On the Proxy Stabbings and blaming creepypasta

Tragedies brought on by shitty parenting? Oh noes! What to do?
1970s: Let’s blame rock n’ roll and Dungeons and Dragons!
1980s: Let’s blame horror movies!
1990’s-early 2000’s: let’s blame violent video games!
2014: let’s blame Creepypasta!

I this posted in response to the “Proxy stabbings” to remind people that blaming some convenient “bad” thing in order to absolve personal or parental responsibility, or otherwise discourage investigating the actual motivation for a crime is nothing new.

Stop blaming violent video games, rock music, creepypasta, and scary movies for not raising your kid correctly. People really need to know the difference between reality and fantasy. Don’t assume they intrinsically know this; they need to be taught it. THE INTERNET/TV WILL NOT RAISE YOUR KIDS. YOU DO.

My heart goes out to the victims, and I hope they make a full recovery.

also, as alpineparkway noted in an ask to me on Tumblr:

I personally don't believe the problem lies with Creepypasta. It's more of a problem of moderation - they got obsessed with it, so it started affecting them in real life. It's the whole "too much of a good thing is bad for you." It's wrong to target Creepypasta as a whole. It's like saying women caused the Elliot Rodger killings, rather than Rodger himself. It's a shame Creepypasta has such a bad name for itself despite it being enjoyable - in moderation.

Please spread this around!