Web Scout: Underground website games Google

Some unusual terms have been appearing atop Google's Hot Trends list, an updated roster of the Top 100 Web searches. Phrases such as "scientology is a cult" (No. 1 at left) and a backwards taunt to Google (No. 4 at left) -- the actual term contained a naughty four-letter word -- topped the list. Last week the swastika symbol appeared at the top. All the controversy can be traced back to an Internet message board called 4chan. Posts on the site encouraged readers to search for the malevolent terms en masse, skyrocketing them up the ranks.

The original post exposing 4chan's high-tech attack, also known as "Google bombing," netted 38 comments. Many of those responses were immature or snide remarks, seemingly coming from 4chan members, which prompted Zoey Hampton to write: "The comments make it very clear that the members of 4chan need to get a life, as well as learn to spell and write cogently."

Those that engaged in legitimate discussion, however, were split on the severity of the incident.

Ugh wrote:

what is wrong with these people, shoving swastkas in little kids' faces. maybe they should be charged with a hate crime and those living in the US should be prosecuted. if that is their idea of fun, this might adjust their attitudes on the subject. after all, "free speech" only takes one so far these days...

Terryeo wrote:

Indeed! As we enjoy a more free communication, so too with schoolyard bullys, semi-literates and disruptive elements. In days gone past it took great effort to rouse a demonstration. Today it takes only a few phrases on a disruptive website, a few minutes of discussion, and a few dozen computers running dedicated software. People dedicated to disrupting normal communication have found their comfort zone on the internet.

Shacklebot wrote:

Scientology may indeed be a cult, but these anonymous mask-wearing website-hacking "kids" (and I use that term loosely - many of these 4chan troublemakers are middle aged and living at home) are far more dangerous. Committing vandalism and hate crimes are NOT just "kids' play"!

Anonymous wrote:

For everyone that has called these acts vandalism, remember that they are only as permanent as people's memories. This is not a wall or someone else's property that they then have to repair. It removes itself.

For everyone complaining about their children being exposed to "hate", you may consider actively participating in their lives and education. Seeing a swastika means nothing to child that doesn't understand it, and evokes nothing if you take the mystique away from it. Don't raise your children to have their feeling prayed upon by strangers.

What's your take on the issue? Tell us whether you think 4chan's Google bombing is overstepping the boundaries of Web decency, or if it's just something that comes with the territory of an open dialog?

-- Mark Milian

Comments

[Terryeo]

Lulz! I made the L.A. Times (opinion column).
1. I'm an individual. period.
2. I don't work for an organization.
3. Have fun with http://www.wikinfo.org where original research, multiple articles on a subject, and signed articles are welcome.

[Anonymous]

Of course Terryeo would have this opinion. Do a google search on that name and you will see that he is a well known internet $cientology shill for the evil dangerous cult.

xenu.net :-)

[Anonymous]

Is the Times going to bother posting my comment? It is absolutely true and can be verified within seconds.

Terryeo is a shill for Scientology. He has posted literally thousands of times over the internet the second there is anything that he deems slightly offensive to Scientology. This is the reason for his comments regarding 4chan.

[Don't have one]

How sad is it that I recognized his name. He was banned from wikipedia for harassing anyone who put negative statements / image-tarnishing facts into articles on Scientology, such as the r2-45, and gold base. If anyone looked at the discussion page it'd be obvious he followed the cult's doctrine of "Always attack, never defend."

[anonymous]

im positive this wont be posted but its worth a try,
the swastika is only a symbol and can be interpreted in many ways, a swastika means many different things to many different cultures, however anonymous knows how you will interpret it, we know you will flip out and start going on and on about hate crimes and this and that. anonymous doesnt intend to push an anti semitic agenda on you, we are just in it to laugh as you flip out about a swastika, mearly a symbol, being posted on one of your favorite websites. as for scientology, the mere mention of scientology starts arguments, again, funny for us to watch. also the coarse language directed at google does the same thing, also lulzy for us. anonymous arent a bunch of internet hackers on steroids, we are just people out for the lulz, and we used your browser to generate the lulz, that is all.