# So it seems creepypasta has hit the big time... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 3, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949 "2014-06-03T18:58:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/61 "2014-06-04T14:48:38Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > They knew it was wrong, they knew there was chance to get punished for it, they did it anyway and have no remorse about doing it. So if a 9 year old goes into Wal Mart and stuffs 5 packs of Pokemon cards in his pants and walks out the front door would you support prosecuting him as an adult? He clearly knew what he was doing was wrong and there would be punishment if he got caught otherwise he would not have hidden the cards in his pants and would have just walked out the front door with them in his hands instead. Again, I don’t think the severity of the crime should be a determining factor in deciding if the perpetrator is an adult or not. Why do you think differently? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/62 "2014-06-04T14:50:50Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > How does the enormity of the crime have any bearing on the age of criminal responsibility of the perpetrator? This is the same kind of unthinking stupidity that leads people to say things like “a sin against God is infinite and therefore merits infinite punishment.” That’s bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/63 "2014-06-04T14:53:52Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > Why would they not have the “cranial development” to face the punishment for it? There’s some pretty good evidence here in the fact that they didn’t seem to give any thought to the fact that they could get caught and punished. At least from this article, there doesn’t appear to be any sign at all that they were anything but oblivious to the long term consequences of what they did. That’s evidence, at least, that they don’t have an adult-level understanding of what they did. (Of course by that token, lots of adults also don’t have an adult level understanding of what they’ve done but the presumption is that a child will grow into that understanding, someone who is already an adult is probably “stuck in their ways.”) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/64 "2014-06-04T15:06:44Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > So if a 9 year old goes into Wal Mart and stuffs 5 packs of Pokemon cards in his pants and walks out the front door would you support prosecuting him as an adult? He clearly knew what he was doing was wrong and there would be punishment if he got caught otherwise he would not have hidden the cards in his pants and would have just walked out the front door with them in his hands instead. > > Again, I don’t think the severity of the crime should be a determining factor in deciding if the perpetrator is an adult or not. Why do you think differently? Talk about false equivalencies! Why not try him as an adult? What do you think that entails for petty theft? What is the difference in this case? If I, an adult first offender, stole Pokemon cards from Wal mart, what do you think my adult punishment would be? Five years in pound-me-in-the-ass prison? No, more likely a fine and maybe 30 days in county, suspended. What do you think a 9 year old would get? Remanded to his parents, maybe. Plus restitution. Big difference there, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/65 "2014-06-04T15:18:14Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Talk about false equivalencies! > > Why not try him as an adult? What do you think that entails for petty theft? What is the difference in this case? > > If I, an adult first offender, stole Pokemon cards from Wal mart, what do you think my adult punishment would be? Five years in pound-me-in-the-ass prison? No, more likely a fine and maybe 30 days in county, suspended. What do you think a 9 year old would get? Remanded to his parents, maybe. Plus restitution. Big difference there, huh? Where did you see that I was equating attempted murder with stealing Pokemon cards? I was illustrating that a child knowing that something is wrong and that they will be punished if caught doesn’t make them an adult in and of itself, which seems to be what was said a few posts up. My point was that someone is either an adult or they aren’t, it’s not situational. Why do you think that it is? Why have a juvenile/adult distinction? If you think there shouldn’t be then thats a different discussion, but right now there IS a distinction. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/66 "2014-06-04T15:21:53Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Either it’s at 18, as society has previously decided, or it’s completely meaningless. I don’t know if they should be tried as adults, but this is a false dichotomy. I’m guessing there aren’t very many cases that are exactly like this one, but does anyone know how well “treatment” (whatever that includes) works for these sorts of crimes? I’ve always had the impression that rehabilitation for pre-meditated violent crimes wasn’t something we really knew how to do. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/67 "2014-06-04T16:05:15Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Ah. OK, I know of 4chan. Been there a couple times but never saw anything that interested me. I’d try reddit’s “nosleep” subreddit. Mixed bag, as anything reddit-y, of course, but at least you don’t have to actually physically go to 4chan. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/68 "2014-06-04T16:17:36Z")
I’m with Rachellogram, trying the kids as adults is wrong. They are juveniles. To all of you who are OK with therm being tried as an adult: do you think we should just dispense entirely with our juvenile justice system? Granted, the juvenile justice system sometimes leads to travesties, such as the sentences of 30 and 90 days (to be served on weekends) in a juvenile justice facility for [the three kids who raped Audrie Potts](http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_24913018/audrie-pott-boys-admit-sexually-assaulting-saratoga-teen) and then posted pictures of her online, causing her to commit suicide. Be a shame in every respect if these girls got a similar wrist slapping for a crime that would net them years in prison as adults. So I understand the reluctance of some to consider treating them as juveniles. But the Potts case points to better sentencing guidelines (and more competent judges) in the juvenile justice system rather than trashing it entirely, which is kinda what trying 12 year olds as adults is all about. I suspect that at least one of the girls is a sociopath/psychopath, however. Medical care for both of them in the form of extensive psychological counseling would probably be a very good idea, along with a lengthy stay in juvenile prison and a probation program that would put the girls in adult prison if they so much as glare at someone once they are released. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/69 "2014-06-04T18:23:55Z")
Moving this to IMHO from Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/70 "2014-06-04T20:28:53Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > The enormity of the crime has everything to do with it. Murder (or attempted murder) is an adult crime far, far more serious than petty theft. 12 year olds are presumably old enough to know the difference between right and wrong, and the juvenile justice system is a slap on the wrist compared to the adult justice system. You’ve not addressed my question at all. If a twelve year old knows the difference between right and wrong then every crime they commit should see them treated as adults yes? if not why not? why should only the very bad crimes see them treated as adults? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/71 "2014-06-04T20:37:58Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > This is the same kind of unthinking stupidity that leads people to say things like “a sin against God is infinite and therefore merits infinite punishment.” > > That’s bullshit. Utter non-sequitur. I ask why the enormity of the crime changes how the judicial system should treats juveniles and no-one seems willing to explain why. Your post is just hand-waving. Address the point rather than whining about it. Tell me your logic, why do think what I’ve said is stupid? What thinking have you put into your own comments? ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/72 "2014-06-04T20:49:12Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > I have no problem with them being charged as adults, even though the parents of these girls clearly share in the blame. How do the parents share in the blame? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/73 "2014-06-04T20:58:40Z")
It’s not unusual to charge juveniles as adults for murder or attempted murder. My state changed the law after 2 teens[shot up an elementary school playground](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_Johnson_and_Andrew_Golden)(with multiple fatalities). Little bastards are already out thanks to the juvenile system. New law means that won’t happen again. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/74 "2014-06-04T21:00:58Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Moving this to IMHO from Cafe Society. Is this because my thread got hijacked into a discussion of juvenile justice? If so, that’s mildly annoying (the hijack, not the moderation). So what if the conversation turns back to creepypastas later? Would it be moved back, or would there be enough IMHO material there to keep it here? ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/75 "2014-06-04T21:04:56Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I suspect that at least one of the girls is a sociopath/psychopath, however. Medical care for both of them in the form of extensive psychological counseling would probably be a very good idea, along with a lengthy stay in juvenile prison and a probation program that would put the girls in adult prison if they so much as glare at someone once they are released. I think you’ve nailed this. These kids thought Slenderman was real. When they were arrested, they were on their way, **on foot** , to a national forest 300 miles away to visit Slenderman’s “mansion.” All of this “it’s a serious adult crime, let’s try them as adults” talk sounds like recreational outrage to me. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/76 "2014-06-04T21:14:26Z")
Ok confess. How many people came here expecting bad experiences at Olive Garden? I’ve thrown out a couple boxes of creepy pasta with bugs in the box. [little hard black bugs.](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/10/30/article-2480153-1913095E00000578-425_634x421.jpg) Now thats creepy. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/77 "2014-06-04T21:15:35Z")
> [@steveroo](#): > > I think you’ve nailed this. > > These kids thought Slenderman was real. When they were arrested, they were on their way, **on foot** , to a national forest 300 miles away to visit Slenderman’s “mansion.” > > All of this “it’s a serious adult crime, let’s try them as adults” talk sounds like recreational outrage to me. The juvenile system really isn’t set up to handle a likely sociopath who would plan and commit a crime like this. Neither is the adult system the best place for these children. It’s not recreational outrage - it’s what’s the least bad solution to a dangerous child. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/78 "2014-06-04T21:35:03Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > The juvenile system really isn’t set up to handle a likely sociopath who would plan and commit a crime like this. Neither is the adult system the best place for these children. It’s not recreational outrage - it’s what’s the least bad solution to a dangerous child. Isn’t the best system some form of asylum for the insane? Putting 12 year olds in an adult prison sounds absurd to me. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/79 "2014-06-04T21:49:18Z")
Juveniles usually serve time in a facility/school for them. Then transfer to prison if they have additional time to serve as an adult. They may have to make exceptions for very dangerous teens. A reform school might not be secure enough to protect the other kids. I could easily see this sociopath girl shanking her cellmate to impress Slenderman. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949/80 "2014-06-04T22:18:36Z")
> [@steveroo](#): > > How do the parents share in the blame? The girls planned this for weeks. It’s hard for me to believe there weren’t warning signs. I grew up reading horror stories and watching horror movies. I never once thought about sacrificing one of my friends to a mythical villain because my parents taught me the difference between fantasy and reality. Now I’m not saying that mental illness might not be a factor, but there again, something the parents should have noticed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-it-seems-creepypasta-has-hit-the-big-time/689949.md?page=5)