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 Forum index » Chaotic Fiction » Marble Hornets
[META] Slenderman: Stalking vs. Observing
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kevrock
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Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Posts: 320

 		[META] Slenderman: Stalking vs. Observing
An analysis of SM's behavior based on a breakdown of each video's details
I was noticing patterns in the SM occurrences between the various videos. I decided to compile the relevant details into a Google Doc spreadsheet (see link below).

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AiG07UeS1XcadFM5TlU5b2tYMng0SlF4UDVSTHNHN0E&hl=en

By analyzing the videos for similarities, I have noted 2 distinct sets of behaviors that SM exhibits, which I labeled "Stalking" and "Observing":

Scenario 1- Stalking: 7 instances (5 w/out audio, 2 w/ audio)
  • SM stalks Alex
  • Alex is the only person in video
  • SM moves (except 1 variant where he's standing still)
  • At night
  • On foot (except 1 variant w/ in Alex's car)
  • No audio (except for 2 variants)


Scenario 2- Observing: 5 instances
  • SM appears
  • SM stands still
  • SM teleports/co-locates/duplicates but is not seen moving
  • Alex plus others in video
  • Daytime
  • On MH Set (including filming, rehearsing, location scouting)
  • Videos contain multiple distortions


All appearances of SM in the videos falls into one of these 2 scenarios. The remaining 5 videos do not contain SM appearances (to the best of our knowledge) and have minimal, if any, audio/visual distortions.

Based on this analysis, it seems as though the distortion associated w/ SM appearances only happens when Alex plus others are present. One could hypothesize SM uses this distortion as a stealth/cloaking mechanism when he's observing and not moving.

When SM is stalking Alex alone, the only distortion is the lack of audio. This could be as simple as Alex just doesn't turn on the mic when he's running for his life, or it may be intentional by SM, such as a way to prevent his prey from calling for help.

Comments? Suggestions? Edits?

PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:25 pm
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msheadwound
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Joined: 15 Oct 2009
Posts: 182
Location: Ohio

 		Damn, that is one sweet spreadsheet.

I know there are some people who claim they see SM in Entry 3 (thread), but if so, it seems to slot neatly into "observing" (Daytime, not moving) except that Alex is by himself.
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:44 pm
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Kilo
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Joined: 09 Oct 2009
Posts: 278

 		I'd like to contribute that even though we have multiple stalking incidents, I believe that 4 of them (1/4/6/10) are all from the same night. Possibly 14, but I sure as hell wouldn't sleep if he followed me to my house. Which could indicate that the "stalking" behavior may have been some kind of climax to all his observing.

PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:05 pm
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TheAtroxious
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Joined: 14 Oct 2009
Posts: 428
Location: Chicago, Illinois

 		Pfft, if I had the choice between the slender man or my ex stalking me to my house, I'd pick the slender man any day. My ex was a grade-A creep.

But seriously, awesome spreadsheet. This could be very useful in organising our facts and cutting down on the confusion when it comes to what happened in each entry.

Also, I agree with Kilo, that the "stalking" is pretty much the same as "observing" in the end. Personally, I think he's doing it for a reason unbeknowest to us, the viewers, but in the end, sometimes he's just being more laid back than others.

PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:38 pm
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Two2teps
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Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 206

 		Love the spreadsheet breakdown, I need to get you on speed dial for when Lost comes back Smile

I like the break down between stalking and observing though I think it's hard to say which he's doing. At any given instant he could be doing either it just depends on what parts of it where filmed.

Another thing any trait that has a variant to it I think you have to throw out at least as a trait of Stalking or Observing. You can't have a rule with a ton of exception unless you can some how justify them.

The one exception I'd make is in Entry #2 where you have him listed as standing. It's implied that he had moved as Alex is filming the wrong side of the road. If we are going to say that he is in fact in Entry 2 that means he moved locations in the context of that video and didn't simply just go away. If he's not in the video then the entire point is moot and the trait of him moving stands when "stalking" stands.

I also like that we only ever see movement at night and/or when Alex is alone.

PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 6:50 pm
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TNC
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 		Wonderful job!

PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:45 pm
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chaos
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Joined: 21 May 2009
Posts: 895
Location: The town of immovable markes, england

 		Re: [META] Slenderman: Stalking vs. Observing
An analysis of SM's behavior based on a breakdown of each video's details
kevrock wrote:

[*]SM teleports/co-locates/duplicates but is not seen moving


looks interesting, not sure if it will be that useful, but it's pretty cool anyways Wink

the quote^
ye what?

PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:25 pm
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kevrock
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Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Posts: 320
Two2teps wrote:
Love the spreadsheet breakdown, I need to get you on speed dial for when Lost comes back Smile


Sure, just get my Lostpedia link outta my profile page.

Two2teps wrote:
I like the break down between stalking and observing though I think it's hard to say which he's doing. At any given instant he could be doing either it just depends on what parts of it where filmed.


Observing was an obvious choice, but stalking was a little harder to name. I chose stalking b/c it indicates he's stealthfully moving into position; something active vs just standing there and starring. Yes, one leads to another, but I think when you factor in the continuity of the time, location, and people presents its a fairly obvious pattern.

Two2teps wrote:
Another thing any trait that has a variant to it I think you have to throw out at least as a trait of Stalking or Observing. You can't have a rule with a ton of exception unless you can some how justify them.


Well, I did describe them as scenarios not rules. Smile The two videos that are variants on the stalking scenario are #2 and #11. They have more things in common than they do different, especially when compared to the observation scenarios, that I think it's OK to excuse them as part of this category.

In #2, there's audio (as he has to recount his tale), but he's also inside the car and not immediately in SM's presence. In #11, there's is minimal sound and SM is hiding in the dark room in front of the curtains, unseen to Alex. He hasn't moved yet, but surely he moved very soon afterward into Alex's room. But they both take place at night, when Alex is alone, and don't feature any other distortions.

Two2teps wrote:
I also like that we only ever see movement at night and/or when Alex is alone.


Yes, now that we can step back and look at them in a greater context, I'm surprisingly impressed w/ the thought the PM's have placed in them. They are starting to form their own perverse logic. Smile

PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:44 am
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savatage
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Joined: 26 Oct 2009
Posts: 78

 		Two things, I'll keep it short and sweet.

1) Observing could lead to stalking- "getting to know the enemy"- since the mess of tapes J received are out of date, as are the entries (chronologically.) Many of the tapes are not MH related, since Alex had an affinity to film himself, apparently, 24/7. So it makes sense in a way that SM would observe while MH was being filmed and stalk after, since he "picked a target" or what-have-you.

2) The mic being turned off when he's running doesn't quite work with me- unless he had a boom or an external mic, which doesn't seem necessary for the camera he is using, nor does it seem like the case (in or out of game), the mic of a handheld DV most likely wouldn't be sophisticated enough to be turned off.

Smile

PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:37 am
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Two2teps
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Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 206
kevrock wrote:

Well, I did describe them as scenarios not rules. Smile...

...Yes, now that we can step back and look at them in a greater context, I'm surprisingly impressed w/ the thought the PM's have placed in them. They are starting to form their own perverse logic. Smile



Whoops, my bad on that one. Smile

I agree as well, I think we should work on drilling the scenarios into a set or rules or guide lines. If we can start decoding their "production bible", the set of rules they set for their story, we can start really getting to the heart of the matter.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:54 am
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chaos
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Joined: 21 May 2009
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Location: The town of immovable markes, england

 		or maybe they roughly make it up on the spot/mh has a clear narrative that doesn't neccesarily have a pattern?

and anyway, over analyzing like that ruins the story...

PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:27 pm
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morscata12
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chaos wrote:
or maybe they roughly make it up on the spot/mh has a clear narrative that doesn't neccesarily have a pattern?

and anyway, over analyzing like that ruins the story...


Any degree of analysis in a story can qualify as overanalysis if you feel like understanding the story is a waste of time. I can understand if you're someone who casually watches the YouTube clips and admires the raw freakiness of it all. But there is going to be analysis on an ARG forum, and it feels like you're maligning our efforts here. I'm sure that isn't the intent, but it's hard to spin the suggestion that "we are wasting our time" any other way.

There are plenty of reasons to say that analyzing a specific facet of the story is unnecessary - especially if you feel that that facet has been disproven by something in-game. For example, I was fairly sure that Entry 17 took place upstairs, but several convincing reasons have been presented that have moved my attention away from that theory. If you feel that specific attributes of the spreadsheets are incorrect, feel free to correct them. But please avoid an out-of-hand dismissal of any efforts here.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:07 pm
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chaos
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 		that was a response to two steps, about the sets of rules they set for the story..

my feelings on the excel thingie is further up the page
EDIT: which reminds me:
Quote:

[*]SM teleports/co-locates/duplicates but is not seen moving

^ye what?

PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:23 pm
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kevrock
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Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Posts: 320
chaos wrote:
Quote:
[*]SM teleports/co-locates/duplicates but is not seen moving

^ye what?


In the observing videos (during the day, Alex + others, on MH sets), we don't see SM move. He just stands there motionless; however, he moves in some way as he either quickly appears then vanishes (or viceversa, such as one sec he's not in the alley, then he is) -OR- he is clearly seen in one spot, then seen almost immediately elsewhere (e.g., entry 13).

There's only so many ways you can explain this: either he's moving ludicrously fast, he is teleporting, there's multiple SM, he's co-locating (existing in many places at once), etc.

I'm not claiming to know what that mechanic is, but the characteristic of him just appearing w/out moving is a trait of the observation scenarios, as opposed to the stalking ones where we actually see him in locomotion.

PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:17 am
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chaos
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 		most of them could just be explained by him being off camera at the time,
and he does kinda sway in 17 Razz

o_O mental image of slendy doing that hawaiian wave dancy thing

PostPosted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:57 pm
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