I've seen people at conventions lined up to heed the siren song of the "free hugs" shirt, even when the wearer is flabby, acne-scarred, and of questionable personal hygiene. There's something sinister in its allure…
Thank you! I had lots of help from some lovely people in the chat.
The terminology is a bit off. Check out the Tag Guide for the difference between a compulsion and a mind-affecting effect, a compulsion is by definition resistible and you specifically state that the affected individuals cannot resist the urge to hug the person.
The auto-tag did that for me, I think, I confess I forgot all about tagging. I am dead tired and need sleep right now, but I will review and edit the tags soon, promise!
I'm surprised this works out, though I suspect some people will complain it should be a -J.
Personally, I think it could be mainlist since it vilifies an existing innocent phenomenon and could creep out people familiar with it.
Eh, I'm not really a fan. The effect is kind of obvious, and there's no real hook. It just kills people. Plus, it strikes me as off that what is apparently a memetic effect also grants the wearer super-strength.
If it doesn't grab ya, it doesn't grab ya, I guess! Thanks for reading. Incidentally, they don't KNOW that it's a memetic effect… In my thinking, it was created to cause slaughter in crowded areas where personal space is disregarded, like a comic convention.
Like if this guy…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRuuF-5ZST8
… was a wizard. He made it to kill nerds!
Actually, that isn't super-strength. The human body is capable of far greater degrees of physical exertion than we typically put it through, for short periods. Most people have a subconscious internal censor that prevents us from using our muscles to max because we would injure ourselves by overstraining the muscles, connective tissue or even the bones themselves. It's why people who are in immediate-emergency adrenaline rush mode can do things like lift cars single-handedly long enough for someone trapped underneath to crawl out.
And apparently whatever is controlling the arms to hug doesn't really give a crap about your mental limits on hug strength.
Giving bearhugs to the unsuspecting since 1872.
Yeah, but such short bursts that you could only crush two or three people before your muscles give out. We're built for endurance, not strength.
I was getting ready to downvote… and then it made me smile.
Admin, SCP Wiki
Dr. Bright upvoted! My life has meaning again. <3