unforum

[Lithp]

The big problem with Morse Code to me is that it implies that Slenderman possesses normal human communication, he just can't articulate it, due to lacking a mouth. This begs the question of why he wouldn't just write things out. He doesn't fall over objects, so the excuse that he can't see is right out. Or, to be even more efficient, he could just beam letters straight into the camera.

Epiphanies are not necessarily lazy writing in & of themselves. The trouble is that it's hard to remove yourself from the plot, which you already know in intimate detail, & figure out how much a person could figure out on their own, based on logic alone. Also, without a character handing out plot answers like candy, it is difficult to communicate to the audience that this is the actual explanation.

[Cyan507]

I hate when Slenderman appears, there's distortion and then everyone wakes up somewhere like nothing happened.

[SilentMedusa]

Here's what I'm tired of: gratuitous mystery.

This is going to be long, but that's the only way I can say this without coming off as attacking people who have different preferences, which is dumb.

Every so often during a discussion of a Slender series, someone will express frustration that we don't have any grasp of what Slendy's doing, or why. Almost immediately, several other people will reprimand them, and assert that they're wrong; not knowing anything is what makes Slender Man scary, and as soon as you start explaining anything he's ruined and we might as well just find something else to do with our time. More often than not this assertion is followed up by questions about the intelligence and maturity of the complainant, because how else could they not already understand and enjoy this concept?

I'll explain how. First, I have to touch on something else. There is a trope called Nothing Is Scarier. That's what people are talking about. If you don't know, you have to just use your imagination, and that will always be scarier than anything someone else could come up with. The thing is, this trope only works if it's done well. And as with all things, the number of people who think they can do it well is much larger than the ones who actually can.

Now, I'll talk about why this concept (as far as the Slender Man goes, at least) doesn't work for me any more. When I discovered all of this a year ago, it did work. Just reading the Slender Man Mythos page at TV Tropes gave me trouble sleeping. When I worked up the nerve to start watching Vlogs I had to watch just a few, early in the day, so by the time bedtime rolled around I would have more pleasant things at the front of my mind.

But over time, I noticed that not much was happening. And that would've been ok, but there weren't even many hints. Or implications. I stopped being scared, because there was nothing to be afraid of. Just some guy that photo bombed college students, messed up electronics, and occasionally 'took' people.

Took them where? For what purpose? Why them and not others? Those are the questions I've been called wrong for wanting answers to.

It doesn't have to be that way. Whether you make a blog, a vlog, or straight narrative fiction, this is your story. So, what is your Slender Man in your story? The possibilities are endless: demon, angel, ghost, curse-stricken human, forest spirit, government experiment gone wrong-or horribly right, rouge death spirit, unconscious psychic projection, extra-dimensional traveler, etc. That's just what I could think of off the top of my head. You (the writer) should know this, because that will affect Slendy's motives, his motives will (or should) affect his behavior, and his behavior will affect the behavior of your protagonist(s).

Now, I'm not saying you should explain all of it to us, but you should know it yourself. And you can then drop hints and clues. Things that not only we, but your protagonist can pick up on. Hell, I wouldn't mind being gently, subtly, led into making a conclusion that turned out to be wrong, but just as plausible as as the truth. Which should be suitably horrifying. Or tragic; I can see a scenario where Slender Man is actually benevolent, but because he's so very different from us human, all his genuine attempts to help end in disaster.

And I'd like to address one more problem I have with the 'not knowing makes it scarier' argument. Most of the things that have scared me over the years were things I did know all about, be they books, movies, or even video games. Which makes it a blanket statement that can't possibly apply to everyone, and shouldn't be treated as if it did.

So, that's my rant. Bless you if you read all of that, and if not, well, at least I had my say.[/i]

[thatslenderdude]

[quote="Cyan507"]

[Lithp]

[Cyan507]

I want to see less stabbings, I want the fandom that I found my home to not be the butt of a media agenda to blame someone for a violent act.
And I'm sick of people seeing people get hurt because children can't separate their fantasies from real life. It makes me sad, but at the same time give me a very sharp pain in my rear.

[quote="thatslenderdude"]

[Clairabel]

I'm nodding along with everything I'm reading, mainly because it's what I'm trying to not do with my own series. I like twists, I like a little bit of mystery, but I also love that OHHHHHH moment when everything comes together and there's some satisfaction to be had.

[knifebladepresents]

The thing is, I don't really find SLender Man that scary either. Once in awhile he'll spook me if it's done right, but mostly I am too, tired of the unsolved mysteries. The problem is, if one doesn't find a lot of these new series creepy, they don't stand on their own. There's no story beyond that.

[thatslenderdude]

[Gale]

I'm sick of seeing people ripping off other Slenderverse series and kids making very shitty videos as mention above.

[Cyan507]

[lonsumtravlr]

[Peppercorn]

[Gale]

[Lithp]