The obsession with Slenderman

My friends are always talking about creepypasta. When we take walks at night (as the nocturnal lifestyle of the videogamer often leads to), they'll invariably comment on the scenery and the landscape as if it were an opportunity for us to be attacked by a Cthulian monster. At times I was so unnerved by it (and as recently as last night) I would be extremely belligerent in demanding that they stopped.

Last night we walked through a graveyard. I kept my head. They said they saw something, heard something, and wanted to go after it. I requested that they leave it alone. Why bug it? I guess that's my theory on Slenderman, or men, depending on your belief. If I get attacked by an (I assume) an unworldly monster, or another creature, to be more precise, well then there's not much I can do about that. But am I going to seek it out? Hell no.

So I guess I do believe in it on some level, even though I do have my sobering moments of complete atheism. I don't know if I'll ever be one of those curious enough to seek out those types of mysteries. Is it out of fear? Maybe. Out of respect for the privacy and lives (in whatever form they may exist) for those other beings? Maybe. I don't know, I just don't think of the need for Slenderman or ghost hunting. Now obviously if one goes out and attacks you or others for no good reason, that's hardly fair. But going into their territory on some other day unrelated to anything, that's hardly fair to them.

Am I terribly weird, for having this idea of "respecting the privacy" of these creatures? For humanitarian reasons for things that aren't considered human? Do to my own code of ethics, I don't think so. But others might differ. Please, discuss it.