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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Ex just being there

29 replies

mousey24 · 21/08/2023 21:24

Changed username as he might know my usual name on here.

Got divorced after domestic violence (physical and mental). He still had access to our children. He was still using coercive control and gaslighting through the children. (Eg: asking to change access day, then turning up on the original day and saying I must have got the days mixed up). He added a tracker to sons phone so he could watch where we went on my time. Several other things happened at his house and the children didn't want to go anymore as they were scared of him. It all went back to court and he lost his access.

I do a niche hobby. There's a forum where people chat about the hobby and just randomly chat. I like the company and I've made some good friendships through it. He knows I post on it.

He's turned up on that even though he has no interest in the hobby. I know it's him as he's posted personal information in some of the chats which makes it obvious to me that it is him. Like in chats about favourite things.

I find it triggering seeing his name in the chats. I know he could be watching me anyway, but if he was anonymous, I wouldn't know if he's been watching or not and it wouldn't affect me. Seeing his name and just knowing he is there triggers flashbacks and PTSD.

I've spoken to the website owner who said he hasn't broken any T&C's by being there so they won't ban him. I've also spoken to the Police who said stop posting on the forum and find another hobby.

AIBU to think it's harsh that the victim is the one who has to stop the things they enjoy and move on? Why is someone with a criminal history of abuse allowed to keep turning up and intimidating the victim? I'm sick of it and wish he'd leave me alone. I'm fed up with moving on and just want to be settled.

OP posts:
Wibblywobblylikejelly · 21/08/2023 21:41

YANBU at all.
But logically what can they do?
A forum or site is open to all. There is nothing to say that he hasn't taken up this hobby and so the police can't prove that he's doing this to get to you.
The forum owners will not want to get involved in users lives and others have said he can just keep coming back.
It's not fair and it's not right but it is what's happening. You could stay on and block him maybe.

JibbaJab · 21/08/2023 21:38

If there's one thing that winds abusers up is being ignored and not getting a reaction. Your reaction is their fuel. Let him waste his time.

Tinkerbyebye · 21/08/2023 21:34

Banning him won’t work. I would just carry on posting, don’t let him win. Hard as it is pretend he is not there. He will eventually get fed up when he realises you don’t care

DustyLee123 · 21/08/2023 21:27

If they banned him he could just get another email address and join again.