End of an ERA, Moot resigns from 4-chan

[Am_I_Anonymous]

Wonder how this will go over there?

https://www.4chan.org/news?all#118

That foundation will now be put to the ultimate test, as today I'm retiring as 4chan's administrator. From a user's perspective, nothing should change. A few senior volunteers—including 4chan's lead developer, managing moderator, and server administrator—have stepped up to ensure a smooth transition over the coming weeks.

I'll need time away to decompress and reflect, but I look forward to one day returning to 4chan as its Admin Emeritus or just another Anonymous, and also writing more about my experience running 4chan on my personal blog. The journey has been marked by highs and lows, surprises and disappointments, but ultimately immense satisfaction. I'm humbled to have had the privilege of both founding and presiding over what is easily one of the greatest communities to ever grace the Web. It was truly an honor to serve as 4chan's founding administrator, and I look forward to seeing what the next decade holds for the site.

On to the next chapter,

–moot

[StealthFan]

moot>>>>>Lowtax>>>>>>>>>>>>Evilore

moot is the most normal admin, despite creating one of the biggest cesspits on the internet

[Atramental]

Moot is just moving on to phase 2 of his master plan.

[Brehvolution]

Who?

[Am_I_Anonymous]

Who?

Okay sure.

[Am_I_Anonymous]

moot>>>>>Lowtax>>>>>>>>>>>>Evilore

moot is the most normal admin, despite creating one of the biggest cesspits on the internet

The only difference between chan and gaf is you get banned for being a pedo on chan.

[Positive Touch]

nah Chan ventures out and shits up the rest up the internet. the worst of gaf just stays inside its walls, huddled close inside the hugbox.

[thisismyusername]

Wow, I didn't think he'd EVER leave 4chan behind. I wonder what finally caused him to stop doing it.

That said, given how the site "barely breaks even" I wonder how long the site will stay up without him if he isn't supporting it/paying the bandwidth bills. (Oh, I see he has a "team" set-up. Well good luck with keeping that afloat #team4chan)

moot is the most normal admin, despite creating one of the biggest cesspits on the internet

There's also the fact that m00t has "anonymous posting of the internet is important!" as mantra. His talks about privacy and stuff on the internet is refreshing and was way ahead of the "Britain wants to remove encryption"/Snowden stuff.

[thisismyusername]

So have I, briefly. I was at the first "con" he did. I was even apart of the "18+ Japanese Porn" exhibition/con panel he did with W.T. Snacks the very day I turned 18 during Otakon 2005. I was like the last one in the 4chan panel as well.

Yeah, he doesn't seem to be the "4chan audience" that it's grown into. But at the same time he has a healthy respect (and admiration for?) the site. It gave him notoriety for better or worse and at the same time it's helped internet culture for better or worse. I really can't think of how the internet would be if 4chan's anonymous image posting wasn't there at the time it came in.

[bluemax]

So have I, briefly. I was at the first "con" he did. I was even apart of the "18+ Japanese Porn" exhibition/con panel he did with W.T. Snacks the very day I turned 18 during Otakon 2005. I was like the last one in the 4chan panel as well.

Yeah, he doesn't seem to be the "4chan audience" that it's grown into. But at the same time he has a healthy respect (and admiration for?) the site. It gave him notoriety for better or worse and at the same time it's helped internet culture for better or worse. I really can't think of how the internet would be if 4chan's anonymous image posting wasn't there at the time it came in.

So he's basically the anti-EviLore. He even knows when to get out.

[tiesto]

Moot does (used to?) meetups around the city every so often. Never did go to one myself but then again I never got into the whole 4chan bit...

[thisismyusername]

So he's basically the anti-EviLore. He even knows when to get out.

He's never been "Evilore." (Totally Paraphrasing) He created 4chan to make an "imageboard" and subvert Something Awful's anime board. 4chan was a hit with the 13-17 crowd (basically middle/high-school until 2008 year crowd) and blew up due to being able to anonymous post. The site took on a "mind of it's own" and kinda became more than a "Something Awful offshoot" (similar to... dun-dun-dunnnn "the [evil]Bore"). He was mostly "admin" and site-payer for the board.

Up until... 2007(?) he was paying for the board out of his own pocket. The site was "barely breaking even" and then he added ads (which most of the base will adblock AFAIK). Which didn't really help but kinda did since it still was "breaking even" until the past year where he added captchas in 2013 (due to bots spamming shit on the boards. I fucking hate them for that but I can't blame m00t for doing it). Last year (and 2013? I'm hazy on that) he added "4chan passes" to get around the captcha, get rid of ads (IIRC), and basically have the site of 2003-2009 back for a small monthly fee. From what he wrote on the blog. The past year was him getting the "4chan team"/volunteers that'll run the site ready for his eventual stepping down. So I wonder if that "4chan pass" was the first initiative of theirs in getting the site to be sustainable without m00t.

Additionally: Unlike Evilore, m00t isn't "cashing out." He isn't getting investment money (AFAWK?) he's simply stepping down because he's tired of it (and really who can blame him if you have followed 4chan semi-often) and tired of "being the face of 4chan" and having to make decisions for it's life/keeping it up. He's getting no money from it outside of whatever he possibly invested into it and maybe Canvas (which failed). He's got other ventures unless those fizzled like Canvas (which according to his blog he liquidized and the investors of that site let him invest the money in charity). He's got things going on and has coding skills. Something that Evilore doesn't really have, last I know?

But anyway, he's not an egotistical ass like Evilore. So I wouldn't put him in any "anti-Evilore" ballpark or even associate Evilore with him. He's probably one of the rare few "normal" people that have ran an internet site.

That's not to mention that I have a very healthy respect toward him in regards to his championing internet anonymity.

Moot does (used to?) meetups around the city every so often. Never did go to one myself but then again I never got into the whole 4chan bit...

Probably "used to." The Anime Weekend Atlanta con this past year (or two?) was the last "con" he was doing for 4chan. In fact I'm REALLY disappointed I wasn't able to go so I'd have been able to say I was there when he first did cons and was there when he "last one out gets the lights"/sunsetted it. Especially since AWA is farrr closer to me than Otakon was.

[Atramental]

I remember first being introduced to 4chan back in late '05 on some really obscure Halo forum that's long gone now (thank god... I would shoot myself if I read 15 year old me's posts).

And it goes without saying that my sheltered little mind was never the same again.

Back then /b/ wasn't as formulaic and predictable as it is now. It was the rim of the goddamn abyss. A black churning culdron of chaos. 

[thisismyusername]

lol /b/ was a totally different beast after the Ota'05 panel. Like a month or two after that the "Habbo raids" started and the board wasn't the same after that. I kinda weened myself off /b/ like in '06 and just stopped visiting anything that wasn't /v/ (which was GOOD at the time. Actual video game discussion and maybe some console warring before the shitposting started from /b/tards invading). I've kinda semi-tempered off 4chan but still visit it occasionally. The appeal of posting something anonymously is nice. I really wish there was another site like 4chan. I don't want to say we "need" more boards like it, but being able to post opinions without a  pseudonym or tag is really nice for times where you want to post something but not have it "tied to you."

Which reminds me: m00t changed 4chan's 2chan software to delete records after a few hours or something (If I remember right) to really protect anonymity. There's still "logs" in the case of violating posts that the FBI/etc need to investigate but for the most part no one really knows what you post if you post anonymously.

[El Babua]

Started visiting 4chan back in 2006, after being referred to it from GameFaqs. Basically just went there for the porn and laughing at stupid shit.

Still consider myself a newfag to this day.  :'(

[TVC15]

In this thread be pedophiles. I'm ashamed, AiA.

[Trent Dole]

Ah, so that's why they threw up the stats of the site over the last 11.5 years on twitter the other day. Godspeed, Moot.

[thisismyusername]

http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/21/farewell-sheriff/

That was posted on GAF, but it's actually a pretty good interview with him.

Constine: How have the interpersonal relations of people online changed since you started?

Moot: There’s obviously this era of social networking. The way I think about the web and how it’s changed over the years is that a decade ago or even longer, it was in the form of this interest-based web. You found people based on shared interests and navigating AOL [Disclosure: TechCrunch’s parent company] with keywords. How the web was organized was interests and this directory structure like Yahoo. Then there was this birth of Google and the intent-based Internet. Then you saw the rise of social and friendship-based networks with people you knew in real life.

I think we’re seeing a shift back with forums. People used forums to connect with each other around a shared interest and usually that meant connecting with strangers. As the graph got built out, it was easier to find friends online, but I think you see people are picking up on the value of “hey it’s fun to talk to strangers on the Internet”. I think you see that demonstrated in 4chan’s continued success but also in the rapid rise of Reddit and Imgur exploding in popularity.

There’s actually this demand for this lo-fi web. It harkens back to the early Internet years. I hope there’s more of that.

I can tell you, I kinda prefer the 1990 internet with it's simple HTML/images than the newer Javascript and fifty different languages with flash and images going off internet. Interesting that he thinks people are going back to message boards. I don't really get that vibe from the rest of the internet.

[bluemax]

So he's basically the anti-EviLore. He even knows when to get out.

He's never been "Evilore." (Totally Paraphrasing) He created 4chan to make an "imageboard" and subvert Something Awful's anime board. 4chan was a hit with the 13-17 crowd (basically middle/high-school until 2008 year crowd) and blew up due to being able to anonymous post. The site took on a "mind of it's own" and kinda became more than a "Something Awful offshoot" (similar to... dun-dun-dunnnn "the [evil]Bore"). He was mostly "admin" and site-payer for the board.

Up until... 2007(?) he was paying for the board out of his own pocket. The site was "barely breaking even" and then he added ads (which most of the base will adblock AFAIK). Which didn't really help but kinda did since it still was "breaking even" until the past year where he added captchas in 2013 (due to bots spamming shit on the boards. I fucking hate them for that but I can't blame m00t for doing it). Last year (and 2013? I'm hazy on that) he added "4chan passes" to get around the captcha, get rid of ads (IIRC), and basically have the site of 2003-2009 back for a small monthly fee. From what he wrote on the blog. The past year was him getting the "4chan team"/volunteers that'll run the site ready for his eventual stepping down. So I wonder if that "4chan pass" was the first initiative of theirs in getting the site to be sustainable without m00t.

Additionally: Unlike Evilore, m00t isn't "cashing out." He isn't getting investment money (AFAWK?) he's simply stepping down because he's tired of it (and really who can blame him if you have followed 4chan semi-often) and tired of "being the face of 4chan" and having to make decisions for it's life/keeping it up. He's getting no money from it outside of whatever he possibly invested into it and maybe Canvas (which failed). He's got other ventures unless those fizzled like Canvas (which according to his blog he liquidized and the investors of that site let him invest the money in charity). He's got things going on and has coding skills. Something that Evilore doesn't really have, last I know?

But anyway, he's not an egotistical ass like Evilore. So I wouldn't put him in any "anti-Evilore" ballpark or even associate Evilore with him. He's probably one of the rare few "normal" people that have ran an internet site.

That's not to mention that I have a very healthy respect toward him in regards to his championing internet anonymity.

Moot does (used to?) meetups around the city every so often. Never did go to one myself but then again I never got into the whole 4chan bit...

Probably "used to." The Anime Weekend Atlanta con this past year (or two?) was the last "con" he was doing for 4chan. In fact I'm REALLY disappointed I wasn't able to go so I'd have been able to say I was there when he first did cons and was there when he "last one out gets the lights"/sunsetted it. Especially since AWA is farrr closer to me than Otakon was.

But that's exactly what I meant about anti Evilore. He has skills, has a personality, doesn't see 4chan as a way to bankroll his "surreal" life style and recognizes when it is in his best interests to move on. He probably even has real friends.

[thisismyusername]

But that's exactly what I meant about anti Evilore. He has skills, has a personality, doesn't see 4chan as a way to bankroll his "surreal" life style and recognizes when it is in his best interests to move on. He probably even has real friends.

Eh, sure. But Evilore's personality is what I consider the "no, Mootle is no where in the ball park of 'Evilore' to be considered an 'anti-Evilore.'" Moot's never been full of himself or "did you accept Moots advances?" when it comes to women.

[Take My Breh Away]

Moot is the polar opposite of Evilore and Lowtax in that he's not a massive attention whore demanding people love him or worship him and creating a cult of personality around the mod and admin "staff" (Who do it for free).   

But then he's not a creepy manchild like lore or a sad alcoholic clinging to past glories like Lowtax either. So that's a plus. 

[Rufus]

8 hour Q&A, holy crap

[Atramental]

Long Q&A is long.

Just got done listening to it all and you guys, who have met him, are right. Moot is the fuckin' man. 

[nudemacusers]

8 hour q&a?

[Rufus]

I've had this on in the background and he seems to genuinely care about the community.

Also kind of but not really surprised that the site isn't making much money. Certainly explains why Evilore sanitized GAF.

[thisismyusername]

8 hour q&a?

m00tles really loves the community. <3

[AdmiralViscen]

So he's basically the anti-EviLore. He even knows when to get out.

He's never been "Evilore." (Totally Paraphrasing) He created 4chan to make an "imageboard" and subvert Something Awful's anime board. 4chan was a hit with the 13-17 crowd (basically middle/high-school until 2008 year crowd) and blew up due to being able to anonymous post. The site took on a "mind of it's own" and kinda became more than a "Something Awful offshoot" (similar to... dun-dun-dunnnn "the [evil]Bore"). He was mostly "admin" and site-payer for the board.

Up until... 2007(?) he was paying for the board out of his own pocket. The site was "barely breaking even" and then he added ads (which most of the base will adblock AFAIK). Which didn't really help but kinda did since it still was "breaking even" until the past year where he added captchas in 2013 (due to bots spamming shit on the boards. I fucking hate them for that but I can't blame m00t for doing it). Last year (and 2013? I'm hazy on that) he added "4chan passes" to get around the captcha, get rid of ads (IIRC), and basically have the site of 2003-2009 back for a small monthly fee. From what he wrote on the blog. The past year was him getting the "4chan team"/volunteers that'll run the site ready for his eventual stepping down. So I wonder if that "4chan pass" was the first initiative of theirs in getting the site to be sustainable without m00t.

Additionally: Unlike Evilore, m00t isn't "cashing out." He isn't getting investment money (AFAWK?) he's simply stepping down because he's tired of it (and really who can blame him if you have followed 4chan semi-often) and tired of "being the face of 4chan" and having to make decisions for it's life/keeping it up. He's getting no money from it outside of whatever he possibly invested into it and maybe Canvas (which failed). He's got other ventures unless those fizzled like Canvas (which according to his blog he liquidized and the investors of that site let him invest the money in charity). He's got things going on and has coding skills. Something that Evilore doesn't really have, last I know?

But anyway, he's not an egotistical ass like Evilore. So I wouldn't put him in any "anti-Evilore" ballpark or even associate Evilore with him. He's probably one of the rare few "normal" people that have ran an internet site.

That's not to mention that I have a very healthy respect toward him in regards to his championing internet anonymity.

Moot does (used to?) meetups around the city every so often. Never did go to one myself but then again I never got into the whole 4chan bit...

It's probably also worth mentioning that Evilore didn't even found GAF lol

Probably "used to." The Anime Weekend Atlanta con this past year (or two?) was the last "con" he was doing for 4chan. In fact I'm REALLY disappointed I wasn't able to go so I'd have been able to say I was there when he first did cons and was there when he "last one out gets the lights"/sunsetted it. Especially since AWA is farrr closer to me than Otakon was.

[AdmiralViscen]

So he's basically the anti-EviLore. He even knows when to get out.

He's never been "Evilore." (Totally Paraphrasing) He created 4chan to make an "imageboard" and subvert Something Awful's anime board. 4chan was a hit with the 13-17 crowd (basically middle/high-school until 2008 year crowd) and blew up due to being able to anonymous post. The site took on a "mind of it's own" and kinda became more than a "Something Awful offshoot" (similar to... dun-dun-dunnnn "the [evil]Bore"). He was mostly "admin" and site-payer for the board.

Up until... 2007(?) he was paying for the board out of his own pocket. The site was "barely breaking even" and then he added ads (which most of the base will adblock AFAIK). Which didn't really help but kinda did since it still was "breaking even" until the past year where he added captchas in 2013 (due to bots spamming shit on the boards. I fucking hate them for that but I can't blame m00t for doing it). Last year (and 2013? I'm hazy on that) he added "4chan passes" to get around the captcha, get rid of ads (IIRC), and basically have the site of 2003-2009 back for a small monthly fee. From what he wrote on the blog. The past year was him getting the "4chan team"/volunteers that'll run the site ready for his eventual stepping down. So I wonder if that "4chan pass" was the first initiative of theirs in getting the site to be sustainable without m00t.

Additionally: Unlike Evilore, m00t isn't "cashing out." He isn't getting investment money (AFAWK?) he's simply stepping down because he's tired of it (and really who can blame him if you have followed 4chan semi-often) and tired of "being the face of 4chan" and having to make decisions for it's life/keeping it up. He's getting no money from it outside of whatever he possibly invested into it and maybe Canvas (which failed). He's got other ventures unless those fizzled like Canvas (which according to his blog he liquidized and the investors of that site let him invest the money in charity). He's got things going on and has coding skills. Something that Evilore doesn't really have, last I know?

But anyway, he's not an egotistical ass like Evilore. So I wouldn't put him in any "anti-Evilore" ballpark or even associate Evilore with him. He's probably one of the rare few "normal" people that have ran an internet site.

That's not to mention that I have a very healthy respect toward him in regards to his championing internet anonymity.

Moot does (used to?) meetups around the city every so often. Never did go to one myself but then again I never got into the whole 4chan bit...

Probably "used to." The Anime Weekend Atlanta con this past year (or two?) was the last "con" he was doing for 4chan. In fact I'm REALLY disappointed I wasn't able to go so I'd have been able to say I was there when he first did cons and was there when he "last one out gets the lights"/sunsetted it. Especially since AWA is farrr closer to me than Otakon was.

It's probably also worth mentioning that Evilore didn't even found GAF lol

[thisismyusername]

That, too. Evilore pretty much bought it as it was getting popular. moot had to put in the work to get it up. It "died" like... 2-3(forgetting...) times from it's launch because he couldn't pay the hosting bills. It's why the "DONATE OR DIE" donation drive happened before he finally was able to make the site "break even."