"But my real question is, was this an ethical thing to do? Did I have any right to read her journal? Is it public domain now its online? "
Ethics are always partly a personal point of view. That you're wondering is a sign that as for your ethics, you went borderline, or maybe a little over, because it feels like you intruded on her personal thoughts and feelings.
The only reason you feel this way, is because in this case it applies directly to you.
Ask yourself if you would be having the same doubts had you read this about somebody else who you don't have any connection with?
If you would still have those doubts, then you really went too far.
I wouldn't have these doubts however. Seeing as how I just read it through your quoting it in your post. I do *not* think I went to far in reading this.
She posted it to a public site, for different people to read it. So if she didn't want people to know about this, she wouldn't have submitted it, at least that's how I see it.
"If I were to persue her without reading this and cause more turmoil would that have been worse? "
I think the answer can't really be had right now... In the end, she might have come around and start feeling the same thing for you as you do for her.
In the end, she might have gotten more and more annoyed and dropped you alltogether. Can't really say.
If you aren't the kind of person that thinks of this as "a challenge", then you had best stop it right now.
Doesn't mean you can't be friends tho.
"Do the ends justify the means?"
In moderation sure. If you're thinking about killing the guy next to you to get the last donut in the box, then you're a bit too far tho.
