While most of us are naturally curious and suffer from more or less pronounced FOMO, meaning we have to know, see and hear everything others do, it’s not always best for us.
Some things are better left unknown or at least not put in the nightmarishly dim light like the facts shared on the “Creepy.fact” Instagram account. Followed by 231k followers, the page calls itself “the scariest account on Instagram” so we are about to see if that’s true. We wrapped up some of the most interesting posts shared on this page, so pull your seat closer, as you may want to leave your lights on.
The truth is... nothing beats the enduring appeal of things that fall under the categories of horror, grotesque, and mystery. Just look at the recent craze around gothic and horror TV shows (I refuse to believe there exists a person who hasn’t yet watched Tim Burton’s Wednesday) and serial killer documentaries (Netflix’ spin on Dahmer, anyone?!).
So to find out more about what it is that makes us tick when it comes to horror, we spoke with Lauren McMenemy, a south London-based writer of gothic-influenced folk horror who is currently working on a novel set in the world of the Victorian occult. And she was happy to share some very interesting insights into the topic!
This post may include affiliate links.
“Humans are inherently morbid, whether they like to admit it or not,” Lauren McMenemy, a professional writer, journalist, and experienced writing mentor and coach told Bored Panda. “We are fascinated by death - by avoiding it, by cheating it, by embracing it, by understanding what comes next.”
“And I think the last bit is really why we love the creepy stuff; ghosts and skeletons and vampires and other creepy things help us to explore what comes after death. As for mysteries, well, who doesn't love a good mystery! As well as being morbid, we are also inherently curious creatures,” McMenemy explained.
Bloody huntsman. Those dinner plate sized ones creeping out from behind a picture on the wall do tend to create stained undies.
McMenemy argues that it's what marks out humans and has helped us to grow and develop over generations and millennia. “We want to figure out the things we don't understand, and when we can't figure them out then some of us become obsessed by them.” McMenemy still remembers her own childhood obsession with the Bermuda Triangle, and who didn’t have one!
When asked whether horror as a genre is becoming more popular lately, McMenemy said that it definitely feels like it. “A large part of that is down to social media and the growth of self-publishing. The 'establishment' publishing houses still don't seem to like much in the way of horror - though serial killer fiction used to be considered horror, once upon a time! - but there is a huge online horror community, and they love to share discoveries,” the writer explained.
If they saw the c**p their laughter is used for now they would be turning in their graves.
Moreover, “Self-publishing has made it easier for people to share their own stories, too. And then we have the visual medium, and streaming services making access to horror much easier. I think the appetite has always been there, but it's just easier to get hold of that ‘fix,’” McMenemy explained.
We were also eager to find out what makes a book or a film particularly creepy. The academic answer to what makes things creepy, McMenemy argues, lies in the concept of the "uncanny", or the psychological experience of something as mysterious and creepy in a strangely familiar way.
Come on BP, that's at least the 3rd time in 2 weeks that you put this pic in a list...
“It's the strangeness of the ordinary, the field where we are unable to distinguish between pleasure and displeasure and so we become anxious. Creepiness is about the uncertainty of a threat; you think there's something to worry about, but the signals aren't clear enough to send you into action,” the writer told us.
Meanwhile, “in books and film, this often takes the form of things just outside of our vision, or of familiar signals such as old and dilapidated houses, cobwebs, the unkempt and unloved. It results in that tingling down your spine, the goosebumps on your arms - you can't quite figure out what's going on, but you are intrigued…” McMenemy concluded.
Well it really depends on the context too. While it is cruel to “bet” on them in some sort of way, they also must have done something pretty gruesome to be on the death row
Load More Replies...
I think he was just the ballboy or something and wasn't actually on death row. (Um, I hope).
Load More Replies...
Off topic, but where has Zara the squiddy squid gone? Haven't seen her for a few days now.
I have wondered that. It’s fun that us pandas know and care about each other
Load More Replies...
If I remember correctly, it was the jailmaster-main-jail-guy's-son. He was the ball boy I think
Load More Replies...
If you're bothered by torture, then for heaven's sake don't look into the atrocities going on every day in the US prison system.
Load More Replies...
Oh come on, some of them look like they're barely any older than 17! That's just horrible.
Horrific. It feels like something a dystopian movie would be about.
Better than making them fight to the death, like gladiators. Also, I hope the little kid in that pic is just their mascot.
I wouldn't want to play against them, because I'd feel bad if I scored -- but it would be the authorities fault for setting this up. The punishment for the crimes should be separate.
And long was that? does anybody have an answer, that’s just plain cruel.
Seriously?!? That was 14 in a row here! Don't you have anything better to do but go around 👎ing everybody for no good reason, you insipid, facetious, implacable, feckless Troglodyte!?! I'm just following you around canceling you out with 👍👍👍 anyway. Bwahaha!!!
Did they get that idea from the Aztecs or something? Because in their game the losing team was sacrificed. I think before that though, it was the winning team that was sacrificed but nobody wanted to win. Don't quote me. I could be wrong.
presumably they will play really well due to their lives depending on it.
Load More Replies...
Thanks to all the BP fact checkers ensuring I know when I'm recieving Net Zero Information
They’ve been changing a lot of definitions lately actually.
Load More Replies...
is this stuff /trying/ to make me stay inside more than i already do
I really need to remember not to look at lists with headings like these.
This thread needs an update posting this does not mean it will happen.. w[hooo2023
Seriously?!? Why the 🤬 is this listed under "Animals"?!? Only 6 of 21 are animal related!?! And the rest are so 🤬ed up!!! I'm really getting tired of being tricked into going to the non-animal junk!!!
Thanks to all the BP fact checkers ensuring I know when I'm recieving Net Zero Information
They’ve been changing a lot of definitions lately actually.
Load More Replies... is this stuff /trying/ to make me stay inside more than i already do
I really need to remember not to look at lists with headings like these.
This thread needs an update posting this does not mean it will happen.. w[hooo2023
Seriously?!? Why the 🤬 is this listed under "Animals"?!? Only 6 of 21 are animal related!?! And the rest are so 🤬ed up!!! I'm really getting tired of being tricked into going to the non-animal junk!!!
