On the Internet, there are a series of codes and rules that some netizens take very seriously when joining this vast community.
Although the list is extensive (there are more than 50 rules, each with its own precept), we will pause to analyze what Internet rules "34" and "36" are, probably two of the best known due to their particular content.
4chan: the forum where it all began
The 4chan portal is one of the largest collections of images of all kinds on the Internet, if not the largest. Founded in 2003 by regular users of the Anime and Manga subforum of the website Something Awful, 4chan currently has a worldwide reach, beyond the United States, the cradle where it was born.
In addition to the number of images circulating on this website and subsequently going viral across servers, 4chan is also responsible for establishing what the "rules of the Internet" are and what they mean.
What do the "rules of the Internet" mean?
The "rules of the Internet" are a list of protocols that establish a series of maxims about the functioning of the Internet that everyone who browses the web must know and comply with.
While it is true that there are users who do not take this code seriously, there are those who truly commit themselves entirely to the rules and demand the same level of commitment from others. This regulation works among members who belong to different Internet forums, whether they are veterans or newcomers who have just joined. Precisely the newcomers are the ones at risk of being expelled or losing their account if they do not honor these rules.
Although there is some consensus about what number each rule occupies and what it refers to, the most agreed-upon rules are: 1 and 2 (as they are a direct reference to the movie Fight Club), as well as rules 34 and 36. But what do these two rules mean? We will see this below.
What is Internet rule 34?
In this case, rule 34 literally stipulates the following: "if something exists, there is porn of it. No exceptions." In other words, on the Internet, we can find pornographic videos of any category, no matter how rare the theme we want to search for.
This rule was taken so seriously that since the idea spread that sex scenes of any kind can be found with a little digging, images and illustrations began to circulate featuring cartoon characters from different TV and movie fictions engaging in sexual activities, in clear reference to rule 34.
It was in 2006 when rule 34 was "formalized" in Urban Dictionary, a glossary that collects everyday terms commonly used on the Internet, although today its use has already extended beyond its bits. A few months later, rule 34 was included in the list of the portal Encyclopedia Dramatica.
Rule 35, a logical consequence of 34
If there is porn of any kind, regardless of its content, then it means that everything is susceptible to being "pornified."
Thus, Internet rule 35 is a spin-off of rule 34 itself, according to which if porn of a particular theme doesn't yet exist, it will eventually be created.
What is Internet rule 36?
Following the list of Internet rules, let's see what Internet rule 36 is. No more, no less, it states: "No matter what it is, it will be someone's fetish."
A great truth. If on the Internet we can find any pornographic image, there are probably also users who masturbate to it, otherwise, what is the reason for some of the scatological scenes we can come across?
Here is an example of a very rare fetish: A case of extreme paraphilia: love and attraction for a roller coaster.
Other essential Internet rules
Although there are more than 50, we compile what other basic rules one must know if they are going to join an Internet forum. Beware, because trolls are lurking:
Rule 1: "You can't talk about …"
The first rule to engrave in stone when joining an Internet forum is that no content can be disclosed to outsiders.
Rule 2: "DO NOT talk about …"
In case the first rule wasn't clear, the second emphasizes it even more. Both are a reference to the famous rules of Fight Club, as we mentioned earlier, since the first thing Tyler Durden says upon founding this clandestine fight club is that no one, not even a member, can talk about it when they return home.
Rule 4: "We are LEGION"
When a swarm of users from a cyber forum agrees to carry out one of their trolling activities, no firewall can stop them. It is advisable to be cautious to try to appease their anger if they have been offended in some way.
Rule 20: "Do not take anything seriously"
It seems contradictory to the previous rules (including 34 and 36), but the key to having fun is always humor, without taking anything personally.
Rule 21: "Pics or it didn't happen"
Any netizen who narrates a personal experience seeking opinion or advice must provide photographs of what happened to prove the truthfulness of their story. Otherwise, their account may fall.