Entertainment
Internet Meme Takes On Disturbing Life Of Its Own In Max True Crime Documentary
By Robert Scucci
| Published
They say that you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet because there is so much misinformation floating around out there, but sometimes we can’t help ourselves. For as long as humanity has had the ability to tell stories, folklore and tall tales have been forms of entertainment that mirror our own lives as a means to make sense of our existence and whatever existential quandaries we face on a daily basis. 2016’s Beware the Slenderman, an HBO original streaming on Max, aims to unpack just how modern folklore birthed through the internet has real-life consequences when fiction is regarded as fact, and how grave the consequences can be when a mythological creature like the Slender Man takes on a life of its own despite the fact that it has always been a work of fiction.
Beware the Slenderman goes into the creation of the Slender Man, the mythology surrounding him, and the harrowing incident known as the Slender Man Stabbing that took place in Wisconsin back in 2014 when two girls, Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser, stabbed their friend, Payton “Bella” Leutner, 19 times to appease the fictional character who allegedly influenced their behavior.
Slender Man Started As A Photoshop Contest
The Slender Man’s origin can be tracked down to the Something Awful forums in 2009, when Eric Knudsen entered the paranormal Photoshop contest that inspired him to create the creature. Beware the Slenderman explains that the creature – a tall and skinny, faceless and tentacled man in a suit – became so popular because online users started writing their own folklore about the being that reflected their own fears and anxieties in ways similar to traditional folk stories.
As the Slender Man’s popularity began to grow, so did the imaginations of Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser, who became obsessed with the Slender Man, which led to their attempted murder of Bella. Feeling as if she were under the Slender Man’s spell, Morgan Geyser became increasingly paranoid, and claims she was instructed by the Slender Man to kill Bella before meeting him at his home, Slender Mansion.
Where Were Their Parents?
Geyser and Wesier’s parents are interviewed extensively in Beware the Slenderman, and their primary concern is how to handle supervising the online activity of their other children after the stabbing took place. Growing concerned over the amount of screen time their kids are required to have through iPads and other devices for their studies, they wonder what else they could do outside of supervising their children 24/7. But as the documentary goes deeper into Morgan Geyser’s psyche at the time of the murder, we learn that she was suffering from auditory visual and auditory hallucinations that she didn’t tell her parents – who are by all accounts active and attentive parents – about.
Revealing Interrogations
Though there are no first-hand accounts from Bella (who thankfully survived) in Beware the Slenderman, we learn through interrogation footage how Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier reacted to the crime they had just committed shortly after they were apprehended. Given the severity of their crimes, they were both tired as adults, but not without a lengthy legal battle to determine how mentally fit each girl was at the time of the stabbing.
Beware the Slenderman provides a unique look at how sometimes internet memes and urban legends can get out of hand and have real life consequences. What I appreciated most is how the Slender Man Stabbing was framed as an isolated incident without placing blame on the Slender Man’s creator, Eric Knudsen. While there’s no clear-cut answer on how the stabbing itself could have been prevented given the course of events that Beware the Slenderman tries to make sense of, it still serves as a cautionary tale about just how quickly truth can become stranger than a collaborative work of fiction.
You can stream Beware the Slenderman on Max.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
