Viral Applications

Summary:

Seeking greenlight, an obsolete computer replicating itself through actions users take.

Viral Applications

Krasoon 23 Sep 2020 00:54

Seeking Greenlights: Yes

Page Type: SCP Article

Page Layout: Plan to start with its containment procedures, then its description, with a subsection about the functions of the computer. Lastly, I plan to have a set of research comments, test logs, and containment logs as addendum at the end of the article.

Elevator Pitch: The SCP seems to be an obsolete computer, with almost no value in current society, but reproduces itself by converting modern technology into replicas of it. The replicas can spread incredibly quickly, and if left unchecked, it can convert entire cities.

Central Narrative: The SCP consists of mainly two parts, the base SCP, and the new instances of itself it creates. The narrative mainly focuses around how an SCP that disrupts technology would pose a danger to cities and modern communities, but is a far less dangerous threat to a rural community. Along with this, there is also a secondary narrative about how the SCP is adapting to its containment, and whether it's more like a virus, spreading and adapting simply to reproduce, or if it's aware of its situation and is intentionally shaping itself to further its spread.

Hook/Attention-Grabber: The SCP is an instantly familiar object, yet one which also instantly seems off, due to its strange nature. The SCP can easily convert modern technology, and if left unchecked could easily spread throughout a city, not posing a lethal threat or danger, but rather a danger of being completely cut off from the rest of the world.

Additional Notes: This is my first attempt at writing an SCP, and any and all criticism would be greatly appreciated.

Updated after changes to concept

Last edited on 30 Sep 2020 12:07 by Krasoon Show more

Re: Viral Applications

Pedagon 23 Sep 2020 04:54

Hey Krasoon

Pedagon here from the Team of the Oinks! I'm here to be your critter!!

+ General Critique

The SCP seems to be an obsolete computer, with almost no value in current society

Alright sounds good. Starting with something recognizable. Great way to approach an article. Now how does it get messed up in a way?

reproduces itself by converting modern technology into replicas of it and implanting urges subconsciously to create more copies of it.

Perfect! This is a great technological anomaly! Can you explain to me more about what you mean by “implanting urges subconsciously to create more copies of it”?

The SCP consists of mainly two parts, the base SCP, and the new instances of itself it creates.

Sounds great!! How are you planning on presenting these parts in your article? Will you be doing multiple versions of the entry? Listing off the new instances? Using the SCP-####-# format in a long description? Something else entirely?

The abnormal effects and consequences are intended to create a feeling both of nostalgia, and uncertainty as to whether these are intentionally designed to be interacted with, or just innate properties is also intended.

How will you be creating a feeling of nostalgia and uncertainty in your article? How do these feelings/components fit within your article and greater story of “how SCPs become SCPs and how a single catalyst can set things in motion” or your backbone of “the constant attempts to replicate itself and the question as to whether it is conscious or not”?

The SCP is an instantly familiar object, yet one which also instantly seems off, and somewhat conscious of itself.

What makes your object an “instantly familiar object” that feels “off”? Also, what do you mean that it is “somewhat conscious of itself or not” and how do you plan on presenting this in your article?

The constant attempts to replicate itself, and the question as to whether it is conscious or not are the backbone of the story.

How do you plan on making your readers question if the machine is conscious or not? How does this contribute to your central narrative?

+ Roses

It presents a story about how SCPs become SCPs and how a single catalyst can set things in motion.

Rose 1: This is a phenomenal story to tell with the anomaly you have described. The butterfly effect is perfect for telling a story about self-replicating machines. Can you tell me more about what you mean by “a story about how SCPs become SCPs”?

Its conversion and repurposing of modern technology present a serious danger to cities, and yet a much less relevant one to rural areas.

Rose 2: THIS IS FANTASTIC!! This sentence is what drew me to your proposal and made me want to be a part of it. This is the kind of thinking that gives me faith in you as a writer. Can you tell me how you are planning on presenting this to your readers? How will this fit within your narrative?

+ Thorns 

…

I have no thorns to point at for you. I genuinely wish I did have something to point at but I really think you have a great idea and could make a great article!

You’ve got me on the hook now reel me in! I think you have a fantastic idea and a stellar proposal. However, I don’t believe any idea is perfect at stage 1. There are some questions I have left for you to consider and address for me so that I can see more of what you are intending to do. These should help you in your conceptualization of your article!

Welcome to the site! Please feel free to pm me when you have responded to my questions so I can have another look at your proposal! I'm looking forward to hearing back from you! :)

-Brian

Re: Viral Applications

Pedagon 24 Sep 2020 05:58

Hey!

Now that I have wifi I'll respond here to your pm :) I'm remixing your response a bit into common themes to give my response.

+ Object Description

The SCP tries to compel subjects to interact with it, as interaction causes it to replicate.

It takes advantage of nostalgia to get subjects to interact with it, by having the interactions with it be made up of old applications, including Alta Vista and Microsoft Office 97, hence the name, Viral Applications.

It takes advantage of viral ideas such as nostalgia, to get users to interact with it, and then spread it, similar to a virus.

So technology that has been infected by this viral program causes the technology to lure people in through nostalgia in order to replicate into other tech. Why does the viral application need to lure a human in as a vector? How does the infection process actually occur?

The reason why its unsure whether it's conscious or not is that it has adapted the way that it spreads and the effects that is has have changed since an incident where it escaped containment and began replicating.

Can you tell me more about this containment escape and how it will be fitting in your article? How will this be teaching the reader about your anomaly?

The question as to whether it is conscious or not changes it from a simple anomalous object to one that could be considered alive or aware. If it is conscious, the replication is not just an effect of an SCP, but an attempt to grow.

I really like this idea! But my biology background is screaming at me to ask if you have put any thought into the parallels between what you are describing here and real life biological viruses and the debate around if they are considered as life or not? Essentially it is the same argument: This thing tries to replicate itself but shows no other forms of the classifications of what makes something living. Is replication enough?

I'm planning to use the SCP-####-# format, as functionally every replica of the SCP is identical to the original, except for its shape.

Sounds good! Do these other instances do anything major or are they more to show the anomalous property of the original one?

+ Central Narrative

Since it only became abnormal recently, I wanted to think about how something would become an SCP, and why? So far I've sort of settled on the idea that the SCP is created out a combination of nostalgia/fears of goin obsolete latching onto a physical form.

This is a huge narrative and I love it. The fear of becoming obsolete before you are ready is a very human fear and is something a lot of people are experiencing as the world is replacing human jobs with robots and automated systems. I think this is the golden heart at the center of your proposal.

The danger that this then presents to modern cities as opposed to rural communities is reflected in its containment procedures and addendums, which specifically highlight the necessity of keeping it isolated, and it only targeting modern, rather than obsolete technology, but I'm not fully satisfied with this yet.

I also love this as part of the ConProcs. It really shows the out-of-the-box thinking that you have to put in when imagining containing a program that wants to replicate.

Overall, phenomenal work and fantastic response. Consider these questions and I hope that I can deliver you good news very soon!

-Brian

Last edited on 26 Sep 2020 17:02 by Pedagon Show more

Re: Viral Applications

Krasoon 26 Sep 2020 18:41

+ Response to Questions

It needs a human vector in order to replicate because it reproduces after interaction with its applications, something that the SCP can't do itself. The replication is a conversion of modern technology into more instances of itself, rendering them unusable, and allowing it to spread further. The instances are completely identical in their properties, except for what piece of tech they took over, such as a phone or smart watch. The escape is caused due to the Foundation not fully understanding how it spreads and accidentally "infecting" a rural community while delivering it to its containment site. The purpose of this is to indicate how it can easily spread when not contained, but also to demonstrate the lessened danger it poses to a rural community, as the breach is easily dealt with, and there being limited effects. The question as to whether it is a virus or not is definitely based on the uncertainty about its purpose. Is it simply an extremely basic form of sentience focused on reproduction alone, and adapting to its situation to further this reproduction, or is it somewhat more aware, and actively attempting to spread and shape itself for an unknown reason?

Last edited on 26 Sep 2020 18:41 by Krasoon Show more

Re: Viral Applications

Cerastes 24 Sep 2020 06:42

Hmm. This does feel like a rather novel idea. Rather than destroying or corrupting technology, it simply outdates them. And considering the Foundation, that would probably frustrate them to no end. I see some interesting potential containment procedures brewing up in here.

However, do you think you could clarify your CN a bit more, particularly with regards to a summary of how it would look like in SCP article format? You have a good idea here, I'm just wondering how you intend to tell its story.

Re: Viral Applications

Krasoon 25 Sep 2020 00:35

So far, what I have planned out is that the SCP creates these additional instances of itself through interaction with the SCP, or proximity to digital technology. It does not pose a lethal threat, with its most severe effect being the infliction of injuries or entry into a comatose state, which means that in terms of physical danger, its not actually too severe. The issue is that every bit of technology it converts effectively is identical to it, and has identical effects, which can cause a chain reaction disabling entire cities in a few days.
As an article, so far the draft I have of it has a medium length containment procedure section, and a longer description one. The description mainly focuses on the spread of the SCP and the effects of interaction with it. After that, I have a short bit of addendums describing its recovery, issues since then, and a research opinion on the SCP. I also plan to have a depiction of the SCP, in the form of a pencil drawing, since it spreads digitally.

Re: Viral Applications

Cerastes 25 Sep 2020 02:47

While that sounds good, I meant more as to the overall plot as opposed to the technical side of things. Apologies, I should've been more clear.

Re: Viral Applications

Krasoon 25 Sep 2020 11:36

For the plot, so far I've mainly thought about it being whether the SCP is consciously attempting to reproduce and taking advantage of people to do this, or whether its more like a virus, and this is just part of its nature.

Edit: Forgot to mention I also plan to include narrative about how it's main danger is to cities/containment sites and how it could disrupt them rather than just physical harm it can do to people. As part of that, it also includes how its less dangerous to rural areas, and how that affects its containment.

As a whole, I'd say the main theme of the article is sort of this disconnect from the modern world and how easily it can be disrupted

Last edited on 25 Sep 2020 19:23 by Krasoon Show more

Re: Viral Applications

Rackodaph 24 Sep 2020 09:44

Pretty good idea. But I'm not sure how good it would work as an scp article. Although I do wish the best for you

Re: Viral Applications

KaraKatt 24 Sep 2020 17:25

Howdy hey Rackodaph,

As per the site Criticism Policy, forum critique should be relatively in-depth. Please edit your post accordingly to better assist the author here. If you are uncertain about writing a more thorough critique, feel free to let other reviewers handle providing feedback in this thread.

For more information on giving critique in the Ideas Critique forum, please look at this thread.

---

Krasoon,

I suggest reaching out to someone on the [Butterfly Squad Roster to seek additional critique on your idea.

Thank you.

Re: Viral Applications

caspian2 30 Sep 2020 00:12

Summoned via PM:

Hi there Krasoon. Let’s take a look at your concept.

open crit

So multiple reviews have already mentioned the base idea sounding unique. Unfortunately, I don’t really seem to understand its potential (then again, maybe it’s just me). Perhaps you could help me understand its purpose a little more?

It presents a story about how SCPs become SCPs and how a single catalyst can set things in motion.

Firstly, what does this mean? What is this “single catalyst”? Are you referring to the origins of this scip as some sort of entity? Secondly, are you trying to say that this obsolete computer creates new scps (versions of itself)? Why is it doing this?

implanting urges subconsciously to create more copies of it.

This is a compulsion effect and personally, I don’t see the need for it here. You already have an interesting base effect and don’t need to complicate/cheapen things by having the scip force people to do stuff (unless there’s a good explanation for it).

The abnormal effects and consequences are intended to create a feeling both of nostalgia, and uncertainty as to whether these are intentionally designed to be interacted with, or just innate properties is also intended.

I don’t understand what you mean here. Could you elaborate?

As a whole, the narrative should be solely focused around the anomaly itself, and its origin, as it is a SCP about technology and perception of it, not any particular place or person.

As Cerastes has already pointed out, this isn’t a narrative, which usually tells a sequence of events and involves characters and motivations. Perhaps you could rewrite this section to tell us how the scip was discovered and how the Foundation contained it.

the question as to whether it is conscious or not

Now, you’re moving on to a different theme. Is this article supposed to be about nostalgia and the ethics of technological advancement, or artificial intelligence and the morals of identity?

If you decide to revise the concept / respond below, do drop me another PM and I’ll do my best to look at it a second time. Best of luck!

Re: Viral Applications

Krasoon 30 Sep 2020 11:57

The idea's evolved a bit from when I first posted it. I probably didn't do a very good job of explaining it, but the idea behind the use of nostalgia/implanting urges is more of an intense curiosity about the computer, not so much "being forced" as a want to see what it is. I've also heavily fleshed out the narrative since then, and have focused it around how a single object, in this case the SCP, can easily disrupt the modern world and things we take for granted, and how this threat isn't reflected as much in more rural or isolated communities. Along with that idea, I also want to explore in the narrative whether the SCP is just reproducing because that's what its base nature is, or whether it's aware of what it is and trying to spread itself intentionally.

Re: Viral Applications

The Pighead 30 Sep 2020 19:16

Hello, author, Pighead here! Pedagon summoned me for a crit because he really liked your idea, so here I am. Let's talk about that.

Elevator Pitch : OK, so this anomaly is a good start. It's not the most "flashy" or original anomaly I've ever seen, but it seems pretty good, not a really big flaw. There's just the "it makes people wanting to create copies of it" part that I don't really like (compulsion effects are a pretty overused thing and are not really interesting, those days), I would suggest you to remove it. But, for the rest, good start.

Central Narrative : The big cheese. And, I'll admit it, I'm not too crazy about that. The anomaly is fine on its own and the story looks also fine, but for what I see in your first post, I feel I'm less hooked than I should be. I think it's because I feel that you don't really tell us everything. Could you tell me more about the feelings of nostalgia you want to talk about, for example? For all the other things you want to talk about, again, it's fine but… I don't know, I'm not totally crazy about that.

Hook : Not much things to say. Pretty good hook.

And I will leave it at that! Alas, no greenlight for me. It's clearly not a bad work, but I don't know, I feel it miss a thing for me. And I'm not clearly able to tell ya what it is, so I guess it's probably a "me" thing. But don't be discouraged, author. Contact other people for having new reviews and I'm sure your idea will do fine. Good luck!

It's all for me, Pighead Out.

Re: Viral Applications

Krasoon 30 Sep 2020 21:43

Hmmm…
You might be looking at an earlier version of the page. I updated the main post this morning with changes I made post-crit that cut out the stuff that I felt didn't fit in, such as the compulsions, and I clarified the central narrative much more, specifically cutting out the nostalgia part, because I felt it didn't fit in with the rest of the anomaly. I'll include what it should look like in a collapse block here, since what you're describing is different from what the page looks like right now.

+ How page currently looks

Seeking Greenlights: Yes

Page Type: SCP Article

Page Layout: Plan to start with its containment procedures, then its description, with a subsection about the functions of the computer. Lastly, I plan to have a set of research comments, test logs, and containment logs as addendum at the end of the article.

Elevator Pitch: The SCP seems to be an obsolete computer, with almost no value in current society, but reproduces itself by converting modern technology into replicas of it. The replicas can spread incredibly quickly, and if left unchecked, it can convert entire cities.

Central Narrative: The SCP consists of mainly two parts, the base SCP, and the new instances of itself it creates. The narrative mainly focuses around how an SCP that disrupts technology would pose a danger to cities and modern communities, but is a far less dangerous threat to a rural community. Along with this, there is also a secondary narrative about how the SCP is adapting to its containment, and whether it's more like a virus, spreading and adapting simply to reproduce, or if it's aware of its situation and is intentionally shaping itself to further its spread.

Hook/Attention-Grabber: The SCP is an instantly familiar object, yet one which also instantly seems off, due to its strange nature. The SCP can easily convert modern technology, and if left unchecked could easily spread throughout a city, not posing a lethal threat or danger, but rather a danger of being completely cut off from the rest of the world.

Additional Notes: This is my first attempt at writing an SCP, and any and all criticism would be greatly appreciated.

Updated after changes to concept

Re: Viral Applications

The Pighead 01 Oct 2020 16:20

You're right about that, because when I looked at your original post, you haven't edited it yet so it was still the early version.

And I've looked at the edited version (because I've seen you did it) and I think these changes are made for good, but most of my personal feelings about that still stands. I think it's definitely a "me" thing. But it's alright - nothing is for everybody on this site.