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The_Fishmonger (“Fishmonger”, “Fish”, and also known on Wikidot later as “I Am A Potato“) was an early moderator and significant contributor to the SCP Foundation collaborative fiction project during its formative period on Wikidot. His tenure as a community member concluded in 2010 following administrative action. Fishmonger’s subsequent withdrawal of his creative works significantly influenced site culture & policy development, particularly regarding content ownership and canonical flexibility.^[1]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/history-of-the-universe-part-three^[2]https://www.reddit.com/r/HobbyDrama/comments/dnxpf8/scp_foundation_the_fishmonger_or_why_not_being_a/?rdt=63870

During his active period, Fishmonger produced numerous original works that were highly regarded by his contemporary community.^[3]https://www.reddit.com/r/HobbyDrama/comments/dnxpf8/comment/f5o2svv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button While none of his works remain accessible on the official SCP Wiki, archival collections of his contributions exist on multiple platforms including Archive.org and the SCP Article Archive.^[4]http://somethingfishy.wikidot.com/the-fishmonger-s-personnel-file^[5]http://somethingfishy.wikidot.com/center^[6]https://web.archive.org/web/*/somethingfishy.wikidot.com/*^[7]http://scparticlearchive.wikidot.com/#toc6^[8]https://archive.org/stream/SCPFoundationTheFishmonger/SCP%20Foundation%20-%20The%20Fishmonger.txt^[9]https://archive.org/details/SCPFoundationTheFishmonger Sources indicate Fishmonger was considered a core contributor whose works helped establish early site conventions and narrative foundations.^[10]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-245986/a-sad-day^[11]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/history-of-the-universe-part-two

Fishmonger served as a moderator during the early development of the SCP Wiki.^[12]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-157287 His administrative approach was characterized by direct engagement with content moderation issues, though later accounts suggest this style occasionally resulted in interpersonal conflicts within the community.^[13]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-217897/fishmonger^[14]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-245986/a-sad-day

Works

Note: You may download them all of Fishmonger’s works in a .zip file here: The Fishmonger – All Works.

Fishmonger wrote numerous SCP articles and tales, none of which exist on the SCP Wiki:

Community Conflict and Departure

Administrative Action

In June 2010, following documented instances of behavioral concerns, Fishmonger received a permanent ban from the SCP Wiki.^[15]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-245986/a-sad-day^[16]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-217897/fishmonger Official disciplinary documentation cited multiple prior warnings regarding communication approach during conflict resolution. While the immediate cause for the ban involved allegations of sockpuppeting (creating and using multiple accounts deceptively), some accounts suggest that accumulated behavioral concerns, rather than any single incident, contributed to the administrative decision.^[17]http://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-217897/disciplinary-fishmonger^[18]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-217897/fishmonger^[19]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-245986/a-sad-day Dr Gears, overseeing the fallout of his ban, commented: “Things came to a head, finally. With no need to go in to details, it was determined that Fishmonger’s continued behavior and reprehensible comments were no longer counterbalanced by the quality of submissions.”^[20]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-245986/a-sad-day

Content Withdrawal

Following his removal from the site, Fishmonger initiated legal communication through an attorney, demanding the removal of all his contributed works and threatening litigation. Despite questions regarding the legal enforceability of such demands—particularly in retrospect & given the Creative Commons licensing framework—site administration elected to comply with the request rather than engage in protracted conflict. A volunteer team of administrators subsequently removed all his contributions from the active site.^[21]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-245986/a-sad-day, archive

Legacy and Impact

The Fishmonger incident directly contributed to the formalization of several foundational SCP Wiki policies:

1. “No Canon” Philosophy: Following the removal of interconnected narrative elements, site administration formally adopted a philosophical approach emphasizing multiple continuities rather than a single canonical timeline. This principle became a defining characteristic of the SCP collaborative universe.
2. Author Autonomy: The incident established author autonomy as a core administrative principle, whereby contributors retained withdrawal rights over their submissions despite Creative Commons licensing. This precedent remained in effect until its revision in early 2021 through community referendum.
3. “Rule 0 (‘Don’t be a Dick’)”: While not exclusively originating with Fishmonger (as exemplified earlier in Dr. Kondraki’s similar situation), this principle constituted one of several pivotal developments in the SCP Wiki’s community standards. The rule established that creative contributions or influence within the community would not exempt participants from behavioral expectations, regardless of their artistic merit or standing.

“Fishmongering”

The act of requesting removal of all one’s works from the SCP Wiki became known colloquially as “Fishmongering”.

Relationship to Site Licensing

The SCP Wiki operates under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 (CC BY-SA 3.0) license, which the site adopted by default when migrating to Wikidot in 2008. ^[22]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/licensing-guide Under this license, content is technically irrevocable once published, as the license grants perpetual rights to share and adapt the material to anyone who receives it under those terms.

However, the site’s practical application of this license has evolved significantly:

• 2010 (Fishmonger Era): Limited understanding of CC BY-SA 3.0 implications led to immediate compliance with removal requests despite questionable legal basis.^[23]https://www.conficmagazine.com/post/let-me-x-plain
• 2011-2020: The site maintained an informal policy of author autonomy, continuing to honor content removal requests despite their questionable enforceability under the license.
• 2021 (Post-Harmony Era): After the pixelatedHarmony/Roget case, the site formally reassessed its approach through community referendum, resulting in more stringent application of CC BY-SA 3.0 principles and limits on content removal rights.
• 2025 (Kalinin Case): Despite the 2021 policy changes, the site administration appears to have selectively applied these principles, suggesting continued evolution of license interpretation.

Notable Cases

Fishmonger (2010)

The original “Fishmongering” case involved approximately 30 articles. Following his ban for behavioral concerns, Fishmonger threatened legal action through an attorney if his content wasn’t removed. Despite the questionable legal standing of this threat given the CC BY-SA 3.0 license, site administrators complied with the request, establishing a precedent for author autonomy.

The incident directly contributed to two foundational site policies:

1. The “No Canon” philosophy, which emphasizes multiple continuities rather than a single canonical timeline
2. Author autonomy regarding content withdrawal rights, which remained in effect until 2021

Von Pincier (2018)

A significant but often overlooked “Fishmongering” case involved Von Pincier, the author of the popular SCP-1548 “The Hateful Star” and other well-regarded entries. His content removal in June 2018 coincided with a major controversy on the SCP Wiki known as the “Pride Logo Fiasco.”

The incident began when SCP Wiki administrators implemented a rainbow-colored version of the site’s logo during Pride Month in 2018 without community discussion. ^[24]https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/sites/scp-foundation This decision proved divisive, with subsequent moderation actions further inflaming tensions. The controversy eventually led to the creation of alternative containment fiction platforms, most notably the RPC Authority.

Von Pincier, who had been a prolific contributor to the SCP Wiki, chose to leave the platform during this period and deleted all his works, including the highly regarded SCP-1548 “The Hateful Star.” ^[25]https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Trivia/SCPFoundation According to claims made by RPC Authority staff, Von Pincier left because “he could not stand the mod team” and began working with RPC staff to transfer his writings shortly after the RPC Authority’s creation.

The deletion of Von Pincier’s works, particularly SCP-1548, created significant gaps in the SCP Wiki’s narrative continuity, as his writings had formed the basis for multiple canons and storylines. Von Pincier later republished his content on the RPC Authority as RPC-548 and other entries, becoming a moderator on the new platform. ^[26]https://en.namu.wiki/w/RPC%20%EA%B8%B0%EA%B4%80 The original slot for SCP-1548 was eventually filled with a new entry that was coded to permanently display the trans pride colors in the SCP logo—a clear response to the circumstances surrounding the original’s removal. ^[27]https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/SCP-1548-EX

This case differs from other “Fishmongering” incidents in that the author’s content removal was directly tied to ideological disagreements within the community rather than personal conflicts with administration (as with Fishmonger) or complex community dynamics (as with pixelatedHarmony). It also represents one of the few instances where deleted content was successfully republished in its entirety on an alternative platform created specifically to house such content. ^[28]http://rpcauthority.wikidot.com/forum/t-7461262^[29]http://rpcauthority.wikidot.com/author-page#V

Roget/pixelatedHarmony (2021)

The most significant “Fishmongering” case involved pixelatedHarmony (formerly known as Roget/RJB_R), who requested the removal of approximately 200-300 contributions (roughly 2% of the site’s total content). Unlike the Fishmonger case, this request prompted formal community discussion and voting due to the unprecedented scale and the interconnected nature of the works, many of which were foundational to numerous canons and Groups of Interest.

The community ultimately voted against allowing the wholesale removal, instead opting to preserve the works while addressing the author’s concerns through reattribution and other means. This decision marked a turning point in the site’s interpretation of CC BY-SA 3.0, acknowledging that once content is published under this license, the community has legitimate rights to preserve it, especially when it has become integral to the collaborative universe.

This case resulted in a formal revision of the long-standing author autonomy principle through community referendum.

Kalinin (2025)

The most recent high-profile case involved Kalinin, known particularly for his SCP-001 proposal “Past and Future” and approximately 80 other contributions. Despite the policy changes established during the pixelatedHarmony incident, site administration chose to honor Kalinin’s removal request.

This decision suggests that despite having a more mature understanding of CC BY-SA 3.0 by 2021, the administration continues to apply policy selectively based on factors beyond strict licensing interpretation, including the specific circumstances of each case, the contributor’s relationship with the community, and the interconnectedness of the content in question.

Impact on the SCP Wiki

“Fishmongering” has had profound effects on SCP Wiki governance and community norms.

Site Policy Development

Each major “Fishmongering” case has prompted re-evaluation of site policies, leading to incremental formalization of procedures for handling content removal requests. From the ad hoc responses to Fishmonger to the formal community referendum following the pixelatedHarmony incident, these cases have shaped the site’s approach to content ownership and preservation.

Creative Continuity Challenges

The removal of interconnected narrative elements has periodically disrupted the site’s creative continuity, necessitating rewrites, retcons, and creative workarounds. This has both reinforced and confounded the site’s “No Canon” philosophy.

Legal Understanding

The SCP Wiki’s grasp of Creative Commons licensing implications has matured over time, though practical application remains selective rather than strictly legal. The community continues to navigate the tension between honoring creator wishes and upholding the collaborative nature of the project.

Contemporary Significance

“Fishmongering” remains a contentious topic within the SCP community, representing the tension between individual creator autonomy and collective ownership of collaborative fiction. The selective application of content removal policies—honoring some requests while denying others—continues to generate debate about consistency, fairness, and the long-term integrity of the SCP creative universe.

Trivia

• Fishmonger joined the Wikidot on October 6, 2008.^[30]https://www.wikidot.com/user:info/i-am-a-potato
• Fishmonger’s author page and personnel file remain accessible through the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine and other preservation platforms. These archives provide insight into early SCP Wiki development patterns and community dynamics during the formative period of the collaborative fiction project.^[31]https://web.archive.org/web/20200216165623/http://somethingfishy.wikidot.com/the-fishmonger-s-personnel-file
• Fishmonger had an author avatar during the Decommission heyday, alongside Drs. Clef and Gears, prior to being banned.^[32]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/history-of-the-universe-part-two
• Fishmonger’s mod status was revoked for site vandalism, but was reinstated after.^[33]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-157287
• Fishmonger’s alt he was nominally banned for was named “Sinclair”.^[34]http://www.wikidot.com/user:info/sinclair^[35]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-217897/fishmonger
• According to his Wikidot profile, Fishmonger’s real name is Huey Novak.
• Fishmonger attempted to come back to the SCP Wiki under a new username, Squonk.^[36]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/history-of-the-universe-part-five
• Wikidot user and future SCP Wiki administrator Dexanote reportedly found the site the same day Fishmonger’s works were deleted.^[37]https://www.reddit.com/r/HobbyDrama/comments/dnxpf8/comment/f5o2svv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Of Fishmonger, he wrote: “The silliest part of all this Fishmonger drama is that the wiki, before this event and ever since, would always have deleted the work of an author who requests it, whether they’re banned or not. It’s one of the core pieces that staff stick to. He could have messaged and said “delete my stuff now that I’m banned” and been done with it. But he went the petty route, with the Max Fightmaster the lawyer (or whatever his name was, I remember it was a silly name like that) and now that’s his legacy.”
• According to Dexatone, Fishmonger’s works “helped shape the ‘author avatars as characters’ trend that persists in some form today.”^[38]https://www.reddit.com/r/HobbyDrama/comments/dnxpf8/comment/f5o2svv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
• A Wikidot user granreycero created a stand-alone wiki in 2015 (“Whoever”) and created “The Fishmonger’s Personnel File“, as well as reuploads all of Fishmonger’s old works. This page has 21 Wikidot users following it, including many modern writers and participants from the SCP Wiki.
• Maliceaforethought and OptimisticLucio are two of the earliest modern SCP Wiki members to follow the Fishmonger’s Personnel File.^[39]https://web.archive.org/web/20180312031728/http://somethingfishy.wikidot.com:80/the-fishmonger-s-personnel-file, 2018
• granreycero could possibly be the Fishmonger himself, however also uploaded to this stand-alone Wikidot are deleted Bijhan works. Additionally, a note at the bottom of the central page reads of one work: “Lattice [UNAVAILABLE — Possibly never written]”.
• Fishmonger wrote an early iteration of SCP-372 “Gasoline-Powered Magical Items”. A note on the Fishmonger’s Personnel File states this file is “[UNAVAILABLE; existed only 2 – 3 days]”.
• As Long As We Both Shall Live was written as a birthday story for Dr Gears.
• Destiny of the Gods and The Dreamtime were two of Fishmonger’s submissions written for the SCPocalypse, his first and second respectively.
• From his personnel file, the in-universe character of The Fishmonger “… was working in a fish market in Long Beach Island, New Jersey. Questioning of the subject revealed that he had extensive knowledge of cybernetics, quantum physics, bio- and techno-psychology, n-dimensional trigonometry, and a number of other disciplines, some of which will not be defined by common academics until 20██. When asked why he was employed in such a low-level job, he merely shrugged and said ‘it gives me time to think.'”
• Fishmonger was adept at using redaction, as exemplified in the one-sided discussion with an O5 in his personnel file.
• In his personnel file, Fishmonger claimed to have created all K-class End-of-the-world scenarios (up until that time), except for the original XK-class End-of-the-world scenario (first introduced in the initial SCP-861 (“Fallen Angel”)^[40]https://archive.vn/pD2BP#selection-1793.0-1793.939); CK-CLASS: Reconfiguration, FK-CLASS: Self-sustaining paradox, LK-CLASS: Species transmutation, and ZK-CLASS: End-of-reality. Of them he wrote: “I usually just threw them in to add a bit of spice to an article or to clever-dick myself out of a writing corner, so they’re admittedly not very well thought-out. I’m going to use this space to try and iron out just what each of them means.” This claim is corroborated by on-site forum posts, and by The History of the Universe.^[41]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-225525/k-class-scenarios^[42]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/history-of-the-universe-part-three
• Fishmonger cited The Theli Crisis (“Wanderlust”) an example of an LK-CLASS: Species transmutation scenario.
• Fishmonger described a ZK-Class End-of-the-world scenario as “a fictional disaster so awesome and powerful that it even obliterates the author.”
• The available .zip file online of Fishmonger’s works has close to 9,000 views. It was uploaded in December 2013.
• pixelatedHarmony, in writing The History of the Universe, said of the removal of Fish’s works: “For comparison, imagine every reference to Dr. Gears or Dr. Clef was removed in the middle of 2010, and then nobody on the wiki was ever allowed to write stories about them again.”^[43]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/history-of-the-universe-part-three