Flamebait is intentionally inflammatory communication on the internet, often found on message boards and comment sections. It aims to start a “fire war” and entertain the poster and community. Good flamebait is tailored to the community and can manipulate pain points. Flame wars can become dangerous, and moderators may step in. Repeat offenders may be suspended or banned.
Flamebait is intentionally inflammatory Internet communication designed to trigger an aggressive response from readers. Message boards and comment sections are two common locations for flamebait, although people can also use email. The goal is usually to piss people off and start an argument known as a “fire war,” in which people exchange insults in a state of escalating anger.
Real flamebait, a form of internet trolling or trolling, is posted specifically with the goal of getting people to argue, usually for the purpose of entertaining the person who posted it along with other members of the community. This differs from a communication that is unintentionally inflammatory or a comment designed to stir discussion, but not necessarily outrage. Flamebait can also include images; someone could include a crude or offensive image along with the message, for example.
Good flamebait is written in a way that makes other users not think that it is designed to make them angry. It is specifically tailored to the community, building on key phrases and concepts familiar to regular customers. Topics and concepts are usually brought up and discussed on a regular basis, and the message can manipulate a pain point in the community, such as a previous discussion about something that didn’t pan out. People who are active members of a community can contribute flamebait, or someone from outside can study the community before crafting a message with the intention of generating a controversy.
Fire wars can become protracted, very aggressive, and sometimes dangerous for the participants. People may start out with inflammatory rhetoric, but may continue with denials of service, attacks, threats, and sometimes activities intended to put people in physical danger, such as posting home addresses or employment information. Many communities have moderators who step in if a flame war appears to be progressing to this point, with the goal of keeping participants physically safe.
If community members suspect that something has been contributed to the conversation with the goal of creating a flame war, they can call it flame tinder and challenge the original poster. Sometimes, this eventually ends up having a fiery war anyway, as people argue over the content of the message and the intent of the person who posted it. Individuals with a repeated history of posting inflammatory comments intended to provoke users may have their posting privileges temporarily suspended or may be banned permanently. Usually this decision is made in consultation with several moderators.
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