Numbers Lie / Discussion

This is the discussion related to the wiki page Numbers Lie.

CityToast 29 Feb 2020 11:55

I've finally decided to make a leap into the Antimemetics Division. Since I first read We Need To Talk About Fifty-Five by qntm back in 2015 I have loved Wheeler and have been determined that, if I ever start writing SCPs again, I'd write an Antimemetic Division story. Well, here I am and here it is.

Thank you also to HammerMaiden for writing such a cool SCP back in '17.

Trivia: An exchange I cut out of this story, because it didn't fit the mood, was Elanor calling the memetic people meeple.

Also: I understand that under the correct circumstances you could get 6 billion people with SCP-2000. It would just involve a lot of forced pairings, underage pregnancies, and other things which I didn't want to include in this tale. So I took some liberties.

Last edited on 29 Feb 2020 17:35 by CityToast Show more

qntm 01 Mar 2020 00:14

This, I like. This is inventive and really well-observed and it's trading in some pretty huge ideas, potentially universe-breaking ones. I really like bringing in a character from Accounting, especially the reasoning (makes perfect sense!), I like the idea of phony numbers, phony text and phony people, and I like the rising tension. I wonder how many more times Jones goes through this loop before something breaks…

CityToast 01 Mar 2020 06:27

Thank you! That means so much to know you enjoyed it. It wouldn't have been possible without such a rich universe and interesting characters like Marion to populate it with.

Had finally gotten an account so I could say this;

Ruengies_Elaj 07 Mar 2020 15:20

I had just read SCP-4857 a bit ago when I read this and wow does it provide a frankly terrifying explanation! Was wondering if you had read it before or if it's just a giant coincidence

Re: Had finally gotten an account so I could say this;

CityToast 11 Mar 2020 04:02

That is totally just coincidence. But…fuck. that's one hell of a coincidence.

Re: Had finally gotten an account so I could say this;

dagfari 19 Apr 2020 15:11

So, it's model red then… Was that what Pr10r intended?

Baba Yaga 26 Apr 2020 14:26

This makes me like scp-2000 a whole lot more, oddly.

This is haunting and I love it.

theworldabouttodawn 15 May 2020 03:53

Just a note: Elanor's last name is given as "Jacob" twice and "Jones" twice which seems to have slipped by editing, unless that's another layer to the whole thing that I'm missing.

That being said, my jaw definitely dropped the moment I saw Marion Wheeler's name. Antimemetics is what made me fall in love with the Foundation, and your characterisation of her was wonderful.

+1!

CityToast 30 Sep 2020 21:54

I waited a long time to reply to this, but…

That is intentional.

Dr Trickster 25 Jun 2020 12:40

Great article. The "oh shit" moments definitely hold up to qntm's own standards when it comes to antimemetics. I actually haven't read 2000, but damn is this an interesting concept. Just faking 2 thirds of the world's population to not feel lonely. Brilliant, really brilliant. Like I said, nice "oh shit" moments, really give you chills. This should really have more upvotes.
+1

MediocreFantasy 14 Jan 2021 01:44

This is absolutely wonderful, and as pointed out above, the fridge horror connections to 4857 are *amazing*. Keep up the great work.

Great stuff! Still got a question though...

HealthfulDrago 19 Aug 2022 05:56

This tale is awesomem definitely feels to me like qntm sort of caliber when it comes to writing antimemetics. I realize Elanor calls herself by two names and that it is intentional, but I don't know if I'm too dense to put the pieces together or what…

Is it trying to imply that from one scene to the next we're in an entire different loop?

Anyway, really cool stuff man.

A convincing pastiche! +1

StrangerSwing 25 Jan 2023 04:15

This satiating a craving I - and I suspect many like me - had after finishing 55555. It perfectly emulates the slow reveal, the complex mystery, the disturbing realisation, and the questions left unanswered. My only gripe is the hidden text is very overused. There should've only been five, at max.