Podcast Summary: So Supernatural
Episode Title: DARK WEB: Slender Man
Host/Authors: Rasha Pecoraro & Yvette Gentile
Release Date: December 6, 2024
Introduction to Urban Legends and Slender Man
The episode opens with Ashley Flowers reminiscing about childhood urban legends. She reflects on classic tales like Bloody Mary, highlighting how these stories once served as simple ways for kids to entertain and scare each other during sleepovers. However, Rasha Pecoraro introduces a shift in the landscape of urban legends due to the advent of the Internet.
Ashley Flowers [00:01]: "Most mysteries can be solved by looking at the facts. But sometimes, the truth lies somewhere in the unknown…"
The Birth and Evolution of Slender Man
Rasha delves into the creation of Slender Man, an internet-born entity that transcended traditional urban legends. Originating on forums like Something Awful and later proliferating on creepypasta.com, Slender Man became a digital folklore phenomenon.
Rasha Pecoraro [00:19]: "Take, for example, that tall, skinny, really creepy dude that the Internet dubs Slender Man."
Yvette Gentile adds that Slender Man's image—tall, featureless, and eerie—appeared across various online platforms, including YouTube, online games, and fan art forums, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Slender Man’s Impact on Real Life
The discussion takes a dark turn as the hosts explore how Slender Man influenced real-life events. The most notable incident involved two young girls who attempted to murder their friend, believing it would gain them Slender Man's approval.
Yvette Gentile [03:03]: "And today, we're getting to the bottom of Slender Man. One of the Internet's scariest monsters."
Analysis of Slender Man’s Reach and Influence
Rasha and Yvette analyze how Slender Man's presence on the Internet amplified his lore, making him more than just a fictional character. They discuss the psychological effects attributed to Slender Man, such as paranoia, memory loss, and physical ailments, which some believed were real manifestations caused by the entity.
Rasha Pecoraro [10:45]: "It's his mind. This guy doesn't just look unsettling, he also has a strange effect on your brain."
Real-Life Crimes Attributed to Slender Man
The podcast details three significant incidents where Slender Man's influence appeared to cross from digital lore into violent actions:
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Waukesha, Wisconsin (May 31, 2014):
- Victim: Peyton Lightner, a 12-year-old girl found severely injured.
- Perpetrators: Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weiher, both 12 at the time.
- Motive: Belief in Slender Man required them to sacrifice Peyton to gain his favor.
Rasha Pecoraro [20:43]: "Anissa, who is now 22, has been released under the supervision of her parents. Morgan, who is also 22, remains incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital for 40 years."
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Hamilton County, Ohio (Early June 2014):
- Victim: An unnamed mother attacked by her teenage daughter.
- Perpetrator: The daughter, influenced by Slender Man lore through Minecraft and other online content.
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Port Richey, Florida (September 4, 2014):
- Incident: A 9-year-old girl set fire to her home, citing Slender Man as an influence.
- Outcome: The girl expressed remorse post-incident but had a history of dark thoughts and fascination with Slender Man.
Mental Health and the Slender Man Phenomenon
The hosts emphasize that while Slender Man was the catalyst in these tragic events, underlying mental health issues played a critical role. Morgan Geyser was diagnosed with childhood schizophrenia, exhibiting an inability to distinguish fiction from reality. This suggests that Slender Man served more as a symptom than a direct cause of the violent actions.
Yvette Gentile [31:48]: "Morgan was having issues separating fiction from reality. Both girls underwent psychiatric evaluation, during which Morgan dropped a bombshell."
Creativity vs. Reality: The Dual Nature of Digital Folklore
Rasha and Yvette discuss how Slender Man exemplifies digital folklore—a modern-day equivalent of traditional folktales, evolving through collective storytelling online. They draw parallels to classic folklore, noting that just as Snow White has varied versions, Slender Man's lore was shaped by numerous online contributions.
Rasha Pecoraro [36:34]: "Slender man was never a real life, murderous monster. He wasn't controlling minds or stalking through the woods."
Conclusion: The Legacy of Slender Man
The episode concludes by reflecting on the tragic consequences that arose from mixing digital folklore with real-life vulnerabilities. While Slender Man remains a significant figure in internet culture, the real-life repercussions serve as a cautionary tale about the power of online narratives and the importance of addressing mental health issues.
Yvette Gentile [38:56]: "Slender man was the first great Internet experiment in digital folklore. And just like all folktales, when people can't tell the difference between fiction and reality, it can have deadly consequences."
Key Takeaways:
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Digital Folklore Emergence: Slender Man is a product of collaborative online storytelling, evolving through user-generated content across various platforms.
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Psychological Influence: The lore surrounding Slender Man had significant psychological impacts on certain individuals, contributing to real-life violent actions.
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Mental Health Awareness: The incidents linked to Slender Man highlight the critical need for mental health support, especially for young individuals influenced by online narratives.
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Impact of Internet Culture: The phenomenon illustrates how internet culture can amplify and distort fictional characters, leading to unintended and tragic real-world consequences.
This episode of So Supernatural meticulously dissects the Slender Man mythos, exploring its origins, evolution, and the unfortunate reality where fiction intertwined with mental health issues precipitated real-life horror. By doing so, it underscores the profound influence that digital narratives can wield and the importance of distinguishing between storytelling and reality.