| Revision as of 16:45, 15 July 2007 view sourceVanished user 01928374 (talk | contribs)11 editsm Changed 32,000,00 /b/ posts to 33,000,000.← Previous edit | Revision as of 03:26, 16 July 2007 view source Mudkip9001 (talk | contribs)6 edits ←Replaced page with 'Articles closed due to AIDS.'Next edit → | ||
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| {{Infobox Website | |||
| | name = 4chan | |||
| | logo = ] | |||
| | screenshot = ] | |||
| | caption = 4chan's main page as of April 1st, 2007 | |||
| | url = | |||
| | commercial = No | |||
| | type = ]/TextBBS | |||
| | language = English | |||
| | registration = No | |||
| | owner = "moot" | |||
| | author = "moot" | |||
| | launch date = ] | |||
| }} | |||
| {{nihongo|'''4chan'''|四葉|Yotsuba|four leaves}} is an English language ] based on the Japanese imageboard ]. This imageboard is based primarily around the posting of pictures (generally related to ], ], and popular culture) and ] them. | |||
| ==Origins== | |||
| 4chan was founded as a project by "moot", who is a member of several anime forums. His website soon attracted anime fans from around the world and has grown greatly since its creation,<ref name="alexatrafficrankings">{{cite web| url=http://alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.4chan.org%2F|title=Alexa traffic rankings|publisher=Alexa|accessdate=2007-02-28}}</ref> eventually surpassing ] in traffic.<ref name="alexatrafficrankings2">{{cite web| url=http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details?z=1&h=300&w=610&h=400&w=700&site0=www.4chan.org&site1=www.2chan.net&site2=&site3=&site4=&range=6m&size=Medium&y=r&z=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.4chan.org&x=0&y=0|title=Alexa traffic rankings|publisher=Alexa|accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> | |||
| ==Layout== | |||
| The activity of 4chan takes place on discussion boards, image and upload boards, and drawing boards. Currently, there are 35 different image boards, covering topics ranging from anime, weapons, and photography to real and animated pornography. Eight of these were "trial boards" until ], ], when all of them except the sports board were upgraded to permanent boards; the sports board was discarded.<ref name="4channews">{{cite web| url=http://www.4chan.org/news.php?all|title=4chan News Archive|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2007-01-10}}</ref> On ], ] the site added two new trial boards, ] and ].<ref name="4chanblotter"> {{cite web|url=http://www.4chan.org/blotter.php?all|title=4chan Blotter|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref> | |||
| Other boards include an ] board, an Artwork/] board, an upload board that is used for the uploading and discussion of ] movies, and 19 text-based discussion boards. The discussion boards were once hosted on a separate site called "world4ch" (pronounced ''world four channel'') until they moved to the subdomain dis.4chan.org. The discussion boards were initially created and hosted on world4ch as an homage to the defunct world2ch, which itself was a website intending to be an earlier attempt to create an ] version of 2channel. | |||
| Because 4chan is provided to its users free of charge and consumes a large amount of bandwidth, its financing often becomes problematic. To avoid long periods of downtime caused by a severe lack of funds, such as the four "deaths" that plagued the site during its first year of existence, the 4chan staff regularly requests donations.<ref name="4channews"/> However, there have been numerous problems relating to the use of several different online payment services,<ref name="4channews"/> including ], ], and the ] ]. The pornographic content hosted on 4chan violated the terms of services of various payment receiving services and so they refused to allow 4chan to use their services.<ref name="4channews"/> | |||
| ===/b/=== | |||
| The "random" board /b/, based on the Nijiura board of ], is by far 4chan's most popular board. This was confirmed by statistics released by 4chan staff, as well as the post count; As of ], ], /b/'s post count has surpassed 33,000,000 posts whereas most of the other boards have yet to break 250,000. Only five other boards (/a/, /co/, /v/, /r/, and /s/) have accumulated more than 1,000,000 posts (/a/ and /v/ having over 4,000,000.). After /b/'s 33,000,000th post was made on ], ], it took only 9 days to accumulate another 1,000,000 posts on /b/, meaning /b/'s posting rate has now attained an average of more than 111,000 posts per day. Certain post numbers, such as 12345678 and 22222222 are sought after, with a large amount of posting taking place to "get" the number.<ref name="faqget">{{cite web|url=http://www.4chan.org/faq.php#get|title=4chan FAQ on GETs|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2007-03-14}}</ref> | |||
| The humor of /b/'s many users, who refer to themselves as "/b/tards",<ref name="jerseyjournal">{{cite news | |||
| | last = Winston | |||
| | first = Ali | |||
| | title = 'Hate Host' is hacked | |||
| | publisher = Jersey Journal, The | |||
| | date = ] | |||
| | url = http://www.nj.com/jjournal/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-0/116823968784040.xml&coll=3 | |||
| | accessdate = 2007-01-08 }}</ref> is frequently characterized by intricate inside-jokes. As a result, newcomers often find posts incomprehensible. In addition, /b/ is known to officially have "No rules," save for a ban on certain illegal content, such as child pornography, and invasions of other websites, both of which are restricted by site-wide rules that also apply to /b/.<ref name="4chanTOS">{{cite web| url=http://www.4chan.org/rules.php|title=4chan's Rules|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2006-08-18}}</ref> | |||
| ==Anonymity== | |||
| 4chan is an anonymous BBS that does not require the user to supply any personal information, such as a name or email address, before being able to post messages. Unlike most web forums, 4chan does not have any kind of registration system. Any person can use any nickname to his or her liking, making it possible to post under the name of someone else by simply entering his or her name into the posting form. Nonetheless, most users post anonymously. In place of registration, 4chan has provided ]s as an optional form of authenticating a poster's identity.<ref name="4chanFAQ"/> As the concept of anonymous posting is a defining feature of ]-like imageboards, the use of tripcodes generates controversy among 4chan users. Many posters who use them risk being singled out and ridiculed, often with the use of derogatory terms such as "tripfag." As anonymous posting causes posts to be attributed to "Anonymous" a ] on 4chan is the idea that Anonymous is in fact a single person, or the true name of the posters. | |||
| Moderators will generally post without a name even when banning users or posting information. In this case, the post is attributed to "Anonymous ## Mod" (though even mods are sometimes known to simply post as "Anonymous"). The primary exception is when 4chan's founder "moot" posts information relating to changes in the site. | |||
| ==Memes== | |||
| <!--Any sort of list of memes will be deleted, as it cannot be reliably sourced.--> | |||
| Many ]s have originated on 4chan, a few of which have become popular enough to spread outside of 4chan and become widely recognized ]. For example, some memes have affected the work of several webcomic artists. Notable examples of webcomic artists who have been influenced by such memes include Josh Lesnick of the webcomic '']'',<ref name="Girly">{{cite web| url=http://go-girly.com/go/387|title=Girly #387|publisher=Josh Lesnick|accessdate=2006-08-18}}</ref> Ghastly of '']'',<ref name="Ghastly">{{cite web| url=http://www.ghastlycomic.com/d/20060212.html|title=Ghastly's Ghastly Comic - "Filler Strip."|publisher=Chris Cracknell|accessdate=2006-08-23}}</ref><ref name="GhastlyAssdip">{{cite web| url=http://forums.comicgenesis.com/viewtopic.php?p=1152825#1152825|title=Whoa! Ghastly extracurricular comic found?|publisher=Posted on ComicGenesis Forums|accessdate=2006-08-18}}</ref> and Dave Cheung of '']''.<ref name="Chugworth">{{cite web| url=http://www.chugworth.com/comic.php?id=216|title=Chugworth Academy #215|publisher=Dave Cheung|accessdate=2006-08-18}}</ref> These cases demonstrate 4chan's broader impact on the online community. A detailed list of catchphrases, ] and ]s abundant on 4chan can be found at the , or through . | |||
| Many of these memes have taken the form of ]s, in which a user posts a picture and others add text or edit the picture. {{Fact|date=February 2007}}. Due to an overwhelming proliferation of image macros on 4chan's imageboards, they were banned from use on 4chan in early 2005 - though this does not apply to the Random board, /b/.<ref name="4chanTOS" /> | |||
| Another popular type of meme is "copypasta", which is a variation on ] originally found on ] as "''kopipe''".{{Fact|date=February 2007}} This meme consists of the text of a previous post, usually a rant, story or boastful claim, continually modified and reposted by other users. Variations on this theme involve edits to the original text to make it conform to any of a number of existing memes. | |||
| ==Controversy== | |||
| ===Blocks in the UK=== | |||
| Access to /b/ was blocked to customers of ], ] and ] in early June of 2006.<ref name="UKISPthread">{{cite web| url=http://dis.4chan.org/read.php/img/1150410623/|title=BT / NTL /b/ Block - Stuff we know.|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2006-08-18}}</ref> For some users, access to /r/, /s/ and /t/ was also affected. While moderators attempt to remove instances of illegal content as soon as possible, as well as ban the individuals responsible for them, the prevalence of such content has led systems like ] to blacklist the site. The 4chan ] and ] also state that illegal material (e.g. child pornography, posting of personal information, invasions of other internet communities, etc.) will not be tolerated, and will be punished appropriately.<ref name="4chanTOS"/><ref name="4chanFAQ">{{cite web| url=http://www.4chan.org/faq.php|title=4chan FAQ|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2006-08-18}}</ref> Moderators have also recently taken stronger measures against illicit content. For example, on ], a reporting system was implemented on all of 4chan's image, upload, and oekaki boards, allowing any user to 'report' a post that contains illegal material, or material that violates 4chan's terms of use. On ], ], the moderators of /b/ began enforcing previously neglected rules regarding sexually suggestive pictures of under-age teenagers, invasions of other websites, and posting of personal information. Infractions would now result in bans applied to the original poster and anyone posting in the thread, whether he or she supported the content or not. Many users of /b/ responded by attacking /b/ with automatic floods and spam. Shortly afterwards there was a hard disk failure on one of 4chan's servers, causing most of the boards to go down{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. | |||
| Some suspect that the blocks are related to the efforts of the Internet Watch Foundation, however, the "IWF-led block" theory has several discrepancies. Firstly, the ISPs that continue to block /b/ are BT Internet and NTL, with UKOnline appearing to have removed its restriction after a few weeks. Secondly, the IWF themselves confirmed that "no part of the URL for the site 4chan.org is included in our live database."<ref name="UKISPreplyIWF">{{cite web| url=http://dis.4chan.org/read/img/1150410623/86|title=BT / NTL /b/ Block - Stuff we know.-''Reply #86''|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2006-08-18}}</ref> Investigations by 4chan users have revealed that BT's support teams claim to have no knowledge of a block on any part of the URL 4chan.org.<ref name="UKISPreplyBT">{{cite web| url=http://dis.4chan.org/read/img/1150410623/127|title=BT / NTL /b/ Block - Stuff we know.-''Reply #127''|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2006-08-18}}</ref> Finally, the BT block on /b/ has evolved, with new workarounds redirected to the ban page or a nondescript 404 within mere hours of being discovered.<ref name="UKISPreply404">{{cite web| url=http://dis.4chan.org/read/img/1150410623/126|title=BT / NTL /b/ Block - Stuff we know.-''Reply #126''|publisher=4chan||accessdate=2006-08-18}}</ref> These blocks also have an erratic nature, apparently having been suddenly lifted, but reinstated days later, only to be lifted again within an equally short time period.<ref name="UKISPthread"/> However, some of the perceived inconsistencies in this theory are directly contradicted by claims made by 4chan's staff and other sources. For example, on ], ], while being filmed during a 4chan panel at ] in which he was fielding questions from the audience, moot, the owner of 4chan, stated that the blockings of /b/ and some of the other boards have indeed been a result of the ] system. /b/'s front page has also been removed from Google search results due to a notice sent by the IWF to Google.<ref name="Google Results">{{cite web| url=http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.4chan.org%2Fb&btnG=Search|title=http://img.4chan.org/b/imgboard.htm - Google Search|publisher=Google Search|accessdate=2006-10-14}}</ref><ref name="ChillingEffectsNotice">{{cite web| url=http://www.chillingeffects.org/notice.cgi?sID=1161|title=Child pornography complaint concerning Google search|publisher=Chilling Effects Clearinghouse|accessdate=2006-10-13}}</ref> | |||
| ===NFL bomb threat hoax=== | |||
| ], ] by Brahm.]] | |||
| On ], ] the ] warned ] officials in ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] about a possible threat involving the simultaneous use of ]s at stadiums in those cities.<ref name="abcnewsbombthreat">{{cite web| url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2591698|title=Man charged with stadium bomb threat hoax|publisher=ABC News|accessdate=2006-10-20}}</ref> The threat claimed that the attack would be carried out on ], the final day of the ] holy month of ].<ref name="internetnewsbombthreat">{{cite web| url=http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3639301|title=Man Charged in Internet Bomb Threats|publisher=InternetNews.com|accessdate=2006-10-20}}</ref> Both the ] and the ] expressed doubt concerning the credibility of the threats. | |||
| On ], ], ] turned himself in to federal authorities. He was charged with making a ] threat and was taken into custody by police. If convicted, he could face up to 5 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.<ref name="smokinggundocument">{{cite web| url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1020062brahm1.html|title=Knucklehead Nabbed In "Dirty Bomb" Hoax|publisher=thesmokinggun.com|accessdate=2006-10-20}}</ref> The threats came to light in the national media after they were reposted on 4chan's /b/ more than 40 times by Brahm between ], ] and ], ].<ref name="bloombergnewsbombthreat">{{cite web| url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=aVpJWbr6YesA&refer=home|title=Wisconsin Man Is Charged in Fake NFL Stadium Threats|publisher=Bloomberg.com|accessdate=2006-10-20}}</ref> | |||
| In fact, this threat was originally posted on a website called . The site crashed due to a high volume of traffic incurred after ] posted a link to it. It was reposted on 4chan for reasons unknown and soon became associated with that site. <ref name="The Friend Society">{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VPR6O98NYs|title=New Attack on America, Be Afraid|publisher=CBS News|}}</ref> | |||
| ===Hal Turner=== | |||
| In December of 2006 and January of ], individuals who identified themselves as /b/tards "raided" ], taking his site offline and costing thousands of dollars of bandwidth bills according to Turner. <ref name="jerseyjournal"/><ref name="freep">{{cite web | url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070205/NEWS07/70205031/0/NEWS06 | publisher=freep.com | title=Cyber foes find ways to silence hate-talk radio host | accessdate=2007-02-28}}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *], 4chan's unofficial mascot. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * - A wiki covering 4chan and similar "*chan" boards with information about famous posters, memes and drama. | |||
| <!-- The 4chan article on Simple English Misplaced Pages has been deleted. --> | |||
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| ] | |||
| ] | |||
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Revision as of 03:26, 16 July 2007
Articles closed due to AIDS.