Why isn't there a decent...

... availability of large, text-based, overarching BBSs in America, or Europe, or anywhere besides Japan, really? (japan lulz). 2chan immediately comes to mind.  I think the ability to voice your opinion publicly is an indispensable facet of what we can do with technology and time, and it should definitely be more widespread.  Why does 2ch see the popularity that it does? 

Young people, the ones that would probably spend the most time contributing to forums, already spend enough time on trash "social networking" sites like Facebook or MySpace, but there is no apparent gain in information from those, other than who's throwing the next party.  To talk semi-professionally in a simple text-based environment about world or regional news, or sports, or other entertainment, would be an excellent source of public opinion.  Why is Japan so far ahead of us in this concept?  What is it about the culture that promotes that behavior, while here in the US and elsewhere people couldn't give two shits about that kind of thing?  There is a moderately large number of American forums, but for the most part they're all dedicated to tech-based interests, or video games, etc.  2chan is unique because it essentially encompasses everything, and I'm sure there are plenty of other boards, besides even 2chan, to spend your time on.  Why hasn't this technology taken off around the world?

Those are not BBS's. Those are message boards.

... and who cares. Want real freedom of speech back? Start a BBS and a new UseNet (ChanNet)

>>1
You mean 2ch. 2chan is the smaller imageboard site. There is a board that predates world4ch, but has few users. And world4ch went to shit after being merged with 4chan, and basically consists of /b/ rejects, and retards who want /comp/ and /tech/ to fix their virus problems.

>>1
You mean 2ch. 2chan is the smaller imageboard site. There is a board that predates world4ch, but has few users. And world4ch went to shit after being merged with 4chan, and basically consists of /b/ rejects, and retards who want /comp/ and /tech/ to fix their virus problems, or recommend them an Apple product that they will buy anyways because they have more money than brains.

Besides the 4chan text boards, are there any larger boards that operate with similar software?

>>5
http://www.fbi.gov/

Because japan is a much smaller country and has highly advanced information technology, therefore each person has a better internet connection. Also, japan has a much more homogeneous culture than America or Europe, where there is a larger mixture of cultures, ideas, interests and people - which simply don't want to all go to the same website as everyone else.