I’m Watching You
by Daniel Beadle - Monday, October 19, 2009
"I'm watching you. I'm looking at you right now as you're reading this. I can see you staring at your computer, slouching in your chair.
"You ever get that feeling that someone's looking at you? I get it all the time. That's why I started looking for you. I could feel you watching my every move. I got the sense that you were watching when I picked myself up off that bathroom floor. And when I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I knew that my reflection wasn't the only one looking back at me. You were too.
"But I ignored you. I went about my business. But it didn't take long before I revealed too much about myself, and I inadvertently let you in on details that should only have been mine alone to know. I said and thought things I shouldn't have, and you heard it all. When I realized this, I decided I needed to find out more about my watcher... about my stalker.
"You weren't too hard to find either. Even now, as you read my thoughts, your computer is tracking your information and giving away your location. I peeled back the layers of code, the kind you find on any web page, and pinpointed your computer. More importantly, I found you.
"I traced the IP address back to your home address, and it wasn't hard to find you from there. I used simple deduction to differential you from your family, and find out your complete name, and with that, I was able to access every online trace of your existence. I know your nickname. I know your favorite musicians. I know all your hobbies. With that, I was able to extrapolate your personality. But that's all frivolous, isn't it?
"With a small fee, and a few hacks, I was able to gain access your to your birthday and social security number. Now I know everything. Your medical history (which is incredibly interesting to me), along with how much money you have to your name. There's really nothing I don't have access to. But that's not what I really care about.
"I don't care about all those numbers, and what you are on paper. I like watching you. I like following you. I like knowing your routine, and seeing how you interact with other people. It amuses me. I get a thrill every time you take an unexpected turn, and almost catch sight of me following you. Sometimes, I walk in front of you, just because I know I can. You never pay attention to me, and I love you and hate you for that. But right now, I enjoy telling you all this because I know that there's nothing you can do but fear me. I'm sure you wondering right now if this is all a ruse, if I'm just making this all up just to scare you. Maybe I am. Are you reading a fictional story right now? Am I stalking you, or are you stalking me? Which one of us knows more about the other? Even if I'm looking at the back of your head, you're looking right into my head. So which one is the bigger violation?
"I'll see you around."
"You ever get that feeling that someone's looking at you? I get it all the time. That's why I started looking for you. I could feel you watching my every move. I got the sense that you were watching when I picked myself up off that bathroom floor. And when I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I knew that my reflection wasn't the only one looking back at me. You were too.
"But I ignored you. I went about my business. But it didn't take long before I revealed too much about myself, and I inadvertently let you in on details that should only have been mine alone to know. I said and thought things I shouldn't have, and you heard it all. When I realized this, I decided I needed to find out more about my watcher... about my stalker.
"You weren't too hard to find either. Even now, as you read my thoughts, your computer is tracking your information and giving away your location. I peeled back the layers of code, the kind you find on any web page, and pinpointed your computer. More importantly, I found you.
"I traced the IP address back to your home address, and it wasn't hard to find you from there. I used simple deduction to differential you from your family, and find out your complete name, and with that, I was able to access every online trace of your existence. I know your nickname. I know your favorite musicians. I know all your hobbies. With that, I was able to extrapolate your personality. But that's all frivolous, isn't it?
"With a small fee, and a few hacks, I was able to gain access your to your birthday and social security number. Now I know everything. Your medical history (which is incredibly interesting to me), along with how much money you have to your name. There's really nothing I don't have access to. But that's not what I really care about.
"I don't care about all those numbers, and what you are on paper. I like watching you. I like following you. I like knowing your routine, and seeing how you interact with other people. It amuses me. I get a thrill every time you take an unexpected turn, and almost catch sight of me following you. Sometimes, I walk in front of you, just because I know I can. You never pay attention to me, and I love you and hate you for that. But right now, I enjoy telling you all this because I know that there's nothing you can do but fear me. I'm sure you wondering right now if this is all a ruse, if I'm just making this all up just to scare you. Maybe I am. Are you reading a fictional story right now? Am I stalking you, or are you stalking me? Which one of us knows more about the other? Even if I'm looking at the back of your head, you're looking right into my head. So which one is the bigger violation?
"I'll see you around."
“Every breath you take, every move you make... Every bond you break, every step you take... I'll be watching you.”—Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner
