“What makes this win is how different each one is from the last. The Holders series, while creepy for the first few you read, eventually becomes so formulaic that all its scary potential is gone. Working on my own SCP now.”^[1]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-16533.10-16533.242

Thread #448755 is a thread on 4chan’s /x/, started on January 20, 2008. It is a significant thread in the history of the development of containment fiction and the SCP format and style, featuring the largest collaboration effort seen by /x/ authors, and containing over 30 new SCP entries, increased standardization of protocols, and the development of significant lore components that are still widely used on the SCP Wiki, e.g. O5 Command and security levels.^[2]https://archive.vn/QNbYp#selection-2005.67-2005.158^[3]https://archive.vn/QNbYp#selection-2367.0-2367.231 Other developments include nomenclative innovations (i.e. the first use of “Object Class:”, and the first use of subdesignations), primitive supplemental materials as addenda (e.g. testing logs, audio transcription, journal entry), and a collective intent to separate SCP entries from elements of traditional story telling. This thread populated the developing series on EditThis more than any other.

Contributions

Thread #448755 contains the first appearance of notable SCPs, including SCP-002, SCP-003, and SCP-256 (see SCPs below). In addition, it contains numerous crude, undeveloped versions of later-common addenda types, including a journal-like entry,^[4]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-21957.395-22301.1004 audio transcription log,^[5]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-12081.765-12081.1273 the first explicit clearance lock rejecting access to data,^[6]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-13037.1785-13037.1842 and the first set of testing logs.^[7]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-17257.0-17267.7 The thread also contains the first known use of the “Object Class:” header,^[8]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-10355.127-10355.164^[9]http://scparchives.bluesoul.net/x/scp.txt and the popular phrase: “Does the Black Moon Howl?“, part of SCP-256,^[10]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-6509.134-6509.159 and the first known conversation to suggest the standardization of the metric system, of proofreading, and of curation.^[11]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-23253.0-23253.156^[12]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-17854.0-17923.214^[13]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-11129.0-11129.184^[14]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-2091.0-2091.83

“Also, we need to have a disapproval process for the shit that stinks.”

With the explosion of new SCP objects in this thread and the definitive establishment of a new creepypasta series, many users compared the series unfavorably to The Holders, and discuss ways to avoid “Holderification”^[15]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-3743.0-3743.134^[16]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-8449.0-8449.265^[17]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-8535.0-8535.263 One user replies:

“SCP could be potentially better than holders. None of that halfway house bullshit.”^[18]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-3933.10-3933.92

Discussion exists on a range of conventions and quality control issues:^[19]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-4105.10-4105.257^[20]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-4989.0-4989.264^[21]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-5453.0-5483.168^[22]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-7445.0-7445.589^[23]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-8621.0-8621.149^[24]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-22737.0-22737.160^[25]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-22909.0-22909.162

• whether or not entries should be written in strict numerical order, or if authors should be discontinuous in their number selection
• whether or not entries should be given titles (they were mainly named as they were transferred onto to EditThis)
• canonicity
• the interactions between SCPs
• suggestions to vary the series

“the cold clinical bare facts type thing written like a technical doccument is a must. the cross referencing of objects should be limited as much as possible and the only things that should state constant is the format, scp numbers, security data (which should be expanded slightly, i may work on that)possibly some locations housing lower level objects (eg the elusive “site 19”) also we need to make the containment info a tad more realistic, 10 meter thick concrete walls in a sphere with a CHAIN LINK FENCE inside it is kinda r****ded. i suggest looking up actual hazmat containment stuff, yes led and concrete and reinforced glass are fine but keep it at least psuedo realistic”^[26]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-8695.0-8725.731, censorship not original

Traditional story telling and its components are contrasted to the clinical documentation of the emerging SCP style, and it is encouraged to only introduce “storytelling aspects history and background of the object in the technical doccument and addendum doccuments [sic] (witness reports psych reports etc).”^[27]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-9277.0-9277.354

Another user writes:

“The containment procedures should try to make sense and show that there is a good reason why those steps are needed. 656 is a good example of stuff thats a bit out there but makes sense to have. The sound-proofing foam keeps external noise out and the glass prevents its disintigration attack from working. Though keep in mind to say only what is needed and nothing more.”^[28]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-9563.0-9563.409

SCPs

This thread contains numerous, viable SCPs of note: SCP-002, SCP-003, SCP-042, SCP-001 (as a cross-reference), SCP-147, (posted by Eberstrom^[29]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-17503.0-17533.74) SCP-256, and “SCP-16”, later redesignated on EditThis and beyond as SCP-113.^[30]http://web.archive.org/web/20080410224522/http://editthis.info/scp_wiki/SCP-113^[31]http://scpclassic.wikidot.com/scp-113^[32]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-113

More SCP attempts are seen in this thread than prior threads, including the initial / all non-viable: SCP-028, SCP-047, SCP-076, SCP-363, SCP-565, SCP-432, SCP-050, SCP-200, SCP-223, SCP-447, SCP-527, SCP-022, SCP-216, SCP-900, SCP-988, “SCP-70”, SCP-420, SCP-704, SCP-972, SCP-827, SCP-146, SCP-819, SCP-710, SCP-777, SCP-156, SCP-313, SCP-743, SCP-472, SCP-691, and SCP-2754. Many of the SCPs posted here would be transferred to the EditThis in the next days.^[33]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-21699.0-21871.89

SCPs posted to this thread retained primitive compositional decisions, such as decimal places beyond the millionth placeholder,^[34]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-6265.354-6265.472 “extremely hostile” entities,^[35]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-6265.961-6265.998, sequelae of psychosis, paranoia, “madness and death” and/or “immediate termination”,^[36]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-7187.411-7187.444^[37]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-7187.697-7187.730^[38]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-7187.842-7187.895 compulsions,^[39]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-7359.19-7359.52 excessive use of stylistic capitalization,^[40]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-6057.68-6057.146 frequent use of “appears to”,^[41]e.g. https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-16827.868-16827.878^[42]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-6265.599-6265.614 the early preponderance for statues,^[43]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-11473.460-11473.1016 excessive conditions for personnel termination,^[44]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-11817.0-11817.1790 second-person voice in the document proper,^[45]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-19999.285-19999.377 compulsion effects,^[46]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-11909.0-11909.231 and often start their descriptions with where they were discovered & transferred to, a la SCP-173.^[47]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-16275.800-16275.843

However, many are notably more competent in terms of grammar and scientific tone (e.g. passive voice), relative to earlier threads.^[48]e.g. https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-10871.0-10957.1427^[49]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-15053.194-15053.381 These SCPs also and notably include a higher incidence of cross-linking/cross-testing and cross-prompting than in prior threads^[50]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-2177.498-2177.542^[51]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-2453.114-2453.176^[52]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-3241.792-3241.849^[53]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-7983.269-7983.362^[54]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-8173.67-8173.324^[55]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-18969.878-18969.911^[56]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-22301.665-22301.741^[57]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-18467.10-18467.28 — this sparking debate — and would see the generation of subdesignations for a given anomaly (i.e. SCP-076A, SCP-076B).^[58]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-11387.9-11387.24

Historical Figures

The thread includes numerous individuals of note. Lofwyr was very active in this thread, as well as the introduction of the original EditThis admin^[59]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-19290.0-19377.30 and Eberstrom.^[60]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-17503.0-17511.9

This thread reveals that the original author of SCP-113 was a “Robin Sure”, who is also the author of the initial (non-viable) SCP-472.^[61]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-21440.0-21527.1441^[62]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-18921.0-18969.24

Trivia

The initial SCP-777 was a multi-sided die that manipulated probabilities when rolled. It was the first SCP to utilize addenda in a test-log fashion.^[63]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-17257.0-17267.7

The Admin of the EditThis SCP Wiki posted in an /x/ thread; it was the initial SCP-743 (mistakenly changed to SCP-170 throughout the article’s text), which was titled “anomalously addictive beef jerky”.^[64]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-19290.0-19377.30^[65]http://web.archive.org/web/20080409210737/http://editthis.info/scp_wiki/SCP_Series^[66]http://web.archive.org/web/20080412204953/http://www.editthis.info/scp_wiki/SCP-743

An initial SCP-527 is the first to heavily redact information and include an in-action transcription (of personnel death).^[67]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-12081.0-12081.1273

The initial /x/ version of SCP-042 featured the daughter of an O5 member as its caretaker, and was introduced with the line: “There, now theres a loli running around.”^[68]https://archive.ph/QNbYp#selection-22594.0-22645.50

On another /x/ thread, an anonymous user insulted “anomalously addictive beef jerky”, the SCP written by EditThis’s admin.^[69]https://archive.vn/1jSvG#selection-1775.0-1775.175

The author of the SCP-042 rewrite on WikiDot (Skali Sharpnose) would, years later, be involved in an argument in the comment section that necessitated stop orders from the SCP Wiki staff:^[70]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-77582/scp-042#post-1870202