Flamebait is a message posted to an Internet discussion group, such as a newsgroup or a mailing list, with the intent of provoking an angry response (a "flame"). Message in its most general meaning is an object of communication. ... A newsgroup is a repository usually within the Usenet system, for messages posted from many users at different locations. ... A mailing list is a collection of names and addresses used by an individual or an organization to send material to multiple recipients. ... Flaming is the act of posting messages that are deliberately hostile and insulting, usually in the social context of a discussion board (usually on the Internet). ...

There are various motives or explanations for this puzzling behavior. Two of the most popular are the desire for attention and the desire for entertainment at the expense of others. Another is simply a desire to observe, and learn from, human behavior in an anonymous, hence non-threatening, environment. Posted flamebait can provide the posting party with a controlled trigger-and-response setting in which to carry out social experiments.

It is often hard to determine who is really responsible for the degradation of a reasonable discussion into a flamewar. Someone who posts a contrary opinion in a strongly focused discussion forum may be easily labeled a "baiter", "flamer" or "troll". Therefore, it seems especially important to make the rules and focus of a discussion forum public to avoid misconceptions about its accepted use. Flaming is the act of posting messages that are deliberately hostile and insulting, usually in the social context of a discussion board (usually on the Internet). ... Someone in an Internet dicsussion group who deliberately posts aggravating messages on a message board. ... Flaming is the act of posting messages that are deliberately hostile and insulting, usually in the social context of a discussion board (usually on the Internet). ... In Internet terminology, a troll is a person who posts rude or offensive messages on the Internet, such as on online discussion forums, to disrupt discussion or to upset its participants. ...

Trollbait - Someone who takes the internet seriously. Also used to refer to postings made by such people.

The conclusion to a flamewar precipitated by flamebait is often determined by recourse to Godwin's Law. Godwins Law (also Godwins Rule of Nazi Analogies) is an adage in Internet culture that was originated by Mike Godwin in 1990. ...

See also

• Internet troll
• Social software

In Internet terminology, a troll is a person who posts rude or offensive messages on the Internet, such as on online discussion forums, to disrupt discussion or to upset its participants. ... Social software enables people to rendezvous, connect or collaborate through computer-mediated communication and to form online communities. ...

External links and references

• Slashdot post example of flamebait
• jargon file reference for Flamebait
• older flamebait reference on USENET, 1985 (via Google Groups)
• Netizens Guide to Flame Warriors... images, text, humor on the types of flamer