Somewhat Creeped Out

Ronnie Rowlands · Tue 16 Dec, 2008 16.10

So I was in a lesson today and I received a text message from a number I didn't recognize, it simply read "Behind you..." I thought it must have been one of the girls wanting me to turn around and look at whatever foul gesture they might be planning to make towards me. So I turned round but everyone was glued to the laptops, none of them looked like they'd just sent me a farcical text message; no giggles, no hasty shuffling of phones being shoved back into pockets. When I got home I decided to withhold my own number, ring whoever it was and trip them into revealing their name. I thought it would be somewhat amusing to catch out this person, who I assumed I would know. "Hello?" came the greeting. I was rather shocked, as you can imagine, to hear this persons voice, a voice which certainly did not belong to someone under the age of 20. It was a deep voice, faux-posh, like something the Fonejacker would use. I put on a false London accent.

"H... 'ang on, I think I've got th' wrong namber 'ere"

No response.

"Yeah I'm sorry abaht thet, ah, who's this then?"

There came a low, incoherent mumbling, in the same style and voice but with little sense.

"Sorry mate, I can't understand what that is, say again?"

He mumbled again, at this point I'm feeling a bit concerned.

"Yer voice is breakin' up" I said.

Another mumble and he hangs up.

I should probably be mildly amused, but to be honest I'm feeling very concerned for my safety and rather freaked out not knowing who this person is or why he sent me a random and somewhat creepy text message. How should I react, and what should I do?

Nini · Tue 16 Dec, 2008 16.19

Um, wait and see if they contact you again. One off random text messages don't mean that much, just be worried when it keeps going but for now you're probably fretting about nothing.

rts · Tue 16 Dec, 2008 17.48

As Nini said, one text is nothing to worry about. If it persists, either contact your mobile operator or if the content of the messages is incredibly sinister, the Police.

Gavin Scott · Tue 16 Dec, 2008 18.36

Ronnie Rowlands wrote:I should probably be mildly amused, but to be honest I'm feeling very concerned for my safety and rather freaked out not knowing who this person is or why he sent me a random and somewhat creepy text message. How should I react, and what should I do?

So you wouldn't have been concerned for your safety if a girl had answered? Gosh Ronnie, do you think that all men are rapists or something?

The most likely scenario here was a wrong number.

Dr Lobster* · Tue 16 Dec, 2008 19.11

ah, sorry ronnie. it was me. a mate of mine told a me about a 'meat spin' and i wanted to try it out on you.

cdd · Tue 16 Dec, 2008 19.50

I got endless wrong numbers to my phone. The odd thing is they're all from the same person. He hasn't been bothering me too much and when I inform him that he has the wrong number he is profuse in his apologies. Although clearly not sorry enough to remove me from his contacts list. Anyway, all very well, except he recently started moving on to including me in his (presumably) mass text messages.

Here's a nice sample (all errors sic):

Financial institutions fail, govts. collapse, d grass withers n flowers fade BUT d word of GOD in your heart n mouth will never fail. Wait on d lord n be of good courage. He who has promised is faithful n he will do it.

Do not look 2 da bigness of ur need. Look 2 da bigness of ur God. Ur circumstances r hindrances 2 seein God's abilities. If u keep ur eyes on ur circumstances, da devil will use it 2 defeat . Ur victory is in keepin ur eyes on him. He has promised 2 take u step by step & each il be a miracle.Bless Eben

I pray victory 4 u as u enter a new month. May God who started with u in jan help u finish d year strong. May he fill ur mouth with laughter. Eben

He did stop when I sent him a text threatening to report him to his telephone company, though. (That was only a week ago, though; I may be counting my chickens before they've hatched!)

Will Jones · Tue 16 Dec, 2008 20.13

Start to worry if you are texted P2PBSH or DBL

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NesjvRihbEg (1:30)

Sput · Tue 16 Dec, 2008 20.16

Didn't even need to click. Baltimora!

Ronnie Rowlands · Tue 16 Dec, 2008 20.59

Gavin Scott wrote: So you wouldn't have been concerned for your safety if a girl had answered? Gosh Ronnie, do you think that all men are rapists or something?

I never said that, Gavin. The reason I was shocked to find it was a middle aged man and not a teenage girl is because I was expecting the latter, and one I actually knew.

Gavin Scott · Tue 16 Dec, 2008 21.26

Ronnie Rowlands wrote:
Gavin Scott wrote: So you wouldn't have been concerned for your safety if a girl had answered? Gosh Ronnie, do you think that all men are rapists or something?

I never said that, Gavin. The reason I was shocked to find it was a middle aged man and not a teenage girl is because I was expecting the latter, and one I actually knew.

I understand that, but it doesn't follow that you are in any jeopardy given that particular demographic.

Statistically its younger males that will shag n' throttle you. Older queens will just buy you nice things.

Trust me, I'm a doctor.

iSon · Tue 16 Dec, 2008 21.29

Gavin Scott wrote:
Ronnie Rowlands wrote:
Gavin Scott wrote: So you wouldn't have been concerned for your safety if a girl had answered? Gosh Ronnie, do you think that all men are rapists or something?

I never said that, Gavin. The reason I was shocked to find it was a middle aged man and not a teenage girl is because I was expecting the latter, and one I actually knew.
I understand that, but it doesn't follow that you are in any jeopardy given that particular demographic.

Statistically its younger males that will shag n' throttle you. Older queens will just buy you nice things.

Trust me, I'm a doctor.

Yes, thanks for the presents, Gavin!