I absolutely love the concept - cheerful 50's-style educational films about all sorts of horrific topics. That said, the writeup feels like it's missing something. To me, at least, the concept is clearly there, but not sufficiently explored to elicit either horror or sadistic laughter (or both). I don't know what to suggest, though perhaps a transcript of one or more of the films (on a separate page) would help.
Yeah, I've been working on it for about a week, trying to give it that extra something. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be glad to add them.
I'll see if I can make a sufficiently good log. I'm quite leery of adding supplemental documentation unnecessarily.
That sounds good. Another log or two to really explore the concept; and like Leicontis I absolutely love the idea of transcripting a video that's sickeningly sweet in approach (classical educational or motivational stuff) but utterly sinister in context.
"Necrotizing fasciitis? It needn't ruin your love life!"
(account deleted)Pretty cool, I like the concept… but reading this is a memetic hazard.
Why?
Troy McClure is now in my head narrating "So You're Not Going to Live Very Long!"
"Hi! I'm Troy McClure! You may remember me from such SCP Foundation training films as 'SCP-600: Why We Don't Give It coffee' and 'Doctor Crow: The Happiest Puppy In The world!'
I know it's five years later, but that just made me LOL.
I have to disagree with the test log suggestion.
See, test logs are great for showing off aspects of an SCP's effect not shown by the writeup. SCP-093, for example, is pretty boring until you read the test logs, which open up literal worlds of information not addressed by the article proper. This SCP article, however, does an excellent job of demonstrating the full range of the SCP's effect, making logs unecessary.
A log for this article would amount to nothing more than a list of Cool Stuff What This SCP Can Doez. That is a terrible idea. Not only would it weaken the serious tone of the article, but IC it wouldn't make sense.
The Foundation does run ongoing tests on some SCPs. SCP-914, for example, is basically made of test logs. Thing is, the reason the Foundation continues testing it is that it doesn't do the same thing every time.
This SCP has a consistent effect, and the tests listed in the article are sufficient to establish that effect. Further tests are unneeded.
See, that's why I didn't say "test log". A testing log just wouldn't add that much here - the short blurbs of a testing log would simply be a repetition of material already covered in the article. A transcript of a sample film, on the other hand, has the potential to further evoke the wonderful mix of horror and black comedy this article displays.
Just out of curiosity (and not trying to piss off the bees), would you say the same thing about that crazy vending machine's test log? It's main description describes, quite well, its abilities. Yet, it has probably the largest test log of any SCP.
The vending machine is just like 914. The big appeal of those SCPs is that they are a way for people to throw in their own crazy stuff into the collaborative test logs. 914 does strange things each time, the vending machine comes up with more and more bizarre candy. The anything-you-want drink dispenser is like this too.
This isn't like those articles, although I imagine it could be if everyone went in and posted their own sinister films… but I think that would detract from the main article rather than add to it.
Apart from items where the test log is the real treat I tend to skip test logs completely. From a reading/writing perspective test logs tend to take an idea and run it into the ground until it's a boring thin gruel.
If you read an SCP and go "Oh man, what if …" then it's a good SCP. If you then read a test log that tells you every possible "what if" it becomes a bit of a yawner, IMO.
PS: That said, Lecontis' suggestion of some film snippets would not be bad. Not in a test log, just some choice bits and not the whole "today we strapped D-randomnumbers in and he was a guy who committed these crimes and here is the result blah blah blah zzzzz"
I'm pretty stoked about that, actually. An audio log, if properly written, could do a fantastic job of emphasizing the subtle horror that comes from a cheerful presentation of something terrible.
Maybe if the test log was of only 1 or 2 tests, I would then suggest creating it. But even if you don't create any, this is a great SCP on its own. Great job!
One of the things I like about this article is when it said "All subjects suffered the described afflictions shortly after exposure to SCP-246." Becuase, yeah, the amputation and stroke ones were horrifying. But the third film was "Digestive Tracts of Woodland Creatures"….
The Foundation has become much stricter in its security, and we are happy to announce it has been six whole weeks since a D-classer was eaten by a bear.
