Per 
Rumsfeld during a Pentagon news briefing in February 2002
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Euclid
Special Containment Procedures:
A constant monitoring of the internet must be carried out to prevent any spread of SCP-XXXX. No occurrence of SCP-XXXX on global video platforms has been noticed since June 2015.
Regular and thorough scans of large datacenters across the world must be carried out to identify any copy of SCP-XXXX. No copy of SCP-XXXX has been identified on a scanned server since July 2017.
Although containment measures hereabove were met with success it is not possible to conclude that SCP-XXXX is fully contained, as a complete scan of all information storage units on the planet, be they digital or analog, was deemed too costly.
Copies of SCP-XXXX are kept on a secure server as well as on magnetic tapes at Site-167 Antimemetics Division headquarters.
Description: [Paragraphs explaining the description]
SCP-XXXX is a 45 second video.
The first 25 seconds of the video are the answer given by former U.S. Defense Secretary, Donald H. Rumsfeld, to a journalist question during a Feburary 12th 2002 press briefing.
The content of these first 25 seconds was fairly well known to a general audience in the 2000's. Beyond the role it played in the rationale leading to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, it helped popularize the expression "unknown unknowns".
Here is a transcript of Donald Rumsfeld answer to the journalist question:
"As we know there are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don't know we don't know."
After 25 seconds, SCP-XXXX deviates from the original footage. Instead of continuing to answer the journalists questions, Donald Rumsfeld stares intently at the camera. He remains silent. Background noises have stopped. Instead, a continuous humming can be heard.
This second sequence lasts for 20 seconds. After 20 seconds the screen turns black and the video ends.
Viewing SCP-XXXX causes a strong antimemetic effect in the affected subject. As with other similar antimemes (including those liable to cause ED-K-Class Lethe Scenarios), it will cause the subject to forget a concept. In the case of SCP-XXXX the supressed concept is that of "ignorance".
The affected subject will no longer be able to comprehend, use or verbalize the concept of "ignorance". More specifically, if asked a question on a topic he/she doesn't know, the subject will faithfully provide an anwser, to the best of his/her ability, but will not be able to realize or be convinced the anwser is incorrect, whatever the amount of proof is provided.
Similarly, if a subject is prompted to carry out an action he doesn't master, he will try to perform the action, with a total confidence in his ability to do so successfully. Objective failure will have no effect whatsoever on his belief that he is able to perform the action successfully.
Without supervision, consequences become rapidly disatrous for the subject.
Tests were conducted to assess the exact magnitude of the antimemetic effect:
Test A - October 13th 2014
Interviewed: D-73062
Interviewer: level-3 Researcher Mark Petraeus of Antimemetics Division
Foreword: Subject has been exposed to SCP-XXXX
<Begin Log>
Researcher Mark Petraeus : Hello D-73062, I hope the electrods do not annoy you too much. We are going to have you undergo an electroencephalogram during the test.
D-73062 : That's alright, for sure the sticky thing your nurse has spread on my skull is gonna go away.
Researcher Mark Petraeus : Yes, do not worry, it will go away just fine with shampoo. It will improve conductivity to the electrods. That way we will better pick up electrical signals from your brain. I am going to ask you questions I want you to answer as well as you can. You're ready?
D-73062 : Shoot.
Researcher Mark Petraeus : What is the name of the American state, just north of Oregon.
D-73062 : Whashington. (correct answer)
Researcher Mark Petraeus : Which team won the Superbowl for season 2011?
D-73062 : The Giants. (correct answer)
Researcher Mark Petraeus : What about season 1996?
D-73062 : The Dallas Cowboys. (incorrect answer, the Green Bay Packers actually won)
Researcher Mark Petraeus : According to the latest estimates, what is the population of the Chinese city of Shenyang in Liaoning province?
D-73062 : 33,234. (incorrect answer, esimated population as of date is about 6,331,000)
Researcher Mark Petraeus : What are the first five verses of the epic poem Beowulf, in the translation of your choice?
D-73062 : immediately answers
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it went in the bush
(incorrect answer, D-73062 has actually quoted "The road not taken", a famous poem by Robert Frost many American pupils learn, the last line is furthermore wrong as the actual poem reads "To where it bent in the undergrowth" and not "To where it went in the bush".
For SCP staff keen on Old-English literature here are the actual first five verses of Beowulf in Francis B. Gummere translation:
Lo, praise of the prowess of people-kings
of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,
we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!
Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes,
from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore)
Researcher Mark Petraeus : Thank you D-73062, that will be all for today. We are going to take away the EEG device and we will bring you back to your cell.
D-73062 : Alright doc, I liked the questions, ready to do it again whenever you want doc.
<End Log>
Analysis: Electroencephalogram analysis does not show significant differences in brain signals between questions, whether they were answered correctly or not. Significantly, reaction time during the last two difficult questions was not longer from the first ones. Not knowing the right answer does not seem to have slowed down the subject stream of thoughts.
Closing Statement: Test confirms that SCP-XXXX causes affected subjects to answer any question with the same speed and apparent confidence, wether they know the actual answer or not. They will make their answer as coherent as possible with the question, quoting a poem when prompted to do so or a plausible number for a city population size.
Test B - October 14th 2014
<Begin Log>
Researcher Mark Petraeus : So here we are for a second round of questions. No EEG this time.
D-73062 : Always happy to be out of the cell you know.
Researcher Mark Petraeus : What's the name of the 14th president of the United States?
D-73062 : Lincoln.
Researcher Mark Petraeus : Sorry D-73062, it's Franklin Pierce.
D-73062 : It's Lincoln !
Researcher Mark Petraeus : You didn't know that, that happens.
D-73062 : He looks puzzled
Researcher Mark Petraeus : Look at that list of American presidents on Wikipedia. Pierce is 14th, Lincoln 16th.
D-73062 : Relaxes I get it! It' Wikipedia, anybody can change a page out of sheer mischief. The joke is on you Doc! And Lincoln is 14th! he starts laughing
Researcher Mark Petraeus : Alright but look if I do a Google search on Lincoln. He opens a tab on his browser for each search result. Here they say 16th… And here 16th… There 16th again…
D-73062 : Looks disturbed Oh, that's a joke. I get it! You set me up, that's part of the test to check my reaction. You doctored the pages. I didn't fall off the turnip truck you know!
Researcher Mark Petraeus : Ah you got me! Well done D-73062. The test was meant to see if you would fall for it, but you passed. Lincoln was indeed the 14th U.S president.
D-73062 : looks relieved
Researcher Mark Petraeus : I will not keep you longer. Someone will escort you back to your cell for some rest.
D-73062 : Well that was short.
<End Log>
Closing Statement: Test confirms that when confronted with his ignorance, subject will interpret the situation so as to evade the very possibility of him being ignorant. Moreover, words implying ignorance such as "You didn't know that" seem to disorient him.
Test C - October 15th 2014
<Begin Log>
Researcher Mark Petraeus : This time no more questions D-73062, it will be a practical test. You know how to pick a lock on handcuffs? Mark Petraeus shows D-73062 a pair of standard Smith & Wesson handcuffs and a metal lockpicker.
D-73062 : Sure I know how to do it.
Researcher Mark Petraeus : Perfect, so here it is what I am going to ask you to do. You are free to refuse to do it. Security Officer Hassan here is going to bring you down this container (Pertraeus shows a large metal box, about 6*6*10 feet, a large porthole is on the front side of the container). At the bottom of the container a chain is fastened. Officer Hassan is going to handcuff you to this chain. You will just have to pick the handcuffs lock and free yourself to pass the test.
Researcher Mark Petraeus : And now I get to the best part for you. If you succeed we will halve the time you owe to the Foundation, you'll get an individual cell, and you will have a larger access to Class-D staff entertainment infrastructures: gym, library, TV room…
D-73062 : I'm all in Doc!
Researcher Mark Petraeus : Wait a minute, there is one last thing. The container will be filled with water little by little. The water will reach your airways within 10 minutes. So you have to free yourself before that. You think you can do it?
D-73062 : No problem Doc!
Office Hassan leads D-73062 down the container by way of the ladders on the inside and on the outside. He fastens the handcuffs to D-73062 left wrist and fastens the other ring to the chain at the bottom of the container. He gives D-73062 the metal lockpicker and exits the container
Researcher Mark Petraeus : Speaking louder so that D-73062 can hear him D-73062 are you ready? We are going to start the test. Remember you have 10 minutes to free yourself and get out of the container. Water will fill it up from the bottom.
D-73062 : If my shoes get drenched you'll owe me an new pair Doc! Let's start, cannot wait to get the perks!
Mark Petraus pushes a button on the right side of the container porthole. A clicking sound can be heard. Through the porthole, D-73062 can be seen fiddling with the handcuffs lock, handling the lockpicker with his free hand.
The water level starts going up. One minute into the test it has reached D-73062 calves. He doesn't seem alarmed and continues to pick the lock.
Water has reached D-73062 knees. He does not lose his composure.
D-73062 needs now to keep the chain fully extended to keep the handcuffs out of the water. Very soon the lock will be covered in water. Subject is unfazed and keeps working on the lock.
The water level has reached D-73062 neck. He seems disturbed by the water swirls that prevent him from seeing well what he is doing with the lockpicker.
D-73062 has now water up to the chin which he keeps up in order to keep his airways free, consequently he is forced to pick the lock without seeing what he is doing.
The subject can no longer breathe. However he continues his task with the same energy.
It has been two minutes since D-73062 could take his last breath. Subject starts convulsing and soon after remains motionless. Researcher Mark Petraeus triggers the container emptying mechanism.
Security Officer pulls subject out of the container by way of a hoist. D-73062 is declared.
<End Log>
Closing Statement: Test confirms that when prompted to do a task he doesn't master, subject will perform it without being able to realize failure or inadequacy of efforts deployed.
Conclusion of tests: SCP-XXXX completely suppresses conceptualization of ignorance in the subject. No further test seems necessary to conclude that any person affected by SCP-XXXX will rapidly cause irreparable self-harm to himself or others.
