“A thing that does a thing”, or ATTDAT in acronym, is a common phrase in containment fiction to describe an article that lacks narrative development, and that is primarily composed of an anomalous object and a mechanism of action. The concept is strongly associated with Series 1 and pre-Series 1 SCPs. For example, SCP-173 is an example of ATTDAT, in that it is a statue that moves when it is not watched, without any further narrativic development. It is contrasted with Anomaly As Vehicle.

Post Series-1, the phrase is used exclusively used as a pejorative, usually in terms of criticism, as more narrative developments have become more expected of new entries.^[1]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/things-what-do-a-thing-an-essay-on-things^[2]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-13287433/how-do-i-avoid-a-thing-that-does-a-thing

Quotes

“This is a term that is often used when referring to an anomaly that can be boiled down to an object that possesses some anomalous property. This property is often mundane or relating to something that the object already does, such as a lemon that is extra sour or a stapler that staples really efficiently. It is one of the most common types of articles both on the wiki and on the crit forums and is typically the go-to for newbies.”^[3]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/things-what-do-a-thing-an-essay-on-things — Uncle Nicolini, “‘Things what do a thing’- An Essay On Anomalies That Are Things That Do A Thing”

Trivia

A joke SCP Wiki (SCP-TTKU-J – “A Thing That Kills You”) article plays on ATTDAT in a variation; “a thing that kills you”.

The SCP Wiki has a guide on how to avoid writing ATTDAT articles.^[4]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/things-what-do-a-thing-an-essay-on-things