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(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick

Mon, Feb 8th 2010 1:04pm




Filed Under:
4chan, blocking, explanations

Companies:
4chan, at&t, verizon wireless


Verizon Wireless Blocks 4chan; You Would Think It Would Remember What Happened When AT&T Did That

from the not-wise dept

Last summer, due to a DDOS attack emanating from IP addresses connected to 4chan, AT&T temporarily blocked access to 4chan... without giving a full explanation for why. If you know 4chan, you know why this is a bad idea. It took very little time for the 4chan community to retaliate (and, as you know, no one "retaliates" like 4chan "retaliates"), and only a few days later, when AT&T explained what happened, did 4chan back off. So, now comes the news this weekend that Verizon Wireless is blocking 4chan (this is just Verizon Wireless, not Verizon), and the company seems to be making the same mistake. No clear explanation of why. I'm sure there's a reason that Verizon Wireless can give, but not explaining that immediately seems like a huge mistake. Update: Not surprising, but looks like the same reasoning as AT&T's temporary block last year. Still doesn't explain why the company wasn't upfront in explaining it.

28 Comments | Leave a Comment

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  1.  
    icon
    aguywhoneedstenbucks (profile), Feb 8th, 2010 @ 12:46pm

    Why Verizon did it

    For the lulz.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    identicon
    Chill, Feb 8th, 2010 @ 1:18pm

    I for one support our new ISP overlord.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 8th, 2010 @ 1:19pm

    Re: Why Verizon did it

    Successful troll is very successful.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 8th, 2010 @ 1:23pm

    Re: Re: Why Verizon did it

    Longcat is loooooooooong!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
    icon
    scarr (profile), Feb 8th, 2010 @ 1:29pm

    I assume Verizon is doing it because they want to demonstrate the strength of their network. What better way to stress test than blocking 4chan?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    icon
    ChurchHatesTucker (profile), Feb 8th, 2010 @ 1:31pm

    Re: Why Verizon did it

    Seems to me that it would be a great way to seriously stress test your web presence. When you're done, restore connectivity and mumble about tech difficulties.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    icon
    Dark Helmet (profile), Feb 8th, 2010 @ 1:34pm

    Re:

    "I assume Verizon is doing it because they want to demonstrate the strength of their network. What better way to stress test than blocking 4chan?"

    Er, how about in some way that doesn't virtually guarantee that you're going to get your digital ass handed to you?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  
    identicon
    Anonymous, Feb 8th, 2010 @ 1:38pm

    Rules of the internets

    5. Anonymous never forgives!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    identicon
    The Mighty Buzzard, Feb 8th, 2010 @ 2:28pm

    Real Reason

    They're just crowdsourcing their network infrastructure load testing.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  
    icon
    scarr (profile), Feb 8th, 2010 @ 2:49pm

    Re: Real Reason

    You phrased that much better than I. *tips hat*

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  
    identicon
    Bnsofts, Feb 8th, 2010 @ 3:04pm

    Way to go verizon, you just pissed off the wrong people.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  12.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 8th, 2010 @ 3:47pm

    Re:

    Keep slashdot memes on slashdot. Thank you

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  13.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 8th, 2010 @ 4:02pm

    Re: Re:

    This meme is older than Slashdot.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  14.  
    identicon
    some old guy, Feb 8th, 2010 @ 4:08pm

    Re: Re: Re:

    This meme is older than Slashdot.
    Wrong. The quote is older. It's (over)use as a meme is not.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  15.  
    icon
    another mike (profile), Feb 8th, 2010 @ 4:27pm

    nice one vzw

    I was wondering why my droid was running a bit slow earlier.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  16.  
    icon
    HolaJohnny (profile), Feb 8th, 2010 @ 4:40pm

    Re: Re:

    I know a bit about 4Chan in passing but not much anyone care to fill in some details as to what kind of ass whipping 4Chan tends to hand out to companies that draw their ire?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  17.  
    identicon
    Kerwin, Feb 8th, 2010 @ 4:55pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    Explaining 4chan is like explaining salt to someone who has never had it. 4chan is basically where everything terrible that has ever happened, started, including the original holocaust and super aids.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  18.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 8th, 2010 @ 4:55pm

    4Chan

    4Chan has been neutered in the last few years. At one time it was a bunch of sick and twisted people who could really do some serious damage. It has turned into a bunch of camwhores and whiners who can barely manage to run a script.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  19.  
    icon
    Tom Landry (profile), Feb 8th, 2010 @ 5:56pm

    Re: 4Chan

    I find quite a bit of irony in the fact that you chose to post that as an anon.....

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  20.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 8th, 2010 @ 7:46pm

    Re:

    They will only have real power when they can block everyone except for there customers from 4chan.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  21.  
    icon
    HolaJohnny (profile), Feb 8th, 2010 @ 8:42pm

    Re: Re: 4Chan

    Thank you for the effort and I agree with you about the anon post... Though I'm feeling a bit neglected by our D. Helmet I made a poor assumption that he would be all over this like awesomeness in Mel Brook's films.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  22.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 8th, 2010 @ 9:49pm

    Re: Re: 4Chan

    That's my real name. Anonymous "David" Coward.

    I miss the days of the sick and twisted people.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  23.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 9th, 2010 @ 2:48am

    I'm afraid I have no frame of reference. Do you mean Dennis Strigl who now claims to have negotiated iPhone to Verizon a few times?

    Listen Steve P. J,
    The whole industry lives in a fucking cul-de-sac. You can't tell anything to one and think it will be kept secret.

    MISTER Steven P Jobs:
    Best for you to have a secret ballot the day before your announcement. You need to ask what the company can provide as far as customer service, rate plans, and retention.

    Value each as their own and then announce it the day you power up your Keynote.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  24.  
    icon
    Dark Helmet (profile), Feb 9th, 2010 @ 6:42am

    Re: Re: Re: 4Chan

    Sorry, Hola, I'm busy dealing with a sick dog and the kind of blizzard here in Chicago that is actually not overhyped for once. Start with the brief media attention history below, though this only represents the tip of the iceberg:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4chan#Media_attention

    Back to shoveling my way out of my condo....

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  25.  
    icon
    Cynyr (profile), Feb 9th, 2010 @ 8:27am

    Re: Re: Re:

    They manipulated a Time Magazine(i think) online poll to spell something out with the first letters of the names. See the previous ATT problems. Basicly it's a group of people where a few seem to have some skills and then a large amount of man hours to devote to "projects"

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  26.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 9th, 2010 @ 12:26pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    lolcats ccameform 4chan i demand u take back that statment
    and it also seems to be the frist line of defence from people blocking websites

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  27.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 9th, 2010 @ 3:04pm

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    > Wrong. The quote is older. It's (over)use as a meme is not.

    FWIW, I remember it from Usenet.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  28.  
    identicon
    ZE-SPY, Feb 9th, 2010 @ 5:33pm

    Verizon...

    Verizon, I am dissapoint.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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