This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 68.14.4.85 (talk) at 05:59, 28 May 2007 (→Site description). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 05:59, 28 May 2007 by 68.14.4.85 (talk) (→Site description)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion, which will decide whether or not to retain it.Feel free to improve the article, but do not remove this notice before the discussion is closed. For more information, see the guide to deletion. Find sources: "4chan" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR%5B%5BWikipedia%3AArticles+for+deletion%2F4chan%5D%5DAFD |
 | |
| File:4chan-frontpageapril.jpg4chan's main page as of April 1st, 2007 | |
| Type of site | Imageboard/TextBBS |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Owner | "moot" |
| Created by | "moot" |
| URL | 4chan.org |
| Commercial | No |
| Registration | No |
4chan (四葉, Yotsuba, four leaves) is an English language imageboard, based on the Japanese imageboard Futaba Channel. On 4chan, many pictures (generally related to anime, manga and popular media) are posted and discussed.
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 (for the boards within 4chan that use nicknames). 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 their name into the posting form, however most users post anonymously and without a username. In place of registration, 4chan has provided tripcodes as an optional form of authenticating a poster's identity. As the concept of anonymous posting is a defining feature of Futaba-like imageboards, the use of tripcodes generates controversy amongst 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 running gag 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 performing bannings 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, though it is also possible for "moot" to post anonymously.
Memes
4chan has given birth to a number of Internet memes, a select few of which have become popular enough to spread outside of 4chan and become widely recognized Internet phenomena. For example, some memes have affected the work of several webcomic artists. Notable examples of webcomic artists that have been influenced by such memes include Josh Lesnick of the webcomic Girly, Ghastly of Ghastly's Ghastly Comic, and Dave Cheung of Chugworth Academy. These cases of influence also serve to demonstrate 4chan's broader impact on the online community. A detailed list of these abundant catchphrases, memes and wordfilters can be found at the CHANCHAN wiki, or through WIKICHAN wiki.
Many of these memes have taken the form of image macros; a user posts a picture, and others add text or edit the picture in other ways. . Due to an overwhelming proliferation of image macros inside of 4chan's imageboards, they were banned from use on 4chan in early 2005 - though this does not apply to the Random board, /b/.
Another popular form of meme is "copypasta" (a variation on copy and paste, originally found on 2channel as "kopipe"). This meme consists of the text of a previous post, usually a rant or boastful claim, continually reposted by users other than the original author. Variations on this theme involve edits to the original text to make it conform to any of a number of textual memes.
See also
- Imageboard
- Futaba Channel
- 2channel
- Image macro
- List of Internet phenomena
- Internet meme
- Yotsuba, 4chan's unofficial mascot.
References
- Cite error: The named reference
4chanFAQwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - "Girly #387". Josh Lesnick. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
- "Ghastly's Ghastly Comic - "Filler Strip."". Chris Cracknell. Retrieved 2006-08-23.
- "Whoa! Ghastly extracurricular comic found?". Posted on ComicGenesis Forums. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
- "Chugworth Academy #215". Dave Cheung. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
- Cite error: The named reference
4chanTOSwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).