Slenderman Stabbing

[Everleaf 541]

The game is fine but them girls sound pretty crazy, she nearly murdered her friend? wow 0-0 I don't know if the parents have anything to do with it at least the younger girl is getting better...

Edited June 4, 2014 by Everleaf

[Powderpuff 390]

I'm not sure about placing too much blame on the parents, at least not for letting their kids out in the woods. In one of the articles I read, it said the birthday girl's mom let them go to a nearby park...a park. When I was 12, I ran around the neighborhood, parks, woods, etc. alone and with friends all the time. So many people have. I think there's a balance that needs to be struck between protecting your child and giving them the space they need to grow and understand the world, and I worry that cases like this will lead to parents keeping their kids inside, or constantly suffocating them with too much supervision. I mean...what would think, "oh, they may take one of my kitchen knives and stab their best friend in the park, so maybe I shouldn't let them go"? 

 

And the kids having access to knives...I had access to them ever since I was tall enough to reach the kitchen counter. Isn't that kind of common? Sharp, pointy things are kind of critical parts of our everyday lives. If the parents knew their kid had serious mental issues, then they could have made an effort to hide all dangerous objects. But I don't think these parents knew how far gone their children were, and these kids could have stabbed their friend with scissors if they felt it was necessary. The problem isn't the knives, or going outside unsupervised (at 12 years old...).

 

Buuuuut...on the flip side, I do think their internet usage should have been monitored. A lot of parents know pretty much nothing about the internet - they don't understand what kinda messed up stuff is on here, or how easily their kids can access it. And really, kids can get on the internet anywhere now, with phones, game systems...It's getting outta control. Parents do need to become aware of the stuff their kids are being exposed to on the internet, and either block them from those sites or have discussions with them about what is real and what isn't. No one should know their child more than them, so it is up to them to decide what their kids are mentally prepared for. 

 

Most of the reports I've seen about this are geared toward educating parents about creepypasta and Slenderman, and calling it a "wake up call" for parents to monitor their children's internet useage and discuss these things with their kids. I think that's the right way to look at this. Yeah, the girls did something really, really horrible. We can all see that. But what is the bigger issue here, what can we get out of this, to make sure it doesn't happen again? Because you guys are right - it will never just be Slenderman, it will never just beCreepypasta. There will always be something to delude idiots to do horrible things. So parents need to be on top of the media their kids consume.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Powderpuff

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

Okay, seriously, forreals.

 

Does no one else see that what goes into our heads has a major impact on how we think and behave? Yes, maybe these girls are mentally disturbed, mentally ill in some way, but is it so far fetched to think that that disturbance was caused by something? Is it really so hard to believe that exposing young girls to disturbing things will disturb them?

 

Because quite frankly, passing it off as "kids these days" and "they must just be evil" is lazy, irresponsible, and overall an extremely dangerous way to approach this kind of situation. It sweeps the underlying issue under the rug for the sake of convenience because we're too stubborn, as a society, to concede even the possibility that some of the things we've accepted are bad for us.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Henny Penny Benny

[M'aiq the Liar 5,804]

Funny because my Eevee just evolved into Umbreon xD..

 

 

TWILIGHT NO! STOP TRYING TO SUMMON THE SLENDER MAN! 

This seriously brings up the question "why?" though. Did they get obsessed over the myth, did they think it would be cool to meet the thing that can bring your demise, did they think they would get popular by getting video footage? What in the world..  either they were going through some crazy times to do such a messed up things or they were just crazy to begin with. What I hope doesn't happen is they blame the Slenderman Horror Game. That's the last thing that needs to be on the media again. Video games. Which of course is a different topic but I would prefer they don't jump back onto the video games are evil band wagon again if they decide that is what caused it.  :okiedokielokie:  The girls and the media are hurting my mind... they're hurting my ideas.

Most likely the girls had already exhibited some signs for obsessive disorders. These signs were most likely ignored by their parents, and the girls were allowed to spent ridiculous amounts of time on the internet un supervised. If it wasn't slenderman, it would have been something else. Maybe HP Lovecraft works. But the fact that they got so enthralled in the mythos goes to show that they already had disorders which made them overly obsessive. Normally such conditions can be negated by parental control and being involved in the child's life, but at this point in the investigation it sounds like they were not.

And all throughout history children have been killing one another, it is part of why supervision is always needed on young children.

[Megas 27,821]

No Slenderman is not what people should blame, if that was the case this would be more common considering how popular Slenderman is the case. But the reality is that the girls were incredibly screwed up in the head, 12 years old or not

 

This video does a good job explaining how I feel about this

[EmeraldRarity 102]

People should do Psych evals on these girls...I'm still going "What the Buck?" 

[GrauWitz 1,010]

Never mind the fact that they're 12 years of age, they PLANNED this attack for FOUR MONTHS! They DESERVE to be charged as adults, they DESERVE to do 65 years in prison. There age doesn't matter at all when they're complete fucking delusional sociopaths!

 

Oh yeah, and we all know what the media is gonna say about this: "OH MAI GAWD, INTERNET MEMES CAUSE BRUTAL MURDER. THESE WEBSITES NEED TO BE SHUT DOWN!!!!". You know, news-media in a nutshell *facehoof*

[Sunshower Raindrops 3,227]

Never mind the fact that they're 12 years of age, they PLANNED this attack for FOUR MONTHS! They DESERVE to be charged as adults, they DESERVE to do 65 years in prison. There age doesn't matter at all when they're complete fucking delusional sociopaths!

 

Oh yeah, and we all know what the media is gonna say about this: "OH MAI GAWD, INTERNET MEMES CAUSE BRUTAL MURDER. THESE WEBSITES NEED TO BE SHUT DOWN!!!!". You know, news-media in a nutshell *facehoof*

 

Wow I never knew about the 4 month planning. While 65 years I dont agree on, but a good 10-20 sounds good.

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

Oh yeah, and we all know what the media is gonna say about this: "OH MAI GAWD, INTERNET MEMES CAUSE BRUTAL MURDER. THESE WEBSITES NEED TO BE SHUT DOWN!!!!". You know, news-media in a nutshell *facehoof*

 

For one thing, there's a difference between "cause" and "influence". I don't think many people believe memes and video games and the like actually cause violence, but that they influence people to commit violence. "Cause" sort of implies that it's inevitable, unavoidable, that video games cannot exist without resulting in an increase in violence.

 

For another thing, there's a difference between "internet memes cause brutal murder" and "disturbing images can cause disturbing thoughts". Would I go so far as to blame the Slenderman meme for these girls' actions? No. That's silly. Actions are choices, and these girls chose to attempt murder. However, actions are influenced by thoughts, and thoughts are influenced by external factors, by what we put in our heads.

 

That's not to say these girls are off the hook because they were influenced by external factors—they are still responsible for their actions—but had they not been exposed to such disturbing things as Slenderman, there is a significant possibility they would not have chosen those actions. Do I know for a fact that they wouldn't have? No. But neither does anyone here know for certain that they would have, as many have already claimed as though with any authority.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Henny Penny Benny

[Theshadowmaster235 70]

I don't think the slender game should be blamed I think that if someone is willing to stab someone and try to sacrifice them to slenderman they probably have something very wrong with them I hate how people are so quick to blame video games and movies for things like this that's like saying someone who plays call of duty is going to go and start shooting at people as if it were a free for all match it's more than likely not going to happen, but back on topic I think the girls who did the stabbing should get at least 60 years in prison and probably some time in an institution.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Theshadowmaster235

[GhostPony750 959]

Wait wat. That is some strange stuff.

 

"grab my spaceship and gtfo of this planet"

[Sugar Pea 2,682]

Here we go again, "LET'S BLAME THE MATERIAL, NOT THE ONES WHO COMMITTED THE STUPID CRIME IN THE FIRST PLACE."

Why blame a creepy pasta for something that they did, when the girls are the ones who chose to take their friend out into the woods and stab her multiple times?

Yes, the story may have influenced them, but they chose to idolize a fake monster and chose to commit this act. It's like saying guns kill people, when it's completely obvious that the one holding the gun pulled the trigger.  I think they deserve it. It's vile.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Princess PeachBlink

[Sunshower Raindrops 3,227]

Yes, the story may have influenced them, but they chose to idolize a fake monster and chose to commit this act. It's like saying guns kill people, when it's completely obvious that the one holding the gun pulled the trigger.  I think they deserve it. It's vile.

 

Bravo Bravo, some beautiful words of wisdom there.

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

Here we go again, "LET'S BLAME THE MATERIAL, NOT THE ONES WHO COMMITTED THE STUPID CRIME IN THE FIRST PLACE."

Why blame a creepy pasta for something that they did, when the girls are the ones who chose to take their friend out into the woods and stab her multiple times?

 

Yes, the story may have influenced them, but they chose to idolize a fake monster and chose to commit this act. It's like saying guns kill people, when it's completely obvious that the one holding the gun pulled the trigger.  I think they deserve it. It's vile.

 

As I've pointed out earlier in the thread, blaming the story is quite different from recognizing that it influenced them. To blame the story would be to take all responsibility off of the girls themselves, but that'd be silly because they clearly chose to do what they did. But recognizing the story's influence on them simply means acknowledging that they may well have not made that choice were it not for their exposure to the story.

 

They still clearly made a vile decision, but had they not been exposed to such disturbing a story as Slenderman, it's quite entirely possible that they would not have made such a decision. That is what I mean when I lay responsibility on the story. Responsibility doesn't have to go entirely to one party or the other; both can be responsible in varying degrees.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Henny Penny Benny

[Sugar Pea 2,682]

As I've pointed out earlier in the thread, blaming the story is quite different from recognizing that it influenced them. To blame the story would be to take all responsibility off of the girls themselves, but that'd be silly because they clearly chose to do what they did. But recognizing the story's influence on them simply means acknowledging that they may well have not made that choice were it not for their exposure to the story.

 

They still clearly made a vile decision, but had they not been exposed to such disturbing a story as Slenderman, it's quite entirely possible that they would not have made such a decision. That is what I mean when I lay responsibility on the story. Responsibility doesn't have to go entirely to one party or the other; both can be responsible in varying degrees.

I would be contradicting myself if I said I agree, but I really do see where people from your side is coming from. I don't think the writer(s) would have seen this coming. The purpose of creepy pasta is to spook the reader, not influence preteens to sacrifice their friends in the woods somewhere. I run across a lot of weird things on the internet but read it anyways, and then move on with my life. They took their obsession too far, and decided to do what they wanted to do. It was all planned out, and that's what disturbs me the most. These 12 year olds, from the mind of them, actually thought this horrible act out. It's just....chilling...either way, I believe they should be charged with adult charges for what they did, either the creepy pasta was to blame or not. :c

Edited June 4, 2014 by Princess PeachBlink

[Noire Panzer 3,526]

Here we go again, "LET'S BLAME THE MATERIAL, NOT THE ONES WHO COMMITTED THE STUPID CRIME IN THE FIRST PLACE."

Why blame a creepy pasta for something that they did, when the girls are the ones who chose to take their friend out into the woods and stab her multiple times?

 

Yes, the story may have influenced them, but they chose to idolize a fake monster and chose to commit this act. It's like saying guns kill people, when it's completely obvious that the one holding the gun pulled the trigger.  I think they deserve it. It's vile.

GIVE THAT MARE A COOKIE!

 

 

I completely agree with this.  As much as I would love for this to be how it is. Slenderman will still be used as something to blame just because people can't accept the fact little girls went crazy and/or the media needs something to feed off of. Pretty much just that. It's something simple minds can't handle so they use a scapegoat or the media needs something to thrive off of. Though the girls 100% deserve what's coming for them of course. They should be treated with adult charges like mentioned it's just sick.

[Sunshower Raindrops 3,227]

GIVE THAT MARE A COOKIE!

 

Yes SIR *hands over a big plate of cookies*

[Adachi 772]

I agree that they should be punished, severely. But 65 years in jail? Some people don't even live that long. A revenge centered system is NOT a good solution for the crime problem. They should be given intensive counseling, the psychiatrists giving the counseling should find out everything they can about their upbringing, chemical imbalances going on in their heads (I'm sure there's at least one imbalance or three), and anything else they can find out. And I know most people are gonna disagree, but I think those girls were under the influence of dark entities, or maybe they ARE dark entities who were reborn. Either way, they should really get a qualified medium involved as well, since 12 year olds rarely (if ever) kill others. I sense demonic influence.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Pegasus

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

I would be contradicting myself if I said I agree, but I really do see where people from your side is coming from. I don't think the writer(s) would have seen this coming. The purpose of creepy pasta is to spook the reader, not influence preteens to sacrifice their friends in the woods somewhere. I run across a lot of weird things on the internet but read it anyways, and then move on with my life. They took their obsession too far, and decided to do what they wanted to do. It was all planned out, and that's what disturbs me the most. These 12 year olds, from the mind of them, actually thought this horrible act out. It's just....chilling...either way, I believe they should be charged with adult charges for what they did, either the creepy pasta was to blame or not. :c

 

I can't really argue with that. No, the authors didn't intend this and could hardly have foreseen it. No, the girls shouldn't have taken it that seriously. Yes, it is chilling, and they should absolutely be punished severely for their actions.

 

However, my point is simply that if we put dark ideas into children's minds, can we really be surprised when they have dark thoughts? And when they are so immersed in those dark ideas as they can become on the Internet, is it really that big a shock when the darkness influences their actions? No, this specific event couldn't reasonably have been foreseen by the inventors of Slenderman, but we, as a society, should be smarter than to make dark, disturbing things like this readily available to impressionable youths. The responsibility is primarily on the perpetrators of the action, but I stand firm in placing some of the responsibility on society at large for creating such disturbing entertainment and disseminating it to anyone with Internet access.

 

Frankly, I question the legitimate value of such disturbing entertainment at all, as I don't see any genuine good coming of it, while it can very easily influence people to vile, despicable acts. But that's another discussion entirely.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Henny Penny Benny

[Sunshower Raindrops 3,227]

chemical imbalances going on in their heads

 

Hmm, I wounder if the INTERNET can cause this...

[Sugar Pea 2,682]

I can't really argue with that. No, the authors didn't intend this and could hardly have foreseen it. No, the girls shouldn't have taken it that seriously. Yes, it is chilling, and they should absolutely be punished severely for their actions.

 

However, my point is simply that if we put dark ideas into children's minds, can we really be surprised when they have dark thoughts? And when they are so immersed in those dark ideas as they can become on the Internet, is it really that big a shock when the darkness influences their actions? No, this specific event couldn't reasonably have been foreseen by the inventors of Slenderman, but we, as a society, should be smarter than to make dark, disturbing things like this readily available to impressionable youths. The responsibility is primarily on the perpetrators of the action, but I stand firm in placing some of the responsibility on society at large for creating such disturbing entertainment and disseminating it to anyone with Internet access.

Society can be a messed up place sometimes, and there is no escape from it when you are on the internet neither. I wouldn't be surprised about them having dark thoughts when they read things like that, which makes me wonder if they should put advisories and age restrictions on those kind of things. 

They are young, and the young are very gullible, that they'll believe anything they see and hear. Like a creep bargaining a kid some candy, I reckon that's how it goes down the majority of the time with today's youth.

 

Edited June 4, 2014 by Princess PeachBlink

[Sunshower Raindrops 3,227]

Society can be a messed up place sometimes, and there is no escape from it when you are on the internet neither. I wouldn't be surprised about them having dark thoughts when they read things like that, which makes me wonder if they should put advisories and age restrictions on those kind of things. 

They are young, and the young are very gullible, that they'll believe anything they see and hear. Like a creep bargaining a kid some candy, I reckon that's how it goes down the majority of the time with today's youth.

 

 

Advisories wont matter, people will just fake there age to view it, at least that is what I used to do till I was of age

[OG Blaze 269]

The legend of Slendy should not be blamed for this, no intention on making such horrific things to be carried out.

 

 

More news about the two girls who worship slendy, the one girl who was truly obsessed with slender man had packed a backpack with all her belongings because she thought he would take her away. She even packed a picture of her family because she didn't want to forget them.

[Jamaican Jam 112]

I agree with what they said about the situation here (ignore the hamburger helper, lol).

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

I agree with what they said about the situation here (ignore the hamburger helper, lol).

 

because it's convenient to blame and point fingers

 

I could say exactly the same thing about people claiming that the Creepypasta didn't influence them at all. It's more convenient for people to put 100% blame on the girls and assume they're just mentally unstable, than to consider that their instability was brought about in part by the society we've built and the things we've done.

 

Just to clarify, I'm not letting the girls off the hook for what they did. Obviously the choice they made was theirs alone. But it's irresponsible to ignore the fact that their choice was evidently influenced by Slenderman.

Edited June 5, 2014 by Henny Penny Benny