a span of

The fine art/act of stalking, scrutinizing and mentally/physically tormenting a person as if they were your girlfriend or boyfriend. This is usually because the person who is doing the spanning is arrogant, a pompous windbag or they feel like they are owed. They have feelings for the person they span and have decided that person belongs to them without the consent, permission, reciprocation of same feelings or even the knowledge of the victim they span. The art/act of spanning is often conducted in front of friends or others in an effort to embarrass and belittle the person they span into acting the way they desire.