4chan founder: Zuckerberg is “totally wrong” about online identity
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[url=http://venturebeat.com/2011/03/13/4chan-moot-christopher-poole-sxsw/]Source[/url]
[release][img]http://cdn.venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/christopher-poole.jpg[/img]
Christopher Poole, the founder of controversial online image board [url=http://www.4chan.org/]4chan[/url], outlined his vision for Web-based community today at the South by Southwest Interactive conference — and yes, his ideas are in pretty sharp contrast to those of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Zuckerberg has spent a lot of time talking about his stance on identity and privacy, especially recently, as Facebook has taken more criticism for its various privacy policies. (To get the flavor of his remarks, check out [url=http://venturebeat.com/2010/05/13/zuckerberg-privacy/]VentureBeat’s post about Zuckerberg’s privacy stance[/url] from last May, as well as David Kirkpatrick’s book [I]The Facebook Effect[/I].) He’s been pretty aggressive about advocating for users to have one identity wherever they are online, because that encourages them to be more authentic (and also means they can carry their social connections with them to any site).
Poole, who is also known under his 4chan username “moot”, said, “I think that’s totally wrong.” He’s had plenty of opportunity to observe the pluses and minuses of anonymity in action, since 4chan is well-known for its anonymous user base. (In fact, [url=http://venturebeat.com/2010/12/07/4chans-hackers-come-to-the-defense-of-wikileaks-by-attacking-its-enemies/]the activist hacker group that emerged from 4chan is known as Anonymous[/url].)
Poole argued that anonymity allows users to reveal themselves in a “completely unvarnished, unfiltered, raw way.” One of the things that’s lost when you carry the same identity everywhere is “the innocence of youth.” (“Innocence” isn’t the first word that would come to mind when I think of 4chan, but okay, I’ll go with him here.) In other words, when everyone knows everything you’ve done online, you’re a lot more worried about screwing up, and you’re less willing to experiment. Poole compared this to being a kid, moving to a new neighborhood, and having the opportunity to start over. On the Internet, you don’t get that opportunity.
“The cost of failure is really high when you’re contributing as yourself,” Poole said.
In the case of 4chan, users feel a lot more comfortable trying to create funny images that can become memes, because content that doesn’t catch on disappears quickly, and they’re not weighed down by their failures. Poole said another benefit to 4chan’s anonymity is that content becomes more important than the creator, which is unlike virtually any other online community. Rather than prioritizing the most valued and experienced users, 4chan allows anyone to access the site and post something that might take off.
At the same time, it seems Poole’s attitude towards privacy has evolved. He’s [url=http://venturebeat.com/2011/03/05/4chan-founder-canvas-reveal/]working on a new community site called Canv.as[/url], which actually integrates with Facebook Connect, although users can still post anonymously. Poole said the fact that “you know that we know” the user’s real identity, even if other users can’t see it, discourages people from indulging in the most obnoxious behavior.
The “Wild West” approach, while important for 4chan’s popularity, has had an effect on Poole’s ability to turn the site into a real business. Very few brands are willing to run their ads alongside content that’s so unpredictable and potentially offensive, he acknowledged.[/release]
I like the way this man thinks. Couldn't agree more with him.
Even though I hate 4chan this man has a point.
That really could go both ways, though. While the more timid among the community may feel better encouraged to 'contribute', you get a lot who seize the opportunity to be obnoxious. Still, I like his idea for Canv.as.
Poole is a really smart dude, I like him a lot.
Wow, not gonna lie i imagined the creator of 4chan to be a hell of a lot more ugly and fat. This guy actually has a good head on his shoulders i can't wait for his new site.
no one will remember what was in here, no one.
M00t is a p.cool guy
Moot looks so much like that guy who played Zuckerberg in The Social Network.
[QUOTE=Raiskauskone V2;28600932]"dur hur 4chan suxx"
Poole only created 4chan, he did not create the community itself, and you hate him for that?
Grow some sense[/QUOTE]
Where did I say that I hate poole himself?
[QUOTE=Raiskauskone V2;28600932]"dur hur 4chan suxx"
Poole only created 4chan, he did not create the community itself, and you hate him for that?
Grow some sense[/QUOTE]
he said he hates 4chan, not THE GUY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Outside of /b/ 4chan's not that bad anyway.
Ah moot, such a cool guy.
Moot is p cool.
Isn't he super bankrupt or something?
[editline]14th March 2011[/editline]
Like several million dollars bankrupt
Active hacker group?
Isn't anon just a bunch of random people who sometimes happen to attack all at the same time?
[QUOTE=johan_sm;28601375]Active hacker group?
Isn't anon just a bunch of random people who sometimes happen to attack all at the same time?[/QUOTE]
They organize giant raids or DDOS attacks using botnets, they also have a few select people that know what they are doing and are able to do something.
Like hacking email accounts or hacking websites to "leave a message".
too bad canv.as is basically a worksafe /b/
I'd rather see something that follows [url=http://www.slideshare.net/padday/the-real-life-social-network-v2]this approach.[/url]
tl;dr: People have different groups of contacts that don't mix well, the internet should reflect that. People have 4 friends on average and can only sustain ~150 weak ties.
For those going 'hurr durr 4chan sux', 4chan is a large repository of knowledge, and while not all of it is useful, it can still help you if you filter out the bullshit.
[QUOTE=johan_sm;28601375]Active hacker group?
Isn't anon just a bunch of random people who sometimes happen to attack all at the same time?[/QUOTE]
They also surf for kiddy porn, don't forget that.(No, it actually isn't a joke.)
I like the dumb, cause its actually true. They're nerds like us so you don't want to admit it.
The "hacker group" is basically all 12 year olds on 4chan connected to a couple of 16 year old guys botnet.
[QUOTE=Dr. Fishtastic;28601871]For those going 'hurr durr 4chan sux', 4chan is a large repository of knowledge, and while not all of it is useful, it can still help you if you filter out the bullshit.[/QUOTE]
Just a shame the internet wasn't created with a built-in "bullshit filter" in mind
[QUOTE=Swilly;28601882]They also surf for kiddy porn, don't forget that.(No, it actually isn't a joke.)
I like the dumb, cause its actually true. They're nerds like us so you don't want to admit it.[/QUOTE]
I like how you clearly know nothing about this at all.
[QUOTE=Van-man;28601934]Just a shame the internet wasn't created with a built-in "bullshit filter" in mind[/QUOTE]
the bullshit filter is /b/
[QUOTE=BlkDucky;28601976]I like how you clearly know nothing about this at all.[/QUOTE]
I like how you assume I've never been there.
[QUOTE=Swilly;28601995]I like how you assume I've never been there.[/QUOTE]
"One person does this, they all must do it."
You could say exactly the same thing for Facepunch or any other online community.
Stop discussing /b/, it has both it's downs and ups (they convicted cat-abusers, heroes imo), Moot has a good point.
[QUOTE=Akuma_lektro;28601986]the bullshit filter is /b/[/QUOTE]
It isn't working correctly then.
[QUOTE=Swilly;28601995]I like how you assume I've never been there.[/QUOTE]
I suppose you have not, otherwise you would not talk bullshit.
[QUOTE=BlkDucky;28602019]"One person does this, they all must do it."
You could say exactly the same thing for Facepunch or any other online community.[/QUOTE]
I'm not saying the entirety does it.
I like Moot and I regularly check out /v/ so shut up already. It has its bad and good.
sigh. Why does everyone judge 4chan based on /b/? /v, /x/, /mu/ and some of the other boards are actually pretty cool. I'll admit, I /b/rowse, but honestly you build a resistance to the shit you see on there.
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