Flaming is the act of posting messages that are deliberately hostile and insulting, usually in the social context of a discussion board on the Internet. Such messages are called flames, and are sometimes posted in response to flamebait. Flaming is said by some to be one of a class of economic problems known as The Tragedy of the Commons, when a group holds a resource (in this case, communal attention), but each of the individual members has an incentive to overuse it. Flamers usually call their flames justified attacks.

Although the trading of insults is as old as humanity, flaming on the Internet, like many other online 'actions', started in the Usenet hierarchies (although it was known to occur in the WWIVnet and FidoNet computer networks as well). A flame may have elements of a normal message, but is distinguished by its intent. A flame is typically not intended to be constructive, to further clarify a discussion, or to persuade other people. The motive for flaming is often not dialectic, but rather social or psychological. Sometimes, flamers are attempting to assert their authority, or establish a position of superiority. Occasionally, flamers wish to upset and offend other members of the forum, in which case they are trolls. Most often however, flames are angry or insulting messages transmitted by people who have strong feelings about a subject. Finally, some consider flaming to be a great way to let off steam, though the receiving party may be less than pleased.

Similarly, a normal, non-flame message may have elements of a flame -- it may be hostile, for example -- but it is not a flame if it is seriously intended to advance the discussion.

More on [ Flaming ]

Flaming - Twitter Search

Home from Oklahoma. Most epic trip ever. Listening to The Flaming Lips' Dark Side of the Moon cover before cheering on the CATS!
jclynhwkns (jaclyn) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:23:16 -0000
Home from Oklahoma. Most epic trip ever. Listening to The Flaming Lips' Dark Side of the Moon cover before cheering on the CATS!
@FAILipino cheetos. like, the snack. wtf flaming hot cherrios? and im stupid and i meant monday morning. see you then
jennafurbee (Jenniffer B.) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:19:49 -0000
@FAILipino cheetos. like, the snack. wtf flaming hot cherrios? and im stupid and i meant monday morning. see you then
Flaming Lips - Dark Side of The Moon. Acquire it and zone....
MobZombie (Phil Agudelo) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:17:25 -0000
Flaming Lips - Dark Side of The Moon. Acquire it and zone....
Listening to the Flaming Lips "Dark Side of the Moon" - simply amazing. Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking.
kpallez (Keline Pallez) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:16:47 -0000
Listening to the Flaming Lips "Dark Side of the Moon" - simply amazing. Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking.
"On The Run", de Pink Floyd, por The Flaming Lips, de su excelente reversión de The Dark Side ♫ http://blip.fm/~imgan
leot (Leonardo) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:16:41 -0000
"On The Run", de Pink Floyd, por The Flaming Lips, de su excelente reversión de The Dark Side ♫ http://blip.fm/~imgan
@FAILipino stilllll. better than 'jenny sits in the back corner' all alone....eating flaming hot cheetos. see you tomorrow morning, right?
jennafurbee (Jenniffer B.) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:16:22 -0000
@FAILipino stilllll. better than 'jenny sits in the back corner' all alone....eating flaming hot cheetos. see you tomorrow morning, right?

Subscribe to Flaming RSS feed