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Definitions by idl1

4chan is an imageboard forum where anyone can post comments and share images. There are boards dedicated to a variety of topics, from anime to video games, music, literature, and photography. Users do not need to register an account before participating in the community, as it is anonymous.

Unfortunately this platform also has a bad reputation due to 3 notable boards:
/b/ Random Which is known for gore & pornography.
/pol/ Politically Incorrect Which is known for alt-right political extremism.
/r9k/ ROBOT9000 Which is known for incels & redpill.

To someone that doesn't use 4chan it seems like the worst place on the internet, though it is exaggerated & biased.
Many 4channers express frustration with how /b/ & /pol/ users have spread their contagious behaviors onto the decent boards where you can have decent conversations about topics.

When I first came on here I was genuinely blown away by the diversity of topics that you can discuss. I was thinking it would be full of racist edgelords but I came to realize it was only limited to specific boards.
4chan isn't bad as most people make it out to be. They would rather make fun of what they don't understand instead of learning the full picture of the website. As long as you don't spend your full leisure on there then you should be fine.
4chan by idl1 May 18, 2026

Dunning-Kruger effect

When you accuse someone of suffering from the Dunning–Kruger effect in an online argument. You are committing a classic ad-hominem: You attack the person, claiming they lack intelligence to have a valid opinion. The argument itself is left untouched.

It is substituting rational thinking with quick emotion-based judgmental attitudes. Because it feels better attacking your opponent rather then engaging in clear rational thinking. You're just projecting your own insecurities onto your opponent.

Often goes hand-in-hand with credentialism.

Many zoomers are guilty of using this term in online arguments thinking they're very "smart" for referencing it. They learned about it from watching YouTube videos. It is very frustrating to deal with them having that mindset.

The Dunning-Kruger effect is about skill competence rather than intelligence.
“You’re a classic example of the Dunning–Kruger effect.”
If you are guilty of using Dunning-Kruger effect in online arguments, please stop & change your behavior. You're not contributing to anything positive to foster rational thinking.

If you are not guilty, then continue with what you're doing & don't make yourself susceptible to that behavior. Thank you for not being an asshole, make sure to avoid people that engage in that behavior.

Credentialism

Credentialism can be 2 definitions:
1. Valuing credentials over practical skills
2. Ranking someone's intelligence based on their credentials

This practice is dangerous because your determining an individual's worth based on credentials rather than skills even if that individual is intelligent you consider them to be less because of their credentials, it perpetuates inequality.
1. Joe got the new job because he has higher education despite not having the skills for said job.
2. Bob is ranked as less intelligent simply because he went into an apprenticeship.

Credentialism is perpetuated by pseudo-intellectuals.
Credentialism by idl1 May 18, 2026

Immature Friend

An immature "friend" is someone that will do these things:
-Saying slurs as an insult towards people they don't like
-Doing drugs to look "cool"
-Get involved into fights to exert themselves as a "tough guy"
-Peer pressure you into things you don't want to do
-Take more from you than they give back
-Behave like hypocrites too much to ignore
-Complaining about their life when they have it better than you do
-Gossiping behind your back but act innocent when caught
-Bullying you directly especially when others are around
If any one of your "friends" are like this
drop them and run away from them
I met enough people that were an immature friend *sigh* im becoming a Loner now. It is so much easier on my mental health
Immature Friend by idl1 October 12, 2025
A male teenager that thinks lifting weights will make them able to get girls. They believe they are able to get jacked from lifting weights once a week on a shitty diet. They believe in the whole alpha-beta terminology and act macho when they are overcompensating for low testosterone. Will make fun of you if you dont lift. They severely neglect cardio and stretching and thus are slow as turtles and have hunched over postures.
the Gymcel thinks lifting weights will get him jacked and get him girls but he needs to work on fixing his ego.
Gymcel by idl1 October 6, 2025
A Loner is an individual that feels fulfilled with solitude and doesn't need external validation and is not to be confused with being lonely and depressed . When it comes to friendships a loner prefers having 1-2 friends over a friend group for different reasons, mainly trust issues stemming from being backstabbed by "friends" of theirs. When it comes to romantic relationships it may vary. Loners can be pretty shy people when you first befriend them, but once you get to know them you'll realize that they are highly intelligent and loyal people.
Being a loner doesn't make you a misanthrope.
Loner by idl1 October 4, 2025