Language as a Torture-House
rating: 0+x

Item #: SCP-3953

Object Class: Euclid

Data Notation Rules:

Data Type Notation Rule Usage Example
Numbers, Numbering and Listing Numbers written in full must be followed by its numeric notation, enclosed between parenthesis. The "or more" expression must be followed by a plus symbol enclosed between parenthesis. Elements from other notation rules, when isolately referred and/or listed, may be written either using the regular notation, or by referring to the underlined element alone. Fourteen (14) cans of tomato soup or more (+) inside α¹, α² and α3
Subphenomena Subphenomena of SCP-3953 are to be designated using the SCP Foundation Ars Magna Format (SCP-AMF) Subphenomena Notation (SPHN) SCP-3953-P¹-P²
Affected Media Instances Instances of media affected by SCP-3953 are to be designated using the SCP Foundation Ars Magna Format (SCP-AMF) Hazardous Media Notation (HMN): SCP-3953-E¹E²-X SCP-3953-WTT1-1

Special Containment Procedures: [Paragraphs explaining the procedures]

Used Notation Systems:

Description: SCP-3953 is a particular arrangement of elements in imagetic-textual media which produces a cognitive-behavioral effect on its viewers named SCP-3953-1.

Media contaminated by this phenomenon are always composed of three (3) co-ocurring elements:

  • One (1) picture, either a photography or an artwork, of a widely recognized philosopher or humanities/social sciences researcher (E¹) who
    • focused, at any point of their work, on issues related to language;
    • either involved itself in one (1) or more (+) controversies or
    • had one (1) or more (+) personality traits/quirks which annoyed, offended or caused damage to other people.
  • One (1) chromatic overlay, composed by a single and specific hue, which replaces the original hues of the picture, but not its light values (RGB, CMYK and webcolor values contained in Document [CLASSIFIED]);
  • One (1) visible sentence (E²) overlaying the picture, its content being always an exquisite, obscure or humorous sentence relating to language which either draws inspiration or directly comes from the works of the individual portrayed in E¹.

Upon viewing such combined elements, SCP-3953-1 Subphenomena Alpha (SCP-3953-α) triggers on the subject as long as they are sufficiently fluent in the language utilized in E². α consists of the following simultaneous subeffects:

  • α¹ - Constantly conveying and/or emulating through communication and behavior the concept directly purported in E² or the concept which E² reproduces through its structure;
  • α² - Being unable to both perceive the previous phenomenon and its effects on others, to the point of annoying, confusing or scaring one's peers.

If the subject is left unnatended, within exactly one (1) year of Stage 1's onset, SCP-3953-1 will progress to Subphenomena Beta (SCP-3953-β), composed of four (4) sequential subeffects which annul and supercede each other:

  • β¹ - The effects of Stage 1 disappear completely for two (2) weeks. The subject will remain oblivious to this change, retaining memories of Alpha Stage 1 but expressing no response whatsoever to such effects even when briefed on SCP-3953 (see Experiment [REDACTED]);
  • β² - The subject will frequently praise the figure portrayed in E¹ for one (1) week;
  • β³ - By whatever means available, the subject will craft and share new instances of SCP-3953 affected media for (1) week, reproducing both the E¹ and the E² that were present on the instance that infected them.
  • β⁴ - The subject will proceed to emulate, by whatever means available, either a E¹'s controversy or one of its quirks/personality traits. The controversy/quirk will be repeated/maintained as long as it's still possible and the subject is alive.

Some examples of identified β⁴ effects include:

  • Starting to drive vehicles at high, ilegal speeds (see SCP-3953-LAC)
  • Suffocate one's most valued/loved alive peer to death (see SCP-3953-ALT)
  • Adhering to Neo-Nazist or similar ideologies and parties (see SCP-3953-HGG)
  • Making positive commentaries about political movements, parties, ideologies or individuals considered to be controversial, criminous or violent, even at the cost of one's own reputation (see SCP-3953-HGG, SCP-3953-FLT, SCP-3953-SLA)

For a full list of identified β⁴ effects, see Document [REDACTED].

Individuals who both recognize a E¹'s instance and have sufficient knowledge about the meaning of its associated E²'s instance are immune to SCP-3953 in its entirety. Recognizing a E¹ instance and being aware of one (1) of its controversies/quirks renders one immune to the corresponding β⁴ effect, but not to other β⁴ instances; this immunity is cumulative - knowing two (2) or more (+) controversies/quirks avoids the corresponding β⁴ effects.

Addendum: [Optional additional paragraphs]