V Stickam: Anon

To understand the conflict, one must understand the clashing philosophies of these two groups. Stickam users were generally looking for social validation, community, and personal branding. They put their faces, names, and vulnerabilities on display. Anons, by contrast, weaponized anonymity. Guided by the ethos of "lulz" (amusement derived from the distress of others), they viewed the earnest, attention-seeking nature of Stickam broadcasters as the ultimate target for trolling. The Tactics of the War: Troll vs. Broadcaster

Anonymous gained widespread attention in 2003 with the "Grieving Widow" prank, which involved a fake online memorial for a non-existent person. However, it wasn't until 2006, with the Jiwon Jeung (a.k.a. "pip boy") and the "Chanology" operations, that Anonymous began to gain mainstream recognition. These operations targeted Scientology and the Church of Scientology's attempts to suppress free speech on the internet. anon v stickam