What is Flaming?

Definition and Characteristics (La Pelea Online)

Flaming refers to a hostile, aggressive and mutually antagonistic online interaction.

It is basically a digital shouting match that occurs in public spaces such as forums, chat groups, social networks or comment sections.

It is characterized by the use of direct insults, foul language, personal attacks and a rapid escalation of aggression between two or more participants.

Unlike trolling (which is a one-sided provocation for fun), flaming is an explosion of bilateral anger.

It is what happens when a civilized debate derails into an exchange of insults.

Participants in flaming are usually genuinely angry and their goal is to "win" the argument by humiliating or insulting the other.

The Context: Online Disinhibition and Controversial Issues

Flaming would rarely occur with the same intensity in real life. It is a direct product of the online disinhibition effect.

The combination of anonymity (or at least physical distance), lack of nonverbal communication (we don't see each other's hurt or angry face), and asynchrony (we can type an insult and tune out) causes people to lose their usual social filters.

Flame wars often erupt around polarizing topics: politics, religion, sports, or "tribe" topics (fans of one artist versus another, video game consoles).

The sense of belonging to a group and the perception of the other as an "enemy" make it easy for the conversation to become dehumanizing and quickly turn into a personal attack.

Flaming vs. Cyberbullying and Trolling

It is important to situate flaming on the spectrum of digital toxicity.

Trolling: It is one-sided. A provocateur seeks a reaction.

Flaming: It is bilateral (or multilateral). Two or more people insult each other, both actively engaging in hostility.

Cyberbullying (Harassment): It is again unilateral. An aggressor systematically attacks a victim who does not want the interaction and who is in an inferior position of power.

Flaming is therefore a symmetrical, albeit aggressive, conflict. However, it can be the prelude to cyberbullying.

If a flame war ends, but one o