SCP-5686 is both more and less than the sum of its parts.
SCP-5686 makes me feel empty.
SCP-5686 / Discussion
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Basically an edible concept. Once you know about it, you eat it and it cures your depression. But if you discover that you ate it (or someone tells you) then it is no longer useful for you and you'll feel empy and sick. It works only if you don't know that you ate it.
+1, interesting idea.
(account deleted)My thoughts on this article are mixed. The idea in itself is certainly novel, but the presentation almost seems to waste that novelty. The sporadic breaking-of-clinical-tone seems to come out of nowhere. I do not think the anomaly itself is supposed to distort documentation. Unless it is supposed to mentally affect those who write about it?
I think that my main observation is a feeling of incompleteness, which might be the meta-purpose? To write an apparently half-finished article about an anomaly that results in deep ennui? I personally dislike articles that go into multiple layers like that, but in this case there is a way to remedy that.
I recommend an Addendum where the Foundation attempts a few experiments on D-Class. However, the research personnel squabble internally over the true nature of the anomaly, which is represented by a sequence of observations on the experiments. You could focus on the inherent absurdity of the Foundation trying to wrap their collective minds around an anomaly that technically does not exist and essentially does nothing.
If you are feeling ambitious, said Addendum could contain a hyperlink to a quick gut-punch type of Tale, which consists of a D-Class fumbling for some semblance of meaning while sustaining themselves on the metaphysical nothing-pill that is SCP-5686. Consider focusing on not just the psychological degeneration, but also the human instinct of defying nihilism. I would present this Tale as a furtive and filthy diary, something acquired by exchanging favors with the other D-Class.
All in all, the article seems to pose a nebulous existential question, but provides no concrete answer nor any directions for the reader to elaborate their own answer. As such, I am currently not voting, but I have good expectations for a hypothetical companion piece. In fact, I'd be willing to collaborate with you in that regard.
Mmm, an incomplete feeling was definitely aimed for here, and you're right to notice that the anomaly has no described property that would result in a format screw of this nature. Part of my idea here was to write a format screw with no in-universe justification and still make it work thematically. (As a tale writer primarily, adhering strictly to the format of SCPs has lost a bit of its draw.)
I personally dislike articles that go into multiple layers like that, but in this case there is a way to remedy that.
Well, unfortunately I don't see that as an issue, as that was more-or-less what I was going for, so I think I will politely decline this suggestion. However, I appreciate the time you spent mulling over how you would make this article appeal to your sensibilities — if I felt like your wants for the article mirrored mine, this would be very helpful in getting me there.
On another note, I feel like writing a tale about this skip would defeat part of the purpose for me. Not to discourage any potential inspired authors, I only think that the story I've told here is… well, if not complete, then just as complete as I want it to be. Similar reasoning to why I don't want to write any supplementary material for SCP-1549, or SCP-4455, or why writing something extra for SCP-4466 was so difficult for me. This tells the story I want to tell how I want to tell it I think.
so basically, the edible concept of a depression-curing placebo?
i dunno how i feel about the clinical tone breaks (even in the clinical sections, the tone is a bit spotty!) but i like the idea of this, even if it borders a little into 'thanks, im cured' territory. i like it enough to upvote it, but like i said, the clinical tone breaks feel a little out of place for me.
The ending feels a little on the nose to me — I think reducing it to just the last line might be a more satisfyingly blunt way of conveying the same information? Tough to say, really; it may just be personal taste, and it's not a significant detriment to the article, which is fantastic in pretty much every other way.
Suffice to say, I enjoyed it immensely. Solid upvote.
On the whole I like the story, although I will say the clinical tone breaks feel out of place to me. I certainly think it would have been possible to convey the same narrative, albeit perhaps with less emotion, otherwise. I'm aware you were going for a format screw, but I personally dislike the lack of in-universe justification, although I suppose one can always headcannon some sort of justification in (which I'd assume goes to something like the researcher has partaken in SCP-5686 and is experiencing its effects).
Most of all I wonder if the kind of researcher who would constantly break clinical tone in their write-ups would also, as you have, redact the PoI's name and the magazine name.
Overall I liked the concept enough not to downvote it, but I just can't bring myself to give it an upvote as is because with an article this short, I really can't overlook the inconsistencies. I get that they're intentional, but it just doesn't work for me.
Also as a side note, why is the PoI's designation (PoI-5686) given but never used?
Reality is merely what we perceive it to be.
Oooh that's the good shit right there. Part of me was worried with the first break from clinical tone, but it's followed up on more than well enough to feel like a part of the piece rather than just some gimmick. I feel that the ending feels still a little, not on the nose but like, direct, but I don't think I would cut anything because otherwise the stinger would be a little lacking, and I can't think of how I'd actually change it.
My one critique is that like, I feel like the "edibility" part of it is not really capitalized on. Not that you would need to do a lot, but I think just some taste-based sensory details that supplement the way people feel about the heuristic would make this pop a little more.
But overall I definitely like it. Feels like you're right on the edge of making sense and sounding like a mad lunatic, which I think is the point.
I enjoy the concept immensely but the article provides no in-universe context that allows me to suspend my disbelief to a proper degree.
No-vote.
Yeah, I think I agree. It's not necessarily poorly written, but it is missing important context. Test logs might help? Less "personal" interruptions?
Either way, I'm with you on the no-vote.
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page revision: 2, last edited: 15 Jan 2023 15:06
