The Collegian

Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Beyond

They look at your pictures, know your friends and cry when you put up an angry status about how your old significant other treated you poorly and just how badly you want to see them suffer for it.

They're up to speed with your drama and your wall posts.

They may even know more about you than you know about yourself. They are Facebook stalkers.

"My computer is always logged onto Facebook, but I'm actually 'on' 22 hours a work week," said one Hillsdale College student, who asked that her name be withheld. When she spoke, her eyes darted about the room and she rapped her fingers along the fake wood countertop like a skittish drummer boy.

"I've got ADHD and my prescription ran out. " she said, feeling a need to explain. "There is just so much information on there, on Facebook. It's like a temporary cure. I can go from profile to profile looking at what they have and never get bored. I've got friends in Ireland, New Zealand, Vancouver, all around the U.S."

For a moment she resembles the romanticized drug addicts portrayed in so many Hollywood movies.

The stalkers want the straight Facebook dope, and while it may be more socially acceptable (and legal) to indulge in, Facebook stalking comes with its risks.

Serious Facebook stalkers likely face a future of pale skin from lack of sunlight, and increased chance of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Even so, these people who feast of the information presented on Facebook still exist.

"Facebook stalkers are more subtle than real stalkers," junior Elizabeth Henderson said. "One could keep an obsessive eye on everything, and never be found out."

Freshman Angel Veitch said she has first-hand experience dealing with Facebook stalkers.

"There was this one guy I met once and then friended him on Facebook," frehman Veitch said.

She expected what most Facebookers usually expect when befriending an acquaintance - another notch in her social belt and nothing more. What she got: an imperishable vexation.

"Whenever I would be on and he would be on, he would always message me, he would always ask me out," Veitch said. "I only met this kid once - I've gotten to the point now where I just ignore him."

She faced what has happened to so many people, and what will happen to so many more because of this pandemic. It is a disease spreading through the veins of Facebook.

A disease with symptoms such as someone knowing your birthday, relationship status, gender and your favorite things.

Beware, Facebookers, beware.

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