'''This page contains Japanese text in UTF-8. You may need to change encoding your browser charset, or to install Japanese font. '''
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This page is about to translate Futaba Channel's Wikipedia from Japanese into English, copied it on 10th Nov, 2011. Original text is here: [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%81%B5%E3%81%9F%E3%81%B0%E2%98%86%E3%81%A1%E3%82%83%E3%82%93%E3%81%AD%E3%82%8B ふたば☆ちゃんねる]
Ishara Yar added some comments as notes.
= Futaba Channel =
Futaba Channel (ふたば☆ちゃんねる, Don't pronounce the star) is a group of BBS on the Internet in Japan. it is one of the most active BBS for Otaku and underground stream, and provides memes, feds, new pictures, or collage pictures and so on. It claims itself "a newborn BBS forever". Its abbreviations of the name are Futaba (ふたば, 双葉).
: Note: this is impossible to translate ふたば and 双葉 because it is Kanji and Hiragana, and the pronunciations are exactly same.
== Outline ==
Futaba Channel is a group of BBS/WebBBS, and classified as "Total BBS" or "Mega BBS" which contains all sort of categories. The form of BBS is a thread flow type except uploaders which shall be mentioned bellow. There are not only general text-based BBS, but also "Picture BBS"(画像 BBS, gazou BBS) which can post pictures, "Uploader" (アップローダー) which can post other format, and "Drawing BBS" (お絵かき板, Oekaki Ita) which can draw pictures by using web browser directly, and some users are animated on especially some categorized Pictures BBS. Furthermore, The picture BBS script which is running on Futaba Channel is modified from a BBS script which already exists. Even the script of Futaba BBS is released on the website, so that recently some other underground and Moe stream BBS use the script too. The Futaba channel's domain holder is Marionette corporation (マリオネットコーポレーション).
: Note: I have no idea which Marionette corporation is even though I can find some companies on the Internet. Please let me know if you know anything about this.
== Characteristic of Futaba Channel ==
===Nijiura===
The official name is "Nijigen Ura@Futaba" (二次元裏＠ふたば) BBS so called "Nijiura" (二次裏, 虹裏 both same pronunciation). It is one of the BBS which is located in Futaba Channel, and it is the representative board of Futaba Channel both in name and in reality because of animation and actual result. The term of "Futaba" can be often seen as Nijiura board in some contexts in some Otaku subculture community on the Internet. Since the board has founded, it has became representative BBS currently thanks to animated activity, a lot of character, and memes from the board.
: Notes:
: subculture in this term is not as same as English term: mostly underground, science fiction, occult, street fashion culture which was ignored by media in 1980's. Important thing is not related to ethnic minorities' culture, or political statement or something like that.
: Niji means 2 dimensional space, turns mostly manga or anime stuff. Even though landscape pictures are 2D, Niji distinguish from 3D images. 3D polygon game character, like Lala from Tomb Raider? that is judgmental call.
Originally Nijiura was founded in around March 2003 as a shelter purpose BBS of "Nijigen picture BBS@Futaba" (二次元画像掲示板＠ふたば), due to a lot of trolling by trolls who did not use the BBS as original purpose; the purpose was to post pictures and illustrations of Niji images. they were forced to migrate there as symptomatic treatment, and it turned out it was the dawn of Nijiura as if DMZ from the trolls.
It used to be only 1 board, but later some were added and united, then currently there are 5 boards containing Nijigen Ura@Futaba(二次元裏@ふたば): img, dat, may, jun, dec (it used to be "cgi" and "mobile Nijigen Ura" existed). Even though some boards do not have a title "Nijigen Ura", sometimes they are categorized as Nijiura too: Nijigen ID (二次元ID), Nijigen Neta(二次元ネタ), Test-jun(てすとjun), dec-Test(decてすと), etc. The name of the servers would refer to month in English that the server founded in the month: may, nov, jun, and dec. The biggest population among the server is may, next is img, and so on.
Even though each servers have same name, Nijigen Ura, there is cultural difference among the servers by established date, system, administration, and population. Posting images and tendencies are varied, and even some servers have original characters. Moreover, may server has been used for a test purpose of new features, so that some people called it as a test site. The most significant difference between 2ch or 2ch like anonymous BBS and Nijigen Ura is that Futaba's threads will not delete by a period of time. Servers set preserving response by 6000, or 10000 in entire board and delete threads from the oldest automatically. Therefore, it is difficult to summarize the logs and run summarizing log website, and it makes difficult to establish the Internet communities around Futaba, so that there is a factor of creating lively interactive atmosphere among users who are in real-time. This is also a factor of causing exclusive atmosphere. Recently outside users could follow lively feds and significant topics by summarizing logs, pictures, texts at "depositories" which is outside Futaba, but still unique cultures which are difficult to understand for somebody not Futaba users exist.
: Notes :
: About maintaining amount of threads, I think it is 6000 "thread" instead of "response", but I am not familiar with Futaba, so that I just translate it precisely.
: 2ch summarizing weblog sites are very popular among especially people who do not want to read meaningless comments, because summarizing websites pick up some useful posts and make readers to grasp ideas easily even though people know that there is a risk of bias by the editors.
: This term of "the Internet community" is vague, but I think it refers to summarizing websites.
There is no genre to post pictures on Nijiura, so it is just good if pictures are funny or nice. There is a sort of tendencies like capture or scan images of anime, manga, computer games, and collage of characters by users interests. Postings are 24 hours endless, and even some events exist: posting tons of same image or same genre of pictures called "festival" (祭り, matsuri); posting same image or make a thread at the fixed time called "mini event", a.k.a. the fixed time posting (定時貼り, Teiji-hari). Due to a lot of posts, images will delete in a half hour or several hours.
== Users ==
Futaba Channel has a lot of boards not only Nijiura, although if somebody say just "Futaba user" it implies normally specific to Nijiura users. Around the moment of birth of Futaba channel those days, Futaba channel was a shelter purpose of 2 channel when 2 channel faced to a crisis, so that most of Futaba users were as same as 2 channel users. After establishing unique cultures on Futaba channel and through some splits and unifications, main users were mainly Otaku undergraduates and adults who so called "core generation" of establishing Network/BBS culture from mid 80's. Recently young users even high school students or junior high students have come to the BBS. Futaba channel has been a favorite by Various Otaku tendency people as before, it is possible to see unifying general consensus because of: dividing users by a lot of servers; discord by generation gaps or sense of values due to a long term community. it is very rare discussion for unifying, and even users repel that type of discussion if somebody tries.
As mentioning below, most of Futaba users hate people don't know and disturb the atmosphere; therefore, users don't like to noise about memes/feds of Nijura outside Futaba channel. Futaba users expose or "flatter" (祭り上げる, matsuri-ageru) if a post is not "Futaba-like" atmosphere. The users are very exclusive even though the BBS is widely opened, and the users are required standardizing its cultures as if Mura shakai(村社会) -- closed community -- at anonymous field.
: Notes:
: The crisis refers to probably on 25th August 2001, due to overload amount of traffics. Moreover, generally considered the unix board saved the crisis because of a flash movie, said "thank you unix users", but that is not accurate: Unix board users actually modified that sending data by gzip on apache, and CGI board users modified the scripts itself. Even though those modifications succeeded, the total amount of packet decreased really few, and could not solved dramatically unlike the flash said. The reason why 2 channel avoided the crisis was mainly political reasons.
: Network/BBS culture core generation probably pointed out underground users who actively hang out on "Network" from Pasokon Tsushin users in late 80's, means probably former LNB, Licentious Notice Board, users, and other underground users too. LNB was the most enthusiastic posting picture BBS around 1997, and after that former LNB users exiled to other underground BBS, Ayashii World, Amezo, and including of course 2 channel too.
: Standardizing cultures sounds like Gleichschaltung by Nazi term, but actually based on avoiding meaningless recursive posting/question by beginners. Originally the idea was from Ayashii World that "beginner must ONLY read half year (never post)", and 2ch users copied it. Mura shakai means closed community, and negative meaning in general. See hantoshi-rom[ http://dic.nicovideo.jp/a/半年rom ]
==Administrator==
The administrator of Futaba Channel does not have any handle name or nick name, and even never show his figure formally. He has shown very few interests to users, and he rarely asked opinions to users about administration of Futaba Channel. An administration policy used to be very capricious, funny, and made users confused. When the administrator posts as "administrator", the name was "[管理人]" (administrator, Kanrinin). The administrator does not have a name officially, so that he/she has been called simply "Kanrinin san". The administrator was very rare to show up, and unique because some anonymous BBS administrators discord with users in general by administrative policies and posts. The administrator's words were not gossiped outside Futaba Channel because he rarely show up. Because of this style, a lot of his collage images and illustrations, like a beautiful lady, a good looking girl, a dog, a computer program which means he does not exist, or an organization, etc, have made. The administrator's posts used to treat very rare, so that once the administrator posted, users noised and watching threads posted on some Nijiura boards. Around late '07 to '08, there has been different moves ongoing: introducing affiliate advertisements positively; adding del function; streamlining servers; provider restriction; deleting criticizing comments. Recently Futaba Channel users have thought "the administrator has been changed", "policy has been changed", so that users have often omitted the title, "san", even still the administrator is mysterious. Moreover it has been changed not to watch the administrator's post as used to be.
==Matsuri==
Matsuri(祭り, festival)
It has 2 meanings: to post a lot of particular characters pictures, collages, or scripts by a lot of users simultaneously; making a thread with quotation which follows some purposes. For example, if the thread is made with quotation "The fad is …", then users upload some pictures refers to the quotation, and then inevitably the thread may be increasing and it turns out "… Matsuri".
On Nijiura, they tend to hate off topic chatter and bragging about one's self, but users try to find topics which could be acknowledged Matsuri phenomenon in the entire board by leading making jokes or chatting with self-deprecating. If there is a kind of agreement goes on, then just allowing tons serial-posts, so that users put some character fads in order to distinguish from trolls.
=Toshiaki and "「」"=
Toshiaki (としあき) means it used to be a default name of Nijiura board. When Nijiura board launched at the first time, a default name was Nanashi san (ななしさん). One day a guy named "Toshiaki" claimed to upload some hentai Doujinshi (同人誌), like "Kaiten sommelier 15 kaiten" (回転ソムリエ 15回転) and trolled persistently: meanwhile, because of anonymous BBS, other users used the name "Toshiaki" as well, and even teased original Toshiaki, therefore tons of Toshiaki increased and got tangled. Following the fed of Toshiaki, the administrator adopt Toshiaki as the default name by a mischievous idea, then Nijiura users are formalized as Toshiaki. Moreover, this fed brought about some names derived from Toshiaki: somebody who post a new thread is called Sureaki (スレあき, "Sure" comes from "thread"); female users are called Joshiaki (女子あき, 女子 joshi means a girl), shortly after the names became common names entirely.
Toshiaki got an identity by given name, Toshiaki users got a sense of belongings and are closely united. Even though the fact activated their powers, they cause a lot of troubles by irresponsible behavior; it made their name famous notoriously on the Internet.
Then, Toshiaki, who originated from Nijiura BBS, turned more savage and disturbed the order in Niiura, even it showed a sign that brutality spread out other communities. In order to suppress it, on 15th July 2004, the administrator changed the default name Toshiaki and the default title Munen (無念, regret). As a result, the era of Toshiaki, sense of belonging had also trolling character, turns users, who knows this fact, look back with both nostalgic and shameful era, which cannot judge nothing either way.
The Nijiura users who lost the name had begun to use "「」" instead of Toshiaki as a default user name on Nijiura. Athough the name had used in 10 months, the name Toshiaki came back on 27th May 2005 on may server. New servers, which run after the date, specifically nov server and jun server, adopt Toshiaki as the default name. Instead of Toshiaki, dat server and img server still use "「」". Moreover, Eroge board (えろげ, Hentai games), Yaoi board (やおい), and Hinanjo (避難所, a shelter) and some others which separated from Nijiura from the beginning, still used Toshiaki as the default name even though other BBS changed the name as "「」".
The default name of Yuri board (ゆり) which deal with girls-love pictures, speaks using a way of Ojousama kotoba (お嬢様言葉) set Yuriaki (ゆりあき), on 5th Feb 2005 suddenly changed the name as Shimonkin (しもんきん) only the day, and some derivation exist.
: Note:
: Ojousama Kotoba means a way of speaking Japanese. Ojousama means literally young lady, but actually means some kind of stereotype high-handed noble girl.
=del Function=
Since 27th Sep 2008, Futaba channel have got a function that reporting about abusing images and requests about delete thread or response. Right above the "Thread, Res", there is a hyper-text link and it says "del", and it redirects to a form of "form of deleting request". Reasons of deleting requests have to choose from a radio form: porn images, loll images, personal information, insulting, threatening, serial posts, harassing, etc. According to the administrator, he said "You can push the del function if you don't like it", so that seemingly these reasons are not important.
Based on reports from the form, administrator or sakujo-nin (削除人, delete man, sub administrator?) judge and delete threads, responses, pictures, or even ban users from the server. If the administrator judges as vicious case, sometimes the administrator put the IP address of which somebody posted the reported thread, res, etc (The address indicate in red, so that it is called red-line). The administrator said that the server logs and the reporter's IP address as well.
A criterion of punishment doesn't proclaim and even it is not opened the process how to judge by a request from the del function. Because of this specification, some users argued that "it is like an anonymous tip" or "it is possible to delete particular thread by block votes". Even if some requests do not match the criterion, these often do not take measures at all. It is rumored that it doesn't work any longer or it would work when a lot of people vote the del function; even there are some trolls who declare "I voted del" persistently if the trolls see pictures or memes which they don't like.
There is no truth because of no explanation from the administrator, but the fact is that often some threads, which got requests from users, deleted at same time. Especially it is a well-known fact that some threads would get easily deleted: political topics not in the politics board; insulting administrators; grotesque images; child porn images; uncensored porn images; tons of sequential posts, etc.
=Thread isolation=
Some boards have a function to isolate a thread which is filled with certain numbers of del votes, and it makes not able to see from the normal catalog. If users want to see isolated threads, then users have to input the URL directly. It means the function prevents the thread got Enjou (炎上, flaming). Some volunteers researched threshold of isolation is less than 1% of users. it used to exist an isolation board, as a special board, that thread moved to the board and users can see them. However there is no isolation board currently, which means, as I mentioned above, users cannot see the isolated threads if users don't know the exact URL.
=Sakujo Administrator=
Sakujonin (削除人, delete-man) is representatives of administration, in order to delete images, threads, responses, etc, have functioned when approximately the del faction implemented. When a response deleted, mail form and text of the response will change as "na-" (なー). According to the administrator, Sakujonin are up to 7 or 8 people, but there is no announcement after that, so nobody knows specific details like how Sakujonin have been chosen, how they delete criterion, details about authority of deletion, etc.
=Mobile Futaba=
This is designed for mobile phone users that reading and posting section. There is only possibility to check an introduction and the main menu for mobile users. Currently there is no delete key function, del function, checking ID and IP out function, and even some boards are not available. it is possible to post from a specialized form or mail, but it is limited that users can post only his name, mail address, and texts; which means users cannot post pictures and use Del Key function. It is possible to post pictures and a title if users use mail, though still users cannot post his name and mail address. Moreover, when users respond by mail, an address should be a board name and a thread number@server name.2chan.net; i.e. abc.2chan.net/xyz/res/777.htm should be xyz0000000777@abc.2chan.net. If users want to make a new thread, then users may post board name0000000000@server name.2chan.net as mail.
=Important BBS=
=Nijiura board=
See other page.
=Oeaki board=
There are some Oekaki(お絵描き, drawing) boards. There are different users that Nijiura users who the representative of Futaba, and particular cultures have got abroad. Of course, some users hangout some boards, so that exchanging or outflow memes are widely popular. Some users tend to settle their territories. Expect Oekaki sql board(お絵描きsql, Drawing sql), serial posts are repugnant and there is tacit custom that posting once a day, so that some users post several boards.
=Oekaki=
This Oekaki(お絵描き, Drawing) board should be the main stream because of the name and order, but tons of gomie (ゴミ絵, trash drawing), in this case literally scribbling, are posted by users; then it cause this board remains as a branch. On the other hand, some high-skill-users stay on the board, and it makes this place strange atmosphere. Speak frankly, a mixture of chaff and grain. This board is the slowest log speed, so that mostly pictures keep at least a week if nothing special happens.
=Oekaki sql=
This board is a script test purpose for MySQL thread managing. A rate of Kotehan (コテハン, Kotei-handle, fixed-handle name) is higher than other Oekaki boards. Here is the fastest log speed, means the most active board. The motto is "Kakeba ii, kakeba tanoshii" (カケバイイ、カクノタノシイ, just draw, drawing is fun). It does not matter the quality of posting or fun, the most important thing is just to draw pictures. Serial posting is possible on this board, often same person post some pictures as Rentou matsuri (連投祭り, serial posting festival). There is SQL Iron rules exist, but it is not unconditional rules: Basically bloodthirsty, rarely collusion, smile and shake hands after quarrel; Basically Kotehan, allow any of trolls from other boards, and do not draw the genitals.
=Rakugaki=
Rakugaki (落書き, scribbling) board is the biggest amount of users and res-sen (レス専) in Oekaki BBS on Futaba Channel. However, due to tons of users, quality of users have been worsened, and been kept away from others because most of threads get res like "where is a depository". Because of this, most of users post a thread with his/her depository address in mail column. Even though users put address, still users write a res like "where is a depository." Quite often it happens that several users cause posting pictures in same theme, so called "Matsuri", and normally its speed of posting is fast after Oekaki sql.
:: Note:: I don't know the term "res-sen"; no idea at all.
=RakugakiUra=
RakugakiUra (落書き裏, scribbling back/secret), A term Rakugaki's secret reminds users adult image, the board tends to be posted porn pictures. The speed of posting is rather slow and calm. Therefore, serial publication is more than other boards. However, rarely Matsuri happens and increases posts immediately, then a lot of logs flood the board. Often users post with avoiding self-imposed restraint part, called Shiokara version. in May 2008, an administrator restricted some IP address and removed trolling pictures all together. Seemingly some users got involved in a ban, but recently it should be in peace. It is just a rumor but seemingly some users implored people concerned at Futaba Gakuensai (ふたば学園祭, Futaba school festival).
:: Note:: I don't know what they do self-imposed restraint or avoiding it. It would be sensor things because of Japanese law, but I am not sure what it is exactly.
=TV=
The board used be exist. Originally it was a division of SanjiNeta (三次ネタ, 3dimensions topic) board, and so called "Tele Ita"(テレ板, abbreviation of Television board). The board is one of unclear community on Futaba Channel. Mainly posts were TV captured pictures, or female idols pictures, but almost there were any type of pictures and topics. A lot of trolling are rampant, so some users enjoyed it and some hated. Moreover, one of features was often the server got down. Some users felt apprehensive about existence of board, or even Futaba Channel itself by a lot of porns and infringing copyrights on the board. An administrator hadn't intervened so often and left as it was, and even it propagated unique culture. On 1st Feb 2007 the board was deleted completely.
=Military=
Mainly users post military pictures on this board. Even the board covers a lot of subjects: not only military pictures, but also rations, police, fire fighters, Japan coast guards, protection against disasters. Even it used to cover politics and international affairs. Users commonly uses TetsudoIta (鉄道板, railway board) and 101 freeway (101 ふりーうぇい) outside the board. Thanks to the board are friendly on TetsudoIta especially, the board cope with trolls in anonymous cooperation. The big difference from other boards is that users post pictures with Boke joke texts, and others Tsukkomi reply with Manzai sense. Valuable pictures of Imperial Japanese Army from albums of service men' families reproduced sometimes.
:: Note: It is very difficult to explain Boke and Tsukkomi, so see the explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manzai.
=Military Ura=
This has been started on 28th Nov 2008, and it does not show IP address unlike Military board. Unlike after adding showing IP address and del function on Military board, this board users tend to tolerate posting 2 dimensions images or different topics.
=Politics=
This board deals with politics. Because of administration policy, entire Futaba channel boards deal with politics topic only in this board. Therefore, politics topics have to move to this board.
=Insect=
This board deals not only insects, but arthropods, ichthyics, amphibians, reptilians, molluscs, aquatic animals, microbes, other strange creatures. breeding and exterminating topics are animated. Because of dealing with real living things, users often upload pictures. Some users have special knowledge, so that users easily specify names or kinds of living things.
=SpiGra=
This board is about a promotion of Anime Speed Grapher. There was a background image in the early days of the board. On this board, users should deal with a promotion of speed grapher, or topics about it, but users often posted unrelated topics by force like "XXXXX is speed grapher"; it turned the atmosphere as if Nijura soon after the board started. Users presumably thought the board run only fixed period because it is attended with anime, but somehow it exists after finishing the anime. Currently users post TV captured images and idol images as if past days of TV board.
=Girl=
It used to exist, but closed. At the time, controls on the Internet was not so strict, lolita porn images were flourished on the board by tacit permissions.
=A circumstance of Futaba Channel and problems=
=A Relationship between Futaba Channel and 2channel=
Originally this founded as a shelter of 2channel, the very beginning of forms of the board followed 2channel, and most of users were 2channel users as well. Therefore, it used to be a good relationship, and users posted a lot of 2ch feds, Ascii Arts, memes. However, after the crisis of 2channel, through the process of forming unique culture, an Anti-2channel atmosphere has been increasing because of by influx of Ayashii World (あやしいわーるど) users, Jidou enquete (自動アンケート, automated questionnaire) users, and 1ch.tv users who hate 2channel, and by a Netrunner incident. A lot of users call 2ch as disparaging word, Tsubo (壷, a pot), and 2ch users as chankoro (チャンコロ). Especially it is unfavorable to use 2ch memes, feds,etc, on Nijiura board which is the most popular board in Futaba channel. Recently, most of Futaba users have refused people who don't understand Futaba's atmosphere and who come from 2ch, and the autonomy has been mentioned by excluding these people using a del function mostly. People who use ascii arts or using "w" in the end of word are considered as trolls normally. Even some users have an allergy of Niconico douga which reflects 2ch culture strongly, so that often those users dispute against some other on the matter.
Apart from individual users' tastes, there is no links with 2ch community or something closed to. Consequently due to drift from 2ch community, some cases exist that 2ch users and Niconico users claimed/misunderstood/distorted some feds were originated from themselves, though originally those feds come from Futaba channel. Many Futaba users do not propagate Futaba feds outside Futaba channel, so that once a fed originally comes from Futaba channel would be ignored if the fed become popular among other communities. Users tend not to talk the feds once become popular because of avoiding an influx of people come from other community, especially 2ch and Niconico douga. Moreover, even though the domain name is held by Marionette Corporation which also has the domain of 2ch and Gazou channel, there is no links of other domains; it is just coincidence.
=Netrunner problem=
It always happens to mention about Netrunner, a magazine about the internet, when people talk about Futaba. Netrunner placed articles how to use Futaba efficiently, or introducing Characters comes from Nijiura, but the way of introducing is very egoistic: advertising some memes comes from Futaba as if Netrunner's memes; ignoring copyrights; affecting to the administrator of Futaba. Consequently, Futaba and around Futaba users' attitude is basically anti-Netrunner, and even often anti-Netrunner banners can be seen. However, it does not affect to Netrunner. It is difficult to accuse them infringing copyrights because most of works are copyright free or very closed to free, and Futaba itself does not care copyrights.
:: Notes ::
:: The original text does not explain what exactly affected to the admin.
:: Most of Doujin is basically illegal because of infringing using characters without permission. ( Of course some are original characters, but as I said "most of")
=Collage and alter character=
New interpretation of existing character or collage can be very often seen maybe because adopting "picture-focusing" system let users use visual information more than "text-focusing" system.
:: Note : I have no idea the definition of "Picture-focusing" system. The word is not common in Japan at all, though I could kinda guess what the meaning. In Japanese Wikipedia, this type of undefined word can often be found especially this type of "original research" articles because most of editors/writers are simply underage or illiterate.
Nijiura character and original character' are mostly different except molding, so that it would be a middle of Niji-sousaku and original more or less. People who are not familiar with Futaba does not understand the original Futaba culture derived from it, but once people use Futaba then they get used naturally. Moreover, There is original characters in some manga series comes from not only Nijiura: Doraemo, a parody of Doraemon, From Rakugaki board; Mushi atsui kara nugu-(蒸し暑いからぬぐー), Japahora.(じゃぱホラ。), it is from motive of Japanese horror movie character.
=Manner problem=
As 2channel, the BBS, or other huge BBSs , Futaba user' behavior have got worsened gradually by increasing its user population. Trolling threads, which is even hard to have a conversation, are often posted because trolling is conspicuous because of exclusive atmosphere at Futaba; users tried to dismiss these trolls, and which makes vicious spiral. For example: posting pictures which do not fit to the title of picture BBS; positing weird pictures and put the thread above as "age" consistently; harassing unique person; DDoSing by posting same picture by using software; hate speech especially racial or gender matter; anti-exclusive-meme; direct antagonizing by anonymous sockpupetting especially it can be found at no ID BBS. Even some communities became a mere name because of trolling. A countermeasure of trolling by Futaba administrator is not really active unlike other major BBS which means in a good way "tolerant", in a bad way "irresponsibility", although recently the administrator has been more active than used to. Some servers are totally left alone. After introducing del function, even though each boards autonomies are improving, some users got banned due to conflicts among users who arguing an autonomy policy or an administrative policy. Some uses who got banned claimed "Why does the administrator banned us instead of trolls?", but the administrator doesn't answer mostly.
=Influence Oversea=
As in the past, there was no such type of BBS especially Nijiura like, so that it impacted on foreigners who are interested in Japanese Otaku culture. Then, 4 chan (yotsuba-channel), which is smiler to Futaba like picture-posting BBS, has been built. the 4 chan administrator proclaimed it is an unofficial sister BBS; the reason is because using Futaba BBS script, and the BBS is intended for English speakers. Like 4 chan, Krautchan, which is intended for German speakers, exists. At International exchange board (Kokusai Kouryuu Ita, 国際交流板), especially among Russian bloc, North European, East European exchange vividly, they use in English. In addition, II chan, Russian board, Komica, Taiwanese board, exist as well. Accessing from over seas at Futaba channel is partly possible; users can read threads, though it is impossible to write down. Some foreigner get otaku information via Futaba channel.
=A short history of Futaba Channel=
=2001=
: 30 August, Futaba channel was founded. At the beginning it was functioned as a shelter for 2channel refugees when 2channel faced to close its service, so called 2channel close disturbance. N.B. Currently Futaba channel is not considered as a shelter.
=2002=
: March, Nijigen (Niji-Omote, 二次表) board was active, though serial-posting TV-captured pictures, Manga, Doujin pictures illegally made segregated to Nijiura board.
: 14 March, trolling which posting grotesque pictures consistently happened, so that it affected to build Grotesque board.
: 16 March, small conflicts by dealing 2D pictures and 3D pictures occurred constantly, so that it separated as 2 BBS; Nijigen board and Sanjigen (3 dimension, 三次元) board.
=2003=
: January, Heika(陛下), Waha-(わはー), etc, the early days of Nijiura memes had been popular.
: 12 April, Toshiaki became the default name at Nijiura board after a use who named Toshiaki had been trolling.
: June, a magazine called "Netrunner" appended a supplement about "pakkuri-man stickers" without a permission, which is originally discussed an idea and plan at Nijiura; it became a feud over Netrunner later.
: 6 August, the first appearance of Me-Tan (Meたん).
=2004=
: 18 April, Trouble Windows, a flash movie, has been released, and it has became popular among inside Futaba and outside as well because of its quality and amount of information.
: 21 April, Meido San was born.
: 15 July, Due to change specifications, Toshiaki, the default name, has been disappeared from Nijiura board.
=2005=
: 3 January, Nijiura divided into 2, as img and dat, and the link from the top page changed to dat.
: 27 May, the new server may has been put, and the link from the top page changed to may.
: Toshiaki has been revived at Nijiura board on the new may server as a default name.
: 9 August, URL of may server has been changed due to high load by a Trojan virus called Kintama(キンタマ, dick), which infects computers run a software Winny, attacking to may server.
: 10 November, due to high load by picture collection softwares at Nijiura on may server, a new server "nov" has been released; may server also exists. Moreover, simultaneously Nijiura Jikkyo Ura(二次実況裏, 2 detentions live Ura) board has been established; At the very beginning, it is called Sanjigen Jikkyo(3 dimensions live) board, but changed to the name a day after.
=2006=
: June, Nijiura june server has been released, as same as before, even though the new server has been released, other existing servers have been kept as well. In the end of June, the links from the top are 2 of Nijura, and even so-called 5 Nijura boards exist (img, dat, may, nov, jun).
: 8 July, Nijura server was hacked and all of users' host name show in red.
: 6 December, at img board on the img server, has moved to nov server. The img server run only Moji board, so that the img board only remained address and known as img board. Therefore, Nijiura servers were now 4 (dat, may, nov, jun), and so-called Nijiura were 5 (img, dat, may, nov, jun).
: 11 December, Bara board was closed and Yaoi board was not available.
=2007=
: 1 February, TV board was closed.
: 11 April, preparing test board and lounge board, which were for deleting requests and access deny requests and so on, were lost; although seemingly these are still managed.
: 8 July, most of Moji board was lost; it seems because of decreasing population due to trolling. Anime, Hankaku (半角, half space), and some others still exist yet.
=2008=
: 27 September, del function has been added.
: Around October, Seiji At Futaba(政治@ふたば, politics at Futaba), Keizai At Futaba(経済@ふたば, economics at Futaba), Kankoku Keizai At Futaba(韓国経済@ふたば, Korean economics at Futaba) have been put. These topics were moved from other existing boards including current topics news.
: 15 October, IP indication was introduced at Gun board(軍板, military board).
: 28 November, Gun board has been closed temporary(re-opened on next day). On same day, Gun Ita At Futaba(軍板@ふたば, military board at Futaba) has been put newly.
: 10 December, Sanjigen Jikkyo board (三次元実況板, 3 dimension live board) has been established. The new server, dec, has been released, and Nijiura At Futaba dec(二次元裏@ふたばdec) has been established as well. According to the administrator's announce, dec server should be stronger for high load than other existing servers.
=2009=
: Unknown date, at Nijiura may, a function called "delete by del accumulated" started; the function is, if a thread gets a certain number of del requests, there is a line "this thread has been got delete request" shown in a space right below the thread(or right above the main body of texts). Even though from accumulation to delete was conspicuous on the first day, recently it has not indicated how many requests have been accumulated.
: 15 December, at Nijiura may, DPJ(民主党, Democratic Party Japan), politics, and ethnic threads have been deleted and put them in access denied all together. Seemingly this was because these threads have been jumbled up every day. Some users who got dissatisfied by the move from the administrator have rallied and posted radically these type of threads more and more; users have posted "politics thread disguised by anime and game pictures", "how much time does it take to ban to access the thread after posting the name of Ozawa", and so on. However, at this time the politics board is already exist, and even Futaba has never assured free speech, expression, and neutrality. Soon after Futaba stipulated a sentence clearly, "Politics threads should be at the politics board", or "No politics".
=2010=
: 21 January, test function, a user who post thread so-called Sureaki (スレあき, or Threaki) obtains to delete responses the thread, has been functioned at Nijiura may. This function allows Sureaki to delete responses even if the responses has been set a password directly. There is no clue why the function has been functioned. Therefore, an indication "this response has been deleted by somebody who posts the thread" is conspicuous because of the function, which allows Sureaki to delete responses that the Sureaki does not like.
: 22 January, a function "ID will be shown a users put certain character(s) in mail form" functioned as a test at Nijiura may. If Sureaki put the character and indicate his ID, then all of responses will also indicate its ID. There is no clue why the function has functioned though some think preventing trolling and sock-puppet. As the function above, some oppose and some approve because the Sureaki can delete what he does not like, and will not indicate all of ID for hiding sock-puppets.
: 5 February, somebody revealed a vulnerability that everybody can delete threads and responses by using IE at Nijiura jun; then users immediately used it for trolling and a lot of threads and response were deleted except dat board; especially jun board and Toho(東方) board got serious damages.
6 February, Nijiura may was in an uproar because the catalog function, which shows existing threads, disappeared suddenly. It is because using an administrator side bug; everybody, even who does not post, can delete threads by a certain process. This bug has broken out on nov as well.
: 26 March, Tegaki (手書き, hand written) function functioned at Nijiura may. This function allows users to Tegaki instead of posting form, then right after functioning the function, the catalog of may overflowed by Tegaki pictures.
: 8 April, at Junbi At Futaba (準備@Futaba, preparing At Futaba), a thread which discuss about existing of politics thread since long time was deleted by the administrator. On same day, del function acquired politics, religions, and ethnics. Moreover, delete request itself was an object of delete at Junbi At Futaba.
: 14 April, a number of preserving response has changed from 5000 to 1000; there was no announce from the administrator but seemingly it was due to trolling. An action by users resulted in changing to 3000 on 16th.
: 12 May, a new board, Kansenshou At Futaba(感染症@ふたば, infection at Futaba)added on the menu. Simultaneously foot-and-mouth disease has broken out, which means it is similar topic at politics board, but there was no clue why the administrator put this board independently.
26 May, Seiji Jikkyo At Futaba(政治実況@ふたば, politics live At Futaba) has been changed its name as Sanji Jikkyo At Futaba(三次実況@ふたば, 3 dimension live at Futaba). Many TV program live threads have moved here although before Nijiura at futaba dec had functioned as live board.
: 7 July, a link of an agreement appeared on each Nijiura boards. The terms of agreement were same as a reason of del. This was the first time to indicate the term of agreement clearly; later the link has been changed only from the top page.
: 31 July, Nijigen Guro Ura At Futaba(二次元グロ裏@ふたば, 2 dimension grotesque Urea At Futaba) has been established. Some threads are moved from may and jun and so on.
: 18 August, Nijiura@Futaba nov server has been discontinued. There is no statement from the administrator. Fixed time threads were dispersed each Nijiura boards mainly on dec server.
: 28 August, Kansenshou At Futaba has renamed as Aquarium at Futaba, and Nayami Soudan At Futaba(悩み相談@Futaba, telling a trouble at Futba) has renamed as Zatsudan At Futaba (雑談@ふたば, chatting At Futaba), as renewed boards. The response numbers has not been changed and continued.
: 13 December, new function, showing a history of thread posting, introduced.
=2011=
: 15 January, based on a suggestion and a discussion among users, Omote board(表板, front board) and Ura board (裏板, back board) unified on Nijigen Jikkyo board(二次元実況板, 2 dimensions live board); Omote board will survive and Ura board was discontinued.
: 15 March, 2011 Higashi Nihon Daishinsai At Futaba(東日本大震災@ふたば, Tohoku Earthquake At Futaba) has established; A number of preserving response was 10000.
: 16 March, Genshiryoku Hatsuden At Futaba(原子力発電@ふたば, Nucluear Power Plant At Futaba) has established by an incident of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster; A number of preserving response was 10000.
: 16 June, Isolation Function (隔離機能) has introduced at Nijigen At Futaba on img server; soon after, stopped and re-introduced, and then the function has shelved in the end.
: 26 August, a number of response of Nijiura At Futaba (img) has increased as 8000.
: 2 September, by requesting from users autonomy, JisakuEUra @ Futaba(自作絵裏@ふたば, self-made picture back At Futaba) always shows users' IP address.
