The Schuylkill Notes Mystery
TLDRThe transcript describes an ongoing mystery surrounding cryptic notes found in various locations, primarily in Skook County, Pennsylvania. The notes, filled with nonsensical text and conspiracy theories, have been discovered in outdoor settings and alarmingly, inside sealed food products. The phenomenon, which began gaining attention in 2019, has evolved into a legal investigation. Despite various theories, the origin of the notes remains unknown, with some suggesting a single individual with mental health issues is responsible. The investigation continues, with the earliest note traced back to a masonic lodge seminar in 2015, potentially linking the notes to an attendee or someone with interest in such events.
Takeaways
- 🌲 The mystery of the Skoal notes began in 2019 when a user on the WTF subreddit posted a picture of a cryptic note found in the woods.
- 🔍 Initially, the notes were dismissed as the work of someone with a mental illness, but their increasing frequency and appearance in food products raised concerns.
- 📍 The notes were predominantly found in or near Skookul County, Pennsylvania, leading to a geographical focus in the investigation.
- 📰 The story gained media attention in 2020, with news sites like Colp Speaker and others reporting on the strange phenomenon.
- 🚨 By the end of 2023, the discovery of notes in sealed food items escalated the situation into a legal investigation, involving the FBI and Congressmen.
- 🤝 The Reddit community played a significant role in analyzing the notes, using AI to decipher and rewrite the messages for clarity.
- 🧐 Analysis of the notes revealed a mix of conspiracy theories, with no clear structure or coherent message.
- 💡 The most plausible explanation is that the notes are the work of an individual with an untreated mental illness, possibly schizophrenia.
- 🕵️♂️ Copycats and duplicates have muddled the investigation, making it difficult to discern genuine notes from those planted for the sake of the mystery.
- 🔎 The earliest known note, found with a pamphlet advertising a masonic lodge seminar in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, offers a potential lead in the case.
Q & A
What was the initial discovery that sparked the mystery of the Skoal notes?
-The initial discovery was a note found in the woods by a user on the WTF subreddit in 2019, which contained a word salad with no coherent sentences, grammatical errors, and oddly placed punctuation and underlines.
How did the Skoal notes mystery progress after the initial discovery?
-After the initial discovery, more notes similar to the first one started appearing in other subreddits, claimed to be found in various outdoor locations and eventually inside food products, increasing in frequency and variety of locations.
Where were most of the Skoal notes primarily found?
-Most of the Skoal notes were primarily found in or near Skookul County, Pennsylvania.
What was the community's initial reaction to the notes?
-The community was initially confused by the notes and wrote them off as the work of someone with a mental illness, until more notes started appearing and the situation escalated.
How did the public and media react to the discovery of notes inside food products?
-The public became more interested and concerned, and the situation eventually became part of a legal investigation, attracting coverage from news sites and involvement from the FBI and Congressmen.
What did the analysis of the notes' text reveal?
-The analysis revealed that the notes contained a convoluted mixture of conspiracy theories, mentioning secret societies, historical figures, celebrities, and religious leaders, as well as hidden histories of ancient races and cultures.
What was the general consensus on the author of the notes?
-The general consensus is that the author likely has a mental illness, most likely untreated schizophrenia, based on the writing style and content of the notes.
How did the community attempt to decipher the notes?
-The community used AI to analyze the notes and correct the abbreviations, grammatical errors, and formatting to make the message easier to read and understand.
What are some methods to identify potential copycat notes?
-Methods include looking at the geographical locations of the finds, the format of the notes and whether they include certain details like 'lies' printed in the corners, and the presence of exact duplicates of previously discovered notes.
What is the most significant lead in the investigation of the Skoal notes?
-The most significant lead is the discovery of an earlier note from 2015 found with a pamphlet advertising a seminar at a Masonic Lodge in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, suggesting a possible connection to the origin of the notes.
What is the current understanding of the situation with the Skoal notes?
-The current understanding is that a single individual with a mental illness, likely untreated schizophrenia, is behind the notes, and they are being placed in various locations, including sealed food products, after the items have reached the shelves in stores.
Outlines
🌲 Mysterious Notes in the Woods
The video script begins with an exploration of unexpected and odd occurrences that break daily routines, such as strange events and encounters. In July 2019, a user on the WTF subreddit posted a picture of a peculiar note found wrapped in plastic while hiking. The note contained a word salad with grammatically incorrect sentences and oddly placed punctuation. Initially, the post gained attention but was dismissed as the work of someone with a mental illness. However, a few months later, more similar notes began appearing in various subreddits, claimed to be found in the woods and parks. Eventually, these notes were found indoors, inside food products, leading to increased interest and concern. The notes were predominantly discovered in or near Skookul County, Pennsylvania, sparking the ongoing mystery of the 'Skoal notes'. The story gained media attention in 2020 and became a legal investigation by the end of 2023, with reports of notes found in sealed food items, leading to the FBI and Congressmen getting involved.
🔍 Deciphering the Cryptic Messages
The script moves on to discuss the attempts to decipher the mysterious notes. It is noted that there is no complex cipher involved, but rather a straightforward message with abbreviated words and strange punctuation. Despite the notes appearing identical at first glance, they each have slight differences. Analysis of the notes, including AI analysis, reveals a mix of conspiracy theories, secret societies, historical figures, and religious leaders. The message also touches on hidden histories of ancient races and cultures. The script suggests that the notes likely originate from someone with an untreated mental illness, possibly schizophrenia, as the writing style is similar to that of individuals suffering from psychosis. The video also addresses the possibility of copycats, given the increase in reported notes, and discusses methods to identify potential counterfeit notes.
🕵️♂️ Theories and Origins
The third paragraph delves into various theories surrounding the origin and purpose of the notes. Early theories suggested it could be an ARG (Alternate Reality Game) or a movie promotion, but these were deemed unlikely due to the lack of substantial development over the years. The script also discusses the logistics of how the notes could have been placed inside sealed food items, suggesting that it is more likely to have occurred after the products reached the shelves. The possibility of multiple people being involved is considered, but the evidence points towards a single individual working alone. The paragraph concludes with the author's belief that the person responsible has a mental illness and is not part of a larger group or conspiracy.
🗝️ The First Clue: A Masonic Lodge Connection
The final paragraph presents a significant lead in the investigation of the mysterious notes. A user on the Skoal notes subreddit discovered an earlier note from 2015, making it the oldest known note. This note was found with a pamphlet advertising a seminar at a Masonic Lodge in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, near Skookul County. The pamphlet spoke about the end times and the second coming of Christ. The video author contacted the seminar speaker and the lodge but received no conclusive information about the notes. The author suggests that the person responsible for the notes may have attended the lodge or was interested in it, marking this as the most solid lead in the mystery. The video ends with a call for more information and a look forward to future developments in the case.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡WTF subreddit
💡Skoal notes
💡Cryptic notes
💡Conspiracy theories
💡Mental illness
💡Investigation
💡Reddit detectives
💡Copycats
💡Masonic lodge
💡End times
💡 ARG (Alternate Reality Game)
Highlights
Odd occurrences sometimes disrupt daily routines, like unexpected encounters and strange events.
A mysterious note found in the woods on July 29th, 2019, posted on the WTF subreddit, sparked curiosity due to its nonsensical content.
The initial reaction to the note was confusion and dismissal, attributing it to a person with a mental illness.
A few months later, similar notes began appearing in other subreddits, increasing the intrigue around these cryptic messages.
The notes started being found in various locations, including inside food products, raising concerns about their origin and intent.
The phenomenon was localized primarily in or near Skookul County, Pennsylvania, marking the beginning of the Skoal notes mystery.
By 2020, news sites began reporting on the mysterious notes, highlighting their increasing frequency and the public's growing interest.
The discovery of notes inside sealed food items led to a legal investigation, with the FBI and Congressmen getting involved.
A dedicated subreddit was created for the Skoal notes mystery, becoming a hub for sharing and analyzing found notes.
Analysis of the notes through AI revealed a mix of conspiracy theories, secret societies, and hidden histories, suggesting a mentally ill individual as the source.
The notes' format and content have evolved over time, with some subtle differences indicating a single person's work rather than a coordinated effort.
Copycats have emerged as the mystery gained traction, complicating the identification of genuine notes.
Investigations into the notes' origin have included mapping reported locations and examining the physical format of the notes.
Theories range from ARG promotions to the work of a single person with mental health issues, but no definitive conclusion has been reached.
The earliest known note was discovered in 2015, linked to a masonic lodge in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, potentially providing a lead in the mystery.
The speaker of a seminar advertised in a pamphlet found with the earliest note had no knowledge of the notes but recognized the pamphlet, offering a possible connection.
The Skoal notes phenomenon continues to evolve, with new information and discoveries expected as time goes on.