4Chan Is Turning 15–And Remains the Internet's Teenager

Re:4Chan Is Turning 15–And Remains the Internet's Teenager by deft on Friday June 01, 2018 @12:43PM (#17207178)

If you look at my comment history I've made this exact point about politics. I agree with you. 4chan as a whole isn't any more racist than any other forum. The boards are separated by topics just like reddit for example. My purpose behind my comment was simply saying if you avoid the parts you don't like (exactly how you do on the internet in general, stormfront is a thing), you don't experience that toxicity. I rarely see racism on the boards I browse. And I'd say I see a lot more racism on average on reddit.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:4Chan Is Turning 15–And Remains the Internet's Teenager by aspaceman on Friday June 01, 2018 @12:48PM (#17207236)

I see what you mean. But minorities always just "ignore it" - but that doesn't mean it doesn't affect them. It's how folks are frequently taught to cope. Even if you're staying in more of the "safe" boards, I imagine you're always worried that someone you're interacting with doesn't.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:4Chan Is Turning 15–And Remains the Internet's Teenager by adamrezich on Friday June 01, 2018 @12:52PM (#17207285)

Why would anyone posting on an anonymous imageboard be worried about people making negative comments towards them, anonymously? Your fellow anonymous users only know about you what you choose to share in your posts, and unlike reddit or HN, you don't have a persistent identity.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:4Chan Is Turning 15–And Remains the Internet's Teenager by aspaceman on Friday June 01, 2018 @12:57PM (#17207364)

Because it tells you that's what "society" thinks of you. And that will affect your day-to-day life.

It affects folks in the same way learning that a lot of folks on Reddit/HN like to Haskell. "Oh hey I didn't know Haskell was so popular"

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:4Chan Is Turning 15–And Remains the Internet's Teenager by adamrezich on Friday June 01, 2018 @01:12PM (#17207566)

But "you" are not "you" when you post on an anonymous imageboard. Most boards don't even have poster IDs, so you can't even distinguish individuals with multiple posts in the same thread. You're just seeing a bunch of posts from random people who could even be replying to themselves, and you have no way of knowing, unless you obsessively check the "unique IPs in this thread" number as new posts flow in.

I post on HN with my real name, but you use a pseudonym. Nevertheless, your pseudonym has a posting history and karma number attached to it, so anything you post will "stick with you" in a persistent manner. Discussions somewhat resemble real-life discussion because one can track who's saying what, what everyone's said in the past, and so forth. If I flame you, my post probably gets deleted and I might even get banned, because that's how this community has decided to moderate itself.

Anonymous imageboards like 4chan are wholly different beasts altogether. If I post something foolish here on HN, perhaps talking out of my ass, saying something incorrect, I'd get downvotes and comments telling me why I'm wrong. You might even remember my handle as "that one guy who said the dumb incorrect thing one time" next time you see it. on 4chan, when you make a dumb post and everyone dogpiles on you, calling you out for your idiocy and calling you bad names, you can just close the tab and move on in your life. People aren't attacking YOU, they're attacking Post #418317258, and its author has closed the tab and permanently disassociated himself from it.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:4Chan Is Turning 15–And Remains the Internet's Teenager by jimmies on Friday June 01, 2018 @05:50PM (#17210739)

>But minorities always just "ignore it" - but that doesn't mean it doesn't affect them.

Everyone has to go to school, the park, etc, and I pay the same tax so having an environment that is pleasant for everyone is a required property. I can't ignore someone shouting to me insulting slurs for who I am. But no one has to go to 4chan, if someone feels offended they can just not visit it.

I would quote "Shit my dad says" on this: "Don't focus on the one guy who hates you. You don't go to the park and set your picnic down next to the only pile of dog shit."

[ Parent | on HN ]