memes the new snack/smoke break || md
C01: Careful that's 4chan level thinking. Kekistan gave us Trump.
Q1: what is 4chan thinking?
4chan is a decentralized, largely unmoderated, and anonymous imageboard that functions as a chaotic hub for internet subculture, meme creation, and, in many areas, extreme far-right political discourse. Because 4chan is not a single entity but a collection of boards, the "thinking" varies wildly from board to board, but is generally characterized by a "nonstop playful misanthropy".Â
Misanthropy is the general hatred, distrust, or disdain for the human species, human behavior, or human nature. It often stems from a deep-seated, disappointed, or cynical view of human moral character, s/x arising from high expectations of human behavior. While often characterized by withdrawal from society, it can also manifest as criticism or, in some philosophical contexts, a call for improvement rather than pure hatred.
Here is a breakdown of what characterizes the thought processes on 4chan based on recent analyses [sources: wikipedia for 4chan & QAnon, CNN]:
4chan has often been the subject of media attention as a source of controversies, including the coordination of pranks and harassment against websites and Internet users, and the posting of illegal and offensive content as a result of its lax censorship and moderation policies. In 2008, The Guardian summarized the 4chan community as "lunatic, juvenile […] brilliant, ridiculous and alarming"
1. The Core Mindset: Anonymity and Nihilism
"For the Lolz": Many users act solely for entertainment value, with a focus on shock, trolling, and creating, or reacting to, memes.
Anonymity as Freedom: The lack of user accounts means users are judged purely by the content of their posts, creating a meritocracy of humor or shock value.
Ephemerality: Threads are quickly deleted, which encourages a "race-to-the-bottom" culture where content must be extreme or highly engaging to be noticed before it disappears.Â
2. Political and Social Outlook (Mainly /pol/)
Far-Right & Alt-Right: The /pol/ (politically incorrect) board is a known hub for white nationalism, antisemitism, islamophobia, and misogyny.
Conspiratorial Thinking: 4chan is a major incubator for conspiracy theories, including QAnon and various "Stop the Steal" narratives.
Anti-"Woke" / Counter-Culture: The community heavily opposes progressive, feminist, and "social justice" movements, often politicized through gaming (Gamergate) and internet culture.
Gaslighting & Trolling: Discussions are often designed to confuse, disrupt, xspread misinformation, with spikes in activity surrounding political events like elections.Â
3. Cultural Impact and Behavior
Birthplace of Memes: Despite its toxicity, 4chan is historically responsible for many, if not most, major internet memes (e.g., Rickrolling, Wojak, Pepe the Frog).
Weaponized Trolling: Users often coordinate to attack or disrupt websites, celebrities, and public figures, a legacy of the "Anonymous" movement.
Irony and Sincerity: It is often difficult to distinguish sincere extremist views from ironic "edgelord" behavior, as the two often blend together, normalizing hate speech.Â
4. Other Specialized Boards
While /b/ (random) & /pol/ get the most attention, other boards have diff focuses:
/v/ (Video Games): Constant debates, often toxic, about game quality.
/fit/ (Health and Fitness): Obsession with self-improvement and physique, often with a "chad" or "sigma" mindset.
/mu/ (Music): Elitist, often ironic, discussions of music.Â
In summary, 4chan is "thinking" in terms of shock-value, rebellion against mainstream norms, extreme irony, a deep-seated antagonism towards liberal/progressive culture.
