The article reminisces about the author's early experiences with 4chan, celebrating its role in internet culture through memes like LOLcats. Over two decades, 4chan transformed from a hub for anarchic believers to a platform associated with extremism, influencing numerous aspects of modern life, such as political discourse and online behavior. Following its apparent recent disappearance due to hacking, the author contemplates the site's legacy and its significant, yet controversial, impact on the evolution of the internet, suggesting that its core project succeeded despite its decline.
"The novelty of a website devoted to shock and gore, and the rebelliousness inherent in it, dies when your opinions become the official policy of the world's five or so richest people and the government of the United States."
"It is likely that there will never be a site like 4chan again-which is, likely, a very good thing. But it had also essentially already succeeded at its core project."
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