Type of site
|
former shock site |
---|---|
Available in | English |
Website | goatse.cx |
Commercial | Yes |
Launched | 1999 |
Current status | Active |
goatse.cx (/ˈɡoʊtsiː dɒt ˌsiː ˈɛks/ GOAT-see-dot-see-EKS or /ˈɡoʊt.sɛks/; "goat sex"), often referred to simply as "Goatse", was originally an Internet shock site. Its front page featured a picture, entitled hello.jpg, showing a naked man stretching his anus with both hands, to approximately the width of his fist. The inside of his rectum is also clearly visible. Below his anus, his penis and scrotum are visible, as well as a golden wedding ring on the ring finger of his left hand.
The photo became a notorious surprise image and Internet meme, and was—and, through external mirror sites, is still used regularly in bait-and-switch pranks, prevention of hot-linking in a hostile manner, and defacement of websites, in order to provoke extreme reactions. Even though the image from the site was taken down in 2004, mirror websites are widespread throughout the Web. The site has changed owners, and was set to be used to host email addresses, which never materialized.