What is the SCP Foundation?
If you are a fan of horror, science fiction, or urban fantasy, you may have heard of the SCP Foundation. But what exactly is it? Is it a real organization, a fictional setting, or something else? In this article, we will explore the origins, history, structure, goals, challenges, and impact of the SCP Foundation, one of the most popular and influential collaborative writing projects on the internet.
scp foundation
The origin and history of the SCP Foundation
The SCP Foundation is a fictional secret organization that captures, contains, and studies various paranormal, supernatural, and other mysterious phenomena unexplained by science (known as "anomalies" or "SCPs"). It also keeps their existence hidden from the rest of human society in order to prevent mass hysteria and maintain normalcy.
The idea of the SCP Foundation originated from a post on an online forum called /x/ (paranormal) on 4chan in 2007. The post was a short story about an entity called SCP-173, a statue-like creature that can only move when not observed by anyone. The story was written in a mock scientific report format, with a picture of a sculpture by Japanese artist Izumi Kato as an illustration. The story quickly gained popularity and inspired other users to create their own stories about similar entities, using the same format and style.
Soon, these stories were collected and archived on a website called EditThis.info, which allowed anyone to edit and contribute to them. This website became the first version of the SCP Wiki, a collaborative writing project that hosts thousands of SCP files and other related works. However, due to technical issues and vandalism, the website was abandoned in 2008 and moved to Wikidot.com, which became the current version of the SCP Wiki. Since then, the SCP Wiki has grown exponentially in size, quality, diversity, and popularity, attracting millions of readers and writers from around the world.
The main types of SCP files and Foundation Tales
The majority of works on the SCP Wiki consist of two main types: SCP files and Foundation Tales.
SCP files are mock confidential scientific reports that document various anomalies and their associated containment procedures. They usually follow a standard format that includes an item number, an object class (indicating how difficult or dangerous it is to contain), a special containment procedure (describing how to keep it secure), a description (explaining what it is and what it does), and sometimes additional information such as addenda, test logs, interviews, or incident reports.
Foundation Tales are short stories that feature various characters and settings in the SCP universe. They often explore the backstory, personality, motivation, or perspective of different Foundation personnel (such as researchers, agents, or administrators), anomalous entities (such as humanoids, animals, or objects), or other groups of interest (such as rival organizations, cults, or civilians).
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Both SCP files and Foundation Tales can range from horror, comedy, drama, action, mystery, romance, or any combination of genres. They can also vary in tone, style, length, quality, and canon. Canon refers to the consistency and continuity of the SCP universe, which is not fixed or enforced by any official authority. Instead, each writer and reader can choose their own interpretation and headcanon of the SCP universe, based on their preferences and imagination.
The themes and genres of the SCP universe
The SCP universe is a rich and diverse fictional setting that explores various themes and genres. Some of the most common and prominent ones are:
Horror: The SCP universe is filled with terrifying and disturbing anomalies that can harm, kill, or manipulate humans in various ways. Some examples are SCP-096 (a humanoid creature that will hunt down anyone who sees its face), SCP-106 (an old man that can pass through solid matter and trap people in a pocket dimension), and SCP-3000 (a gigantic eel-like entity that causes memory loss and madness).
Science fiction: The SCP universe is also based on scientific concepts and theories, such as quantum mechanics, parallel universes, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and alien lifeforms. Some examples are SCP-2000 (a facility that can rebuild human civilization after an apocalyptic event), SCP-3008 (a portal to an infinite IKEA store populated by hostile humanoids), and SCP-3812 (a metafictional entity that transcends all levels of reality).
Urban fantasy: The SCP universe is also influenced by various myths, legends, folklore, and religions from different cultures and times. Some examples are SCP-1000 (a species of intelligent primates that once coexisted with humans), SCP-1762 (a box that contains a portal to a fantasy world of dragons and knights), and SCP-343 (a being that claims to be God).
These are just some of the many themes and genres that the SCP universe covers. There are also many more subgenres and cross-genres that can be found on the SCP Wiki, such as comedy, drama, action, mystery, romance, etc. The SCP universe is a creative and collaborative space that allows anyone to express their ideas and stories in any way they want.
The structure and goals of the SCP Foundation
As mentioned before, the SCP Foundation is a fictional secret organization that captures, contains, and studies various anomalies unexplained by science. But how does it operate? What are its objectives? How does it deal with the challenges and threats it faces? In this section, we will look at the structure and goals of the SCP Foundation.
The Foundation's motto: Secure, Contain, Protect
The motto of the SCP Foundation is "Secure, Contain, Protect". This summarizes the three main functions of the organization:
Secure: The Foundation locates and captures anomalies that pose a danger or a threat to normalcy or humanity. It also prevents their exposure or escape to the public or other hostile forces.
Contain: The Foundation stores and isolates anomalies in secure facilities called Sites or Areas. It also implements specific procedures and protocols to keep them under control and prevent any harm or breach.
Protect: The Foundation protects humanity from the harmful effects of anomalies. It also protects anomalies from exploitation or abuse by other parties. It also protects itself from external or internal attacks or sabotage.
The motto of the SCP Foundation reflects its pragmatic and utilitarian approach to dealing with anomalies. It does not seek to destroy or understand them completely, but rather to manage them effectively and efficiently. It also does not seek to benefit or harm them intentionally, but rather to maintain a balance between them and humanity.
The Foundation's classification system and containment procedures
The Foundation uses a classification system to categorize anomalies according to their difficulty or danger level of containment. The most common classes are:
Safe: Anomalies that are easy to contain and pose little or no threat to humanity. They usually require minimal security measures and resources to contain them. Examples are SCP-999 (a friendly and playful slime creature) and SCP-131 (a pair of eye-like creatures that follow people around).
Euclid: Anomalies that are unpredictable or difficult to contain and pose a moderate or unknown threat to humanity. They usually require more security measures and resources to contain them. Examples are SCP-173 (the statue-like creature that can only move when not observed) and SCP-049 (a humanoid plague doctor that can kill and reanimate people).
Keter: Anomalies that are extremely dangerous or impossible to contain and pose a severe or existential threat to humanity. They usually require the highest level of security measures and resources to contain them. Examples are SCP-682 (a highly intelligent and aggressive reptilian creature that can adapt to any situation) and SCP-2317 (a portal to a dimension where an apocalyptic entity is chained).
There are also other less common classes, such as Thaumiel (anomalies that can help the Foundation contain other anomalies), Neutralized (anomalies that have been destroyed or deactivated), or Apollyon (anomalies that cannot be contained and will inevitably cause the end of the world).
The Foundation also uses a set of containment procedures for each anomaly, which describe how to keep it secure and prevent any harm or breach. These procedures vary depending on the nature and characteristics of the anomaly, such as its size, shape, behavior, abilities, effects, etc. The procedures also specify the personnel, equipment, facilities, protocols, and resources required for containment.
The Foundation's personnel and Mobile Task Forces
The Foundation employs a large number of personnel from various backgrounds and disciplines, such as scientists, engineers, doctors, soldiers, agents, administrators, etc. These personnel are assigned to different roles and ranks within the organization, such as researchers, security officers, containment specialists, field agents, site directors, etc.
The Foundation also operates several Mobile Task Forces (MTFs), which are elite teams of personnel that specialize in specific tasks or missions related to anomalies. These tasks or missions may include capturing, containing, retrieving, investigating, exploring, or neutralizing anomalies. Each MTF has a unique name and designation that reflects its purpose and function. For example, MTF Alpha-1 ("Red Right Hand") is a personal bodyguard unit for the O5 Council (the highest authority of the Foundation), MTF Epsilon-6 ("Village Idiots") is a team of undercover agents that infiltrate anomalous communities or cults, and MTF Tau-5 ("Samsara") is a squad of immortal cyborg soldiers that engage in high-risk combat operations.
The Foundation's ethics and philosophy
The Foundation operates under a strict code of ethics and philosophy that guides its actions and decisions. The core principle of this code is:
"The Foundation is not evil. We do not torture people 'for the greater good'. We are not a bunch of moustache-twirling villains who use anomalies to further our own power. We are good people who do bad things for a good reason."
This principle reflects the Foundation's pragmatic and utilitarian approach to dealing with anomalies. The Foundation recognizes that its work often involves violating human rights, causing suffering, or sacrificing lives. However, it also believes that its work is necessary to protect humanity from even worse outcomes. The Foundation does not enjoy or justify its actions, but rather accepts them as a moral duty and a lesser evil.
The challenges and threats faced by the SCP Foundation
The SCP Foundation faces many challenges and threats in its mission to secure, contain, and protect anomalies. Some of these challenges and threats are:
The anomalous phenomena and entities that the Foundation contains
The most obvious challenge and threat faced by the Foundation is the very thing it deals with: anomalies. Anomalies are unpredictable, dangerous, and often hostile to humans or normalcy. They can cause physical, mental, emotional, or existential harm to anyone who encounters them. They can also breach their containment or escape from the Foundation's custody. The Foundation has to constantly monitor, research, and update its knowledge and methods of containing anomalies.
The rival factions and groups of interest that oppose the Foundation
The second challenge and threat faced by the Foundation is the existence of other factions and groups of interest that have different agendas or views on anomalies. These factions and groups may seek to destroy, use, exploit, or worship anomalies. They may also attack, infiltrate, or sabotage the Foundation or its facilities. Some examples of these factions and groups are:
The Chaos Insurgency: A rogue splinter group of the Foundation that uses anomalies for their own benefit and agenda. They are ruthless, violent, and secretive, and often clash with the Foundation over the possession or control of anomalies.
The Serpent's Hand: A loose network of anomalous individuals, activists, and sympathizers that oppose the Foundation's containment and secrecy of anomalies. They believe that anomalies are natural and beneficial, and should be accepted and integrated into society.
The Church of the Broken God: A religious cult that worships anomalies related to machines, technology, or metal. They believe that these anomalies are parts of a broken god that they seek to restore and resurrect.
These are just some of the many factions and groups that the Foundation has to deal with. There are also many more that have different motives, methods, and resources. The Foundation has to constantly monitor, investigate, and counter their activities and influence.
The potential scenarios and events that could end the world or humanity
The third challenge and threat faced by the Foundation is the possibility of scenarios and events that could end the world or humanity as we know it. These scenarios and events are called XK-class end-of-the-world scenarios, and they can be caused by various factors, such as anomalies, natural disasters, wars, diseases, etc. The Foundation has to prevent or mitigate these scenarios and events at all costs.
Some examples of these scenarios and events are:
XK-class end-of-the-world scenario: A scenario where the world or humanity is destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by a global catastrophe. For example, a nuclear war, a meteor impact, a supervolcano eruption, etc.
ZK-class reality failure scenario: A scenario where the laws of physics or reality are altered or erased by an anomaly or an event. For example, a reality-bending entity, a paradox, a dimensional collapse, etc.
CK-class restructuring scenario: A scenario where the world or humanity is transformed or replaced by a different reality or entity. For example, a memetic virus, a hive mind, a god-like being, etc.
These are just some of the many scenarios and events that the Foundation has to prepare for. There are also many more that have different causes, effects, and probabilities. The Foundation has to constantly research, predict, and plan for these scenarios and events.
The moral dilemmas and ethical issues that arise from the Foundation's work
The fourth challenge and threat faced by the Foundation is the moral dilemmas and ethical issues that arise from its work. The Foundation's work often involves violating human rights, causing suffering, or sacrificing lives in order to contain anomalies and protect humanity. The Foundation has to deal with the psychological and emotional consequences of its actions and decisions.
Some examples of these dilemmas and issues are:
The use of D-class personnel: The Foundation uses D-class personnel as disposable human test subjects or expendable assets for its experiments or operations involving anomalies. D-class personnel are usually convicted criminals or prisoners who are offered a chance to reduce their sentence or avoid execution by participating in the Foundation's work. However, they are often subjected to torture, death, or worse by anomalies or the Foundation itself.
The use of amnestics: The Foundation uses amnestics as drugs or devices that can erase or alter the memories of people who have been exposed to anomalies or the Foundation's activities. Amnestics are used to maintain secrecy and normalcy, as well as to prevent psychological trauma or memetic infection. However, they also violate the autonomy and identity of people who have their memories erased or altered.
The use of SCP-001: SCP-001 is a special designation given to one or more anomalies that are considered to be the most important or dangerous in the SCP universe. There are multiple proposals for what SCP-001 could be, each with different implications and consequences for the Foundation and humanity. Some examples are:
A guardian angel that protects humanity from other anomalies.
A gate to an Eden-like garden that contains the origin of all anomalies.
A list of instructions on how to prevent or cause an XK-class end-of-the-world scenario.
These are just some of the many dilemmas and issues that the Foundation has to face. There are also many more that have different moral and interest for the SCP universe and its works. They also collaborate, communicate, and support each other through various platforms, such as the SCP Wiki, the SCP Forum, the SCP Discord, the SCP Reddit, etc.
Contributed to the public domain: The SCP Foundation has contributed to the public domain by releasing its works under a Creative Commons license. This means that anyone can use, modify, or distribute the works for any purpose, as long as they attribute the original authors and share their works under the same license. This allows for more creativity, diversity, and accessibility of the works.
These are just some of the many ways that the SCP Foundation has impacted and influenced culture and society. There are also many more that have different aspects, perspectives, and implications. The SCP Foundation is a phenomenon and a legacy that will continue to grow and evolve.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the SCP Foundation is a fictional secret organization that captures, contains, and studies various anomalies unexplained by science. It is also a creative and collaborative writing project that hosts thousands of SCP files and Foundation Tales on the SCP Wiki. The SCP Foundation has a rich and diverse fictional setting that explores various themes and genres. It also has a complex and realistic structure and goals that reflect its pragmatic and utilitarian approach to dealing with anomalies. The SCP Foundation faces many challenges and threats from anomalies, rival factions, end-of-the-world scenarios, and moral dilemmas. The SCP Foundation has also achieved critical acclaim, cultural significance, and public domain status as a collaborative writing project and a fictional setting. The SCP Foundation is one of the most popular and influential collaborative writing projects on the internet, and one of the most fascinating and immersive fictional settings in literature.
FAQs
Q: Is the SCP Foundation real?
A: No, the SCP Foundation is not real. It is a fictional secret organization that captures, contains, and studies various anomalies unexplained by science. It is also a creative and collaborative writing project that hosts thousands of SCP files and Foundation Tales on the SCP Wiki.
Q: How can I join or contribute to the SCP Foundation?
A: You can join or contribute to the SCP Foundation by creating an account on the SCP Wiki ( You can then read the guides and rules on how to write and submit your own SCP files or Foundation Tales. You can also participate in the discussions and feedback on the SCP Forum or the SCP Discord.
Q: What are some of the best or most popular SCP files or Foundation Tales?
A: There are many excellent and popular SCP files or Foundation Tales on the SCP Wiki, and each reader or writer may have their own preferences and opinions. However, some of the most commonly recommended or rated ones are:
SCP-173 (the statue-like creature that can only move when not observed)
SCP-087 (the staircase that descends into darkness)
SCP-049 (the humanoid plague doctor that can kill and reanimate people)
SCP-682 (the highly intelligent and aggressive reptilian creature that can adapt to any situation)
SCP-3008 (the portal to an infinite IKEA store populated by hostile humanoids)
The Things Dr Bright Is Not Allowed To Do At The Foundation (a humorous list of rules for a notorious Foundation researcher)
The Cool War (a series of stories about a conflict between two rival factions of anomalous graffiti artists)
The Antimemetics Division (a series of stories about a branch of the Foundation that deals with memory-affecting anomalies)
The Broken Masquerade (a series of stories about a scenario where the existence of the Foundation and anomalies is revealed to the public)
Q: What are some of the other factions or groups of interest in the SCP universe?
A: There are many other factions or groups of interest in the SCP universe that have different agendas or views on anomalies. Some examples are:
The Chaos Insurgency (a rogue splinter group of the Foundation that uses anomalies for their own benefit and agenda)
The Serpent's Hand (a loose network of anomalous individuals, activists, and sympathizers that oppose A list of instructions on how to prevent or cause an XK-class end-of-the-world scenario
These are just some of the many proposals for SCP-001. There are also many more that have different authors, formats, and styles. SCP-001 is a mystery and a paradox that challenges the Foundation and the reader.
This concludes my article on the SCP Foundation. I hope you enjoyed reading it and learned something new and interesting about this amazing collaborative writing project and fictional setting. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your time and attention. 44f88ac181
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