[randomaccount5]

It seems they have judged the potential for "free" marketing to be worth the risk of a backlash from the 4chan community.

Given they are in the business of allowing users to post content, the risk/reward looks to be heavily weighted towards having their service (in the best case!) being spammed with shocking content 24/7. They haven't thought this through.

[msbarnett]

> It seems they have judged the potential for "free" marketing to be worth the risk of a backlash from the 4chan community.

Moot is a verb. To moot something means "to raise it as a subject for discussion". They're selling discussion forum software with a domain name, moot.it, that essentially means "discuss it". It's a clever, relevant name and domain hack given what they do.

The overlap with Chris Poole's screen name is at least as likely entirely coincidental as it is some scheme to ride off the coattails of Poole.

[Shank]

That's what I'm thinking will happen, in all honesty. 4chan have attacked en masse websites much larger than a startup in the past - and by using the name "Moot" and flat out denying that it has a relation to 4chan, they're putting a lot at stake.

I wonder if they've got any VC backing, because I don't see many investors trying that one on for size.

[coderdude]

Their line of thinking may just be different.

If your service is meant to handle the communication for forums and comments then two of your biggest challenges will be dealing with spam and to a lesser extent, malicious users. How do you test systems to combat these issues? You would throw test data at them. From their site: "Our servers will handle whatever you throw at them, at no cost." For a person with the appropriate mindset, that's practically a dare.

While it's certainly a long shot that this is their actual intent, it would be one way for them to fine-tune their system.

[grecy]

If they load the site with CPI ads....