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4chan user leaked surprise U.K. election news hours before announcement
Daily Dot ^ | 4/22/17 | Daily Gilmour

Posted on 04/23/2017 3:37:22 PM PDT by markomalley

When Downing Street issued a release to the media on Monday that the British Prime Minister Theresa May would be making an unexpected statement that morning, no one knew that she was planning a snap general election—except users of online forum 4chan, that is.

At 7:37am GMT, hours before any official announcement, one anonymous user of the /pol/ board leaked that an election would be called for June.

Screenshot via 4chan

“Strap yourselves in lads,” the user continued in the thread, before refusing to disclose how they knew.

Screenshot via 4chan

As confused Twitter users and journalists were musing over what the prime minister wanted to say on Monday morning, some /pol/ users were eagerly waiting for the news to break.

4chan’s /pol/, or ‘Politically Incorrect’ community, is the site’s political and current events discussion board. Although one of the most popular boards on the website, /pol/ has a reputation for endorsing extreme and fringe ideas, partly due to the anonymity of its users. Some users have, in the past, organized mischievous and politically motivated trolling campaigns from the board. During the 2016 presidential election, users overwhelmingly favored the then-Republican nominee Donald Trump.

That very anonymity, however, could absolutely provide cover for whistleblowers and leakers.

In the end, the 4chan post turned out to be accurate with a general election now set to happen on June, 8. May had been publicly opposed to the idea before Monday’s announcement.

It seems that, following the U.K.’s 2016 “Brexit” referendum, the prime minister is hoping to strengthen her party’s mandate in Westminster and, in doing so, her ability to negotiate Britain’s departure from the European Union without any real political resistance.

Still, if this 4chan user actually turns out to be leaking from within Downing Street then perhaps May has more than the opposition parties to worry about.



TOPICS: Politics/Elections; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 04/23/2017 3:37:22 PM PDT by markomalley
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To: markomalley

The power of Kek.


2 posted on 04/23/2017 3:47:19 PM PDT by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
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To: markomalley
🐸
3 posted on 04/23/2017 3:57:24 PM PDT by proust (Trump / Pence 2016!)
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To: markomalley

Guesses that don’t pan out don’t make the news. The refusal to offer a source says to me that this was a guess that ended up being correct.


4 posted on 04/23/2017 4:13:47 PM PDT by jiggyboy (Ten percent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
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To: markomalley

I suppose that once *they* are finished with Wikileaks, then they will go after 4Chan.


5 posted on 04/23/2017 4:43:24 PM PDT by BlackVeil ('The past is never dead. It's not even past.' William Faulkner)
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To: markomalley

4chan has some pretty good successes:

They got the name and all pertinent info on the coward antifa who sucker-smacked with a bicycle lock someone who was just trying to keep the sides apart. The coward was waring a scarf that covered all up to his nose and a hoodie and they STILL found him).

They located shia labouf’s (whoever that is) camera EVEN WHEN IT WAS POINTED UPWARD AT A FLAGPOLE.

These guys are scary. I don’t ever want to be in their sights.


6 posted on 04/23/2017 5:14:33 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (The Civil Rights movement compared content of their character to skin color and chose the latter)
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To: freedumb2003
Bike Lock Whacker....

CALIFORNIA Penal Code Section 182-185

185. Section One Hundred and Eighty-five. It shall be unlawful for any person to wear any mask, false whiskers, or any personal disguise (whether complete or partial) for the purpose of: One--Evading or escaping discovery, recognition, or identification in the commission of any public offense. Two--Concealment, flight, or escape, when charged with, arrested for, or convicted of, any public offense. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

Bad boy....

7 posted on 04/23/2017 5:50:22 PM PDT by ptsal
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To: ptsal
I'm convinced that California will give leftist agitators and criminals a free pass.
We have de-evolved into a lawless society. Or selective application of the laws.
8 posted on 04/23/2017 6:03:00 PM PDT by El Cid (Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house...)
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To: El Cid

Moldylocks was wearing a mask before she got her clock stopped.


9 posted on 04/23/2017 6:15:15 PM PDT by ptsal
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To: freedumb2003

Don’t forget when ISIS posted a terrorist training camp video. 4 chan users identified the exact location, and called in a Russian airstrike. Weaponized Autism Awesomeness.


10 posted on 04/23/2017 7:44:46 PM PDT by sockmonkey (Donald Trump will ban auto-correct with an Executive Order. Go Trump!)
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To: freedumb2003

The awesome power of weaponized autism...


11 posted on 04/24/2017 3:33:07 AM PDT by wastoute (Government cannot redistribute wealth. Government can only redistribute poverty.)
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To: sockmonkey; wastoute

“Weaponized autism” — GREAT phrase!


12 posted on 04/24/2017 5:38:41 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (The Civil Rights movement compared content of their character to skin color and chose the latter)
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