Flaming

Flaming is the act of posting intentionally hostile, rude, or insulting messages (flames) to Internet users, often in response to earlier posts and frequently involving the use of profanity and obscenities. It is designed to cause emotional damage and to elicit emotional responses. By definition, it is not constructive and does not seek to offer helpful advice. It is most frequently found on bulletin boards, social media, Facebook, chat rooms, video games, and YouTube, but it can also occur on blogs, email, text messages, and similar outlets. Often it results from substantial political or moral differences, but it may also come from juvenile or mentally disturbed individuals. Flaming is often sexist, racist, or homophobic in nature, and it typically involves extreme sarcasm. It is often ...