/x/ is the paranormal board on 4chan, an English-language imageboard. Created in January 2005 as a general photography board, it was repurposed in February 2007 to focus on unexplained phenomena, the supernatural, and non-political conspiracy theories.[2]
Type of site | 4chan imageboard |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Owner | Hiroyuki Nishimura |
| Founder | Christopher "moot" Poole[1] |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | February 15, 2007 |
| Current status | Online |
History
editThe board was initially launched in January 2005 as 4chan's general photography board. In February 2007, it was repurposed as a paranormal-themed board, focusing on the supernatural and unexplained phenomena.[2]
Notable contributions
editSCP Foundation
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The SCP Foundation, a collaborative writing wiki project documenting a fictional secret organization, originated on /x/ in 2007. The first SCP file, SCP-173, was posted by an anonymous user.[3] Initially a stand-alone short story, many additional SCP files were created shortly after, copying SCP-173's style and establishing a shared fictional universe. The project later moved to its own wiki in January 2008.[4]
Creepypasta, Ben Drowned, and The Backrooms
editMany of the earliest creepypastas (Internet horror-related legends) were created on /x/.[5] One of the most popular stories of the genre, Ben Drowned, was originally posted to the board in September of 2010 with the author pretending to be a user who discovered a glitching video game. The Backrooms phenomenon originated from a thread on /x/ created on May 12, 2019, where users were asked to "post disquieting images that just feel 'off'." The first photo depicting the Backrooms was uploaded there, accompanied by a story claiming one enters the Backrooms when they "noclip out of reality in the wrong areas". The concept subsequently gained widespread popularity across social media.[6]
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Notable incidents
editThe board was the first place where the 2015 viral video 11B-X-1371 was posted.[7] /x/ also played a significant role in investigating and popularizing the controversial Sad Satan video game.[8]
Creepy Chan
editAmerican model Allison Harvard first gained internet fame in 2005 as an Internet meme on /x/ where she became known as "Creepy Chan" due to her distinctive appearance and interests. She later gained mainstream recognition through her appearances on America's Next Top Model in 2009 and 2011, during which she would visit /x/ to participate in discussions about herself.[9]
See also
edit- 4chan – Anonymous imageboard website
- Creepypasta – Horror-related media shared around the Internet
- SCP Foundation – Online collaborative writing project
- The Backrooms – Fictional location
- /b/ – Imageboard or online forum on 4chan
- /mlp/ – My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic discussion board on 4chan
- /v/ – Videogames discussion board on 4chan
- r/nosleep – Subreddit
References
edit- ↑ Lagorio-Chafkin, Christine (2 October 2018). We Are the Nerds: The Birth and Tumultuous Life of REDDIT, the Internet's Culture Laboratory. Little, Brown Book Group. p. 323. ISBN 978-0-349-41635-9. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- 1 2 Alonso, Fernando (2013-08-27). "Meet 4chan's /x/philes, investigators of the Internet's strangest mysteries". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on 2022-05-06. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ↑ Walker, Ian (February 16, 2022). "Internet Horror Legend Sees Incredible Reimagining After Over A Decade Of Tensions". Kotaku. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ↑ Baker-Whitelaw, Gavia (9 January 2014). "Meet the secret foundation that contains the world's paranormal artifacts". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ↑ Chess, Shira (2016-10-14). "Sinister Clown Sightings Are a Manifestation of Fear". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2017-06-24. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ↑ Patston, Manning (3 August 2021). "The Backrooms: an eerie phenomenon lies behind these familiar hallways". Happy Mag. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ↑ Krahblicher, John-Erik (October 12, 2015). "This Creepy Puzzle Arrived In Our Mail". GadgetZZ.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ↑ Berger, Jonas (2015-10-29). "Das rätselhafteste Spiel aus dem Darknet". WELT. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ↑ Poulsen, Kevin (May 19, 2009). "'Anonymous' Pin-Up Girl Is Runner-Up For America's Next Top Model". Wired. Archived from the original on July 5, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2024.