Slender Man Stabbing

sarawifenow · June 2014

Sorry if this has been posted already. I didn't see anything on it yet.

I am sick that this happens in our society, especially with children. Is anyone else as confused by this as me? http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/03/justice/wisconsin-girl-stabbed/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

theartistformerlyknownas · June 2014

Holy shit.

JCbride2015 · June 2014

Well, that's scary as fuck.

I have real problems with the way CNN reported this story, though. So horror fiction is going to be blamed for this, the way video games were blamed for violence in the 90s?

loveislouder · June 2014

I read about this and my jaw just dropped. Like, how... what. I have so many opinions on this it blows my mind.

sarawifenow · June 2014

I caught a glimpse of this on Today this morning when I was getting ready for work. I just can't wrap my mind around this. I can honestly say that I am hesitant to bring children into a world where this happens.

I mean I'm sure stuff like this happened when I was growing up. I'm not sure if these tragedies are happening more often or are just being televised more.

Blergbot · June 2014

FI's nephew was into Slender Man for awhile, except he wasn't actually allowed to go to the website, so all of his "info" was second hand.

Maggie0829 · June 2014

I saw that story on the Today show before I left for work. The only people to blame in this situation are the two girls who committed the stabbing. I have watched many a horror flick, read many a horror story, watched my H kill tons of people when playing his XBOX games and even enjoyed a few rounds myself blowing people up in GTA. But never once did I think, "You know what would be a fun thing to do? Blow people up in real life." And then actually make a plan and follow that plan through. And that is because I do not have serious mental issues like these two girls must have.

But then again, it is just the way our country is. When something horrible occurs we try to find someone or something to blame for why a person would do such a thing. The sad thing is that many times there is really no reason besides the fact that the person or people involved are just seriously deranged or depressed or have a mental condition that was never noticed or treated.

I do have to say the scariest thing about the whole story is the fact that they contemplated several different ways to kill the girl and also several different locations (public bathroom because there is a floor drain for easy clean up). I just can't imagine thinking or contemplating stuff like that when I was 12.

sarawifenow · June 2014

I am completely on the same page and am not placing any blame on the fictional character. I am more in awe that children are capable of this type of brutality. Having formed no real opinions on the influence of violent media in our culture, I can't say one way or the other if I think content of this kind should be banned. I do question, however, where these girls' parents were and how they did not think to monitor such content.

larrygaga · June 2014

Yeah SLENDERMAN is the reason those psycho kids stabbed a girl 19 times.

lmcooper86 · June 2014

I saw something about this in my local (Toronto) paper this morning, but it wasn't as detailed. I agree with @Maggie0829: the whole situation is awful, but it's horrifying that they thought about so many different ways of doing this, and had been thinking about this for months. I can't fathom how a 12 year old could come up with stuff like this.

AprilH81 · June 2014

I think that children can be desensitized to horrific things through movies, music, cultural "norms" but most people/kids still don't spend a lot of time debating the easiest and best way to kill someone so the clean up is easier.

This is primarily a mental health issue (including a lot of gun crimes in my opinion). We have tried so long as a society to mainstream EVERYONE so no one gets "left out/behind" when some people just aren't able to function in society without harming themselves or others.

I also wonder what the family situation is/was for those girls. Did they have active, involved parents and families? (Not that this couldn't happen with active and involved parents, just saying that if the parents aren't involved it would be easier to miss the signs).

This is horrifing and so very sad for all involved.

ladyamanuet · June 2014

I am most appalled at people calling for them to be treated as juveniles. They PLANNED it, the thought about ways to clean up, they said they wanted to do it at night so they wouldn't have to look in her eyes... these are all actions and thoughts of two people who knew EXACTLY what they were doing. Also, stabbing someone NINETEEN times - or hell, the 9 or 10 times each it would have been - takes effort... if you "don't really know what you are doing" - after one stab you realize you've done a terrible thing. You don't then do it again and again and again and again. They should ABSOLUTELY be tried as adults. Perhaps sentenced to a hospital for the criminally insane - if they in fact are - but for an adult term, not a juvy term.

And I also question the Slender Man thing. They may just be using that because they know it's a way to deflect blame from the fact that they wanted to kill their friend. It was a SPECIFIC friend they planned on the entire time - if this was truly just for the respect of this fictional demon, then wouldn't any old friend have done? Why THIS girl? That makes me question their story as well.

It is very, very sad and I am so glad the girl lived. It is amazing that a 12 year old stabbed 19 times had the strength and clarity of mind to crawl to a public area instead of just lying there bleeding out. She is a special girl and I hope she can learn to trust again after this.

sarahufl · June 2014

I have never heard of Slenderman, but this is seriously messed up. FI and I have talked about this a lot- SO MANY of these types of problems are not about the internet, or Facebook, or whatever. They are about people who have serious mental problems that are not treated, combined with parents who are not paying attention.

FiancB · June 2014

Every time something like this happens I loathe the media more and more. Can we please stop speculating ridiculous possible causes and just call it as it is- these girls are psychos that need to be kept far away from society, forever. Instead of saying that Slenderman made them psychos, how about we say that the fact that they are psychos made them into Slenderman, and a whole host of more disturbing things, like trying to murder another 12 year old girl for starters.

ladyamanuet a similar argument came up in my town when a girl went missing and it turned out my friend's 16 (I think?) year old brother was the one who kidnapped and killed her. 12 is so young, but this is so horrific. I also question the whole slenderman thing... I just don't get how you make the leap from reading some popular online fiction to deciding to kill someone, and not spur of the moment or half assed either.

clarke10 · June 2014

This happened so close to where I live! I couldn't believe. It's scary that 12-year-old girls have the capacity to plan a murder for months, and in such detail.

emmaaa · June 2014

I saw this on the news this morning and was in awe. It is hard to wrap your head around teenagers (pre-teens) planning this and then actually implementing.

I do agree with PP's that the online "fad" of Slenderman should not be blamed. I feel like blaming a fictional character on the malicious acts is why there are so many behavioral issues in children, teens, young adults, old adults, whoever. People don't know how to take responsibility for their actions. So many people are never taught ownership of anything. Oh you got straight A's, you must have had a great teacher (not saying educators don't play a huge role). Oh you failed that test, your teacher must have something against you. One i s never taught to own up and take responsibility in their lives, whether good or bad.

bethsmiles · June 2014

I saw this yesterday on the news and it's appalling. It's absolutely horrifying that young children would do this.

Like PPs have said I'm also annoyed that this is going to turn into blaming Slenderman and probably just internet as a whole. Which is total bullshit. It was bullshit when video games were blamed. It was bullshit when music was blamed. Refusing to make people take responsibility for their own actions has become a norm in our society and it really needs to stop.

Emmy1493 · June 2014

This is who these girls remind me of when I heard this.

Like, it doesn't have to be the end of the world for kids to act crazy. And a big what the heck to the kid who stole his grandpa's car and was speeding by a park full of kids? Some guy stopped him with his truck. It's just a crazy world I am telling you.

jdluvr06 · June 2014

I saw this and it is so sad and sickening.

Do I think "Slenderman" is to blame? No. Do I think these little psychopaths really think they did this because of "Slenderman"? Yes. The thing is, IMO, the people with mental issues who do this stuff are looking for an excuse to do it. So they will, sometimes, latch on to something in the media. This is in no way the fault of the movie, video game, musician, ect but society loves a good scapegoat and no one wants to believe that some people are just sick like that for no reason other than they are. So they blame an outside source to make themselves feel better.

Emmy1493 · June 2014

shrekspeare said:

show previous quotes

Emmy1493 said:

This is who these girls remind me of when I heard this.

Like, it doesn't have to be the end of the world for kids to act crazy. And a big what the heck to the kid who stole his grandpa's car and was speeding by a park full of kids? Some guy stopped him with his truck. It's just a crazy world I am telling you.

That was around where I live! I know the cops that showed up on the scene. Crazy crazy. What a moron.

Oh wow! I hope that kid, well, all three (stabbing crazies included) get a dose of their own medicine. They need to be tried as adults, because their way of thinking was by no means juvenile. When I was that age, I played Pokemon and barbies. Not go out on a stabbing spree. Gahh

loveislouder · June 2014

Blaming Slenderman for this is like blaming Edward Cullen and Twilight for the teen girls who started vampire biting people.

Cookie Pusher · June 2014

This story is so horrifying. When I was that age, I was too busy gossiping about boys and playing with makeup to ever conceive of doing anything even remotely this violent and demented. I think I read somewhere that a lot of adults who are sociopaths begin displaying disturbing behavior very young but it is often brushed aside because of their age. If these girls hadn't been caught now, who knows what they would be capable of doing as adults.

tcnoble · June 2014

I didn't read all the PPs, but this happened in Wisconsin - where I'm from and have a lot of friends who have been talking.

Nobody thinks the insanity plea will work because of the premeditation of the act. The two girls had made plans before that they didn't carry out, and almost didn't with this one.

The victim said at one point she told the girls "I hate you. I trusted you." and the girls replied "Shhh just lay still. Be quiet." They KNEW what they were doing.

As far as blaming it on the internet - come on, where are the god damn PARENTS??????? Not only did I not have the internet at age 12, when I did gain access my parents had access to my accounts, checked browsing history, everything. I agree what's on the internet is scary but it's only harmful when kids have un fettered access to it. Come on. Parents in these situations need to start being held accountable. Of course these kids know right from wrong, but parents have to stop being so blind and KNOW YOUR CHILDREN.

It's sad all around. For the parents of the girls being charged - they will watch their girls grow up in jail. For the victim and her family - I can't imagine the psychological damage that has been done.

sarawifenow · June 2014

tcnoble said:

I didn't read all the PPs, but this happened in Wisconsin - where I'm from and have a lot of friends who have been talking.

Nobody thinks the insanity plea will work because of the premeditation of the act. The two girls had made plans before that they didn't carry out, and almost didn't with this one.

The victim said at one point she told the girls "I hate you. I trusted you." and the girls replied "Shhh just lay still. Be quiet." They KNEW what they were doing.

As far as blaming it on the internet - come on, where are the god damn PARENTS??????? Not only did I not have the internet at age 12, when I did gain access my parents had access to my accounts, checked browsing history, everything. I agree what's on the internet is scary but it's only harmful when kids have un fettered access to it. Come on. Parents in these situations need to start being held accountable. Of course these kids know right from wrong, but parents have to stop being so blind and KNOW YOUR CHILDREN.

It's sad all around. For the parents of the girls being charged - they will watch their girls grow up in jail. For the victim and her family - I can't imagine the psychological damage that has been done.

SITB

I had no idea the bolded happened. Ugh this story makes me sad.

jdluvr06 · June 2014

I really don't think that the parents are to blame either. I think if the girls hadn't have done this now, they would have done something similar eventually. It sounds like these girls are sociopaths. That is a difference in brain function and can't always be attributed to how they are raised. Eta: I know that not all sociopaths or even psychopaths end up being murders and not all murderers are socio or psychopathic. However, those "personality" types are more likely to become violent.

pinkcow13 · June 2014

Horrible, I briefly heard about this yesterday. These girls are serious psychopaths. At 12 years old I read a lot of goosebumps, fear street, watched all the Freddie Movies, and never thought to bring those things to real life.

FiancB · June 2014

jdluvr06 said:

I really don't think that the parents are to blame either. I think if the girls hadn't have done this now, they would have done something similar eventually. It sounds like these girls are sociopaths. That is a difference in brain function and can't always be attributed to how they are raised. Eta: I know that not all sociopaths or even psychopaths end up being murders and not all murderers are socio or psychopathic. However, those "personality" types are more likely to become violent.

I agree with this, we don't really know anything about the parents yet. And yes, parents should monitor their kid's internet usage moderately, but I don't know if I would think anything of my kids reading some horror fiction. Nobody can really know all the time exactly what's going through their kids' heads, and it isn't really healthy to try to.

slothiegal · June 2014

Maggie0829 said:

But then again, it is just the way our country is. When something horrible occurs we try to find someone or something to blame for why a person would do such a thing. The sad thing is that many times there is really no reason besides the fact that the person or people involved are just seriously deranged or depressed or have a mental condition that was never noticed or treated.

I think people are just so desperate to make sense of things like this, they start reaching for something, anything, to tell themselves, "Oh, well, that won't happen to MY child, I won't let them read Slenderman" or "MY kid's friends don't play Grand Theft Auto, he's safe". It's just too scary for a lot of people to think of the alternative--that we could be sitting next to a psychopath on the train and not even know it.

Incredibly sad story.

kbsmom1 · June 2014

I saw on a site where both said of parents had an unnatural interest in the occult/ strange..... Have lots of pictures of skulls/ blood/ weird stuff on their Instagram pages........ Handles were " I love evil"!!! They encouraged their daughters interest in this and were proud of her drawings of Slenderman. So I would think these girls marinated in some strange home life!!! Know your kids friends/ parents.... Also wondering why one of the girls teacher did not notice her screen saver was Slenderman on her school issued lap top.....

JCbride2015 · June 2014

kbsmom1 said:

I saw on a site where both said of parents had an unnatural interest in the occult/ strange..... Have lots of pictures of skulls/ blood/ weird stuff on their Instagram pages........ Handles were " I love evil"!!! They encouraged their daughters interest in this and were proud of her drawings of Slenderman. So I would think these girls marinated in some strange home life!!! Know your kids friends/ parents.... Also wondering why one of the girls teacher did not notice her screen saver was Slenderman on her school issued lap top.....

The parents thing seems weird but I haven't heard anything about that.

I wouldn't bat an eye at the bolded, however. Lots of kids are into horror fiction. Slenderman in and of itself is not harmful. What if the kid's screensaver were Freddie Krueger or Jigsaw? We wouldn't be so alarmed by those things just because they are major movies. Slenderman is not so different from any mainstream horror flick; the media is just freaking out because the fiction is on the interwebz.

VulgarGirl · June 2014

When I was about this age, I'd write (really shitty) horror stories. Mostly involving brutal killings of the kids who bullied me. And maybe a few illistrations that were incredibly dark and scary. And yes, I'd work through easy clean up, what to do with the body, so on and so forth. I was a very angry girl, I was very hurt and this was my way to work through my feelings. Because I couldn't do anything to stop the bullying. The wise advice of my teachers to "walk away" didn't work because it turned out the bullies could just follow me. And "just ignore it" was even less effective. So being interested in horror, or thinking about these things, I can't say in and of itself is bad or wrong. However I never actually wanted to kill or harm anyone. I just wanted them to stop hurting me.

These little girls have some serious problems if they actually planned and executed a murder. I'm a fan of Dexter (well the final season not so much), I'm not a serial killer. I watch Supernatural, I'm not a demon hunter. These girls wanted to murder someone and they found a reason to do so.

@kbsmom1, I'm interested in the occult, I have skull tattoos, and I've drawn some freaky scary pictures (as an adult as well as a kid). These things don't mean I'm going to raise murders or that I'm out committing murders myself.

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