Textual harassment

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How to deal with text abuse.

What's behind a threatening text?

Receiving any kind of unsolicited, malicious message is unpleasant. But whoever's behind it, you need to keep assuring yourself that this is their problem and not yours. What they're doing is a cowardly act, driven by anything from jealousy to insecurity or just plain spite.

How should I respond?

It may be tempting to send back an invitation to 'go fk urslf!', but you'd be giving this individual exactly what he or she wants. They're trying to provoke a response from you - anything they can act upon or use to justify further abuse. So instead of hitting reply, press save or make a note of the text, including the time and date. Also keep any itemised phone bills. Build up evidence in this way, and if you have to take it to someone with the authority to act, you can provide all the proof they need.

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