Well, it is, if you believe this report. Is this report the work of Chicken Littles, or have they confused bill collectors and market researchers with stalkers, or is Texas maybe the weirdest place on the planet?:
Nearly one in five Texans questioned by researchers in a Sam Houston State University study identified themselves as victims of stalkers over a recent two-year period.
The study by the Crime Victims Institute at the Huntsville school's Criminal Justice Center, believed to be the first-ever on stalking in the state, reported three-quarters of those victims experienced emotional and/or other personal problems. The most common reaction was anger, followed by sleeplessness. Other effects included loss of concentration, fear of being alone and feelings of helplessness.
''Stalking can affect every part of a person's life,'' Glen Kercher, the institute's director, said of the ''Stalking in Texas'' survey, based on questioning of 701 randomly selected Texas residents last spring. ''The psychological effects of stalking can also be daunting. Understandably, many victims were more easily frightened and paranoid, less outgoing and assertive.''
The 18 percent who reported being stalked reported an overall 453 stalking incidents over the 24 months covered by the survey. The most frequent instance was repeated telephone calls, reported by 35 percent of victims, followed closely by 34 percent of victims who said their stalker stole items from their house, car or workplace.
Others reported that stalkers made threatening phone calls, spied on them at home, tampered with their vehicles, waited for them outside their home or work and breaking into their house, car or business.
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