Editing Flaming (Internet) (section)

==Types==
{{anchor|Flamebait}}

===Flame trolling===
Flame trolling is the posting of a provocative or offensive [[message]], known as ''flamebait'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Definition of Flamebait |url=https://searchmicroservices.techtarget.com/definition/flamebait |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref> to a public Internet discussion group, such as a [[Internet forum|forum]], [[newsgroup]], or [[mailing list]], with the intent of provoking an angry response (a "flame") or argument.

Flamebait can provide the poster with a controlled trigger-and-response setting in which to anonymously engage in conflicts and indulge in aggressive behavior without facing the consequences that such behavior might bring in a face-to-face encounter.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} In other instances, flamebait may be used to reduce a forum's use by angering the forum users. In 2012, it was announced that the US State Department would start flame trolling jihadists as part of Operation Viral Peace.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sydiongco |first=David |title=New Strategy in the War on Terror: Trolling Jihadi Forums |url=https://slate.com/technology/2012/07/viral-peace-plans-to-combat-terrorism-by-trolling-jihadi-forums.html |website=Slate |date=19 July 2012 |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref>

Among the characteristics of inflammatory behavior, the use of entirely capitalized messages, or the multiple repetition of exclamation marks, along with profanity have been identified as typical.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Turnage|first=Anna K.|date=2007-10-01|title=Email Flaming Behaviors and Organizational Conflict|journal=Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication|language=en|volume=13|issue=1|pages=43–59|doi=10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00385.x|s2cid=8093848 |doi-access=}}</ref>

===Flame war===
A flame war results when multiple users engage in provocative responses to an original post, which is sometimes flamebait. Flame wars often draw in many users, including those trying to defuse the flame war, and can quickly turn into a mass flame war that overshadows regular forum discussion.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Resolving a flame war can be difficult, as it is often hard to determine who is really responsible for the degradation of a reasonable discussion into a flame war. Someone who posts a contrary opinion in a strongly focused discussion forum may be easily labeled a "baiter", "flamer", or "troll".<ref> Koiranen, I., Koivula, A., Malinen, S., & Keipi, T. (2022). Undercurrents of echo chambers and flame wars: party political correlates of social media behavior. Journal of Information Technology & Politics., 19(2), 197–213. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2021.1950095</ref>

Flame wars can become intense and can include "death threats, [[ad hominem]] invective, and textual amplifiers,” but to some sociologists flame wars can actually bring people together. What is being said in a flame war should not be taken too seriously since the harsh words are a part of flaming.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Jane|first=Emma A.|date=2015-03-01|title=Flaming? What flaming? The pitfalls and potentials of researching online hostility|journal=Ethics and Information Technology|language=en|volume=17|issue=1|pages=65–87|doi=10.1007/s10676-015-9362-0|s2cid=14404033|issn=1572-8439|url=https://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/bitstreams/33ebb75a-5dec-4ca3-875e-36c049b36665/download }}</ref>

An approach to resolving a flame war or responding to flaming is to communicate openly with the offending users. Acknowledging mistakes, offering to help resolve the disagreement, making clear, reasoned arguments, and even self-deprecation have all been noted as worthwhile strategies to end such disputes. However, others prefer to simply ignore flaming, noting that, in many cases, if the flamebait receives no attention, it will quickly be forgotten as forum discussions carry on.<ref name="reid" /> Unfortunately, this can motivate trolls to intensify their activities, creating additional distractions.

"Taking the bait" or "feeding the troll" refers to someone who responds to the original message regardless of whether they are aware the original message was intended to provoke a response. Often when someone takes the bait, others will point this out to them with the [[acronym]] "YHBT", which is short for "You have been trolled", or reply with "don't feed the trolls". Forum users will usually not give the troll acknowledgment; that just "feeds the troll".

=== [[Political positions of Donald Trump|Political]] flaming ===
Political flaming typically occurs when people have their views challenged and they seek to have their anger known. Through the covering of one's identity people may be more likely to engage in political flaming.<ref name=":02"/> In a 2015 study conducted by Hutchens, Cicchirillo, and Hmielowski, they found that "those who were more experienced with political discussions—either online or offline—were more likely to indicate they would respond with a flame", and they also found that verbal aggression also played a role in a person engaging in political flaming.<ref name=":02" /> Internet flaming has also contributed to pushing some politicians out of their field, including  Kari Kjønaas Kjos of the Norwegian Progress Party who elected to leave politics in April of 2020 due to hostility she was experiencing online.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Andersen |first=Ida Vikøren |date=2021-02-06 |title=Hostility online: Flaming, trolling, and the public debate |url=https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/11547 |journal=First Monday |language=en |doi=10.5210/fm.v26i3.11547 |doi-access=free |hdl=11250/2764630 |issn=1396-0466|hdl-access=free }}</ref>

=== Corporate flaming ===
Corporate flaming is when a large number of critical comments, usually aggressive or insulting, are directed at a company's employees, products, or brands. Common causes include inappropriate behavior of company employees, negative customer experiences, inadequate care of customers and influencers, violation of ethical principles, apparent injustices, and inappropriate reactions. Flame wars can result in reputational damage, decreased consumer confidence, drops in stock prices and company assets, increased liabilities, increased lawsuits, and a decrease in customers, influencers, and sponsors. Based on an assessment of the damage, companies can take years to recover from a flame war that may detract from their core purpose. Kayser notes that companies should prepare for possible flame wars by creating alerts for a predefined "blacklist" of words and monitoring fast-growing topics about their company. Alternatively, Kayser points out that a flame war can lead to a positive experience for the company. Based on the content, it could be shared across multiple platforms and increase company recognition, social media fans/followers, brand presence, purchases, and brand loyalty. Therefore, the type of marketing that results from a flame war can lead to higher profits and brand recognition on a broader scale. Nevertheless, it is encouraged that when a company utilizes social media they should be aware that their content could be used in a flame war and should be treated as an emergency.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kayser |first1=Holger |last2=Salmann |first2=Stephan |last3=Bartels |first3=Christian |title=Flame war management: handling crises in the social media age |url=https://consulting.ey.com/flame-war-management-handling-crises-in-the-social-media-age/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190712044943/https://consulting.ey.com/?s=&tag= |archive-date=2019-07-12 |website=EY Consulting Hub |publisher=[[Ernst & Young]] |access-date=18 January 2022 |date=2015-07-30}}</ref>