What do you think of 2channel, Japan's biggest Internet forum, where anonymous netizens post anything, including death threats?
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33 Comments
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0
Icewind007
Interesting read. It offers a little insight to a culture where such complaining and openness is somewhat taboo. It allows for a much needed social vent.
Also interesting, is that the public media actually takes notice to some of the criticism displayed on these boards. I actually find it more powerful than several political venues people think they have to take to give an opinion.
0
Disillusioned
I tend to disagree with Icewind007. While it is good for people to vent it is sad that so many have no life other than 2channel or Mixi. Japan is a land of 127,000,000 complete strangers.
0
combinibento
It just goes to show how impotent the law and/or legal authorities are in Japan. It's good policy for a site to allow members of the public to post what they want, so long it is done within the law. Yet the site is still operating despite all the libelous and harrassing statements that are posted. In my view this is a failure of the legal system and law enforcement more than anything else.
0
dreamdrifter
Interesting to read due to its sheer size, but something should be done to curb the level of abuse of freedom of speech there (excuse the oxymoron). Forcing users to log-in might be effective to some degree, although that doesn't seem to stop hate speech in places like youtube and yahoo news boards - guess its inevitable in large web forums.
Read a blog recently by a Japanese bloke whose S. Korean girlfriend was at first apprehensive about coming to Japan because she thought the level of anti-Korean hate speech in 2channel is a reflection on the Japanese people as a whole (when of course, it isn't.)
0
bobbafett
I think it would be great if the cops could keep and eye on it, track down all the nut cases and deal with them accordingly. Anonymous should just be a buzz word in the case of 2channel. That site needs full time detectives scrolling the pages.
0
NationalistRE
The freedom of speech can only be enjoyed by those of reasonable mind, the people who can readily tell libel from truth or infantile harrassment from the threat of violence/material loss. But of course, we doubt that most of us possess that kind of intelligence, that's we have laws of demafation and harrassment that curtail free speech.
0
knowitall
Well, with a title like that, JT has pretty much determined what the comments would be. "from cooking tips to radical political ideas" would be more accurate description of 2 channel. I bet a lot of the radical comments are from people who say that just for kicks without any real political or racial motivation. I think one should take a look for one's self before passing judgment based on the image presented by conventional media. I don't agree with much of the radical comments, but the forum does give a venue for covering things that traditional media doesn't seem worthy for us to know.
You don't have to like it. But take a look for yourself (and not just the political threads) before passing judgement.
At least the radicals are staying pretty much on the internet, unlike in Korea where they burn flags on the street and throw chopped off fingers at the Japanese embassy. I think that is more frightening than a bit of so-called hate speech on the 'net.
0
burikko
I can't post comment there. I'm in black list of them.
0
cracaphat
It is another forum for keyboard warriors like many on here, to vent their frustrations in an anonymous setting freely.But it is mainly just bluster including the threats.
0
my2sense
The Internet was the greatest thing to happen to the Japanese and now they can hide, whine and bitch even more... It will soon rot the country from true human realtionships.
0
AzabuSamurai
This is a leading question by the JT. What idiot is going to say death threats are good?
In general 2channel serves a purpose especially for inside research on companies, products, services, concepts etc. Its not super accurate thus needs to be taken broadly but it helps with information sharing and its existence somewhat keeps the power brokers honest. On the other hand, there are lots of mentally instable cowards who hide behind the key-board and get kicks out of degrading people who are better than them.
0
thepro
Bunch of NEET losers
0
motytrah
It's the largest board in Japan. It's social and been around since the dawn of the internet age. That being said the ire of the 2chan community was enough to force changes to English language Mainichi Daily News site.
0
dammit
I don't read Japanese so I only know about it from on here really, but I'd say that it's just a bit worse than JT because JT is responsible enough to delete death threats! (And anything it gets slightly miffed by it would seem.) You certainly get plenty of explosive opinions on here, and not all of them seem to be trolls.
I'm not sure I like the term netizen though, but I guess I'll have to get used to it.
Was 2Channel really responsible for the exposure of the muck on Mainichi's site motytrah? Good for them if so. It was ridiculous and pathetic.
0
brotokyo
never been there but perhaps they should headhunt a moderator from here
0
nisegaijin
Freedom of speech. Should be there, no arguments. i wish JT would borrow a page from their book..
0
DeepAir65
It's a cancer!
We had one of the nicest guys in the office really slandered on there and it was awful. It was such a bunch of lies and rubbish - usually people don't name names but in his case they did and there was nothing we or he could do about it. Fortunately for him we and HR knew is was a pile of - well you know what...
The very least they could do is stop allowing anonymous posting and insist on a verified legitimate email address.
0
caffeinebuzz
#
brotokyo at 03:53 PM JST - 12th March
never been there but perhaps they should headhunt a moderator from here #
nisegaijin at 04:02 PM JST - 12th March
Freedom of speech. Should be there, no arguments. i wish JT would borrow a page from their book..
I've noticed a bit of overzealous deleting, even when I've said something within the bounds and relevant to the given topic.
0
ptolemy
Hate to say it but these right wing nutters do support free speech. At least you don't emails saying:
Hmmm... JT?
0
Icewind007
You draw a hazy line there. Where one would say that some content is proper, another would find atrocious. Who's to say what constitutes as "reasonable" when sharing an opinion under free speech? Under extreme circumstances, even harsh or violent criticism is needed to curb bad laws or oppression (of course this is not really the case in Japan atm).
Freedom of speech should, imo, itself be left unhindered, and actions afterwards be dealt with accordingly. If we begin to muffle people down to the roots for what some think wrong, it'll only get worse when the mufflers get bigger and stronger.
0
kumasan1969
About those who posts death threats, usually got arrested, by the way.
2ch netizens do exchange valuable knowledges, particularly on tech boards, and I think it is good as long as you don't deal with those mean people.
0
dammit
If JT had known that this thread would degenerate into a JT-moderator bashing session, would they have asked a different question I wonder? Perhaps they should sit up and pay attention to those of us who think they're over-zealous, because if we get so sick of it that we stop using the site they're going to lose money.
I'm pleased to hear that the people who posted death threats were arrested though, and I'm also pleased that you don't get that sort of thing here, mods or no mods.
0
incognito12
Death threats definitely should be banned and prosecuted.
0
illsayit
can i be bothered to check it out......freedom of speech is nice, bears responsibility on the listener. in my experience most people are liars of a sort, thus reading through lies would be a waste of time, unless you were tracking lies. id be more interested in who is tracking.....poor things, the lies would be really boring
0
morriconelover
Sure its good to have a place where people can spot out who are the racist idiots, but there is a difference in writing extremist opinions, and making death threats.
0
Blue_Tiger
Pretty much a place for losers, crybabies, and misfits to post their stuff and do their thing.
0
Nessie
I think it should narrow its focus exclusively to death threats.
0
NoShuffle
6 years ago i was targeted by 2channel who didn
t like my blog on my website that crticised the LDP and their policies. I complained to the site and had no reply. I didnt have funds to take to court and luckily the silly lies and threats dwindled and finally ended.I know others who have had trouble because of lies from that site but it is not my place to say. however some were very nasty and intimidating.
Seems like the police do not take internet threats seriously unless they were made by foreigners.
0
KyokoSmile
**2channel?! A pigsty..a very scummy icky stinky place for japanese parasites, racist, xenophobic worms. hell on the internet for sure. disgusting! **
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