If you knew of a delusional young person.....

Parent Cafe
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<p>I’ll try to keep my explanation brief. There is a forum I sometimes visit. It’s a general relocation forum, but people often discuss economic and political issues, etc. I know of a young man that frequents the forum (or did until he was kicked off) that seems to be delusional regarding political matters to the point of hoping people die. He also shows hate in writing and wishes ill of others. His “hobby” seems to be making fun of other places on a daily basis to the point of wishing a few places would fall into the ocean. He has “kind of” threatened me and another member in a very non-specific, but threatening, way recently.</p>

<p>He searches out national stories about places and comments on them. This other member sent me some screen shots of his FB pages. It’s filled with the same kind of hateful writing. </p>

<p>This goes beyond simply making fun of another state in a joking way. He is serious. He also seems to think he will run for public office, but that is another issue. I’ve seen him become more and more paranoid in his writing. </p>

<p>He does not seem to understand the idea of privacy on the web. He is quite open with his opinions. Because of his recent threat towards me, I am concerned that his college is not aware of his behavior. Would you do something to make his college aware of the situation? Essentially this kid is an anonymous stranger to me. Maybe he’s just not learned to filter his writing. I don’t know. If you would contact his college, how would you do so? Because I am the parent of a college kid, I worry when I see this kind of writing. </p>

<p>What to do?</p>

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<p>You report the post to the moderators. There is nothing else you CAN do. For all you know…the writings are a work of fiction.</p>

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<p>if his posts are abusive, report them to the site’s moderators. I wouldn’t report the posts to his college.</p>

<p>1) if he really is delusional, he probably comes across the same way at his college to fellow students and professors</p>

<p>2) this is an anonymous site so he may not be a student at his stated college, although he probably is a student somewhere.</p>

<p>3) this may be his outlet when he feels he can rant - don’t know why he would pick this place but… He may not be so threatening in real life.</p>

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<p>If it’s not in person and there are no direct threats of violence, you can’t do much. </p>

<p>One reason I quit an alumni listserv is a truly nuts classmate kept posting rants about how his uncle (?), an American, was murdered by the Mossad. (He actually was killed by one of the groups in the civil war, forget which.) Long posts about Jews. Paranoid posts about how they were after him too. A mix of anti-American conspiracy stuff. Nuggets of insight on occasion and bits of sense as well because not many people are crazy full time. </p>

<p>There are sometimes ways to block people’s posts. I suggest looking into that.</p>