It hasn’t been long since a story broke about two 12-year-old girls accused of luring a friend into an abandoned park and stabbing her in an attempt to please the fictional character, Slender Man.
After hearing about this horrific tale of events, a mother from Cincinnati, Ohio has come to the press, explaining that her daughter attacked her in a similar way earlier that year.
Attacks in the Name of Slender-Man Are More Abundant Than We Think..
The mother, whose name has not been released, expressed her concern to a Cincinnati news station, claiming that her daughter performed a similar action, dressed in a white mask and holding a knife.
Her daughter, who is facing charges in juvenile court, was “waiting for her,” one night after she got home from work.
“[She] mentioned playing a role,” the mother said. “[I] got the feeling she was playing a role. It didn’t feel like her at all.” -The Huffington Post
According to the woman, her daughter has a past history of mental health issues, and “made references to Slender Man” and “killing.” She also reportedly created “a world for Slender Man in the game Minecraft.”
Who is Slender Man?
Slender Man is a fictional horror character originally created by Eric Knudsen. He was developed to win a horror photoshop competition, and his internet popularity soared, inducing documentaries and videos games such as Slender: The Eight Pages. I went into more detail about his beginnings here.
Is This Really the Fault of Video Games?
Many news outlets have been blaming video games as the culprit. However, many times this pointing of fingers is hasty, and is not justifiable once presented with all the evidence.
In this case, it’s not the best idea to let a child with a history of mental instability read horror stories, especially on a website containing a disclaimer. The same would pertain to horror movies or books– anything that the parents wouldn’t want acted out.
To blame tragedies such as these on video game manufacturers is like blaming obesity on food. A person should always be held accountable for his/her actions, and (in my opinion), should never be blamed on anyone but themselves.
