What is SCP, or "Secure, Contain, Protect." AKA "Special Containment Procedures"? Essentially, SCP is a web-based collaborative writing project. According to Wikipedia:
The stories generated by the project describe the exploits of the fictional Foundation, supposedly responsible for containing individuals, entities, locations, and objects that violate natural law (referred to as SCPs). The main written works on the SCP Foundation website are documents written in the style of structured internal documentation about the SCPs contained by the fictional organization. These documents are labeled in the format "SCP-#", for example "SCP-2722". These documents usually begin with the number of the item, then the "class", then the item's "Special Containment Procedures", which describe the containment specifications for the specific SCP. Next, the item is described. This section is the main body of the document. There are often additional sections at the bottom of the documents. The documents are organized by thousands, called the "Series" of SCPs.This may remind you a bit of Creepypasta, on the the alternative, something similar to Reddit's "No Sleep" subsection. The main difference is that SCP stories often leak elsewhere on the internet and have a style of writing that gives them an air of authenticity or authority. This is thanks to the "academic" nature in which most topics are presented.
That video was uploaded just this month and already has nearly 500,000 views. There are several other SCP videos with millions of views. Credit for the video goes to several people, all of which are referenced on the actual page if you are interested.
My only complaint about some of the SCP entries is that there may not have been as difficult of a vetting process in place previously, allowing some of the earlier entries to make it in without much scrutiny. The actual procedure for getting you writing to be added to the SCP compendium is rather tedious, but does hold true to the type of "crowd-sourced" writing platform which you expect it to be.
In addition, some items are rather dull, cheesy or not very creepy or disturbing in any way. If you're looking for something to truly scare you, SCP will likely fall short in most instances... that is, unless you come across something from SCP and are unaware what SCP actually is and are exposed to it surreptitiously.
If you are curious about the origins of SCP or the community behind it, I will also quote the "Community" section of the Wikipedia entry:
The SCP Foundation series originated in the "paranormal" /x/ forum of 4chan, where the first special containment procedure, SCP-173, was posted as a creepypasta thread during 2007.[6] Many other special containment procedures were followed shortly after, inspired by SCP-173. In 2008, the SCP Foundation series was transferred to its current Wikidot website.[6]Wikidot users are required to submit an application before they are allowed to contribute content.[6] Writers from the Daily Dot and Bustle have noted that the website maintains strict quality control standards, and that sub-par content tends to be quickly deleted.[6][15] Internal forums are used by members of the website to evaluate and provide constructive criticism on posted stories.[16]The Wikidot website routinely holds creative writing contests. For example, in November 2014, the SCP Foundation held a "Dystopia Contest" in which its members were encouraged to submit writings about the Foundation set in a bleak or degraded world.[17]The SCP Foundation maintains a forum on Reddit and a role-playing community.[6][18] Notable contributors to the SCP Foundation include screenwriter Max Landis.[19]
Surprise! 4chan was involved in the creation and the entire existence of SCP is thanks to creepypasta. This entry would not be complete if I did not include a quote (once again, from Wikipedia) that highlights examples of "Secure, Contain, Protect." cases:
Examples of contained SCPs
- SCP-055: SCP-055 is something that causes anyone who examines it to forget its various characteristics, thus making it indescribable except in terms of what it is not.[6]
- SCP-087: SCP-087 is a staircase that appears to descend downwards forever.[7] The staircase is inhabited by SCP-087-1, which is described as a face without a mouth, pupils or nostrils.[8]
- SCP-108: SCP-108 is a Nazi bunker system that is only accessible through a portal found in a woman's nose.[9]
- SCP-173: SCP-173 is a humanoid statue composed of rebar, concrete and Krylon spray paint.[6] It is stationary when directly observed, but attacks people when line of sight with it is broken.[7]
- SCP-294: SCP-294 is a coffee machine that can dispense almost anything that does or can exist in liquid form.[7]
- SCP-426: SCP-426 is a toaster which can only be referred to in the first person.[7]
- SCP-1171: SCP-1171 is a home whose windows are always covered in condensation; by writing in the condensation on the glass, it is possible to communicate with an extra-dimensional entity whose windows are likewise covered in condensation. This entity bears significant hostility towards humans, but does not know that the Foundation members are humans.[6]
- SCP-1609: SCP-1609 is a mulch that teleports into the lungs of anyone who approaches it in an aggressive fashion or while wearing a uniform. It was previously a peaceful chair that teleported to whichever nearby person felt the need to sit down, but it entered its current aggressive state after being inserted into a woodchipper by a rival organization.[6]
If you are looking for a fun read, or a good couple of videos to watch to pass some time, you can explore into SCP. Some entries are much better than others and then there are literary types of "games" that exist as to, for instance, the true nature of SCP-001, or what exactly SCP-000 is, with lots of false leads and alternative explanations.
Unfortunately, the writing style can also get in the way of making an SCP truly engaging for the reader. There were even a few entries which I disliked entirely because (thanks to the crowd-sourced material), I felt as if they were authored in glaringly obvious ways that made them sub-par or entirely uninteresting (religious overtones, etc.; generally turn me off in relation to stuff like this, and you think SCP would be entirely free of that, but a few entries manage to sneak them in).
Tats TopVideos has two interesting entries on Youtube that catalogue a few of the more entertaining SCP items. I've linked the first and certainly you can find the second after watching this particular one (which currently has over 3 million views):
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