Difference between and stalker and someone who is pursuing?

[Anonymous]

What do you say is the difference between someone who's a stalker or someone who is pursuing?

In my mind a stalker is unknown (anonymous), knows things he/she shouldn't or continues to pursue when he/she has been asked to stop, move on, given warning.

Someone pursuing is putting themselves out there, persisting, trying to make the other person like them.

[jrose]

A stalker generally follows the person around, watches the person without their knowledge. A stalker invades their privacy by crossing boundaries to find out information the other person didn't give them (work/home address, phone number, class schedule etc.) They do make contact with the person, but more of their time is spent in the background, watching and finding information. They also, as you said, persist even after it's clear the other person has no interest and wants to be left alone.

While pursuing a person might also include observing them, most of the time it's about actually talking to/spending time with that person and, as you said, to try to get the to like you. And usually- both people are aware of what's going on whereas, with a stalker, a lot of times the other person isn't aware of it.

[udolipixie]

Difference between and stalker and someone who is pursuing?
In my opinion the difference is a stalker is trying to force their feelings onto someone or 'inappropriately' behaving in a manner towards the object of their feelings. While someone who is pursuing is seeking out a date/hookup/relationship with someone who has shown interest in such with them.

Your view of a stalker is a bit off to me as I've known plenty of gals that had been unknowingly stalked for quite some time before the stalker revealed themselves so the continuing to pursue when asked to stop is null to me. The knows things he shouldn't have also null to me considering the popularity of social media and how much people talk about themselves.

[bethanyyy]

Are you the same person who asked the previous question, about why young women accuse men so easily of being stalkers? Because you seem to be quoting my answer that I gave in response to that question. But my appologies if I am incorrect :)

[Asker]

Not me. Coincidence, I didn't see that one. Similarly great minds think alike? ;p

[bethanyyy]

Must be the case :)

[Metal189]

when they've said no and are starting to become really aggravated with you, it's stalking

[Anonymous]

It becomes stalking/obsession when the action intended does not follow, it's okay to find out things like same interest about the person likes/dislikes. .Overall to see if you can be with that person, to me it becomes stalking when there's no action being taking

[TangerineFire1]

Sounds about right, you seem to have it down :)