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October 18, 2025 17 mins

What connects a 2014 internet horror tragedy to the fear of 1692 Salem? In this captivating 15-minute clip from our full conversation, Josh and Sarah—along with Ain't it Scary with Sean and Carrie Podcast —draw haunting parallels between the young girls involved in the Slender Man stabbing case and the afflicted girls of the Salem witch trials.

How do fear, belief, and community pressure transform young people into actors in real-world tragedies? From oppressed accusers in colonial Massachusetts to pre-teens acting on digital folklore. A thought-provoking exploration of monsters, morality, and the girls who became part of history's shocking moments.


Episode Highlights

🔮 Girls Under Pressure - Comparing the afflicted girls of Salem to the Slender Man crime perpetrators

⚖️ Belief Gone Wrong - When fear of something unseen leads to tragedy

🎃 Monster or Victim? - Society's struggle to categorize young people who do terrible things

👻 The Power of Narrative - How stories—whether Puritan theology or internet creepypasta—drive real-world actions 🕯️ Panic Then and Now - What the Salem trials teach us about modern viral panic


About Our Returning Guests

Sean & Carrie host Ain't it Scary with Sean and Carrie, where a skeptic and a believer explore the unknown, unsolved, unbelievable, and just plain weird. With their passion for history and uncovering truth, they bring complementary perspectives to every mystery they tackle.


Keywords

Slender Man, Salem witch trials, afflicted girls, creepypasta, true crime, digital folklore, witch hunts, moral panic, paranormal podcast, horror podcast, Ain't it Scary, historical parallels, Salem Massachusetts, youth violence, folklore


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Don't wander off the path—subscribe to The Thing About Salem and join us every episode as we explore the trials, mysteries, and untold stories of Salem and beyond.

Also check out: Ain't it Scary with Sean and Carrie wherever you listen to podcasts!

Keep the porch light on. 🎃


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