Rules of the Internet

About

Rules of the Internet is a list of protocols and conventions written anonymously to serve as a guide for those who identify themselves with the Internet group Anonymous. Essentially, it is a summation of popular catchphrases and axioms commonly associated with 4chan. While some of the better known rules are often referenced across image board communities, the validity of each rule remains debatable as there are numerous drafts and editions in circulation.

Origin

The idea of making “rules of the internet” most likely originated from Anonymous-related conversations on IRC and later spread to relevant communities like 4chan and Encyclopedia Dramatica. On November 25th 2006, an ED user Zen444 took a bold step forward for the lulz, when he created a new entry titled “The 17 Original Rules of the Internet.”^[1] In part because anarchy ran in the blood of Anons, such notion of “rules” sparked several rounds of debates and discussions in ED forum.

Evolution of Rules

Some Anons were quick to denounce rules-making as a childplay, but other users embraced the idea and began working on the official “unofficial rules of the Internet” through discussion forums outside of 4chan. In December 2006, a wiki project dedicated to the topic was up and running at rulesoftheinternet.com, courtesy of an Anon based in San Diego, CA. The site is no longer available.

As archived on Encyclopedia Dramatica

The result of collaboration was a list of 47 rules on the Internet that are thought to be true, with the word “Internet” used in a highly subjective sense. On the main page of the site, it reads:

“This will set a Guideline how the Internet can be structured. Politicians can not set these rules, the internet is for the people by the people. It needs to be the people that set the rules.”
-rulesoftheinternet.com

Notable Rules

With so many differing viewpoints from one Anon to next, it is not to be assumed that Anonymous subscribes to any set of rules whatsoever. However, the most “solid” rules are Rule 1 & 2, 30, and of course rule 34 in the fact that they vary the least from one draft to another.

Rule 1 & 2

The application of rules 1 and 2 are hotly contested. There are those who invoke rules 1 and 2 at any mention of 4chan and /b/ outside of 4chan. This is usually met with the response, “Rules 1 and 2 only apply to raids.” There are also those who believe rules 1 & 2 are an explicit reference to a scene from the 1999 cult film Fight Club, in which Tyler Durden dictates eight rules of his club:

Rules 3, 4 and 5

Rule 3. We are Anonymous.
Rule 4. Anonymous is legion.
Rule 5. Anonymous never forgives.

Rules 3, 4 and 5 have been most famously recited as the motto and closing signature in Anonymous public announcements and press releases, typically for operations and raid campaigns.

Rule 30 & 31

Rule 30. There are no girls on the Internet.
Rule 31. Tits or GTFO.

No Girls on the Internet is a popular catchphrase used by netizens to imply that there are no female entities actually participating in online forums and conversations, especially in anonymous-friendly settings like chat rooms and message boards.

Tits or GTFO is a reinforcing statement of the preceding Rule 30 (“No Girls on the Internet”) that suggests the burden of visual proof rests heavily on the individuals who claim to be females.

Rule 32

Rule 32. Pics or Didn’t Happen.

Pics or It Didn’t Happen is a popular catchphrase used in rebuttal to a poster who has made an unbelievable or outlandish claim without support of any visual evidence.

Rule 33

Rule 33. Lurk Moar.

Lurk Moar is a popular online adage that serves as a rule of thumb for unexperienced users or newcomers in BBS and forums where being unfamiliar with the codes or conventions of community will likely result in miscommunications or nuisance to others. Such concept of self-education through silent observation has been previously iterated through the well-known initialism RTFM.

Rule 34

Rule 34. There is porn of it, no exception.
Rule 35. If no porn is found at the moment, it will be made.

Perhaps one of the most widespread rules in circulation, Rule 34 states that pornography is an omnipresent aspect of online media culture and all that is conceivable has been visually depicted in a perverted manner. Rule 35 serves as its supporting clause, which says that if it doesn’t exist as of yet, the void will be filled in the future.

Rule 63

Rule 63: For every given male character, there is a female version of that character; conversely for every given female character, there is a male version of that character.

Rule 63 is an internet adage which states that for every fictional character, there exists a counterpart in opposite gender. This concept of gender-bending has been popularly illustrated through Alternative Universe artworks and usage of Traps.

Moot’s Response on the Rules

4chan founder M00T speaking on “rules” at the 2007 ROFLCON:

Search Interest

By cross-comparing keyword searches for “the rules of the internet” vs. “rules 1 and 2” vs. “rule 34,” we can see that “rules 1 and 2” stand out as the most prominent bits of the list. Meanwhile, the second graph shows that “Rule 34” has evolved into an independent thing of its own.

External References