anyone. I don’t care if they cleaned toilets
> for a living.
> You, my friend, are schizophrenic. How dare
> you call me a narcissist. I guess it takes
> one to know one, right?
> You really ought to rethink that “I’m a
> Christian” badge you wear on your
> shirtsleeve -- because that’s all it is. I
> left the PE forum for a long time because of
> one your self righteous attacks. Please, do
> me a favor – do yourself a favor. Get some
> help."

> "It’s funny how “stupid” you’re able to
> act when the time is right.
> But just in case you’re really NOT getting
> it, here’s the skinny:
> Back in February when this all blew up
> between us, you acted real dumb when I asked
> you about Kodak and our previous
> interactions. I assumed, based on your
> reaction (or rather, no reaction), that you
> were not that Aaron.
> The irony, here, is I would have been fine
> about it if you had just been honest. You
> lied.
> Let me ask you something. Do you like liars?
> Mr. High road who has no tolerance for bad
> behavior is a hypocrite in my book.
> Enough said."

> AND

> "You have no idea how deep some of the
> things you’ve said cut.
> I’ve never had the thickest skin, much of it
> due to ridicule and berating (abuse?)
> suffered as a kid from both of my parents.
> You just happened to hit some of the worst
> buttons possible. It’s the enemy."

> The question is - What the hell did I do to
> this guy? I haven't the foggiest. It's as if
> I have some kind of accountability to him.
> What do I do now? Does anybody know this
> guy? How I can get him to leave me alone!?

He also posts under the name Wingnut. Just look at how crazy some of those are sometime.

However, in that earlier thread from January you were pretty nasty to the guy. I can see why he might not be your fan.

When you say your online persona is different than the way you are in real life what is the difference you are referring to?



(Originally posted by: Anonymous Regular)

[unknownuser]

> The reason Mat's dead is because guns are
> way too easy to get.
> Paul K.

Enough with the gun control comments. Gun control laws have failed to reduce crime in every country where they were implemented except for the ones that are a police state. Making guns illegal will not stop criminals from getting guns. That's like saying that if we make Meth illegal there will be less drug abuse. It just doesn't work that way. There will always be trafficking of illegal On the other hand, when good citizens have have the right to own and carry firearms the liklihood of some types of crime is reduced.



(Originally posted by: Anonymous Regular)

[mikelytle]

quoteGun control laws have failed to reduce crime in every country where they were implemented except for the ones that are a police state.
quote

I don't have a dog in the gun control fight....but that is a ridiculously overbroad statement that is impossible to back up.
The UK stands as a glaring example. How many people were shot to death with guns in the UK last year, or in the last 20 years for that matter???
not many.

[bogie]

> The UK stands as a glaring example. How many
> people were shot to death with guns in the
> UK last year, or in the last 20 years for
> that matter???
> not many.

Maybe not a lot "shot to death," but it is a situation where you have groups of young thugs preying on disarmed victims. There's been a severe increase in violent crime both in England, and to a greater extent in Australia.

A firearm, and a bit of practice/skill, levels the playing field enough that a 110 pound female can easily say "no" to a half-dozen 220 pound males, and make it stick.

Then again, there are the people who maintain that it's more noble to die unarmed than it is to live. I suspect that those people have never been in a situation where they themselves were directly affected.

[envisionelec]

> He also posts under the name Wingnut. Just
> look at how crazy some of those are
> sometime.

> However, in that earlier thread from January
> you were pretty nasty to the guy. I can see
> why he might not be your fan.

> When you say your online persona is
> different than the way you are in real life
> what is the difference you are referring to?

Gee, I wonder who this is?

I'm not sure how telling you, an anonymous regular, would satisfy any questions in your mind. If you've never met me, it would be pedantic to make any distinctions. If you don't plan on revealing yourself or your intentions, what would be the point of discussing my online vs. life personalities?

[Jeff B.]

> Gee, I wonder who this is?

> I'm not sure how telling you, an anonymous
> regular, would satisfy any questions in your
> mind. If you've never met me, it would be
> pedantic to make any distinctions. If you
> don't plan on revealing yourself or your
> intentions, what would be the point of
> discussing my online vs. life personalities?

Well, I'm a little curious myself. Are you nicer in real life?

[waynew]

Why don't you apologize to the man. Go back, reread the posts, if you were disrespectful or hurtful, then apologize. Granted, it may be a case of mistaken identity, but if you contributed to his becoming upset, tell him that you are sorry. If he can't let it go after that, call the cops. I am in no way defending his actions, but this may help de-escalate the situation, and once everyone has calmed down, the situation can be resolved peacefully.

[envisionelec]

> Well, I'm a little curious myself. Are you
> nicer in real life?

Can you realistically expect me to answer this having never met me?

Ok:

I don't like to make people feel bad and will go out of my way to be sure I didn't offend them.
I don't offer my opinions unless directly asked, even then I feel like I can be overly critical.
I'm not very articulate.
I have a poor short term memory and am easily confused.

I can't think of anything else, but I've found that most people that meet me have a preconceived notion of my personality and only a small amount of that is actually true. However, I enjoy the confidence I can achieve while I'm online. This confidence has allowed me to push myself further than I ever would have gone on my own. That is the reason I maintain a difference in my online persona.

[envisionelec]

> Why don't you apologize to the man. Go back,
> reread the posts, if you were disrespectful
> or hurtful, then apologize. Granted, it may
> be a case of mistaken identity, but if you
> contributed to his becoming upset, tell him
> that you are sorry. If he can't let it go
> after that, call the cops. I am in no way
> defending his actions, but this may help
> de-escalate the situation, and once everyone
> has calmed down, the situation can be
> resolved peacefully.

Wayne, that is the very first thing I did. I have privately emailed Toby and we had these discussions back in February. The sudden outburst shocked and disturbed me. The rapid-fire repetition of angry emails moved me to post a plea for assistance. I hoped that Mr. Stevens would read this post (and I'm sure he has) and just lay off.

[unknownuser]

Well, gee Aaron, after I reread your original posts in entirety I thought they were pretty mean spirited and you obviously pushed all his hot buttons, too. If this is the full extent of the things he's called you, I would be hard pressed to disagree. Now, probably every time he gets cut off in traffic, frustrated at work, or embarrassed by strangers, the public drubbing you dealt out just pops back up fresh as new. Way to go! You really know how to cultivate the joy and enthusiasm back into a hobby!

I'm not a religious man, and I could care less what your beliefs are, but I find it unusually insensitive when you mock someone's beliefs after he said a religious statement posted here was offensive, or that he's been abused by both parents, and religion is important to him. Kind of like kicking the crutch on a one-legged man, don't you think?

Are you really trying to figure how anything you did could cause this, or are you just looking for the concensus sympathy vote from your PE buds? After all, you *ARE* the victim here, right? Funny how group mentality works. You know, he actually tried to apologize to you without even understanding what he had done (obviously nothing!), but you just rubbed his nose in it a *second time*. Maybe it's time for a little sensitivity training.

In spite of all your buds' advice on how to handle this I doubt you or your family are in any danger - this time at least. After all, it takes years of abusing and ridiculing people to turn out the likes of Cho Seung Hui, Dylan Kliebold or Eric Harris and when someone finally pops like a cork, they usually lash out at total strangers anyway.

You know, I have my own simple one-man boycott policy. I don't believe in supporting bad behaviour, so I don't buy from, or carry on discussions with people who exhibit this behaviour. There are plenty of sincere, empathetic, kind people that I can buy from, or have discussions without having to put up with unpleasant people.

Sorry I can't offer you my sympathy. I hope you'll accept my honesty instead. Yes, this post is anonymous, but maybe you should spend your time looking at your own actions and statements, instead of directing your destructive behaviour at others.

Ever thought of writing a sincere apology and posting it online?

> If anyone can tell me what is going on... I
> have been contacted and harrassed by Toby
> Stevens (a poster from this board) on five
> occasions in the past two days. Below is a
> sampling of one of his emails toward me.
> Again, I have had no correspondence with
> this person since February, when our
> discussions were cordial and private. I have
> asked Mr Stevens to describe to me what
> exactly I have done to wrong him, and he
> refuses to answer.

> I'm frankly afraid, given what has been
> transpiring the past few days. I'm usually
> not the type to go hide out or anything, but
> this man's behavior is alarming, to say the
> least.

> Transcript below:

> "You are the Kodak Aaron. Nice. I never
> got around to looking at the PE archives, to
> find out, until now. Thanks for all the
> disparaging remarks about my profession. You
> elitist jerk. I would NEVER talk that way to
> anyone. I don’t care if they cleaned toilets
> for a living.
> You, my friend, are schizophrenic. How dare
> you call me a narcissist. I guess it takes
> one to know one, right?
> You really ought to rethink that “I’m a
> Christian” badge you wear on your
> shirtsleeve -- because that’s all it is. I
> left the PE forum for a long time because of
> one your self righteous attacks. Please, do
> me a favor – do yourself a favor. Get some
> help."

> "It’s funny how “stupid” you’re able to
> act when the time is right.
> But just in case you’re really NOT getting
> it, here’s the skinny:
> Back in February when this all blew up
> between us, you acted real dumb when I asked
> you about Kodak and our previous
> interactions. I assumed, based on your
> reaction (or rather, no reaction), that you
> were not that Aaron.
> The irony, here, is I would have been fine
> about it if you had just been honest. You
> lied.
> Let me ask you something. Do you like liars?
> Mr. High road who has no tolerance for bad
> behavior is a hypocrite in my book.
> Enough said."

> AND

> "You have no idea how deep some of the
> things you’ve said cut.
> I’ve never had the thickest skin, much of it
> due to ridicule and berating (abuse?)
> suffered as a kid from both of my parents.
> You just happened to hit some of the worst
> buttons possible. It’s the enemy."

> The question is - What the hell did I do to
> this guy? I haven't the foggiest. It's as if
> I have some kind of accountability to him.
> What do I do now? Does anybody know this
> guy? How I can get him to leave me alone!?



(Originally posted by: Not this time)

[envisionelec]

> Ever thought of writing a sincere apology
> and posting it online?

You need to read the rest of the posts in this thread. I did apologize to him on Jan 31st of 2007.

BTW, I know who you are, anyway.

[Jeff B.]

> Can you realistically expect me to answer
> this having never met me?

> Ok:

> I don't like to make people feel bad and
> will go out of my way to be sure I didn't
> offend them.
> I don't offer my opinions unless directly
> asked, even then I feel like I can be overly
> critical.
> I'm not very articulate.
> I have a poor short term memory and am
> easily confused.

> I can't think of anything else, but I've
> found that most people that meet me have a
> preconceived notion of my personality and
> only a small amount of that is actually
> true. However, I enjoy the confidence I can
> achieve while I'm online. This confidence
> has allowed me to push myself further than I
> ever would have gone on my own. That is the
> reason I maintain a difference in my online
> persona.

Believe it or not, I find that an acceptable and understandable answer. Thank you.