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Ponychan

Ponychan (ponychan.co) is the primary successor and revival project of the original Ponychan.net, which was one of the most influential and historic hubs of the early "Brony" fandom. 1. Key Dates and Registration Original Site (ponychan.net) Launch: January 2011. It was founded as a dedicated space for My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fans who were being banned or restricted on 4chan. Revival (ponychan.co) Context: The original .net domain suffered a long decline due to administrative friction, culminating in a major fracture in 2021. After the original site staff effectively "salted the earth" and shut down the primary archives, the community splintered into several sites. ponychan.co emerged as the most prominent surviving "lifeboat" for the community. Current Status: While the fandom has largely moved to sites like Derpibooru or Discord, ponychan.co remains active as a legacy space for those who prefer the traditional imageboard format. 2. What is the site? Ponychan is an anonymous imageboard designed specifically for the My Little Pony fandom. The "Safe Haven" Philosophy: Unlike the often-toxic /mlp/ board on 4chan, the original Ponychan (and its successors) was founded with a much stricter focus on "love and tolerance." It traditionally enforced "Safe for Work" (SFW) rules and prioritized community building over the aggressive shitposting typical of other chans. Community Features: Historically, it was famous for hosting Q&As with show creators (like Lauren Faust) and being the birthplace of many early fandom memes and fanfiction trends. The Current Vibe: Today, it acts as a "Small Web" project, catering to long-term fans (often called "oldfags") who discuss the show's legacy, new generation (G5) updates, and personal life in a "comfy" environment. 3. What does the name mean? Pony: Refers to the My Little Pony franchise. Chan: The standard suffix for imageboards, derived from 2channel and 4chan. Ponychan: Effectively translates to "The Imageboard for Ponies." It was one of the first "boutique" chans to prove that a single-fandom imageboard could sustain a massive, dedicated population. 4. History and Context Ponychan's history is a microcosm of the Brony fandom's trajectory: from the "Ponypocalypse" (the mass migration from 4chan in 2011) to the "Ponynanza" (peak popularity 2012–2014) and the eventual "Great Fracture" of 2021. The .co domain represents the community's refusal to let its history die, even after the loss of their original .net home.

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Read more about the article Ponyville

Ponyville

Ponyville (ponyville.us) is a niche anonymous imageboard and community hub specifically dedicated to the My Little Pony (MLP) fandom. It functions as a long-standing, "comfy" alternative to the more chaotic pony boards found on larger sites like 4chan’s /mlp/. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain ponyville.us was first registered on July 15, 2011. Launch: The site likely launched in late 2011, coinciding with the explosive growth of the "Brony" fandom during the first two seasons of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Longevity: The site is one of the oldest surviving dedicated MLP imageboards. Its post count (reaching into the 1.2 million range on the /pony/ board) and references to the "Pony days" from over a decade ago highlight its status as a veteran space for the fandom. 2. What is the site? Ponyville.us positions itself as a community-focused sanctuary for "ponies and general posting." The "Constitution": The site operates under a mission statement known as "The Constitution," which defines it as a space meant to serve various fandom communities and provide a stable home for MLP fans away from mainstream site volatility. Community Culture: It has a significantly more civil and "wholesome" vibe than most imageboards. It features unique technical additions like Ponymotes (pony-themed emojis/icons) and long-running collaborative projects like "The Story Thread," where users have been co-writing narratives for years. Strict Civility: The site has a unique board, /canterlot/, specifically designed for handling complaints and site meta in a "dramaless" way, where only the original poster and staff can interact to resolve issues. 3. What does the name mean? Ponyville: This is the name of the main setting in the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. By choosing this name, the site presents itself as a digital version of the "home town" for the community—a central, friendly gathering place. .us: While a common US-based top-level domain, it also linguistically implies "us" (the community), reinforcing the site's focus on collective identity. 4. History and Context Ponyville.us emerged during the "Golden Age" of the Brony fandom. While many dedicated pony sites from that era (2011–2014) eventually went offline as the initial hype cooled, Ponyville survived by transitioning into a "legacy" community for adult fans who enjoy the show's aesthetic and values of friendship and optimism. It often discusses "Millennialcore" and the nostalgia of the early 2010s internet. images 1-2026

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Read more about the article Rainchan

Rainchan

Rainchan (located at rain.meth.cat) is a niche anonymous imageboard and a sub-component of the broader meth.cat project, a community-driven "small-web" hub created by a developer known as nixx. 1. Key Dates and Registration Root Domain Registration: The domain meth.cat was registered in early 2021. First Appearance: According to the site’s own "About" section, the project has been active as an "anti-purpose digital goblin hole" since March 2021. Rainchan Launch: While the main site started in March 2021, the imageboard (Rainchan) appears to have been established as a secondary service shortly thereafter to provide a "cozy" space for the community to discuss interests in a traditional "chan" format. 2. What is the site? Rainchan is a small, anonymous imageboard (using the vichan engine) that describes itself as a place for "funposting and good vibrations." It is part of the "IndieWeb" or "Small Web" movement, which rejects mainstream social media in favor of decentralized, personal, and hobbyist-run platforms. The Ecosystem: Rainchan is just one part of the meth.cat network, which also includes: IRC Network: A chat server (meth.cat:6697) with a primary channel called #autism. Luanti Server: A hosted instance of Luanti (formerly Minetest), an open-source sandbox game similar to Minecraft. Privacy Focus: The site offers Tor onion mirrors and encourages the use of privacy-centric tools. Culture: The site uses surreal and edgy humor in its self-description, calling itself a "seclusive reverse-political extremist network specializing in the pursuit of esoteric autismophrenic knowledge." In reality, it functions as a relaxed forum for "otaku and nerds" to discuss tech, games, and niche culture. 3. What does the name mean? The name is a playful and surreal combination of terms: Methylated Felines: This is the full name of the root domain (meth.cat). It is a nonsensical/abstract phrase combining "Methylated" (a chemical term often associated with spirits or substances) and "Felines" (cats). Rainchan: A combination of "Rain" (likely chosen for its "comfy" or "cozy" aesthetic association) and -chan (the standard suffix for imageboards like 2channel and 4chan). Digital Goblin Hole: A self-deprecating term used by the admin to describe the site's role as a hidden, unpolished corner of the internet for social outcasts or "goblins." Images from 1-2026

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Read more about the article Sidson City

Sidson City

Sidson City (often referred to as The Sidty) is a niche, personality-driven imageboard and "Small Web" community that acts as a specialized offshoot of the "Soyjak" and "Maskposting" subcultures. It is heavily centered around the creative output and lore of its founder, an administrator known as Sid. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain sidson.city was registered in early 2024 (likely February or March). Launch: The site officially launched in early 2024. A post by a user named nuttyjak on May 3, 2024, explicitly notes that "this site is still pretty new." Wayback Machine: The first captures of the site appeared in mid-2024, shortly after the site gained traction within the "Sharty" (Soyjak.party) and "Sneed" communities. 2. What is the site? Sidson City is an anonymous imageboard (utilizing the Tinyboard/Vichan engine) that positions itself as a "refined" alternative to more chaotic boards like Soyjak.party. It is defined by its specific, often surreal, interests: The Focus: The site is the primary hub for Maskposting—a subculture dedicated to the 2005 film Son of the Mask (SotM) and its protagonist, Tim Avery. It treats the film with a mix of genuine obsession and deep irony. The "Sidjak" Aesthetic: The site features original "Sidjak" variants (MS Paint-style edits of the owner, Sid) and promotes original comics, cartoons, and indie game development. Community Standards: The site has a "no anime" rule (with minor exceptions) and encourages users to keep "jakking" (posting standard Soyjaks) to a minimum to maintain a unique identity separate from "The Sharty." Terminology: The community uses unique lingo, such as "ID'd" (equivalent to "Good" or "Gem") and "IV'd" (equivalent to "Bad" or "Coal"). 3. What does the name mean? Sidson: This is a combination of the administrator’s handle, Sid, and the suffix -son (possibly a play on "Sid's Son" or a reference to the film Son of the Mask). City: Implies a sprawling, multi-faceted community hub. The Sidty: The common portmanteau for the site, used by residents (referred to as Sidsonites or Sidsonians). "We'll Connect The Dots": The site's motto, which refers to the schizo-analytical and lore-heavy nature of the community's discussions. 4. History and Context The site emerged from the "Sneed/Mask wars of 2019" that took place on boards like /tv/ and later on specialized Soyjak boards. Sidson City was created to give these "MaskChads" and "Sid-loyalists" a permanent home. It also hosts a dedicated wiki (Sidson Wiki or the "Free Ensidclopedia") that documents the complex history of their digital raids and internal memes. image from 1-2026

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Read more about the article Smugloli

Smugloli

Smuglo.li (often stylized as SmugLo) is a niche internet project that gained notoriety in the mid-2010s as a "free speech" instance within the fediverse (specifically GNU Social and later Pleroma) while also hosting a dedicated imageboard component. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain smuglo.li was first registered on October 25, 2016. First Wayback Machine Capture: The Internet Archive first captured a snapshot of the site on January 4, 2017. Launch: The site launched in late 2016. It quickly became a focal point in the "Mastodon/Fediverse wars" of early 2017. Due to its extremely permissive moderation policies regarding "Red-tribe" (right-leaning) politics and controversial anime content, it was one of the first major instances to be "defederated" (blocked) by the larger, "safe-speech" Mastodon network. 2. What is the site? Smuglo.li was a hybrid social platform that combined a microblogging feed with a traditional imageboard. The Fediverse Instance: It began as a GNU Social instance, serving as a hub for users who were banned from or dissatisfied with mainstream Mastodon instances. It was known for a "troll-friendly" culture and a focus on absolute free speech. The Imageboard (/a/): The site hosted an imageboard (specifically at smuglo.li/a/) using the LynxChan engine. This board was primarily dedicated to anime discussion, but like many "alt-chans," it allowed for much more unrestricted discourse than boards like 4chan. Current Status: The site is largely considered a "legacy" instance today. By 2018–2019, it was often cited as a demo site for the catamphetamine/imageboard software and other open-source BBS projects, rather than a high-traffic community. 3. What does the name mean? The name is a portmanteau reflecting the site's primary aesthetic and technical origins: Smug: Refers to the "Smug Loli" internet meme—a specific anime character trope (often depicted as a young girl with a self-satisfied or mocking expression). This mascot was used extensively in the site's branding. Lo: Originally a reference to Local.li (a common GNU Social naming convention) or GNU Social (the "Lo" from the localized social feed). li: The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Liechtenstein, which was a popular choice for "free speech" sites in that era due to perceived jurisdictional benefits. Smuglo.li: Effectively translates to "The Smug Loli Channel/Instance."

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Read more about the article Soyzellig

Soyzellig

Soyzellig.party is a niche imageboard that exists at the intersection of the "Soyjak" internet subculture and the fandom for the Dutch animation series Ongezellig. It is a prominent "fork" or sister site of the larger soyjak.party (often called "The Sharty"). 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain soyzellig.party was registered on August 14, 2023. First Wayback Machine Capture: The first archive of the site appeared on August 16, 2023, showing the site was functional almost immediately after the domain was secured. Launch: The site launched in mid-August 2023. It was created to provide a dedicated space for "Zellig" fans who were previously congregating on the main Soyjak.party boards but wanted a more specialized environment for their specific brand of memes. 2. What is the site? The site is a "Boutique Chan"—a small, specialized imageboard—dedicated primarily to Ongezellig, an independent Dutch animated web series created by Studio Mass. The Culture: The community uses the visual language of "Soyjaks" (stylized MS Paint-style illustrations) to depict characters from the show, particularly the three sisters: Maya (Mymy), Dorothy (Dottie), and Els. The Connection: While Ongezellig is a relatively wholesome (though melancholic) show about social anxiety and school life, it became an unlikely obsession within the Soyjak community. Users on this site create "Zellig-jaks" and engage in high-speed, anonymous shitposting, lore-building, and artistic "edits" of the show's frames. Aesthetic: The site uses the Vichan or LynxChan software framework, featuring a minimalist, old-school layout with a specific color palette (often orange or brown) that mirrors the show's school-uniform colors. 3. What does the name mean? The name is a triple-portmanteau of internet slang and the show's title: Soy: Short for Soyjak, the primary meme format used on the site. Zellig: Taken from the title of the show, Ongezellig. In Dutch, gezellig means "cozy," "sociable," or "convivial." Ongezellig means the opposite: "uncozy," "socially awkward," or "lonely." The "Zellig" shorthand is the common name for the fandom. Party: The standard suffix for sites in the "Soyjak" ecosystem (derived from the original soyjak.party). Soyzellig: Effectively translates to "The Soyjak-styled Ongezellig Party." 4. History and Community Context The site represents a "lifeboat" for a very specific sub-community. The Ongezellig fandom on the main "Sharty" (soyjak.party) was so prolific that it often dominated the general boards, leading to friction with other users. soyzellig.party was established to give these "Zelligists" their own domain where they could post without restriction. Despite the show's creator having no official affiliation with the site, the community is responsible for a massive amount of fan art and "variant" jaks that have since spread back to larger boards like 4chan. Images from 1-2026

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Read more about the article Sportschan

Sportschan

Sportschan (sportschan.org) is a niche anonymous imageboard dedicated to sports discussion. It serves as an "alt-chan" alternative to mainstream boards like 4chan's /sp/, using modern imageboard software to host a variety of sports-related and general-interest boards. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain sportschan.org was first registered on December 22, 2018. First Wayback Machine Capture: The Internet Archive first captured the site on December 26, 2018. Launch: The site officially went live in late December 2018, appearing as part of a wave of "specialty" imageboards that launched using the Vichan or Infinity software engines (alternative software to 4chan’s Yotsuba). 2. What is the site? Sportschan is a community-run anonymous forum (BBS) where users can discuss professional and amateur sports. Alternative Culture: It was founded to provide a space for sports fans who wanted the "chan" style of communication (anonymity, image sharing, thread-based discussion) but desired a different community atmosphere or moderation style compared to larger sites. Technical Build: It uses Vichan/Infinity, which is favored by many "alt-chans" for its customizable themes and modernized user interface. It is often cited in developer documentation for imageboard archivers (like Hayden) as a primary example of a high-performance Infinity-based site. Content: While primarily focused on sports, it follows the traditional imageboard structure by including "off-topic" boards for general culture, gaming, and international discussion. 3. What does the name mean? Sports: Refers to the primary subject matter and the site's original intended focus. Chan: Short for "channel," the standard suffix for imageboards (derived from 2channel and 4chan). Sportschan: Effectively translates to "The Sports Imageboard." images from 1-2026

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Read more about the article Sushichan

Sushichan

Sushigirl.cafe is a niche "Boutique Chan" and digital shrine dedicated to a specific internet personality and the broader aesthetic of "kawaii-core" and early 2010s internet nostalgia. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain sushigirl.cafe was registered on July 29, 2021. First Wayback Machine Capture: The Internet Archive first successfully crawled the site on August 25, 2021. Launch: The site launched in August 2021. It was created during a period when several specialized imageboards (often called "shrine boards") were emerging to celebrate specific e-celebrities or internet-famous models from the 4chan /b/ and /soc/ eras. 2. What is the site? The website is an anonymous imageboard and multimedia archive dedicated to the internet personality known as Sushi Girl (also known as "Sushi-Girl" or simply "Sushi"). The Subject: Sushi Girl was a prominent figure in the early-to-mid 2010s anonymous imageboard culture, known for her distinct look (often involving colorful hair, piercings, and a specific "alternative" or "scene" aesthetic). The Format: The site uses modern imageboard software (LynxChan or Vichan variants) but is designed to feel like a "Small Web" project. It acts as both a discussion forum and a permanent repository for photos, videos, and lore related to the persona. The Vibe: Unlike larger boards, it maintains a "comfy" and curated atmosphere. It is frequently associated with the "Webcore" and "Pinkcore" communities—subcultures that fetishize 2000s-era web design, pastel aesthetics, and early social media culture. 3. What does the name mean? Sushi Girl: This is the established online handle of the person the site is dedicated to. Cafe: In internet naming conventions (particularly those influenced by Japanese web culture like 2channel), the suffix "Cafe" or "Project" is often used to denote a specialized, community-run space that is intended to be more relaxed or hobby-focused than a general-purpose forum. Sushigirl.cafe: Effectively translates to "The Sushi Girl Community Space" or "The Sushi Girl Archive." 4. History and Community Context The site is part of the "Personality Chan" movement. In this corner of the internet, users who grew up on sites like 4chan or 7chan create dedicated "lifeboat" sites for their favorite figures. These sites serve as alternatives to mainstream platforms like Instagram or Twitter, which these users view as too corporate or over-moderated. While small, it maintains a very dedicated "loyalist" user base that tracks the history and updates of the persona. Images from 1-2026

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Read more about the article Swedishwin

Swedishwin

Swedish Win (swedishwin.com) is a niche boutique imageboard that is part of the "Soyjak" and "Chud" subculture network. It functions as a Swedish-centric alternative to sites like soyjak.party, focusing on Swedish national identity, internet memes, and "ironic" nationalism. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The domain swedishwin.com was registered on February 21, 2024. First Wayback Machine Capture: The Internet Archive first captured a snapshot of the site in early 2024, shortly after the domain was secured. Launch: The site officially went live in late February or early March 2024. Its associated media archive on Rumble and its dedicated wiki (wiki.swedishwin.com) also began activity during this period. 2. What is the site? Swedish Win is an anonymous imageboard designed for the Swedish "anon" community. It utilizes modern imageboard software (often LynxChan or a similar engine) and is characterized by its heavy use of Soyjak variants and "Chud" memes. The "Sveru" Connection: The site is often referred to as "Sveru" (a play on Sverige, the Swedish word for Sweden, combined with the "u" suffix common in imageboard software like Vichan or Kusaba). Culture: It serves as a hub for Swedish-themed shitposting, commentary on Swedish society, and general internet subculture. It maintains an antagonistic relationship with other niche communities (notably the "Shemmy" community at shemmy.lol), often using "tactical missile" metaphors for site-raids or meme-bombing. Ecosystem: The site is part of a larger digital ecosystem that includes a Telegram channel known as Sverigram and a wiki that archives the specific lore, memes, and users of the board. 3. What does the name mean? Swedish: Refers to the site's primary cultural and geographic focus. Win: A standard suffix in the "Boutique Chan" community. It gained popularity through the Communities.win network (an alternative to Reddit) and has been adopted by various independent imageboards to signal a "winning" or anti-establishment ethos. Average Swedish Win: The name is also a reference to a popular ironic meme format where mundane or bizarre occurrences in Sweden are labeled as an "Average Swedish Win."

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Read more about the article Swfchan

Swfchan

Swfchan (found at swfchan.net and boards.swfchan.net) is the internet's most comprehensive and long-standing archive for Flash animations, games, and loops. It serves as a permanent repository for files that would otherwise be lost due to the ephemeral nature of imageboards and the "death" of the Adobe Flash Player. 1. Key Dates and Registration Domain Registration: The primary domain swfchan.com was registered on April 14, 2007. The .net version, which often handles the technical board operations, followed shortly after. First Wayback Machine Capture: The Internet Archive first captured a snapshot of the site on April 28, 2007. Launch: The site launched in early 2007 as a companion to 4chan’s /f/ (Flash) board. While 4chan would delete files after a short period, Swfchan allowed users to upload and tag them permanently. 2. What is the site? Swfchan is essentially a community-curated library for .swf (Shockwave Flash) files. The Content: It contains everything from early 2000s viral animations (like Badger Badger Badger) to complex interactive games and "loop" animations set to music. It is a vital resource for digital historians and internet culture enthusiasts. The Technical Shift: Since the discontinuation of Adobe Flash in 2020, the site has integrated Ruffle, a Flash player emulator written in Rust. This allows modern browsers to play the archived files without needing original Flash plugins. The Boards: While the main site is a repository with a tag system, boards.swfchan.net is an anonymous imageboard where users discuss Flash preservation, request specific lost files, and share new discoveries. 3. What does the name mean? The name is a technical portmanteau: SWF: Stands for Shockwave Flash, the file format used by Adobe Flash for animations and games. Chan: The standard suffix for "Channel" or imageboard, indicating its roots in the anonymous forum culture of the late 2000s. Swfchan: Effectively translates to "The Flash File Imageboard." 4. History and Context Swfchan is considered one of the "Great Libraries" of the old web. Because Flash files were so integral to the "Golden Age" of memes (2005–2012), Swfchan is often the only place to find original, uncompressed versions of classic content. It has survived numerous legal challenges and technical hurdles, including a complete infrastructure overhaul to accommodate the post-Flash era. 1-2026 image

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