Fag
The word fag or faggot is the 4chan general insult for anything that Anonymous does not like, including himself. Contrary to popular belief, this meaning is exclusive to 4chan and does not necessarily imply a disdain for a non-mainstream sexual preference, though it can given the context. By extension, faggotry is the science of acting like a faggot. Fag is frequently affixed to common words and memes to give them a negative connotation, though by 4chan standards it is only a mild insult when not paired up with other curse words. For example, a namefag is somebody using a name, while a fagfag is a smoker, a straightfag is straight and a homofag is a homo. It is commonly believed this use of fag followed moot and other former Goons from SomethingAwful, but this theory can never be proven.
Emailfag
The rarest way of identifying oneself on 4chan, emailfags are users who put their addresses in the email field rather than the typical "sage" or "noko". The obvious disincentive to doing this is that emails are very easily spammed; thus, only dumb-as-fuck posters or those who use fake addresses become emailfags . Ironically, emailfags are more common on worksafe boards than the /b/, the board with Forced Anonymous and the most likely to spawn emailfags (since the email field is basically the only way people can differentiate one another on /b/). It is believed /b/'s natural Hive Mind and massive size is what suppresses the presence of emailfags.
Unlike Namefags, emailfags are generally better regarded because their posts are semi-Anonymous; most posters never realize they're talking to an emailfag unless they're butthurt enough to double check what at first looks like a sage. Once discovered, though, emailfags are berated just like any other Namefag, with the added danger of their emails getting compromised.
Furfag
- See: Furry
Namefag
Namefag is a related term to tripfag, specifically referring to any user who posts with a name, but no tripcode. Namefags are generally treated with similar derision to tripfags, but are more easily trolled due to the simplicity of assuming their identity for mocking. Most Namefags are either posters with a good enough reputation to not get imitated or newfags too stupid to use a tripcode. For these reasons, namefags are much more rare than tripfags, though they are not as rare as emailfags.
Newfag
A newfag refers to what conventional forums would call a "newbie", usually clueless, overeager former lurkers who have yet to gain a feel for 4chan norms and make their presence blatantly obvious through their rampant stupidity. It can also refer to forum users who use memes outside of 4chan, or read about 4chan exploits on places from second hand sources and decide to see what all the fuss is about, hoping that by associating with 4chan they appear hip/trendy/cool. Posters who disagree with other posters or make opinions that seem out of place for someone who knows how to LURK MORE are also called newfags.
Newfags are generally disliked on 4channers for these (often very true) stereotypes; newfags themselves tend to be too stupid to hate in kind. Use of "newfag", much like "tripfag" dates back to the dawn of 4chan, and have been used liberally by oldfags and newfags alike.
Concern over newfags arose during Newfag Summer, when it was realized newfags were not only immigrating to 4chan in herds, but that they lacked a typical 4channer's adept sense of sarcasm and started to take colloquial hyperbole as reality. This lead to a distortion of the meaning of several memes outside of forums, notably the /a/ meme GAR, which is regularly bastardized as a sign of approval by newfags.
Though newfags can come from a variety of sources, it is common knowledge that almost all new /b/ newfags discovered 4chan from Gaia Online. Since about 2009 newfags continue to appear from all areas of internet faggotry.
Oldfag
An oldfag is someone who isn't a newfag. A person who has years of browsing, usually starting from the first year or two of 4chan's inception.
Tripfag
Tripfag (short for tripcode fag) is a derogatory term for anyone who uses a tripcode. Just as some tripcode users bash Anonymous posting, so too do some Anonymous bash tripcode users. Anonymous's gripe stems from the perception that many (but not all) tripcode users try to use their posts to gain personal accolades, whereas Anonymous prefers having the commentary directed at the post itself instead of the poster. Why anyone would actively seek out approval and flattery from people so warped and twisted as the 4channers is almost as unfathomable as why people bother arguing about tripcodes and anonymous posting in the first place. Flame wars and shitstorms over the merits (or lack thereof) of posting with a tripcode were growing increasingly common on /b/ prior to the institution of Forced Anonymous. The debate is now mostly irrelevant there, but is again an issue on the semi-random board, ROBOT9000.
Normal tripcodes can be cracked with only mild difficulty, but secure tripcodes, which are identified by having double exclamation point ("!!") after the tripfag's name, are nearly impossible to work out (or stylize, for that matter). It is common knowledge that secure tripcodes are for jerks, and those who use them are mocked even more mercilessly than ordinary tripfags.
An even more insulting term called "tripfriend" has arisen in worksafe boards, originating from /a/ after a tripfag named moonlander "delivered" on Ultimate Survivor Kaiji OST rips. While the initial use was affectionate, Anonymous quickly shitted on its new sacred meme by using it on very asshole, annoying tripfags, creating stigma whenever posted. Use of "tripfriend" has declined massively since early 2008, proving that even trolls can get bored of trying to irritate 4chan.
Entering #faggot (moot's tripcode) or the tripcodes of banned tripfag trolls (such as Meru Otonashi#merumeru) activates (or at least used to activate) a global auto-ban script and a permanent block from 4chan. Try it today!
