I mean, even ytmnd predates 4chan. Maybe things like that were tame in terms of content, but the memes were still there. Memes been around since the web busted out of cern.

A person of a certain age might think 4chan is the beginning sure, but SA was basically where 4chan came from. At least how I remember. Again, less extreme maybe.

Not that my memories of those days is that great, I guess.

Not the same at all.

No, exactly the same. Somethingawful goons were a very large portion of the early population of 4chan.

I’ve seen very similar viral images on Starcraft forums in the late 90s.