Get Better and Better Yourself by Being Better

SCP-XXXX's scratches

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures:

SCP-XXXX is to be kept in storage locker H-12-345. The code is [DATA EXPUNGED]. Any personnel who view SCP-XXXX without permission are to be administered amnestics and taken to interrogation room B to verify that they have forgotten viewing SCP-XXXX in order to prevent another incident (See experiment C.)

Description:

SCP-XXXX is a self-help DVD with the title "Get Better and Better Yourself by Being Better." The front cover contains the title and an image of of a park. The DVD has several major scratches on the bottom and yet plays normally. SCP-XXXX was discovered at a Blockbuster video and reported to the police. The man who discovered SCP-XXXX was later sent to a psychiatric ward for symptoms of severe paranoia.

The video itself contains a man emerging from a place commonly visited by the viewer. When the man comes into frame he introduces himself as Jereek Goldsmith then states that "You are about to have a wild ride." and that "You will never be the same."¹
After the introduction, the man in the video (SCP-XXXX-1) will walk away and upbeat music will start playing. The music has no lyrics and primarily consists of bass and guitar tracks all being played at the same time.

When the music stops, the scene changes to outside of the viewer's house and SCP-XXXX-1 will introduce itself again. He will then give various different self-help tips ranging from practical to nonsensical. At random intervals, SCP-XXXX-1 information personal to the viewers such as their address, their social security number, their phone number, names of their family members, and the last meal they ate. After three minutes of this, SCP-XXXX-1 will begin describing the creation process of cement. SCP-XXXX-1 will also begin change in appearance at various intervals. The amount SCP-XXXX-1 changes varies, going from a hair color or clothing change to changing to a completely different person.²

After eight minutes, the recording will fade into static for two minutes. At the end of the static, there is a scream³ and then the video cuts off.

After viewing the DVD, viewers experience mild to severe paranoia from the sight of SCP-XXXX-1 outside of their house. In the most extreme case, the viewer believed that SCP-XXXX-1 was residing in their house and burned it to the ground in an attempt to locate it. (See experiment C)

Addendum:

The following a logs depict each viewing of SCP-XXXX and the viewer's response

EXPERIMENT A
Subject	D-Class Personnel D-148296 (Note that D-148296 was mentally average with no mental illnesses before viewing SCP-XXXX)
Protocol	D-148296 was forced to watch SCP-XXXX and then locked in a cell for further experimentation.
Results	(D-148296 has no residence other than the SCP site they were kept at so SCP-XXXX-1 was located in front of the site. Personnel were sent to the location of SCP-XXXX-1 and found nothing.) Ten minutes after viewing SCP-XXXX, D-148296 began having paranoid thoughts. D-148296 stated that they were being watched and that "He'll hurt me." (Referring to SCP-XXXX-1) After 15 minutes, D-148296 began pacing around his cell and tearing at his skin. A day later, D-148296 successfully escaped his cell and was terminated.

EXPERIMENT B
Subject	Security Personnel 984B
Protocol	984B volunteered to watch SCP-XXXX. They were able to go home after viewing with a mandatory daily check-up.
Results	984B's mental degradation began three hours after viewing SCP-XXXX-1 outside of his home. 984B immediately left the site to return home and search for SCP-XXXX-1, fearing that it would hurt his wife and kids. After no traces of SCP-XXXX-1 were found, 984B began searching inside of his house and questioning his family. His family reported that they would hear him search the house at night. One week after viewing SCP-XXXX-1, 984B reported wanting to move to escape from SCP-XXXX-1. A day later, 984B reported homicidal thoughts and was administered with amnestics. They seem to have completely cured 984B's paranoia.

EXPERIMENT C
Subject	Security Personnel 294M
Protocol	294M volunteered to watch SCP-XXXX. On his requests, no amnestics were authorized as 294M wanted to see the final stages of the paranoia caused by SCP-XXXX. Once again, daily check-ups were mandatory.
Results	After viewing the DVD, 294M immediately went home in an attempt to locate SCP-XXXX-1. When no traces were found, 294M proceeded to have a mental breakdown and lock himself in his house. 294M did not report to the foundation for another week and was found unconscious in their house with several scar marks on their arms and legs. The scars were later discovered to have been self inflicted. When 294M awoke, he was questioned but only responded with "He's watching me, I know it." and "He'll kill me and then all of you." (Referring to SCP-XXXX-1) The next day, a fire was reported at 294M's house. 294M admitted to starting the fire in an attempt to find SCP-XXXX-1.

Footnotes

1. The full, un-paraphrased introduction script is: "Hello there, nice to see you again! My name is Jereek Goldsmith and you are about to have a wild ride. You see, getting better isn't as simple as thinking better, you must put the steps into action. After you watch this I can guarantee that you will never be the same!

2. The change in appearance causes no break in speech and is not acknowledged by SCP-XXXX-1.

3. The scream changes each time the DVD is played.