SCP Declassified (r/SCPDeclassified) is a subreddit dedicated to analyzing and explaining complex content from the SCP Foundation collaborative fiction project.^[1]https://www.reddit.com/r/SCPDeclassified/

Overview

Established in 2017, the subreddit functions as a resource for readers seeking to comprehend intricate SCP articles, tales, and canon materials through detailed analyses termed “declassifications.”^[2]https://web.archive.org/web/20180327175311/https://www.reddit.com/r/SCPDeclassified/ These analyses operate as literary interpretations or explanatory guides, deconstructing symbolism, narrative structures, and connections to broader SCP lore.^[3]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scpdeclassified

The subreddit was established to facilitate reader understanding of complex, multi-layered SCP content that presents interpretative challenges. As the SCP Wiki expanded in scope and complexity, numerous articles incorporated sophisticated literary techniques, hidden meanings, and intertextual references that required additional context for full comprehension. The r/SCPDeclassified subreddit emerged as a response to this need, providing in-depth explanations while offering users a platform to demonstrate their analytical capabilities.

Since its inception, r/SCPDeclassified has become an established component of the broader SCP ecosystem, reaching 10,000 subscribers within its first year, indicating substantial community interest in analytical content.^[4]https://scpdeclassified-official-blog.tumblr.com/post/175810960372/holy-hell-weve-reached-ten-thousand-subscribers

The subreddit has received acknowledgment from established SCP authors, with several citing its value to the community.

Content and Structure

The primary content of r/SCPDeclassified consists of detailed explanations of individual SCP articles, with particular focus on those with complex narratives, dense symbolism, or significant connections to other works. Beyond individual SCP analyses, the subreddit also features:

1. Lore Overviews: Comprehensive essays that explore specific aspects of the SCP universe, such as the history of Sarkicism, Pattern Screamers, or the Class of ’76.^[5]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scpdeclassified

2. Ask An Author (AAA): Interview features that allow community members to ask questions directly to SCP authors about their writing process, creative decisions, and contributions to the wiki.

3. Tale Analyses: Explanations of standalone stories from the SCP universe that may contain complex themes or connect to broader narratives.

4. Canon Guides: Introductions and explorations of specific canons within the SCP universe.

Management and Moderation

The subreddit is administered by a moderation team responsible for content quality and community interaction. Notable moderators include Wikidot user Modulum (also known as Prospektor), who became an administrator circa 2019,^[6]https://www.conficmagazine.com/post/stone-cold-power-the-2020-scpd-discord-server-coup-d-%C3%A9tat-declassified and Wikidot user yossipossi, who has served as a moderator for the subreddit and subsequently became a Co-Captain of Internet Outreach on the SCP Wiki staff.^[7]https://05command.wikidot.com/contact-staff

The moderation team evaluates and maintains quality standards for submitted declassifications, ensuring accurate, insightful, and accessible analysis. They also administer a request system enabling community members to suggest SCPs or tales for explanation.

SCP Declassified Discord Server

Origin and Development

The SCP Declassified Discord server was established in 2018 as a companion to the r/SCPDeclassified subreddit.^[8]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scpdeclassified, rev.10 The server was designed to facilitate discussion about SCP content analysis and provide a community space for fans interested in the deeper aspects of SCP lore.

According to community documentation, the server experienced internal conflicts in 2019 that necessitated reorganization. The initial Discord server was discontinued, with members reportedly “fleeing to a second [server]” due to moderation disputes.^[9]https://www.conficmagazine.com/post/scp-me By late 2019, a reconstituted SCPDeclassified Discord had been established under the administration of Modulum.^[10]https://www.reddit.com/r/SCPDeclassified/comments/9zsl4x/discord_link_is_back_up/^[11]https://www.conficmagazine.com/post/stone-cold-power-the-2020-scpd-discord-server-coup-d-%C3%A9tat-declassified

The server rapidly expanded to become a significant unofficial SCP community hub, incorporating various discussion channels. Membership reached 15,000 in 2019, and 50,000 in 2020.^[12]https://www.reddit.com/r/SCPDeclassified/comments/9zsl4x/discord_link_is_back_up/^[13]https://www.reddit.com/r/SCPDeclassified/comments/hlb8tl/some_good_news_in_2020_announcements_and_rule/ While maintaining its connection to the r/SCPDeclassified subreddit, the Discord server evolved to encompass broader community interaction beyond content analysis.

The 2020 Administrative Restructuring

A significant development in the server’s history occurred in mid-2020, when it underwent moderation and ownership changes, described by some community members as a “hostile takeover” or “coup d’état.” According to community documentation, the server had developed a reputation for permissive moderation that allowed certain problematic members to remain active, contributing to its “poor reputation” in the broader SCP community.^[14]https://www.conficmagazine.com/post/scp-me^[15]https://www.conficmagazine.com/post/stone-cold-power-the-2020-scpd-discord-server-coup-d-%C3%A9tat-declassified, archive

The situation changed when several SCP Wiki staff members, particularly from the Internet Outreach Team, were appointed as moderators “overnight” on the SCPDeclassified Discord, with the server owner’s authorization.^[16]https://www.reddit.com/r/SCPDeclassified/comments/hlb8tl/some_good_news_in_2020_announcements_and_rule/ This event has been characterized as an attempt by official SCP staff to improve the community’s operational standards by assuming administrative control of this influential but unofficial platform.^[17]https://www.conficmagazine.com/post/stone-cold-power-the-2020-scpd-discord-server-coup-d-%C3%A9tat-declassified

A moderator announcement on the subreddit addressed this change:^[18]https://www.reddit.com/r/SCPDeclassified/comments/hlb8tl/some_good_news_in_2020_announcements_and_rule/

“r/SCPDeclassified aspires to be a direct supplement to the SCP wiki and a professional forum for discussion of the universe. In an effort to bring us more in line with the standards of the mainsite community, we’re instituting a policy regarding the carryover of disciplinary bans to SCPD.”

According to documentation published by a former moderator, this administrative change was organized by a group of influential SCP community members self-designated as “the Yurt.” This group reportedly developed a strategic plan for server restructuring, identifying issues including “weak authority,” “loss of community focus,” and a “weak constitution” in the existing management structure.^[19]https://www.conficmagazine.com/post/stone-cold-power-the-2020-scpd-discord-server-coup-d-%C3%A9tat-declassified The plan was allegedly distributed among several prominent SCP Wiki figures before implementation with the cooperation of the server owner, Modulum, who reportedly accepted the changes after initial reluctance.

Example of a ban containing use of “negative value user”.

Following this reorganization, moderation policies were significantly revised. One approach that generated controversy was the designation and removal of “negative value users”—a classification that permitted moderators to ban individuals deemed consistently disruptive, even without explicit rule violations.^[20]https://www.conficmagazine.com/post/scp-me^[21]https://discord.gg/bfWg2UvPbf

#meta-discussion Channel

The #meta-discussion channel (alternatively referred to as #meta-scp-discussion) was established as a dedicated space for discourse about the SCP community itself rather than its fictional content. This included discussions about site policies, moderation decisions, interpersonal dynamics, and controversies within the SCP ecosystem. The channel addressed a significant gap in the community, as official SCP channels (including the SCP Wiki forums and the Official Discord) typically enforced topic restrictions that limited discussion of internal controversies.^[22]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534850/january-2022-recap^[23]https://writerbright.tumblr.com/post/617752943056338944/bruh The original intention of the channel was to contain and vent heated discussion circa the Cerastes Incident.^[24]https://discord.com/channels/522779942048497725/522788422184730634/1043713492055769130

The channel rapidly became a central venue for community discourse about the administrative aspects of the SCP Foundation, attracting casual participants, established wiki authors, and SCP Wiki staff members. Its popularity derived from community interest in transparency and open discussion regarding SCP project management.^[25]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534850/january-2022-recap

Reputation and Function

The #meta-discussion channel in SCP Declassified (SCPD) served as a valuable unofficial platform where community members could express concerns, discuss ideas, and seek policy clarifications outside official channels. Staff recognized its utility for gathering unfiltered feedback, which partially influenced their “Recap” team’s documentation practices for public transparency. ^[26]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534850/january-2022-recap

By early 2022, SCP Wiki staff formally acknowledged SCPD’s role in internal documentation, noting that SCPD discussions could rapidly shape community perceptions. While appreciating the increased transparency, staff also recognized the channel’s limitations, advising careful representation as miscommunications had previously delayed policy implementation. ^[27]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534848/january-2022-recap^[28]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534848/january-2022-recap#:~:text=recaps%20so%20far.,ill%20will%20in%20the%20entire

There were documented instances where SCPD directly influenced staff actions. ^[29]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534848/january-2022-recap#:~:text=Maintenance%20and%20Ancillary%20Staff%20Team,Hell%20yeah

By 2023, SCPD had solidified its position as a de facto public forum for the SCP Wiki. A February staff report described it as “a common location for users to discuss site policy and ongoing events.” Staff not only monitored the channel but utilized its records as documentation in official proceedings.^[30]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-15655138/captaincy-review-licensing#:~:text=During%20the%20discussions%20on%20February,the%20most%20egregious%20of%20these^[31]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-15655138/captaincy-review-licensing#:~:text=During%20the%20arguments%20in%20the,references%20to%20his%20OnlyFans%20account

Moderation Challenges

SCPD moderator Modulum on moderator duties.

The moderation of #meta-discussion presented distinctive challenges throughout its operation. Following the 2020 administrative restructuring, the new moderation team implemented more restrictive policies, particularly regarding sensitive topics, such as the AdminBright controversy. This included the application of a “negative value user” policy that allowed for user removals based on perceived disruptive behavior patterns rather than specific rule violations.^[32]https://www.conficmagazine.com/post/scp-me

These moderation practices were criticized by some community members as contradicting the channel’s purpose as a space for open discourse.^[33]https://discord.gg/bfWg2UvPbf As official information regarding controversies became available, moderation of these topics typically became less restrictive. However, balancing open discussion with maintaining civil discourse remained a persistent challenge for moderators.

The CityToast Incident (February 2023)

A significant incident in #meta-discussion occurred in February 2023, involving a staff member known as CityToast (also known as DorkToast on Discord), who had recently been appointed Captain of Licensing on the SCP Wiki staff. The incident concerned a survey about AI-generated content that CityToast had conducted but had not disclosed the results of.^[34]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-15655138/captaincy-review-licensing

On February 14, 2023, CityToast engaged with the community in #meta-discussion regarding licensing policies and the findings of their AI survey. The interaction became contentious when users requested evidence of survey findings and CityToast responded in a manner deemed inappropriate, particularly as the server included minors.^[35]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-15655138/captaincy-review-licensing

The records were subsequently provided to SCP Wiki administrative staff, resulting in an official Captaincy Review that concluded CityToast had “engaged in an abuse of his Captaincy powers” and demonstrated unprofessional conduct. Following this review, CityToast was removed from his leadership position.^[36]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-15655138/captaincy-review-licensing

Decline and Closure

The channel was discontinued in 2023, approximately five years after its creation. While no formal statement was issued at the time of closure, contributing factors likely included moderator exhaustion, a shift in the channel’s purpose, declining activity following the establishment of the SCP Wiki’s official Discord server in 2022 (announced more publicly in 2023),^[37]https://x.com/scpwiki/status/1675611704141676544 and the SCPDeclassified server’s intention to refocus on its primary purpose of literary analysis rather than community controversies.^[38]https://discord.com/channels/522779942048497725/522788422184730634/1105550988347191488^[39]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-16102888/announcing-the-scp-foundation-official-discord-server

Moderators of the SCPD Discord referenced “… rising tensions and increased rudeness being observed in the server. [A moderator] suggests that the presence of meta may be involved in the increase in tension and rudeness over the past few years. we discuss pros and cons of archiving the channel,”^[40]https://discord.com/channels/522779942048497725/522788422184730634/1043714756139302952 and characterized #meta-discussion as “…a channel where people are incentivized to be aggressive… when you have an environment like that it tends to bleed into the rest of the server’s atmosphere and vibe”.^[41]https://discord.com/channels/522779942048497725/522788422184730634/1043715486149517362^[42]https://discord.com/channels/522779942048497725/522788422184730634/1043712434986295326

Community response to the closure was varied. Some established users expressed regret, with one SCP wiki member noting in mid-2024 that “meta SCP discussion was a good thing, and [the official SCP Discord] is missing a part of its soul by not porting it over,” suggesting that despite its limitations, the channel had provided a necessary forum for discussions that now lacked a dedicated venue.^[43]https://x.com/anafabulaic/status/1864926631564812628 Others, however, responded positively, observing that the atmosphere in the SCPD Discord became noticeably more congenial without the persistent presence of meta-debates.^[44]https://discord.com/channels/522779942048497725/522788422184730634/1043715175808774234^[45]https://discord.com/channels/522779942048497725/522788422184730634/1043715287897362463^[46]https://discord.com/channels/522779942048497725/522788422184730634/1043715486149517362^[47]https://discord.com/channels/522779942048497725/522788422184730634/1043713581977444402

Server Legacy and Impact

The SCP Declassified Discord server, particularly through its #meta-discussion channel, significantly influenced the broader SCP community. It functions as an important forum for community discourse during a period of substantial growth and evolution for the SCP Foundation project. The success and popularity of SCPD likely motivated official SCP Wiki staff to establish and administer their own Discord in 2022, particularly given their historical reluctance to enter the Discord environment.^[48]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-6800520/official-scp-discord^[49]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14574597/announcing-an-official-scp-discord?utm_source=chatgpt.com^[50]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-5726019/internet-outreach-discord^[51]https://www.reddit.com/r/SCP/comments/mxljy6/do_we_have_a_discord_server/^[52]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-12913034/an-official-discord-server^[53]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-13479299/scp-discord^[54]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-12103730/does-the-scp-wiki-have-an-official-discord^[55]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-3768662#post-3602455^[56]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-10668518/scp-discord#post-4187974

Beyond its explanatory function, r/SCPDeclassified has potentially influenced authorial approaches, with some creators developing more complex narratives knowing that the community has resources to interpret challenging works. The subreddit has also promoted literary analysis within the SCP community, encouraging deeper textual engagement. While direct statements from authors regarding r/SCPDeclassified’s influence on their writing processes are not extensively documented, the community’s emphasis on analytical approaches and author engagement suggests a complementary relationship. The existence of a specialized platform for interpreting complex narratives likely enables authors to explore more intricate storytelling, with greater confidence that readers have resources to comprehend their work. (See “Memecon“, below, for additional ways in which SCPD influenced article development on the SCP Wiki.)

Memecon

Memecon was an unofficial writing contest organized by SCP Declassified staff in mid-2021, reflecting SCPD’s growing influence on SCP Wiki culture. Coordinated and administered by SCPD moderators (not official SCP staff), it encouraged authors to transform popular internet memes or unusual elements of internet culture into SCP articles.^[57]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/memecon-unofficial Although Memecon was not an official wiki contest, the site’s administration permitted an announcement page and hub for the contest to be hosted on the main wiki, providing visibility and implicit endorsement.^[58]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/memecon-unofficial#:~:text=MEMECON, “Site Staff has graciously given us permission to post an announcement page on the main site”

The contest operated during summer 2021. The writing period commenced June 11, 2021 and continued for approximately four weeks; authors could develop and refine their entries during this interval. The posting period overlapped slightly, extending from July 3–9, 2021, during which contestants submitted their completed SCP articles to the site. The voting period then continued until July 22, 2021.

Contest guidelines specified that each entry must be a mainlist SCP (excluding -J jokes or -EX entries) and must incorporate at least one meme as a fundamental element of the article’s concept.^[59]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/memecon-unofficial#:~:text=Contest%20Rules Authors were required to integrate a meme “prominently in the article,” beyond a mere reference.

Results and Reception

Memecon attracted significant participation and creative submissions. By the contest’s conclusion, over 20 new SCP articles (tagged with “memecon2021-unofficial”) were contributed to Series VII.^[60]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/system:page-tags/tag/memecon2021-unofficial#pages

First place was awarded to SCP-6599 “HOGSLICE,” co-authored by Wikidot users J Dune and PlaguePJP.^[61]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/memecon-unofficial Many of the authors who received recognition in Memecon subsequently produced additional work in this self-referential “neo-lolFoundation” style that combines humor with established lore.

Within the SCP Wiki community, Memecon’s theme received both support and reservation, reflecting a division between newer authors embracing meme culture and established writers concerned about tonal consistency.^[62]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/forum/t-14117486/memecon-unofficial The contest’s success demonstrated the influence of the SCPD community on content creation and the appetite for more humorous or meta approaches to articles. It also appeared to anticipate official developments – the subsequent year, the SCP-7000 Contest (an official 2022 site contest) featured numerous entries with similar approaches similar to those observed in Memecon entries.

Trivia

• Memecon was explicitly inspired by the earlier Cliché-Con (2019).
• Memecon guidelines emphasized ethical voting practices (“Act in good faith… do not take extraordinary actions to spur votes… no mass PMing or using your platform to funnel votes”).^[63]https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/memecon-unofficial
• One moderator, addressing the declining activity of the SCPD Discord server, stated in February 2025: “sup fuckers. this server’s nearly dead.”^[64]https://discord.gg/bfWg2UvPbf
• SCP Wiki staff member GremlinGroup once cautioned about SCPD discussions: “you gotta be careful… poor reporting of Meta’s activity has set back a lot of staffwork in the past.”^[65]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534848/january-2022-recap
• Staff compared “interacting with meta [SCPD] to rock climbing – you gotta take it slow and think about what you do.”^[66]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534848/january-2022-recap
• Staff member Pedagon described the meta channel as: “a public forum, not a Q&A or a deathmatch. Treat it as people with concerns voicing their concerns… and take it in the best light possible.”^[67]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534848/january-2022-recap
• During recap preparation in January 2022, one staff member inquired which elements of the recap might “make the SCP Declassified Discord angry,” prompting others to caution against generalizing SCPD users.^[68]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534848/january-2022-recap
• Staff observed that a limited segment of the community engaged with lengthy recaps, with SCPD providing many readers: “Recap tends to get high-level engagement from a small portion of the community… nice to know we have some consistent readers outside of staffchat!”^[69]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534848/january-2022-recap
• One SCP author described r/SCPDeclassified as “a vital resource” that assisted in understanding complex SCPs, adding that they had been “pretending to understand most SCPs” until encountering explanations on the subreddit.^[70]https://www.reddit.com/r/SCPDeclassified
• Senior staff member Stonefish stated that “#meta-scp-discussion is one of the biggest generators of undue anxiety and ill will in the entire community space” and that “visiting a space just for wiki drama, and seeing how invested people are, has never left me feeling good.”^[71]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534848/january-2022-recap
• GremlinGroup noted being “touchy about characterization of SCPD; misunderstandings in that arena have led to considerable slowdowns [in staff work] the past year.”^[72]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534848/january-2022-recap
• Users on SCPD began “getting wiggy” (concerned) that the Licensing Team might implement mass deletions following a December incident.^[73]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-14534848/january-2022-recap
• During the CityToast incident, when a user questioned his claim about “50/50 public opinion” on AI, CityToast responded: “You’re only credible when you’re telling me what I want to hear.”^[74]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-15655138/captaincy-review-licensing
• CityToast repeatedly referenced his OnlyFans account during discussions with minors present, and the official review noted that “continuing to reference OnlyFans and direct users to [an] adult platform—in a discussion that minors were actively involved in—constitute unacceptable behavior for a Captain.”^[75]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-15655138/captaincy-review-licensing
• When a fellow staff member urged others not to “dogpile” CityToast despite disagreements, he characterized this intervention as “backhanded” and maintained he was being “perfectly polite” while others were “salty” for questioning him.^[76]https://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-15655138/captaincy-review-licensing
• It could be argued that the SCPD Discord’s #meta-discussion was ultimately removed for being a negative-value channel.
• The SCPD Discord has an archived channel #weekly-discussions were legitimate philosophy of containment fiction is discussed.^[77]https://discord.com/channels/522779942048497725/611292086855139363
• In 2021, a Discord thread was created in SCPD titled “Retire Meta-scp-discussion”.^[78]https://discord.com/channels/522779942048497725/884934670788227073/900869074840612904 This was based on a server proposal stating the channel had “outlived its usefulness in terms of activity and its effect on the community.” It had a rating of -22 (8 upvotes, 30 downvotes).
• Wikidot user Lt Flops, a former moderator in the SCPD Discord, said of #meta-discussion: “as a regular member of the server, i just have zero interest in this place being used to push wiki-wide changes. i think it’s turned the space into something it was never meant to be. and i wholeheartedly agree with whichever anonymous person put up this suggestion [to retire #meta-discussion]”^[79]https://discord.com/channels/522779942048497725/900869074840612904/900953741304414318