# It can be 4chan discussion tiem nao, pl0x? (a serious discussion of 4chan) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 20, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085 "2008-12-20T17:07:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/41 "2008-12-21T02:38:27Z")
There is nothing particularly new or interesting about 4chan. They’re essentially an aggregation service that focuses exclusively on internet news. They _find_ memes in the wild and report on them. The only meme I credit to 4chan is the meme that 4chan creates memes. Maybe they’ll actually make it true. As for the idea that 4chan is a new level of depravity soiling the purity of the core of the internet… 4chan ATE MY BALLS. ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/42 "2008-12-21T02:49:28Z")
> [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](#): > > 😕 [How many memes has 4chan created?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq5csKvXCT4) ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/43 "2008-12-21T02:51:36Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I’ve never even heard of 99% of those internet memes. I didn’t think I’ve been living in a bubble. > > Ed Me neither, but that site’s the devil and [Disaster Kid](http://www.disasterkid.com/) kinda freaks me out. Well, a lot, actually. _waves fist melodramatically at sky_ _ **Damn you, 4chan, and your insidiously entertaining internet memes, daaaaamn yoooou!!!** _ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/44 "2008-12-21T04:55:28Z")
Too bad you can’t post pics here. My serious contribution to discussing 4chan is to troll pics of rabbit-chan with the text: Hai guys! I’m kinda new here, but if you all can count to 10 I’ll post titties 😛 Troll/joke of that is that her looks turns on nerdy internet dwellers, and there are hundreds of pictures of her, but there are no pictures of her tits. 4chan is a great place to troll, since you’re trolling trolls - or as they say, trolling 4chan is like peeing into a sea of piss. 4chan simply is NOT about serious discussion. It’s the internet equivalent of scribbling on the bathroom walls at high school. It has its odd appeal, but taking over the world? You’ve been trolled. GTFO Newfag? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/45 "2008-12-21T06:16:01Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > On 1/14/05, **Pride of the Peaches** Posted [AUGH, what is this 80’s song?](http://boardstest.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=296939) That is so weird. Almost 4 years ago? I swear I have never seen this reference and then it seemed to explode in popularity a few weeks ago. I thought it was something that happened very recently. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/46 "2008-12-21T06:46:18Z")
> [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](#): > > Already an entire generation exists not having lived without the internet. If 4chan continues to grow, an entire generation might exist that speaks only in this type of language: “R’ing sandwich, kthx. In return, homework, lulz”. Businesses will be run by these people. Just as well, because just as 4chan is a meme-factory, so to will it become an business idea-factory. Just as some humorous memes become popular, so too will some business ideas take off organically and grow into companies that change the world. Here’s your problem right here, there has yet to be an entire generation that has always lived with the Internet, because there is still a sizable chunk of teens today that don’t have regular access to the Internet and even when they do get on have no idea what to do once they’re on. Do you how many kids are out there who buy MP3 players and think all they have to do is plug it into a computer where it will be automatically filled with music? Trust me, it’s more than you think. Secondly, 4chan is basically the ultimate echo chamber. Even among people who know what it is, that’s no guarantee they’re a 4chan user. It’s massive size and influence is precisely because it moves so fast and allows anonymous posting. The Wikipedia article on 4chan mentions their Alexa rank hovers around 1,000. Which is pretty good. But it pales in comparison to sites like Facebook, Wikipedia or _[IGN.com](http://IGN.com)_ (never heard of it? It likely has 3-5 times more users than 4chan). The real sites that are shaping the way people (not just ADHD addled ass holes) communicate. Hell, I run a site that topped out at an Alexa rank of 50,000 and I’ve seen stuff that I and other writers have written permeate into the wider web. The Internet is fractured enough that anybody can “make an impression” on the Internet at large if you define the term “Internet at large” narrowly enough. And when the memes are centered around noise, they disappear quicker and more completely when they do run their course. While 4chan may be popular among the core group of 4chan users (which by its very nature is setup to make 4chan look popular among everybody), to say its going to “take over the world” is an absurd (and ultimately meaningless) statement. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/47 "2008-12-21T13:27:30Z")
This too, shall pass. How many people nowadays are speaking cockey slang? ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/48 "2008-12-21T19:53:39Z")
This vid is exactly what the OP thinks will happen IRL. As much as /b/ has spread across the Internets and permeated RL I have not noticed anything remotely happening like this video. This is hilarious and safe for work. Well there is cussing. Just no nudity [Internet Commenter Business Meeting](http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1771556) ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/49 "2008-12-21T20:35:24Z")
HOLY SHIT!!! This is hilarious. [Part II](http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1776175) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/50 "2008-12-21T21:10:16Z")
> [@Dissonance](#): > > Too bad you can’t post pics here. My serious contribution to discussing 4chan is to troll pics of rabbit-chan with the text: > > Hai guys! I’m kinda new here, but if you all can count to 10 I’ll post titties 😛 > > Troll/joke of that is that her looks turns on nerdy internet dwellers, and there are hundreds of pictures of her, but there are no pictures of her tits. > > 4chan is a great place to troll, since you’re trolling trolls - or as they say, trolling 4chan is like peeing into a sea of piss. 4chan simply is NOT about serious discussion. It’s the internet equivalent of scribbling on the bathroom walls at high school. It has its odd appeal, but taking over the world? You’ve been trolled. GTFO Newfag? On behalf of the other 4chan boards getback2 /b/. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/51 "2008-12-22T09:36:48Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > So as I understand the OP, some trendy website has introduced a number of new slang phrases into the English language. And I’m supposed to feel threatened… how? bcoz tehn tehy will cum4tehJ00z? No really I don’t care. I spent a wee time on 4chan about if not over a year ago. I’ve ignored it for a long time, & find it tl;dr in general–a great mass of too much to take in. I’d sort of forgotten it; I hang out here, or on LJ, or deviantArt, or some of the wikis, but 4chan–meh. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/52 "2008-12-22T11:57:23Z")
One of the main allures of 4chan is that there are absolutely no rules. Every forum out there has some kind of rules or etiquette, such as swear filters, no pics posting (or no posting porn), signing your posts, things of that nature. On 4chan you can post whatever you’d like, from advice threads to kitteh porn to calling everyone fag. There have always been areas of humanity where we completely slough off the rules of society and behave like the animals we are. Some examples are public hangings, bathhouses and molly houses, some would argue sporting events like the World Cup (and the accompanying riots afterwords). Sure, those are all real life events and the internet is just ‘oh just turn off the PC’, right? Well for many people, Internet is Serious Business. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/53 "2008-12-25T19:21:58Z")
> [@fifty-six](#): > > This vid is exactly what the OP thinks will happen IRL. > As much as /b/ has spread across the Internets and permeated RL I have not noticed anything remotely happening like this video. > > This is hilarious and safe for work. Well there is cussing. Just no nudity > [Internet Commenter Business Meeting](http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1771556) Hi-effin-larious! ---
**Author:** ![HumanMonkeyGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c67d28/32.png) [@HumanMonkeyGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HumanMonkeyGod)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/54 "2008-12-26T18:43:05Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > One of the main allures of 4chan is that there are absolutely no rules. Actually there are some… boundaries whose crossing can lead to banning. I’ve seen a supposed screencap of a user’s account of someone banned, with the message from admin explaining exactly why (unacceptable pic). You do not want to know the level of crass extreme of human filth that would require admin intervention on /b/. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/55 "2008-12-26T18:55:49Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > One of the main allures of 4chan is that there are absolutely no rules. Every forum out there has some kind of rules or etiquette, such as swear filters, no pics posting (or no posting porn), signing your posts, things of that nature. On 4chan you can post whatever you’d like, from advice threads to kitteh porn to calling everyone fag. There have always been areas of humanity where we completely slough off the rules of society and behave like the animals we are. Some examples are public hangings, bathhouses and molly houses, some would argue sporting events like the World Cup (and the accompanying riots afterwords). Sure, those are all real life events and the internet is just ‘oh just turn off the PC’, right? Well for many people, Internet is Serious Business. I fail to see how that is in any way shape or form something any reasonable person would enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f1d935/32.png) [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dilton_Doiley_Philosopher_King)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/56 "2008-12-26T19:43:45Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > sporting events like the World Cup (and the accompanying riots afterwords). Sure, those are all real life events and the internet is just ‘oh just turn off the PC’, right? Well for many people, Internet is Serious Business. This is a good example of what I am talking about… that sort of scary mob mentality. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085/57 "2008-12-26T20:35:11Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I don’t 4chan is going to spread very far. Its style is not inherently funny. Saying “I accidentally your cat” was just a typo that became an inside joke. (And so are SDMB memes like “1920s death rays” or “once in the 1960s”.) They’re only funny to people who are already inside the community. When you try to carry them over into a different community, people just look at you strangely. But this one was done in MPSIMS just recently. I didn’t know why they were doing that so I had to look it up. And I see a lot more of that kind of humor here than I did before. > [@even\_sven](#): > > I somehow missed out on the entire existence of 4chan until I lurked a bit at a message board that picked up some of its memes. I was baffled at the posting style- quick, profuse, insulting and often unrelated. This board got a ton of traffic- threads would have thousands of posts, which to me seemed to say nothing and go nowhere. I couldn’t figure out who spends their time making forty page threads about nothing. Someone finally pointed out that this was 4chan influence I’m also seeing this behavior here as well. I can think of two posters that have created a huge amount of threads about basically nonsense. And they hardly even return to their threads. I believe this to be an influence of that culture. I’ve also been seeing many more posts with one-liner posts that don’t even relate to the OP. I suspect that humor is coming from this type of posting as well. I do think that this culture has spread somewhat to the Dope. As far as the real world, I’m not sure. Separating this culture from the regular fast-paced, impatient culture influenced by other factors is not easily done. This might be a chicken-egg question. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085.md?page=2)