Jp31,

Do you not see this all as ridiculous?

Even if this were truthful, do you not see participating in it as being less than the intelligent thing to do?

Consider this please. Given a friend or colleague being in the same situation what would you consider this all to be? Likely you would find it a little far fetched. But going on the assumption it was as matter of fact, how would you go about counselling your friend on the matter? What would you say to her? Would you encourage her to pursue this friendship or acquaintance? Probably not as being an outsider looking in you would see the inappropriateness of the whole thing and out of concern for your friend's safety you would strongly discourage her from getting tied up in all this. You would warn your friend accordingly and do everything you could to make her see the whole situation as incredibly alarming and one she should run away from instead of getting involved in.

And that is what I/we are doing. We are being that concerned friend.