Rulesof the Internet - 47 of them
These aren't site policies. They're the laws of nature for anyone posting anonymously online. Codified in 2006, refined through memetic warfare, still in force. Read them before you lurk. Lurk before you post.
01Do not talk about /b/.
There are some places you have to be part of to really appreciate. /b/ is one of them.
02You do NOT talk about /b/.
See rule 1, but in all caps because this time we mean it.
03We are Anonymous.
On the internet, everyone is anonymous. I'm anonymous, you're anonymous. No handles, no clout, no brand.
04We are legion.
It sounds threatening, but it really means 'many stones make a mountain'. Together we can do things nobody could alone.
05Anonymous never forgives.
The internet is forever. Nothing is ever really deleted. Don't be stupid unless you want to be remembered as stupid.
06Anonymous can be a horrible, senseless, uncaring monster.
Trolls deliberately sabotage discussions with anger-inducing comments just to watch the occupants go ballistic.
07Anonymous is still able to deliver.
If we all pitch in we can do amazing things together. Sometimes all it takes is one person doing something right to make a difference.
08There are no real rules about posting.
Site rules vary and nobody can force you to post or not post anything. Post anyway.
09There are no real rules about moderation either - enjoy your ban.
Caveat to rule 8: if you act stupid or break the site rules, remember that the ban hammer is always stronger than you.
10If you enjoy any rival sites, DON'T.
Loyalty is paramount. Pick a board and commit.
11All your carefully picked arguments can easily be ignored.
Nobody cares about your evidence. They care about being entertained.
12Anything you say can and will be used against you.
The internet is forever. All it takes is one person with an incriminating copy.
13Anything you say can and will be turned into something else.
Your words will be screenshot'd, remixed, memed, and weaponized. Accept it.
14Do not argue with trolls - it means they win.
Trolls are not interested in genuine debate. The only way to defeat a troll is to ignore them, denying them attention.
15The harder you try, the harder you will fail.
Which is more amazing: failing at making a LEGO elephant or failing at making an elephant-shaped house?
16If you fail in epic proportions, it may just become a winning failure.
Sometimes failures are just as impressive as success. Lean into it.
17Every win fails eventually.
Nothing lasts forever. Enjoy your successes but don't dwell on them.
18Everything that can be labelled can be hated.
No matter what you love, there's bound to be someone who doesn't. Labels also create judgment. Live and let live.
19The more you hate it, the stronger it gets.
Hate is pointless. Don't waste your time on it.
20Nothing is to be taken seriously.
If you're getting offended, you're playing the game wrong.
21Original content is original only for a few seconds before getting old.
The shelf life of OC is measured in scrolls, not days.
22Copypasta is made to ruin every last bit of originality.
Copy. Paste. Repeat. The natural entropy of the web.
23Copypasta is made to ruin every last bit of originality.
Yes, this is the same as rule 22. That's the point.
24Every post is always a repost of a repost.
People tend to save and repost things they like. In short: original content doesn't exist.
25Relation to the original topic decreases with every single post.
As the conversation carries on, the discussion deviates widely from the original post.
26Any topic can be easily turned into something totally unrelated.
This is the natural end state of rule 25. Embrace the drift.
27Always question a person's sexual preferences without any real reason.
We're all anonymous and don't know each other. Better to ask than assume.
28Always question a person's gender - just in case it's really a man.
For the sake of courtesy, ask rather than assume. Everyone is anon here.
29On the internet, all women are men and all kids are FBI agents.
We are all anonymous, which makes gender a moot point. People who point out their genders in anonymous settings usually have ulterior motives.
30Girls do not exist on the internet.
Saying you are a 'girl' usually denotes you're not, or you're just trying to get attention. Either way, ignore them.
31Tits or GTFO - the choice is yours.
Any anon claiming to be a girl must provide proof. If she refuses, she's considered a liar. Classic 4chan wisdom. Apply with caution.
32You must have pictures to prove your statements.
Pics or it didn't happen. Timestamped pictures are the gold standard of proof.
33Lurk more - it's never enough.
When in doubt, don't post - read. Your answer is probably already somewhere. Think you know enough to post? You probably don't.
34There is porn of it. No exceptions.
The single most famous rule. If it exists, there is porn of it. No exceptions.
35If no porn is found at the moment, it will be made.
The corollary to rule 34. Give it 20 minutes.
36There will always be even more fucked up shit than what you just saw.
The internet has no floor. Always deeper.
37You cannot divide by zero (just because the calculator says so).
Nothing will never become something. Don't wrangle the site rules to your favor - it won't work.
38No real limits of any kind apply here - not even the sky.
The internet is all the world, both good and bad, in one place. What you make of it is up to you.
39CAPS LOCK IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL.
A classic. Use sparingly.
40Even with cruise control you still have to steer.
It's very easy to overdo memes and look like an idiot. Use caps lock with common sense.
41Desu isn't funny. Seriously guys.
The more you post a meme, the less funny it gets. Forced memes are the death of humor.
42Nothing is sacred.
No matter what you hold dear, prepare for others who don't get it. Respect that others may not agree. Learn to let go.
43The more beautiful and pure a thing is, the more satisfying it is to corrupt it.
A dark truth about the internet and its inhabitants.
44Even one positive comment about Japanese things makes you a weeaboo.
If you post even one nice thing, you're labeled a fan. Anything that can be labeled can be hated.
45When one sees a lion, one must get in the car.
JESUS CHRIST IT'S A LION GET IN THE CAR.
46There is always furry porn of it.
See rule 34. See also: rule 44.
47The pool is always closed.
Slang for when jerks ruin something good. A reference to Habbo Hotel raids. The pool is closed.
LurkMore
Rule 33 says it best. Before you post, read the thread. Before you start a thread, search the board. The internet is older than you think, and your question has probably been answered before. If it hasn't - then you might actually have something worth posting.