User:Bjweeks/Understanding Anonymous

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This page in a nutshell: Anonymous is not an organization. Anonymous is not a group of hackers.

This is a guide to understanding Anonymous. Anonymous is the collective name for anybody who uses the English speaking imageboards, specifically those who choose to stay anonymous by not using a pseudonym.

The chans

Anonymous uses many different imageboard sites (or chans).

  • 4chan.org - The first and largest English speaking imageboard, has many boards and generally stays within the law by removing posts with illegal content.
  • 7chan.org - The first of the 4chan clones, started by a splinter group of 4chan users. Has considerably smaller user base than 4chan and while the rules are less strict than 4chan it also removes posts with illegal content.
  • 12chan.org - The pedophile chan, has boards for jail bait and child models.
  • 711chan.org - Has the main /i/ board. Was influential in the Project Chanology raid.
  • 420chan.org - Is centered around drugs with many boards on the subject, also has an /i/ board.

The boards

Each of the chans has a number of different boards with a corresponding subject. The boards are normally identified by their letter(s) that make up the URL. Many boards tend to deal with Japanese subjects, video games and porn but there are only two that you need to know about.

  • /b/ - The "random" board, this is where a significant portion of Anonymous spend their time. /b/ users are known to as "/b/tards", reflecting the stupid, often "retarded" nature of the board. The rules depend on the site but are generally "anything legal goes".
  • /i/ - The "insurgency" board, this is where the raids are planned and launched from. Users are known as "/i/nsurgents". Most of the chans don't have an /i/ board and will remove any posts that deal with raids. Most raids target other internet sites for entertainment (or "lulz"), but occasionally raids are undertaken partly for political reasons, as seen in the Hal Turner and Scientology raids. Such raids often gather press and law enforcement attention. Raids are often attributed to Ebaums in an attempt to deflect blame.

Conclusion

Anonymous is made up of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people from all around the world. As in any large group some may be hackers, political activists, pedophiles, or completely crazy. While the actions of these people are attributed to Anonymous, Anonymous as a whole did not perform them. Often, a faction of Anonymous may come together to carry out a goal, some organizing make take place and leaders may appear, this is temporary. Anonymous is not an organization. Anonymous is not a group of hackers.