Paper Example on Online Stalking

Introduction

With the introduction of the new technology that has continued to be an ever-present facet of our lives, many people have become reliant on this tool in forming and maintaining their relationships. In other words, the internet through social networking sites affects how people interact with each other despite the distance, religion, race or even culture, hence promoting romantic relationships that can lead to marriage (Rosenfeld and Thomas, p. 3). Traditionally, the courting process entailed gaining the courage to ask the other person out; however, through the internet, a person can only start the courting process through sending an instant message through social media or even liking the person's profile picture. In this case, the paper aims at looking at the positive effects of online stalking in the development of romantic relationships.

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Despite the many claims regarding the negative impacts of the internet on the development of romantic relationships, arguably, using an internet search for romantic couples increases the rate of partnership in the US. In this case, online stalking positively affects couples who aspire to enter deep into their relationship in the sense that the persons have the ability to date persons from other backgrounds without considering distance as a limitation. People are using the internet as the efficient way of meeting couples given the minimum expenses incurred in the process of dating. Similarly, relationships built from different worlds and backgrounds tend to unify the people into a common goal of developing the connection since it is fun learning each other's culture. According to Rosenfeld and Thomas "the types of relationships formed online differ somewhat from relationships formed offline, meaning that the rise of the internet may have some effect on the pattern of who mates with whom" (p.5) For instance, heterosexual partners mostly meet their partners through family or church considers the similarities in race social class and even religion.

Internet as an important intermediary of socializing for romantic couples meeting, an individual with a computer at home is in a better position of finding a romantic person through sending online messages, checking and commenting on profile pictures. In return, the person may react positively to the comment hence creating a deeper relationship. Also, stalking a new crush creates a connection which ends up getting along and propelling long term but romantic relationship. Rosenfeld and Thomas say, "The power of internet search is especially important in identifying potential partners for individuals who face a thin dating market" (p.33). From this perspective, it is evident that online stalking provides an opportunity for couples to meet, understand each other and relate. For instance, lesbians, gays and other middle-aged individuals to connect freely with other people of the same interest without fear of being prejudiced by the people around them.

Gays and lesbians have always found it hard to meet partners within the neighborhood, workplace or church since people are afraid of revealing who they are and what their interests since they fear being misjudged by the public and the people close to them. However, communicating to a stranger can provide a platform to express one's feelings freely since the person is unfamiliar to you; in this case, online stalking leads to a person having the freedom to share his interests and personality to another person, who through understanding develop enthusiasm for the other person hence creating a long-lasting relationship. For example, we learn of a lesbian woman in the South who had struggled to get a partner from a gay church and bar to no avail (Rosenfeld and Thomas, p.35). However, through the American online where she had the privilege of searching on personal ads within her ZIP code, she finds multiple potential partners.

Many critics show that it is hard to create a romantic relationship with an online partner. These people further opt for face to face relationship where a person has the potential to read and evaluate the expressions and other things physically. However, Rosenfeld and Thomas says, " We have found no differences: romantic relationships originally formed online are no different in quality that any other relationships, and relationships originally formed online are no more fragile than relationships formed offline during a similar period" (p.32). Online access in the development of a romantic relationship develops from the simple acts of stalking. People have become busy to court and create partners from social institutions like schools and churches. Online access makes it easy for couples to connect after having equal interests. A person can have a few seconds or minutes to connect or stalk a person on social media and start a conversation from light things like knowing how the day was and other things. As a result, the two people can further the conversation by sharing personal things and hence the creation of a romantic relationship which will further be cultivated through meeting and doing face to face talking. According to Rosenfeld and Thomas "Seventy-four percent of couples who meet online had previously been the perfect stranger" (p.32). It is not a must that romantic relationships should erect from meeting or interacting with a person face to face.

Conclusion

A person may fall in love with the other one after having seen how wealthy and influential the individual is; in this case, the relationship will tend to be built on material possession only and not real feelings. However, a couple who meet online have a common interest and hence develop the relationship on good grounds since they are perfect strangers and the other person do not have a hint on what the other one possesses. A stranger has no clue of the real personality of the other person and thus when in a relationship, it is evident that the link is basically on transparent grounds such as love. Other factors like money can come afterward when the relationship has taken deeper root.

Work Cited

Rosenfeld, Michael J., and Reuben J. Thomas. "Searching for a mate: The rise of the Internet as a social intermediary." American Sociological Review 77.4 (2012): 523-547.