First time I've tweeted in a while, and it's not really about anything I want to talk about, but I think it's important to do so. Being off the internet doesn't really mean you're off the internet.

A person from the internet was waiting in the parking lot of my office to meet me in person a couple of days ago. At first, I didn't even realize it. When a man you don't know makes a beeline toward you in a parking lot, you're taught not to encourage it or any further interactions and/or consequences are completely your fault, even if it ends with you being dead in a ditch. He mumbled something, I said I needed to go to work, so I went into the office to see my co-workers in a frenzy. They all seemed to be relieved that I was okay, and another female co-worker said to me, "A man came up to me and asked me if I was you." I then realized that was the thing the man was asking, using my real name.

My name is public, obviously, but still, it was very unnerving. I didn't know who this person was or what their intentions were. He was gone after a while, but I still had my co-workers escort me to my car. The next day, yesterday, no one was there. I was hoping it was some weird misunderstanding, but I drove out to lunch to get some food and came back to a huge vase of flowers and a card with both pages filled with apologies for yesterday's incident.

Reading the letter, he seemed to be aware that was he did would be terrifying to a woman, but he was visiting the area and didn't know if there would ever be another chance to meet me. He identified himself fully and I learned that this was someone I had a few chats with about games or whatever on occasion, though I hadn't really talked to him any more than the odd sentence in response here and there since before I started working on Trails in the Sky for PC.

I took the chance to acknowledge how he seemed to understand what his actions looked like, but to also very directly and clearly explain how I wanted no further contact with him, be it in person, through a letter or online. After all, being very clear and direct is all I have as ammo, and it does no one any good to be vague in circumstances like this. It wasn't an angry response, and I think this is a fortunate situation where he meant no harm, but it made me realize that even my workplace isn't safe. It's scary. I took a break from the internet, but the internet decided to come to me instead. Even when leaving my work, I feel like pepper spray or escorts to my car aren't enough. How terrifying is that?

The reason I'm posting this is not to out this person. I think they know well enough what they did was wrong, and outing someone like this does absolutely nothing but cause more grief. I'm mostly saying this so I can be just as direct and clear with anyone who interacts with me online thanks to my work: I want no contact with you in person. If it's a convention or an expo, a controlled environment where meet & greets are the entire purpose, that's one thing. But please, please respect my personal life. This was someone showing up to my workplace without warning, thinking that meeting me was fine because they meant no harm. It's not. No matter who you are, it is not fine. I don't say this to be mean, but only to be clear.

Please respect this. Thank you.

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