→8chan: removed editorializing ("claims to be") and potential BLP issues |
→8chan: the reference being cited explicitly refers to pedophilia |
||
Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
== 8chan == |
== 8chan == |
||
{{main|8chan}} |
{{main|8chan}} |
||
Brennan launched [[8chan]], also called "Infinitechan", in October 2013, after a month of raising pledges on [[Patreon]]. It was meant as a "free-speech-friendly [[4chan]] alternative", where discussion boards would be managed by the creating users, not by site moderators.<ref name="DailyDot">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailydot.com/politics/8chan-pedophiles-child-porn-gamergate/|title=8chan, the central hive of Gamergate, is also an active pedophile network|last=O'Neill|first=Patrick Howell|date=November 17, 2014|work=[[The Daily Dot]]|accessdate=3 December 2014}}</ref> He has faced controversy over the website's sexually explicit contents which Brennan says is protected under [[freedom of speech in the United States]].<ref name="DailyDot"/> |
Brennan launched [[8chan]], also called "Infinitechan", in October 2013, after a month of raising pledges on [[Patreon]]. It was meant as a "free-speech-friendly [[4chan]] alternative", where discussion boards would be managed by the creating users, not by site moderators.<ref name="DailyDot">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailydot.com/politics/8chan-pedophiles-child-porn-gamergate/|title=8chan, the central hive of Gamergate, is also an active pedophile network|last=O'Neill|first=Patrick Howell|date=November 17, 2014|work=[[The Daily Dot]]|accessdate=3 December 2014}}</ref> He has faced controversy over the website's sexually explicit contents (such as content on [[pedophilia]]) which Brennan says is protected under [[freedom of speech in the United States]].<ref name="DailyDot"/> |
||
In September 2014, the website gained popularity from the [[Gamergate controversy]] after 4chan banned supporters of the subject, many of whom then organized at 8chan.<ref name=DailyDot/><ref>{{cite web|last=Audureau|first=William|title=4chan, wizardchan, 8chan... s'y retrouver dans la jungle des forums anonymes les plus populaires du Web|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2014/10/15/4chan-wizardchan-8chan-le-guide-des-forums-anonymes-les-plus-populaires-du-web_4505380_4408996.html|publisher=''[[Le Monde]]''|location=France|language=French|date=October 15, 2014}}</ref> In October 2014, supporters held a birthday party for the site, starring Brennan.<ref name="NYMag">{{cite news|url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/10/gamergate-supporters-party-at-strip-club.html|title=Gamergate Supporters Party at Strip Club|last=Chen|first=Adrian|authorlink=Adrian Chen|date=October 27, 2014|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|accessdate=10 November 2014}}</ref> Brennan himself became a prominent GamerGate advocate, being interviewed by ''[[HuffPost Live]]'' and ''[[The David Pakman Show]]'' about the controversy, once alongside, and once in regards to game developer [[Brianna Wu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/15/gamergate_n_5989616.html|title=What Is #Gamergate? 8chan Administrator And Female Gamer Join HuffPost Live|date=October 15, 2014|work=[[HuffPost Live]]|publisher=[[The Huffington Post]]|accessdate=10 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="TDPS">{{cite web|url=http://www.davidpakman.com/fredrick-hotwheels-brennan/|title=#GamerGate: 8Chan Admin 'Hotwheels' Denounces Brianna Wu Doxxing & Harassment|last=Pakman|first=David|authorlink=David Pakman|work=[[The David Pakman Show]]|date=November 5, 2014|accessdate=3 December 2014}}</ref> |
In September 2014, the website gained popularity from the [[Gamergate controversy]] after 4chan banned supporters of the subject, many of whom then organized at 8chan.<ref name=DailyDot/><ref>{{cite web|last=Audureau|first=William|title=4chan, wizardchan, 8chan... s'y retrouver dans la jungle des forums anonymes les plus populaires du Web|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2014/10/15/4chan-wizardchan-8chan-le-guide-des-forums-anonymes-les-plus-populaires-du-web_4505380_4408996.html|publisher=''[[Le Monde]]''|location=France|language=French|date=October 15, 2014}}</ref> In October 2014, supporters held a birthday party for the site, starring Brennan.<ref name="NYMag">{{cite news|url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/10/gamergate-supporters-party-at-strip-club.html|title=Gamergate Supporters Party at Strip Club|last=Chen|first=Adrian|authorlink=Adrian Chen|date=October 27, 2014|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|accessdate=10 November 2014}}</ref> Brennan himself became a prominent GamerGate advocate, being interviewed by ''[[HuffPost Live]]'' and ''[[The David Pakman Show]]'' about the controversy, once alongside, and once in regards to game developer [[Brianna Wu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/15/gamergate_n_5989616.html|title=What Is #Gamergate? 8chan Administrator And Female Gamer Join HuffPost Live|date=October 15, 2014|work=[[HuffPost Live]]|publisher=[[The Huffington Post]]|accessdate=10 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="TDPS">{{cite web|url=http://www.davidpakman.com/fredrick-hotwheels-brennan/|title=#GamerGate: 8Chan Admin 'Hotwheels' Denounces Brianna Wu Doxxing & Harassment|last=Pakman|first=David|authorlink=David Pakman|work=[[The David Pakman Show]]|date=November 5, 2014|accessdate=3 December 2014}}</ref> |
Revision as of 05:14, 14 December 2014
Fredrick Brennan | |
---|---|
Born | c. 1994 or 1995 |
Other names | "Hotwheels"[1] |
Known for | Creating 8chan |
Fredrick Brennan, also known by the nickname "Hotwheels", is an American computer programmer who founded the imageboard website 8chan which is known for its part in the Gamergate controversy.
Early life
Brennan was born in the mid-1990s with osteogenesis imperfecta which stunted his growth and confined him to a motorized wheelchair. He estimates he had broken bones 120 times in his first 19 years.[2] His disability restricted his childhood play activities, so he was "hooked" on his first computer at the age of 6. He wrote his first independent computer program at the age of 13.[3]
Independence
In August 2013, Brennan moved from his mother's home in Atlantic City, New Jersey to Brooklyn, where he works writing websites as head of programming for RazorClicks, which does small business Web marketing.[2] The company pays the rent for his apartment, and he works a second job, remotely, for a Canadian company for expenses.[3]
In January 2014, Brennan was robbed of almost $5000 that he was saving up for a new wheelchair. When the suspect was arrested, Brennan went to the police station for a lineup, but when a bus didn't come on the way back, was left stranded in snow, and had to be treated for hypothermia.[2] He received a personal apology from New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton.[4] RazorClicks began a donation campaign to help gather the remaining funds for a new wheelchair; US$15,000 was ready in 2 months.[5]
8chan
Brennan launched 8chan, also called "Infinitechan", in October 2013, after a month of raising pledges on Patreon. It was meant as a "free-speech-friendly 4chan alternative", where discussion boards would be managed by the creating users, not by site moderators.[6] He has faced controversy over the website's sexually explicit contents (such as content on pedophilia) which Brennan says is protected under freedom of speech in the United States.[6]
In September 2014, the website gained popularity from the Gamergate controversy after 4chan banned supporters of the subject, many of whom then organized at 8chan.[6][7] In October 2014, supporters held a birthday party for the site, starring Brennan.[1] Brennan himself became a prominent GamerGate advocate, being interviewed by HuffPost Live and The David Pakman Show about the controversy, once alongside, and once in regards to game developer Brianna Wu.[8][9]
References
- ^ a b Chen, Adrian (October 27, 2014). "Gamergate Supporters Party at Strip Club". New York. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ a b c Wilson, Michael (January 17, 2014). "City Newcomer Is Let Down by a Stranger, Then the Police". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ a b The America Tonight Digital Team (September 12, 2014). "A day in the life of a man with brittle bone disease". America Tonight. Al Jazeera America. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ "NY police apologize to victim with food, favors". PoliceOne. March 22, 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ Wilson, Michael (March 21, 2014). "After Leaving Victim in the Cold, the Police Work to Make It Right". New York Times. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ a b c O'Neill, Patrick Howell (November 17, 2014). "8chan, the central hive of Gamergate, is also an active pedophile network". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
- ^ Audureau, William (October 15, 2014). "4chan, wizardchan, 8chan... s'y retrouver dans la jungle des forums anonymes les plus populaires du Web" (in French). France: Le Monde.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ "What Is #Gamergate? 8chan Administrator And Female Gamer Join HuffPost Live". HuffPost Live. The Huffington Post. October 15, 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ Pakman, David (November 5, 2014). "#GamerGate: 8Chan Admin 'Hotwheels' Denounces Brianna Wu Doxxing & Harassment". The David Pakman Show. Retrieved 3 December 2014.