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Would You Sign This Frightening Contract? - SCP-2221 - A Friendly Agreement - YouTube
Channel: SCP Explained - Story & Animation
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Think back to a perfect cup of morning coffee.
[3]
Feel your mug warming your hands awake.
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Imagine the sun, how it rises over the mountains
just out the cafĂ©âs back window.
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The birds.
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Theyâre chirping.
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Now, isnât that nice?
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On days like these, the world, as far as you
can see it, is in picture-perfect harmony.
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Ah, but now letâs consider this.
[23]
You order your coffee with an ounce of milkâŠbut
instead, get a splash of political upheaval.
[29]
Outside, protests put Frankensteinâs mob
of angry villagers to shame.
[33]
Prisoners are being killed by civilians.
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Art depicting Jesus hanged with a noose.
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Rakes turn to pitchforks.
[37]
Pitchforks turn to weapons.
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War is all you can think about.
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Where did that picture-perfect morning go?
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Where are those birds?
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Where are you?
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Youâre in a place where God is leaned on
more than governmentâŠbut where people are
[51]
governed more than God could even know.
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But how did you get here?
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You might wonder what political events led
to this cluster of chaos.
[59]
But what if the answer wasnât at all in
memory or historical record, but rather on
[65]
the end of your index finger.
[67]
Yes, your index finger.
[70]
That flimsy little digit thatâs capable
of so much.
[74]
It points to which donut youâd like this
morning.
[76]
It draws in the air as you do the math to
calculate how much to tip the cashier.
[81]
It flicks off those pesky yellow sprinkles
you still believe taste worse than the rest.
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And it hails for a cab when youâre feeling
too full to walk home.
[90]
But you thought its role in the course of
history ended there, somewhere between picking
[95]
boogers and pointing at shooting stars.
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Never did you imagine that that finger could
turn everything into THIS.
[103]
Youâre at your computer, and instead of
reading the long block of text before you,
[108]
you decide simply to wonder: what am I consenting
to with this innocuous click of the mouse?
[113]
But never do you dare put in the effort to
find out.
[117]
End User License Agreements are blind handshakes.
[119]
A deal is struck not by one sideâs knack
for negotiation, but rather by the other sideâs
[126]
propensity for neglect.
[127]
To humans, Reading the fine print is more
a phrase than an action.
[132]
Weâve all heard it said, but have you ever
seen it done?
[136]
From making the bed to mowing the lawn, history
is ripe with chores to complain about.
[140]
But what is unique about this chore, reading
End User License Agreements, is that itâs
[145]
met with no resistance.
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No moans or grievances.
[149]
Itâs not pushed under the rug nor procrastinated.
[152]
Itâs an anomaly in itself; itâs simplyâŠ
ignored.
[158]
Not how you ignore the noise of construction
out your bedroom window at seven in the morning.
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That type of ignoring takes a specific effort.
[165]
A pillow thrown over your head and pressed
into your ear.
[168]
Not how you ignore late-night cravings for
ice cream in bed.
[172]
That takes discipline.
[173]
We are not talking about an instance that
forces upon us an act of discounting, but
[178]
rather an anomaly that by nature is disregarded,
scrolled by, thought nothing of.
[185]
And let it be known that End User Agreements
do not have the ego of humans.
[190]
They do not take our indifference to them
personally.
[193]
In fact, they welcome it, reveling in their
anonymity.
[197]
While most EULAsâ agendas are widely understood
to protect software licensors in the event
[202]
said software crashes a computer, an unusual
End User License Agreement, SCP-2221, has
[210]
higher ambitions.
[212]
This contract is not concerned with mitigating
a few lawsuits.
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It aspires to more.
[217]
As you scroll lower and lower, it subtly seeks
to manipulate the minds, hearts, and souls
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of millions, and millions more.
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This endless scrolling asked of you is by
no mistake.
[230]
Instances of SCP-2221, most often found by
consumers of inexpensive or free software,
[236]
are longer than most End User License Agreements,
designed to lull us into a zombie state, not
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of reading, but of completing.
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The task of reading this particular kind of
contract is so tedious that you no longer
[249]
concern yourself with the minutiae between
point a and point b, you just become obsessed
[255]
with reaching the finish line.
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And itâs within those moments of illiterate
impatience that SCP-2221 knows to strike,
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first leading with a jab, better known as
Clause 189, which reads:
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"You agree that all worship, prayer, obeisance,
sacrifice, oaths, requests for guidance and/or
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intervention, and any other invocations of
divinity directed at any deity or deities
[280]
listed in Appendix H.vii will instead be directed
at the Serene Tribune, Friend of the Righteous,
[287]
hereafter referred to as 'Amicus.'1 Furthermore,
you agree that this clause supersedes conscious
[293]
intent with regard to the direction of the
aforementioned invocations of divinity."
[297]
Then SCP-2221 follows up with an ever-formidable
Clause 191:
[302]
"You agree that Friends of Amicus LLC2 may
access your consciousness for the purpose
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of exerting subconscious influence and/or
temporary control of consciousness for a period
[314]
not to exceed seventy-two (72) hours during
any one-week period."
[319]
But SCP-2221 doesnât stop there, not before
delivering one final blow, the knock-out punch,
[327]
clause 216:
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"You and Friends of Amicus LLC agree that
any attempt to breach or modify the terms
[334]
of this agreement, or to bring suit against
Friends of Amicus LLC, must be settled by
[340]
arbitration in the Serene Tribunal."3
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And once these clauses are combed over and
you hit AGREE, your free will throws in the
[348]
towel, surrendering to SCP 2221⊠and yet,
the battle has just begun.
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But first, it must be asked: how do you fight
when you donât even know who it is that
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youâre fighting?
[360]
Who is enforcing this contract?
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Pro-tip.
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If you donât know what to do with your hands
in a fight, itâs never a bad idea to put
[367]
your guard up.
[368]
And thatâs what The Foundation first did.
[370]
When word got out of SCP-2221, strict containment
procedures were put into effect.
[376]
Websites believed to host instances of SCP-2221
were isolated for examination, and civilian
[382]
users were immediately blocked from such websites.
[386]
A team of C-Class personnel were then assigned
the job of maintaining an ongoing search for
[390]
websites and software that require users to
agree to an End User License Agreement, and
[396]
thoroughly examine all such agreements for
signs of SCP-2221.
[401]
C-Class personnel spent hours a day in front
of computer screens scrolling through the
[405]
tediousness of every End User License Agreement
they could find.
[409]
It was a never-ending job, like picking up
trash on the beach only to return the next
[414]
day to find high tide has brought more.
[417]
But at least a beach clean-up gives a fleeting
feeling of reward to cherish and cling to.
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There is a moment when the sand looks uninhabited,
cleansed of pollution.
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There is a moment when the sun sets over the
horizon and you canât help but think you
[431]
contributed a small part to its beauty.
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But grinding away at the computer, scavenging
for harmful clauses in EULAâs is far more
[439]
taxing than picking up trash.
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You donât need to toil over a littered candy
wrapper to know to toss it in the garbage.
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SCP-2221, however, isnât recognizable at
first glance.
[451]
Each End User License Agreement took C-Class
personnel several minutes to analyze before
[455]
being able to categorize them as safe or harmful.
[459]
Imagine a beach clean-up where each piece
of trash must be sent to the lab before being
[464]
thrown away.
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Thatâs the task that was placed upon personnel.
[469]
And thus, they eventually came to realize
their efforts to be futile.
[472]
With strained eyes and carpal tunnel syndrome,
they officially aborted their original containment
[477]
procedures, understanding that the punches
coming their way were too much for any two
[482]
hands to block.
[484]
Now, while analogizing SCP-2221 to a boxer
throwing blows might be convenient, it only
[490]
distances us from the truth of the matter:
SCP-2221 is far more dangerous than any right
[496]
hook.
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It does not stop for the bell; it is an onslaught
stuck on repeat.
[501]
With a defensive stance deemed unsuccessful,
The Foundation had to pivot its approach.
[507]
They had to change the way they saw the problem.
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And sometimes the best way to learn about
a predator is to study its prey.
[514]
Civilians who have accepted the terms of an
SCP-2221 are considered 2221-As, and itâs
[521]
in putting these 2221-As under the microscope
of analysis that The Foundation began to find
[527]
answers.
[528]
This wasnât The Foundation's preferred method
of study, as they would have rather experimented
[532]
within the confines of their labs for reasons
of safety and secrecy.
[536]
But they struggled to effectively and accurately
carry out tests to resolve their questions.
[542]
Certain classes of individuals, like mentally
incapable people, pre-pubescent children,
[547]
and slaves, are all unaffected by SCP 2221,
even if they hit agree.
[552]
The Foundation believes this is because they
lack the legal capacity to agree to a contract.
[558]
Beyond that, individuals incapable of understanding
the contract - such as those who cannot speak
[562]
the language in which it is written, or sleeping
persons made to press the button to agree
[567]
to the contract - are also unaffected by the
terms of the agreement.
[571]
These limitations have proven extremely disruptive
when attempting to study SCP-2221.
[576]
After all, you canât get too far along with
your research if your lab rats are blessed
[581]
with impunity.
[583]
And so, the Foundation moved deeper along
their chain of proverbial lab rats, and they
[587]
extended their research to D-Class personnel.
[591]
The D-Class was instructed to read and agree
to SCP-2221.
[595]
This too, however, gave them no return on
their scientific investment.
[599]
The reasons for D-Class personnelâs resistance
to contractual obedience is uncertain, but
[603]
that doesnât stop some from speculating.
[606]
The Foundation, however, had little time to
wonder.
[609]
Their strategy to untangle this mess just
led to more knots, and they needed to straighten
[613]
things out.
[614]
This time to do so, they decided to move beyond
lab-driven research and focus on studying
[619]
populations who have possibly been exposed
to SCP-2221.
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When observing populations with frequently
recurring 2221-As, The Foundation noted many
[630]
odd, yet consistent, behaviors.
[632]
First, they recognized increased voter turnout
and political activism.
[637]
People in passing wouldnât talk about sports
but instead propositions and ideas.
[642]
Elections werenât just days of obligations
marked on calendars; they were anticipated
[646]
with enthusiasm.
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Their dates were etched in the minds of the
collective, as if no different than The Super
[652]
Bowl or New Yearâs Eve.
[654]
The Foundation noticed populations dense with
2221-As had a palpable energy.
[660]
It was like the End User License Agreement
gave them a motor, an engine for action.
[665]
If there were social or political issues on
peoplesâ minds, they werenât just accepted
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as a consequence of society, they were fought
for.
[673]
Cars were just as likely to be stopped by
protestors as they were a red light.
[678]
Politics in these areas were primitively efficient.
[681]
The system was more condensed.
[683]
People wanted something, and they did what
they had to do to get it.
[687]
There was no room for the performance of good
manners in this political construction.
[691]
If something was seen to be out of line, it
was pushed back in.
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Churches began sprouting up like weeds.
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Because while political involvement increased
steadily, the authority of religion ran rampant.
[702]
A shift in practice was observed.
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And it didnât take a microscope to see it.
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Religion was no longer held in the heart,
hidden beneath personal belief, but it was
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a statement worn like a designer jacket.
[714]
It was a code for living.
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A code that 2221-As believed must be enforced.
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And so when civilians deviated from religious
law, community punishment came with it.
[726]
It was not uncommon to see sinners being shamed
at the center of town squares.
[730]
It was not uncommon for them to be ridiculed
and guilted until they felt like nothing at
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all.
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And while showered with shame they stood frozen
like a statue, erected to remind others of
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what happens when they deviate from the law
of God.
[744]
But even humans playing statues werenât
enough to quench 2221-Aâs thirst for religious
[750]
art.
[751]
These highly affected communities were noted
also for their paintings.
[755]
From the murals in churches even to the walls
in nurseries, 2221-A dense populations glorified
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nooses, and patterns resembling nooses, with
unnerving frequency.
[764]
Even in the artwork that emits nooses, you
will notice the necks of the subjects are
[769]
slightly red and scratched, presumably to
symbolize rope that had once been there, even
[774]
if not there now.
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In affected Christian communities you wouldnât
find records of Jesus nailed to the cross,
[780]
but instead hanging by the neck.
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However, when observing the worksâ creation,
The Foundation noted that the paint strokes
[786]
of their studied subjects were not that of
an artistâŠbut a puppet.
[790]
There was no noticeable muse guiding their
hand down a path of creative discovery.
[795]
There werenât even any pauses for reflection
or wonder.
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The movements were precise but not inspired.
[802]
The art seemed to be composed of all wrist
and no heart.
[805]
So, if these people really are puppets forced
to perform, the question remains: who is our
[812]
puppeteer?
[813]
To find out, we have to follow the strings
wherever they run and pull.
[816]
And luckily that isnât too hard, as all
of them lead to the same instance: October
[822]
2012, when a densely populated 2221-A community
in a small town, further referred to as POP-044-2221-A,
[832]
undoubtedly exposed themselves as living under
the influence of an anomalous force, immediately
[837]
recognized as SCP-2221.
[841]
In October of 2012, armed mobs attacked Foundation
installations in the town.
[846]
Site 614 swiftly contacted the 05 Council
to report the incident.
[850]
It was believed that these mobs were not just
violent brutes looking to smash glass, but
[855]
that their attacks had a more nuanced motive.
[858]
Soon it was apparent that they had inside
information concerning The Foundation, and
[863]
they demand that the Foundation surrender
several specific anomalies and mandate that
[867]
34 specific members of Foundation personnel
be put on trial.
[871]
The October attacks on Site 614 were initially
attributed to the Republic of Letters - a
[875]
group of Foundation employees who believe
that the public deserves to know the truth
[879]
about what they do.
[880]
The group quickly claimed responsibility for
leaking information leading to the disaster.
[885]
At this point, The Foundation was not yet
aware of any major 2221-A populations, let
[891]
alone POP-2221-A, and thus the Republic of
Letters' claims were believed, at least until
[897]
there was good reason to question them.
[899]
Examination of computers at Site 614 revealed
that many personnel had been using software
[904]
hosting an instance of SCP-2221.
[908]
The consensus within the Foundation then shifted
to the belief that the leaked information
[912]
came from Foundation personnel, having been
subverted by the Friends of Amicus - the group
[917]
behind SCP-2221.
[919]
It remains unknown whether the failure to
find and report this instance of SCP-2221
[925]
was due to negligenceâŠor deliberate sabotage.
[928]
To find out, Site 614 personnel were detained
for examination.
[933]
Field agents from Site 115 and Site 621 were
sent to the affected area under the command
[938]
of Site Director Susan Pritchard to observe
and report on the local 2221-A population,
[946]
POP-044-2221.
[948]
Under the manipulation of an anomalous End
User License Agreement, 2221-As go to war
[953]
with local prisons.
[954]
And while we call it a war, they might call
it a fight for justice.
[959]
Because in their mind, this onslaught is justified.
[962]
But justified might be the wrong word here.
[964]
It implies logic.
[966]
But there is no discernable reasoning here.
[968]
When POP-004-2221 ambushes the cells of criminals,
itâs not for reason, but rather an obligation.
[976]
It is an order from elsewhere.
[978]
These attacks donât look mechanical or robotic,
yet there is a clear sense that buried within
[983]
an impassioned rage is something enforcing
it.
[987]
The 2221-As might best be compared to horses
running a track.
[991]
Surely, they are by nature powerful animals
who enjoy high speeds, but would they really
[995]
act like this if not for the contrived structures
of The Kentucky Derby.
[999]
So, this is to ask: Who runs the fastest,
the horse in the freedom of the fields?
[1004]
Or the one being whipped?
[1006]
The answer presents itself to local security,
as they go head-to-head with the violent determination
[1011]
of 2221-As, led by their anonymous commander.
[1016]
It was a taxing battle, but security forces
were able to repel most of the attacks and
[1022]
limit the damage.
[1023]
However, prisons in the area didnât have
such luck and were overrun by fervent mobs.
[1029]
Prisoners at both locations are dragged outside
and murdered, even those prisoners who have
[1033]
committed the most minor of crimes.
[1035]
College students peer pressured into petty
vandalism found themselves sentenced to death
[1040]
by the hands of 2221-As.
[1041]
A woman sentenced for flicking a lit cigarette
into the snow was killed for it in plain sight.
[1042]
Over the course of the next four months, even
more drastic changes in the religious practices
[1047]
of the local Sunni Muslim majority were observed.
[1050]
Local mosques begin announcing the call to
prayer eight times per day instead of the
[1055]
traditional five.
[1056]
Decorative nooses were seen hanging in doorways,
often adorned with colorful cloth in elaborate
[1062]
patterns.
[1063]
Several imams believed to be instances of
2221-A are noted to add an additional prophet,
[1068]
âSadiq,â to the traditional Islamic list
of prophets.
[1071]
But when pressed for additional information
on Sadiq, these imams act confused, and they
[1076]
deny knowledge of any such name.
[1078]
By April 2013, affected communities began
sounding the call to prayer up to thirty times
[1084]
per day.
[1085]
With little time left for other activities,
attacks on Foundation installations ceased.
[1090]
POP-044-2221-A distributed print versions
of the SCP-2221 contract, thereby converting
[1097]
nearly all adult members of affected communities
into instances of 2221-A.
[1103]
The Foundation acted quickly.
[1105]
Field agents quarantined towns inhabited by
POP-044-2221-A, and unaffected civilians were
[1111]
evacuated into Foundation custody.
[1114]
The frequency of 2221-A calls to prayer continued
to increase until prayer became constant among
[1120]
the entirety of POP-044-2221-A. Between May
24 and June 6, every known member of POP-044-2221-A
[1129]
expired from exhaustion and dehydration, bringing
the outbreak to a tragic end.
[1134]
Recently discovered instances of SCP-2221
have an addition to Clause 217: "By reading
[1135]
this clause, members of any organizations
listed in Appendix K.iv agree to go [BEEP]
[1136]
themselves."
[1137]
The SCP Foundation was one of the organizations
listed, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
[1142]
the Republic of Letters, and several other
groups of interest and governmental organizations.
[1146]
Personnel who had read Clause 217 were isolated
and kept under examination.
[1152]
The addition had no discernible effect, least
of all a literal one.
[1156]
It is believed that Clause 217 is merely a
taunt, rather than an info hazard or legally
[1161]
binding addition to the document.
[1163]
However, supervisors are to make weekly reports
on the behavior of Foundation personnel who
[1168]
have read modified versions of Clause 217.
[1171]
Being turned into a murderous religious zealot
in one thing, being forced into an act of
[1176]
unpleasant self-coitus is quite anotherâŠ
[1179]
Now go check out âSCP-029 - Daughter of
Shadowsâ and âSCP-053 - Young Girlâ
[1186]
for more anomalies thatâll drive you to
do terrible things!
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