Something Awful: A History of the Infamous Internet Community
Something Awful stands as one of the most influential and controversial pillars of early internet culture. Founded by Richard "Lowtax" Kyanka, the site evolved from a comedic personal project into a massive community known for its sharp wit, strict moderation, and occasionally chaotic interactions with the wider web. From its origins in the late 1990s to its transition in ownership, the site has mirrored the volatile nature of the digital age.
The Origins and Business Model
The site was conceived by Kyanka shortly before he left a position as an administrator for Planet Quake. He initially utilized a comedic persona named "Cranky Steve" to mock the work performance of a colleague, eventually migrating this personality to the Something Awful platform in 1999. Early growth was hampered by financial disputes, as sponsors like eFront and GameFan failed to pay for advertising as promised.
In 2001, the site implemented a unique monetization strategy by charging a $10.00 fee for forum access. This fee remains $10.00 as of 2025, though its inflation-adjusted value was approximately $18.18. To maintain exclusivity and encourage new registrations, the forums are only intermittently viewable by unregistered users. The site generates continuous revenue through these account fees, merchandise sales, and premium forum upgrades, such as search features, archive access, and custom avatars.
Key Facts
- Founder: Richard "Lowtax" Kyanka.
- Monetization: A flat $10.00 registration fee for forum access.
- Ownership Change: Sold to "Jeffrey of YOSPOS" on October 9, 2020.
- Community Impact: Raised over $20,000 for military body armor in 2004.
- Gaming Legacy: Birthplace of the Goonswarm Federation in Eve Online.
Community Conflicts and Controversies
The SPEWS Dispute
On July 20, 2003, the Spam Prevention Early Warning System (SPEWS)—an organization dedicated to filtering spam—blacklisted a class-B subnet of the Cogent ISP. Because Something Awful was hosted on this subnet, the site was inadvertently listed as a spammer, disrupting customer communications. When SPEWS refused to delist the site, SA administrators encouraged users to post in Usenet newsgroups. This led to a flood of off-topic posts and trolling, which incensed SPEWS advocates. While some users threatened a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack—an attempt to crash a server by flooding it with traffic—this was strongly discouraged by Kyanka and assistant editor Zack Parsons.
The Uwe Boll Boxing Match
In June 2006, German director Uwe Boll challenged critics of his films to a ten-round boxing match. After Something Awful published a humorous, critical review of one of his movies, Kyanka accepted the challenge. The fight took place in Vancouver, Canada, on September 23, 2006. Kyanka forfeited in the first round after several knockdowns. He later claimed that Boll, a trained amateur boxer, had suggested the fight was merely for show, leading Kyanka to perform like a silent film comedy character rather than fighting seriously.
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Philanthropy and Tragedy
Charity Initiatives
The community has demonstrated significant generosity on multiple occasions. In 2004, users collaborated with the Fark community to raise over $20,000 to provide plate carriers, body armor, and care packages for 31 soldiers, including a user known as GreenMeat who had deployed to Iraq without hard armor.
During the flooding of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the site went offline as its servers were located in New Orleans. Once semi-functional, Kyanka initiated a Red Cross donation drive via PayPal, contributing $3,000 of his own money. However, the effort was plagued by administrative issues; PayPal froze the account and later insisted on donating funds to United Way of America due to a business affiliation. Following reports of inefficiency within United Way, Kyanka requested that PayPal refund the donors, though international donors lost their exchange and handling fees.
Notable Deaths
The community has also faced dark moments. In 2005, a user named William Freund sought advice on Hevi-Shot ammunition in the gun subforum, claiming he needed it to protect Halloween pumpkins. Shortly after, he killed two people before committing suicide.
In 2012, the community mourned the loss of Sean Smith, a US Foreign Service Information Management Officer and SA moderator. Smith was a leader in the Goonswarm Federation, a powerful alliance in the game Eve Online. Following his death in the Benghazi attack on September 11, 2012, Eve Online players honored him by renaming in-game space stations in his memory.
Summary of Major Events
| Year | Event | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Site Launch | Migration of "Cranky Steve" persona. |
| 2001 | Paywall Implementation | $10.00 fee introduced for forum access. |
| 2003 | SPEWS Conflict | Subnet blacklisting and Usenet trolling. |
| 2004 | GreenMeat Drive | Over $20,000 raised for soldier armor. |
| 2006 | Uwe Boll Fight | Kyanka forfeits in the first round. |
| 2020 | Ownership Transfer | Sold to Jeffrey of YOSPOS. |
The End of the Kyanka Era
The tenure of Richard Kyanka ended in 2020 following community backlash regarding allegations of domestic abuse. On October 9, 2020, he sold the site to a long-time moderator known as Jeffrey of YOSPOS. Kyanka was subsequently banned from the platform on March 23, 2021, and passed away by suicide on November 9, 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to join the Something Awful forums?
As of 2025, the cost to create an account with forum access is $10.00, a price point that has remained consistent since 2001.
Who currently owns Something Awful?
The site was sold by Richard Kyanka to a fifteen-year member and moderator known as Jeffrey of YOSPOS on October 9, 2020.
What is the Goonswarm Federation?
The Goonswarm Federation is a prominent alliance in the video game Eve Online that originated, in part, from the Something Awful community.
Why did Richard Kyanka fight Uwe Boll?
Kyanka accepted an open challenge from the director after Something Awful posted a humorous and critical review of one of Boll's films.
How did the community help during Hurricane Katrina?
The site hosted a donation drive for the Red Cross, though the funds were eventually refunded to donors after a dispute with PayPal regarding the recipient organization.