In late April 2025, 4chan experienced a significant data breach nicknamed "Sharty" involving the leak of emails belonging to Hiroyuki Nishimura (moot), the site's founder, and other 4chan janitors (moderators). The leaked emails contained personal information, private discussions, and internal 4chan communications. While the exact extent and impact of the breach remained unclear, it fueled speculation and discussion within the 4chan community and beyond regarding the site's security practices and the privacy of its users. The hack also resulted in various memes and jokes related to the leaked content, particularly targeting moot and the janitors' perceived incompetence.
Flame is a free and accessible telnet-based Bulletin Board System (BBS) and Multi-User Dungeon (MUD) hosted by the University of Canberra Computer Club. It offers a nostalgic online experience with classic BBS features like forums, file transfers, and games, alongside a MUD environment for text-based roleplaying and exploration. Flame aims to provide a friendly and welcoming community for both experienced users familiar with these older systems and newcomers curious to explore the history of online communities. Users can connect via telnet or through a web-based interface, making it easily accessible.
Hacker News users discuss Flame, a BBS and MUD software package. Several commenters reminisce about their experiences with BBSes and MUDs, expressing nostalgia for that era of online interaction. Some discuss the technical aspects of Flame, praising its features and flexibility, and comparing it to other contemporary systems. A few users mention trying to get it running on modern hardware, with varying degrees of success. There's a brief discussion about the challenges of preserving old BBS software and data. Overall, the comments reflect a fondness for the history of online communities and an appreciation for Flame's role in it.
A user created t4t.social, a social media platform specifically designed for transgender people. The platform aims to provide a safe and supportive online community, prioritizing privacy and fostering genuine connection between trans individuals. It features tools for content creation, discovery, and interaction, and is presented as an alternative to mainstream social networks that may lack adequate moderation or inclusivity for the trans community. The creator emphasizes a focus on building a positive and healthy environment for trans users to connect with one another.
HN commenters generally expressed support for the creator and the t4t.social community. Several praised the focus on safety and fostering a positive space specifically for trans people, away from the harassment often found on larger platforms. Some offered technical suggestions, like exploring ActivityPub federation, implementing better search functionality, and improving accessibility. A few voiced concerns about potential scaling challenges and the complexities of content moderation. One commenter shared their personal positive experience with the platform, highlighting the sense of belonging and acceptance they found. Others discussed the benefits of smaller, niche communities, while acknowledging the trade-offs in terms of network effects.
The original poster is seeking alternatives to Facebook for organizing local communities, specifically for sharing information, coordinating events, and facilitating discussions among neighbors. They desire a platform that prioritizes privacy, avoids algorithms and advertising, and offers robust moderation tools to prevent spam and maintain a positive environment. They're open to existing solutions or ideas for building a new platform, and prefer something accessible on both desktop and mobile.
HN users discuss alternatives to Facebook for organizing local communities. Several suggest platforms like Nextdoor, Discord, Slack, and Groups.io, highlighting their varying strengths for different community types. Some emphasize the importance of a dedicated website and email list, while others advocate for simpler solutions like a shared calendar or even a WhatsApp group for smaller, close-knit communities. The desire for a decentralized or federated platform also comes up, with Mastodon and Fediverse instances mentioned as possibilities, although concerns about their complexity and discoverability are raised. Several commenters express frustration with existing options, citing issues like privacy concerns, algorithmic feeds, and the general "toxicity" of larger platforms. A recurring theme is the importance of clear communication, moderation, and a defined purpose for the community, regardless of the chosen platform.
Summary of Comments ( 813 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43691334
Hacker News users discuss the plausibility of the "sharty hack" and leaked janitor emails, with skepticism being the dominant sentiment. Several commenters point out inconsistencies and improbabilities within the narrative, like the janitor's unusual email address format and the lack of corroborating evidence. The overall consensus leans towards the story being a fabrication, possibly an elaborate troll or creative writing exercise. Some users express amusement at the absurdity of the situation, while others criticize Know Your Meme for giving attention to such easily debunked stories. A few commenters suggest potential motivations for the hoax, including a desire to generate chaos or simply for entertainment.
The Hacker News post titled "4chan Sharty Hack And Janitor Email Leak" linking to the Know Your Meme article has generated several comments discussing the incident and its implications.
Several commenters express skepticism about the veracity of the leaked emails, pointing out the lack of concrete evidence and the potential for fabrication. One commenter questions the authenticity, stating it "sounds like a larp," using internet slang for a live-action role-playing game, implying it's a fictional narrative presented as reality. This sentiment is echoed by others who find the story unbelievable and too neatly packaged. The commenters highlight the absence of corroborating evidence from sources outside 4chan, further fueling their doubts.
The discussion also touches on the nature of 4chan and its culture. One commenter mentions the site's history of elaborate pranks and hoaxes, suggesting this incident could be another example. Another points to the inherent difficulty of verifying information originating from 4chan due to its anonymous nature and fast-paced, chaotic environment. They emphasize the importance of treating such information with caution, particularly given the lack of independent verification.
Some comments delve into the technical aspects of the alleged hack. One commenter questions the plausibility of accessing email archives through the described method, implying it seems technically improbable. Another speculates on potential vulnerabilities and methods the hackers might have exploited, but acknowledges the lack of technical details available to confirm the claims.
Furthermore, some users comment on the humor and absurdity of the situation. They find the narrative, regardless of its truthfulness, entertaining and fitting within the context of 4chan's often bizarre and outrageous culture. The term "sharty" itself is highlighted as amusing and contributing to the overall comedic value of the incident. Some users also note the irony of the alleged hackers' apparent motivation – exposing the perceived hypocrisy of 4chan's moderation policies – while simultaneously engaging in disruptive behavior.
Finally, a few comments express concern about the potential consequences for 4chan, including legal ramifications and damage to its reputation. However, these comments are generally overshadowed by the prevailing skepticism and amusement regarding the incident. The overall tone of the comments section is one of cautious disbelief mixed with a degree of amusement, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding the authenticity of the claims and the inherent strangeness of the situation.