Boing Boing pointed to a screamingly funny, hyperbolic article over at Fox news about internet meme factory 4Chan – which if you buy Fox’s take is the internet equivalent of Cobra, from G.I. Joe…only run by unruly teenagers.

I’m always amused by the reaction of mainstream media when they turn over a rock and find something completely baffling, particularly when the alarmism instinct kicks in.

What makes 4chan unique among message boards is its reliance on anonymity, a vast difference from most sites, which make users sign up with at least a verifiable e-mail address.

On 4chan, one can post anonymously using a nickname or a “tripcode,” a system that uses an algorithm to give users unique coded nicknames.

Anonymously, /b/tards create alliances to plan their next big exploits.

In 2008, they bombarded MTV with votes to clinch Rick Astley the fan-picked “Best Act Ever” award at the MTV Europe Music Awards — which helped Astley get a slot performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

What I find fascinating is that stunts like the one described above is that they often expose things which have no intrinsic cultural value whatsoever, and rub people’s noses in it a little bit. Does anyone (outside of coked-up industry execs) really give a shit who wins MTV Music Awards? 

I mean, srsly…look at these fucktards…