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Fredrick Brennan, also known by the nickname "Hotwheels", is an American computer programmer who founded the imageboard website 8chan which is known for its strict support of freedom of speech.

Early life

Brennan was born in the mid-1990s with osteogenesis imperfecta which stunted his growth and confined him to a motorized wheelchair. He estimates he had broken bones 120 times in his first 19 years. His disability restricted his childhood play activities, so he was "hooked" on his first computer at the age of 6. He wrote his first independent computer program at the age of 13.

Independence

In August 2013, Brennan moved from his mother's home in Atlantic City, New Jersey to Brooklyn, where he works writing websites as head of programming for RazorClicks, which does small business Web marketing. The company pays the rent for his apartment, and he works a second job, remotely, for a Canadian company for expenses.

In January 2014, Brennan was robbed of almost $5000 that he was saving up for a new wheelchair. When the suspect was arrested, Brennan went to the police station for a lineup, but when a bus didn't come on the way back, was left stranded in snow, and had to be treated for hypothermia. He received a personal apology from New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton. RazorClicks began a donation campaign to help gather the remaining funds for a new wheelchair; US$15,000 was ready in 2 months.

8chan

Brennan launched 8chan, also called "Infinitechan", in October 2013, after a month of raising pledges on Patreon. It was meant as a "free-speech-friendly 4chan alternative", where discussion boards would be managed by the creating users, not by site moderators. He has faced controversy over the website's pedophilia-related boards; Brennan has said he personally finds such content reprehensible, but stands by his refusal to remove lawful content.

In September 2014, the website gained popularity from the Gamergate controversy after 4chan banned supporters of the subject, many of whom then organized at 8chan. In October 2014, supporters held a birthday party for the site, starring Brennan. Brennan himself became a prominent GamerGate advocate, being interviewed about 8chan's involvement in the harassment of Brianna Wu on The David Pakman Show, and asked to debate about Gamergate on HuffPost Live and Al Jazeera America.

References

1. ^ Chen, Adrian (October 27, 2014). "Gamergate Supporters Party at Strip Club". New York. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
2. ^ Wilson, Michael (January 17, 2014). "City Newcomer Is Let Down by a Stranger, Then the Police". The New York Times. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
3. ^ The America Tonight Digital Team (September 12, 2014). "A day in the life of a man with brittle bone disease". America Tonight. Al Jazeera America. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
4. "NY police apologize to victim with food, favors". PoliceOne. March 22, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
5. Wilson, Michael (March 21, 2014). "After Leaving Victim in the Cold, the Police Work to Make It Right". New York Times. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
6. ^ O'Neill, Patrick Howell (November 17, 2014). "8chan, the central hive of Gamergate, is also an active pedophile network". The Daily Dot. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
7. Audureau, William (October 15, 2014). "4chan, wizardchan, 8chan... s'y retrouver dans la jungle des forums anonymes les plus populaires du Web" (in French). France: Le Monde. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
8. "What Is #Gamergate? 8chan Administrator And Female Gamer Join HuffPost Live". HuffPost Live. The Huffington Post. October 15, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
9. Pakman, David (November 5, 2014). "#GamerGate: 8Chan Admin 'Hotwheels' Denounces Brianna Wu Doxxing & Harassment". The David Pakman Show. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
10. The America Tonight Digital Team (December 10, 2014). "GamerGate debate: Video games, free speech and misogyny". Al Jazeera America. Retrieved December 14, 2014.

• American computer programmers
• Living people
• People with dwarfism
• People from New York City