The RickRoll'D Youtube video has over 63 million views, an incredible feat for an artist whose career all but died in the late 80s.
Re:4chan: Beyond one billion
by snowwrestler on Tuesday August 07, 2012 @11:12PM
(#4353687)
"Had," unfortunately--it got DMCA'd a while ago.
Hmm, it's still working here. Not only that, but it appears that Apple is RickRolling developers: http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-apple-ri...
A 4chan meme making its way into Apple goes to show how influential that site can be.
Re:4chan: Beyond one billion
by snowwrestler on Wednesday August 08, 2012 @10:05AM
(#4355579)
Ok, sorry, I have to admit I knew it was still up. Claiming it was taken down is a classic tactic for getting people to click through. You've been RickRoll'd. (I'm not proud of it.)
Speaking of influential, check out the extensive Wikipedia page on the meme. The RickRoll has showed up in the Macy's Thanksgiving parade (with Rick Astley in person), a video from Nancy Pelosi, and a tweet from the White House Twitter feed. It is fully part of the pop culture.
You yourself admitted that they produced more than comics and cat pictures.
Don't forget the Anonymous cracking outfit.
One prominent non-cat/comic meme isn't quite on the influence level of what Swizec was trying to make 4chan out to be.
My point is that he is vastly overstating its influence. The millions of 4chan users have produced _maybe_ as much influence as a single pop music star.
"[citation needed] on 4chan producing memes that are more than comics and cat pictures."
"The millions of 4chan users have produced _maybe_ as much influence as a single pop music star"
You answered your own question.
"And come on, it's where all the memes are born." It is not where all of the memes are born, much less the useful ones. If you claim otherwise, please tell me what I am missing.