Here's what l found.
From Wikipedia:
The origins aren't clear but rumor has it that the SYM thread was started by an old hermit sometime in 1907.
OH and his team were out searching for answers when they realized that a thread where people could come together and write or post goofy, encouraging and sometimes uplifting pop culture gifs type posts for other members of CC, didn't exist.
They realized that a thread was badly needed to talk about cats, food and God.
He made one.
Source: Me. I made it up.