Question for the thoughtful

[vr_trakowski]

I've been pondering this for a day or so.  Postulated: a person obsessed with another, for years on end, to the exclusion of all other romantic attachments.  But without interfering, at all, in the object's life.  Is the obsessed person a stalker? 

For the purposes of this scenario, there is no Internet, and--because it's fiction--the obsessed person's pattern will not change to contact at a future point.  The object has no idea that the attachment is anything beyond, say, casual friendship, if that. 

Any opinions? 

Comments

[ex_spockside399]

I agree with the previous assessment. Look at Snape...or any number of other characters who do nothing but gaze sheep-eyed at the object of their affection throughout the narrative. If the character is restrained enough (fig. speaking!), I suppose no one would be the wiser and it would remain an unfulfilled fantasy.

[vr_trakowski]

That's what I was thinking, yes. Could be a good thing or a bad one for the obsessor, depending, but it's all internal.