the horror and the beauty of 4chan

I’ve been surfing the dread 4chan.org, one of the most notorious Web sites on these here intertubes. The rumors are true; it is the foulest, most disgusting, misogynistic, racist, homophobic and downright vile collection of posts to ever be collected. From child and furry pr0n to crime scene photos and other violent imagery, it’s there.

Interested in destroying your ex-girlfriends life, just ask the users of 4chan to bring down her facebook page and order her 1,000 large pizzas. It’ll happen.

Want to drive your neighbor insane, post his address and phone number on 4chan and he’ll soon be the victim of hundreds of prank calls, vandalism and who knows what else.

For 4chan isn’t just a small time thug. It looks like it has played heavily in several big criminal cases: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/internet/another-4chan-user-gets-busted-fbi

Still, 4chan is not without its humanity, and even dare I say…beauty. I don’t mean someone dumping their fap folder out of the goodness of their heart. (Definition: posting the pictures and stories stored on their computer that they use for masturbation to the Web site so that others can also masturbate to them.)

I’ve witnessed depressed teens actually get real, decent advice. I’ve seen amateur artists share fantastic work and receive great praise. I’ve followed along as teams of users work together to solve a difficult puzzle. I have waited anxiously with other users as an amateur writer has spun a tale of suspense.

It’s odd, but even in a place as evil as 4chan people seem to find solace. Anonymous posters feel free to share their passions, their disappointments and their very touching stories. They invite other users into their lives to share their tragedy and their triumph, something no doubt they would never do face to face.

In an odd way 4chan is the worst of the Internet but also shares some of the Internet’s most redeeming qualities.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I would never suggest anyone visit 4chan; it is an awful place and the small points of light to be found must be mined from piles of putrid human detritus. But, in a weird way, maybe that’s part of 4chan’s “charm.” When you visit, you never know what to expect and you’re always bound to be shocked, in other words, every visit is a horrifying adventure.