History Main / FlameWar

->''"We didn't start the flame war''
->''Peeps were hatin' on it 'fore I left my comment"''
-->-- '''Website/CollegeHumor''', [[http://www.collegehumor.com/video/3980096/we-didnt-start-the-flame-war "We Didn't Start the Flame War"]]

After a time, the flames may abate, but usually more because of exhaustion than anyone actually getting a point across. Once everyone has recovered their stamina, all it takes is one innocent (or [[{{Troll}} not-so-innocent]]) person bringing the subject up to start things all over again. In even worse cases, people insist on taking the flame war or their grievances from old flame wars to the people once involved ''elsewhere,'' or seek to get uninvolved people involved and taking a side, which is why Wiki/ThisVeryWiki and some other sites have strict rules against importing or exporting drama.

In fandom related communities, a lot of the flame wars are the result of a BrokenBase, FandomRivalry, FandomHeresy, or other FanDumb behavior -- which, in turn, is the result of people regarding the fandom as SeriousBusiness. In a way, it can be even more bothersome than dealing with {{troll}}s who come onto the community to bash the entire fandom. Sometimes a fandom Flame War can reach such levels that it becomes a [[http://catb.org/jargon/html/H/holy-wars.html Holy War]], a massive, prolonged battle of insults. The UsefulNotes/ConsoleWars and [[UsefulNotes/ComputerWars PC vs. Mac debate]] are good examples of these prolonged, though rare, wars. And God help you if you actually start discussing [[BanOnPolitics politics or religion]].

After a time, the flames may abate, but usually more because of exhaustion than anyone actually getting a point across. Once everyone has recovered their stamina, all it takes is one innocent (or [[{{Troll}} not-so-innocent]]) person bringing the subject up to [[InternetBackdraft start things all over again]]. In even worse cases, people insist on taking the flame war or their grievances from old flame wars to the people once involved ''elsewhere,'' or seek to get uninvolved people involved and taking a side, which is why Wiki/ThisVeryWiki and some other sites have strict rules against importing or exporting drama.

There is something about the anonymous nature of the Internet that makes people [[{{GIFT}} behave]] in ways that they wouldn't when they're face-to-face with other people. What starts as a minor disagreement like "how to [[{{Shipping}} ship]] two minor characters," or "what constitutes {{canon}} or {{fanon}}," escalates until the users are insulting each other, flinging expletives and profanities and shouting at the top of their virtual lungs. Inevitably, someone will be [[GodwinsLaw compared to]] [[HitlerAteSugar Hitler]]. Also inevitably, the [[ForumSpeak Internet Tough Guy]] will get involved, resulting in legal threats (anything from DMCA takedowns and people trying to drag the legal staff of people or businesses involved into the flame war to [[RougeAnglesOfSatin often hilariously misspelled]] accusations of "defamation" and even possibly an actual FrivolousLawsuit), and sometimes even actual threats of violence or RealLife harassment.

There is something about the anonymous nature of the Internet that makes people [[{{GIFT}} behave]] in ways that they wouldn't when they're face-to-face with other people. What starts as a minor disagreement like "how to [[{{Shipping}} ship]] two minor characters," or "what constitutes {{canon}} or {{fanon}}," escalates until the users are insulting each other, flinging expletives and profanities and shouting at the top of their virtual lungs. Inevitably, someone will be [[GodwinsLaw compared to]] [[HitlerAteSugar Hitler]]. Also inevitably, the ForumSpeak will get involved, resulting in legal threats (anything from DMCA takedowns and people trying to drag the legal staff of people or businesses involved into the flame war to [[RougeAnglesOfSatin often hilariously misspelled]] accusations of "defamation" and even possibly an actual FrivolousLawsuit), and sometimes even actual threats of violence or RealLife harassment.

There is something about the anonymous nature of the Internet that makes people [[{{GIFT}} behave]] in ways that they wouldn't when they're face-to-face with other people. What starts as a minor disagreement like "how to [[{{Shipping}} ship]] two minor characters," or "what constitutes {{canon}} or {{fanon}}," escalates until the users are insulting each other, flinging expletives and profanities and shouting at the top of their virtual lungs. Inevitably, someone will be [[GodwinsLaw compared to]] [[HitlerAteSugar Hitler]]. Also inevitably, the InternetToughGuy will get involved, resulting in legal threats (anything from DMCA takedowns and people trying to drag the legal staff of people or businesses involved into the flame war to [[RougeAnglesOfSatin often hilariously misspelled]] accusations of "defamation" and even possibly an actual FrivolousLawsuit), and sometimes even actual threats of violence or RealLife harassment.

[[noreallife]]

[[SelfDemonstratingArticle like]] [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/ad-free-subscribe.php this.]]

No examples, please. There will always be something that can cause this.
----

In fandom related communities, a lot of the flame wars are the result of a BrokenBase, FandomRivalry, FandomHeresy, or other FanDumb behavior -- which, in turn, is the result of people regarding the fandom as SeriousBusiness. In a way, it can be even more bothersome than dealing with {{troll}}s who come onto the community to bash the entire fandom. Sometimes a fandom Flame War can reach such levels that it becomes a [[http://catb.org/jargon/html/H/holy-wars.html Holy War]], a massive, prolonged battle of insults. The Console Wars and PC vs. Mac debate are good examples of these prolonged, though rare, wars. And God help you if you actually start discussing [[BanOnPolitics politics or religion]].

See InternetBackdraft for when a NaiveNewcomer unintentionally sparks a flame war and FlameBait for a list of tropes that should never ''ever'' be mentioned on this very wiki (or anywhere else, for that matter). See also UsefulNotes/MisplacedNationalism for a specific form of flame bait.

In fandom related communities, a lot of the flame wars are the result of a BrokenBase, FandomRivalry, FandomHeresy, or other FanDumb behavior -- which, in turn, is the result of people regarding the fandom as SeriousBusiness. In a way, it can be even more bothersome than dealing with {{troll}}s who come onto the community to bash the entire fandom. Sometimes a fandom Flame War can reach such levels that it becomes a [[http://catb.org/jargon/html/H/holy-wars.html Holy War]], a massive, prolonged battle of insults. The Console Wars and PC vs. Mac debate are good examples of these prolonged, though rare, wars
God help you if you actually start discussing [[BanOnPolitics politics or religion]].

See UsefulNotes/MisplacedNationalism for a specific form. See also InternetBackdraft.

In fandom related communities, a lot of the flame wars are the result of a BrokenBase, FandomRivalry, FandomHeresy, or other FanDumb behavior -- which, in turn, is the result of people regarding the fandom as SeriousBusiness. In a way, it can be even more bothersome than dealing with {{troll}}s who come onto the community to bash the entire fandom. Sometimes a fandom Flame War can reach such levels that it becomes a [[http://catb.org/jargon/html/H/holy-wars.html Holy War]], a massive, ForeverWar of insults made by both the SilentMajority AND the VocalMinority, who both consist of ''nothing'' '''''[[StrawNihilist BUT HATRED FOR EVERYTHING BUT THEIR SIDE!!!]]''''' The Console Wars and PC vs. Mac debate are good examples of these permanent, [[ForeverWar Forever Wars]], where these had resulted in a MASSIVE ([[SilentMajority But Silent]]), OmnicidalNeutral [[PeripheryHatedom hatedoms]].

A subtrope of ForeverWar See UsefulNotes/MisplacedNationalism for a specific form. See also InternetBackdraft.

In fandom related communities, a lot of the flame wars are the result of a BrokenBase, FandomRivalry, FandomHeresy, or other FanDumb behavior -- which, in turn, is the result of people regarding the fandom as SeriousBusiness. In a way, it can be even more bothersome than dealing with {{troll}}s who come onto the community to bash the entire fandom. Sometimes a fandom Flame War can reach such levels that it becomes a [[http://catb.org/jargon/html/H/holy-wars.html Holy War]], a massive, ForeverWar of insults made by both the SilentMajority AND the VocalMinority, who both consist of ''nothing'' '''''[[StrawNihlist BUT HATRED FOR EVERYTHING BUT THEIR SIDE!!!]]''''' The Console Wars and PC vs. Mac debate are good examples of these permanent, [[ForeverWar Forever Wars]], where these had resulted in a MASSIVE ([[SilentMajority But Silent]]), OmnicidalNeutral [[PeripheryHatedom hatedoms]].

In fandom related communities, a lot of the flame wars are the result of a BrokenBase, FandomRivalry, FandomHeresy, or other FanDumb behavior -- which, in turn, is the result of people regarding the fandom as SeriousBusiness. In a way, it can be even more bothersome than dealing with {{troll}}s who come onto the community to bash the entire fandom. Sometimes a fandom Flame War can reach such levels that it becomes a [[http://catb.org/jargon/html/H/holy-wars.html Holy War]], a massive, prolonged battle of insults. The Console Wars and PC vs. Mac debate are good examples of these prolonged, though rare, wars.

See UsefulNotes/MisplacedNationalism for a specific form. See also InternetBackdraft.

After a time, the flames may abate, but usually more because of exhaustion than anyone actually getting a point across. Once everyone has recovered their stamina, all it takes is one innocent (or [[{{Troll}} not-so-innocent]]) person bringing the subject up to [[InternetBackdraft start things all over again]]. In even worse cases, people insist on taking the flame war or their grievances from old flame wars to the people once involved ''elsewhere,'' or seek to get uninvolved people involved and taking a side, which is why ThisVeryWiki and some other sites have strict rules against importing or exporting drama.

See MisplacedNationalism for a specific form. See also InternetBackdraft.

After a time, the flames may abate, but usually more because of exhaustion than anyone actually getting a point across. Once everyone has recovered their stamina, all it takes is one innocent (or [[{{Troll}} not-so-innocent]]) person bringing the subject up to [[InternetBackdraft start things all over again]]. In even worse cases, people insist on taking the FlameWar or their grievances from old flame wars to the people once involved ''elsewhere,'' or seek to get uninvolved people involved and taking a side, which is why ThisVeryWiki and some other sites have strict rules against importing or exporting drama.

!!Particularly common causes:

[[index]]
* FlameWar/{{Anime And Manga}}
* FlameWar/{{Comics}}
* FlameWar/{{Film}}
* FlameWar/{{Fan Fic}}
* FlameWar/{{Literature}}
* FlameWar/{{Live Action TV}}
* FlameWar/{{Music}}
* FlameWar/{{Software And Computers}}
* FlameWar/{{Tabletop Games}}
* FlameWar/{{Theatre}}
* FlameWar/{{Video Games}}
* FlameWar/{{Visual Novels}}
* FlameWar/{{Webcomics}}
* FlameWar/{{Web Original}}
* FlameWar/{{Western Animation}}
[[/index]]

* FlameWar/{{Other}}

->''"[[WeDidntStartTheBillyJoelParodies We didn't start the flame war]]''

There is something about the anonymous nature of the Internet that makes people [[{{GIFT}} behave]] in ways that they wouldn't when they're face-to-face with other people. What starts as a minor disagreement like "how to [[{{Shipping}} ship]] two minor characters," or "what constitutes {{canon}} or {{fanon}}," escalates until the users are insulting each other, flinging expletives and profanities and shouting at the top of their virtual lungs. Inevitably, someone will be [[GodwinsLaw compared to]] [[HitlerAteSugar Hitler]].

After a time, the flames may abate, but usually more because of exhaustion than anyone actually getting a point across. Once everyone has recovered their stamina, all it takes is one innocent (or [[{{Troll}} not-so-innocent]]) person bringing the subject up to [[InternetBackdraft start things all over again]].

In fandom related communities, a lot of the flame wars are the result of a BrokenBase, FandomRivalry, FandomHeresy, or other FanDumb behavior -- which, in turn, is the result of people regarding the fandom as SeriousBusiness. In a way, it can be even more bothersome than dealing with {{troll}}s who come onto the community to bash the entire fandom. Sometimes a fandom Flame War can reach such levels that it becomes a [[http://catb.org/jargon/html/H/holy-wars.html Holy War]], a massive, prolonged battle of insults. The Console Wars and PC vs. Mac debate are good examples of these prolonged, though rare, wars.

There is something about the anonymous nature of the Internet that makes people [[{{GIFT}} behave]] in ways that they wouldn't when they're face-to-face with other people. What starts as a minor disagreement like "how to [[{{Shipping}} ship]] two minor characters," or "what constitutes {{canon}} or {{fanon}}," escalates until the users are insulting each other, flinging expletives and profanities and shouting at the top of their virtual lungs. Inevitably, someone will be [[GodwinsLaw compared to]] [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler Hitler]].

There is something about the anonymous nature of the Internet that makes people [[{{GIFT}} behave]] in ways that they wouldn't when they're face-to-face with other people. What starts as a minor disagreement like "how to [[{{Shipping}} ship]] two minor characters," or "what constitutes {{canon}} or {{fanon}}," escalates until the users are insulting each other, flinging expletives and profanities and shouting at the top of their virtual lungs. Inevitably, someone will be [[GodwinsLaw compared to]] [[AdolfHitler Hitler]].

->''"We didn't start the flame war''

->''"[[WeDidntStartTheBillyJoelParodies We didn't start the flame war]]''

* FlameWar/{{Real Life}}

->''[[WeDidntStartTheBillyJoelParodies We didn't start the flame war]]''
->''Peeps were hatin' on it 'fore I left my comment''