A Broken Record, Basically

Summary:

I forgot I didn't have this greenlit, so I have to drag myself back to the idea forums.

A Broken Record, Basically

bloohued 26 Dec 2019 18:04

It's a talking record player that is self aware and can see and hear. It has a passive knowledge of those around it, but can collect the memories of anyone who touches it with no ill effect to that person; it uses these memories to repair itself. When it's damaged however, it can occasionally transfer memories and identities to someone else. It also has brain matter woven into it.

In terms of personality, it's always bored, has a bit of an attitude, takes pride in storytelling, and has no qualms about spilling everyone's secrets.

Okay, that one sucked.
A failed musician somehow ends up inside his record player. His personality, memories and such are inside the actual record while he's able to hear, talk, and even see through that particular player. On any other record player, it plays the piece on one side and various ramblings from the musician on the other. It can collect the memories of anyone who touches it with no ill effect to the person, and if it's damaged, it can give out memories or even scramble your brains completely. Left to its own devices, it constantly rambles about how it previous life sucked and envies the memories it gets, or it talks about how it could still make it big and even use the memories it gets in songs. Either way, it still repeats it self constantly, like say, a broken record.

Last edited on 13 Feb 2020 01:03 by bloohued Show more

Re: A Broken Record, Basically

gee0765 26 Dec 2019 21:47

Currently, you have a thing that does a thing. This isn't enough to support a full article, as it lacks a narrative. SCPs are a method of telling a story using a special format; they need a narrative, even a subtle one. For a good example of an obvious narrative, check out something like SCP-2410. For a more subtle narrative, check out something like SCP-4354. Also, have a look at the Guides and Essays tab of the site, where you can find pages that could help you.

[+ Helpful Guides/Essays]

http://www.scp-wiki.net/yourjouney-part-1
http://www.scp-wiki.net/yourjouney-part-2
http://www.scp-wiki.net/you-already-know-what-the-fuck-is-going-on
http://www.scp-wiki.net/an-exercise-in-narrative-based-scps
Check out the Guide Hub for even more!

For your concept specifically, I don't find it especially interesting. The only anomalous effect that really lends itself to an obvious narrative is the part with swapping memories, but that requires the anomaly to be damaged which the Foundation wouldn't let happen. Also, memory swapping has been done before to some extent in SCP-1072 and SCP-2644. Therefore, you'd need to put your own spin on it.

As for the other effects, the absorption of memories only seems like it would support a narrative of the record player talking about other people's memories, which episode basically just be an exposition dump. And the brain matter part feels entirely extraneous and doesn't contribute to the concept much at all.

Last edited on 26 Dec 2019 23:37 by gee0765 Show more

Re: A Broken Record, Basically

bloohued 13 Feb 2020 01:03

I tried fixing it.

Re: A Broken Record, Basically

Doctor Fullham 27 Dec 2019 20:23

I have to agree with gee0765 for the most part. You have the baseline of a concept that could work, but we need to know what story you want to tell with it. What emotions are you trying to get out of the reader? We know what it can do, but what are you going to do with it?

An SCP article is much more than simply an anomalous item, being, place, or event. The true meat of the SCP is the story around the anomalous thing. The thing itself is a vehicle that the narrative is attached to. To give my best example from Series 1, look at SCP 093: The anomalous item itself is a rock that turns mirrors into interdimensional portals. The thing that makes this SCP shine is the story; the history of the dimension that it leads to.

In addition to the ones mentioned earlier, I recommend reading several items on the Guide Hub:

How to Write an SCP

Things What Do a Thing: An Essay On Anomalies That Are Things That Do A Thing

There are other guides there that can be very helpful, but these are some of the most often recommended for first-time contributors.

General Notes

It also has brain matter woven into it.

I agree with Gee that this feels unnecessary. It just feels like a bit of body horror attached with no real connecting thread. Also, is this a record, a record player, or both?

it uses these memories to repair itself.

How is it broken? You titled it "a broken record" but don't mention that anywhere else in the description. Is it trying to get back to a specific, fully functional state? Has it regained abilities over time? What is being fixed? Will it stop once it is fixed?

When it's damaged however, it can occasionally transfer memories and identities to someone else.

Once again, something that is not mentioned elsewhere. A complete identity is much, much more complex than a memory. Does it absorb memories, identities, or both? If it transfers an identity to someone, does it replace their existing identity? Do they swap?

Does it absorb all of a subject's memories instantly, or does prolonged contact allow it to absorb more? Is there a limitation on how many memories it can have stored? Can it choose what to replay or is it random? You've only given us a nebulous idea of what this anomaly can actually do.

Even with the above questions answered, we need to know more than just "it's a talking record player that absorbs memories." What story are you going to tell - How The Foundation found it, Who or what created it and why, did someone use it to some end? (These are not all questions that must be answered, these are some possible narrative hooks.) You need something that differentiates this as an SCP, instead of just an Anomalous Item.

I recommend reading several (at least 10-20) of the top-rated SCPs from the last several months, and avoid reading series 1 SCPs for inspiration. Many series 1 SCPs would not last a day under current SCP standards, and many are just superpowered humanoids or things that do a thing. (This does not apply to all series 1 SCPs, but many of them were written before the wiki's style had really been cemented.)

The anomalous object, while important, is not actually the main focus of the SCP. A good story, a compelling narrative, something that makes the reader feel something - that is the goal of an SCP article. What feeling do you want to evoke from the reader? Horror? Empathy? Sadness? You need to create a narrative around this object and its effects.

I am not saying this to discourage you, I just want you to understand the amount of effort that goes into creating a successful SCP.

If you can revise this idea with a story that you want to tell, we will be able to give you much more meaningful and constructive critique.

The SCP is the vehicle, the narrative is the people driving it. You can have the shiniest, most interesting car with all the newest features, but without the narrative to drive it, it's not going anywhere. Where are you going to take your readers, and what route are you taking?

Re: A Broken Record, Basically

bloohued 13 Feb 2020 04:59

I tried fixing it