Ok, assuming the moderators read past my subject, that was flaming (shouting with capital letters, exclamation marks, etc.). Never flame, since you look like a fool and the discussion board degenerates.  Indeed, there are times I find the level of conduct on this board better than the current political debates we are exposed to...hope this helps. You may find that you can say what I stated in my subject (call someone an idiot which by the way you are not of course!) but you do so in a more sophisticated and elegant manner.  Such a refined crowd are we!

I'd say that flaming most often seems to occur when someone makes an unpopular statement (whether that be with the group as a whole or to one person, who may or may not have a hidden agenda.)

Typically, it seems to be a gross overreaction, but can at times be warranted. Most often, on the variety of boards I read, it appears to be the result of someone's misunderstanding or bias to the post/situation. It can turn really ugly really fast when group think and the mob mentality take over and can become personally abusive.

I notice most flames come from aliases, but there are some who have the cojones to flame from their own handles, which I honestly respect more, even if I don't agree with it.

Best practices might include the egregious use of red smileys, lots of curse words, ad hominem attacks (because when they fail to prove their point you become an "asshole" or some other derogatory name) and the almost prerequisite of posting the link in backchannel threads in order to get the rest of their crew/friends/compadres to flame you.

God I've written too many final essays for school. haha. Did I just analyze flaming? lol.

Katie

If you don't have something nice to say, then say nothing at all!!! I think it is ok to flame someone if done politely. More of a "did you really mean to say that". Unless of course the poster made a downright nasty post, like putting down a provider....then it is ok to blast the dork!!

to tell someone to go to hell in such a manner that they will be looking forward to the trip.

And always do it under your own handle.

A couple of years ago, flaming often occured on the Chicago board, but as soon as it got a little out of hand our MOD would delete the thread. Then the locals started to complain he was too strict. So he changed his policy to let us flame all we wanted , and he wouldn't take it down as long as we posted under our real board names and not an alias. Now if someone uses an alias to flame the thread stays up but that persons real name is exposed. It's only happened a few times in the last couple of years, and now flaming on the Chicago board is almost non-existant. Our MOD is a cool guy and is always willing to work with us on rules and regulations, and issues that concern being moderated.