Some background here. At TRS, it was suggested that the existing Internet Backdraft page is an excuse for bashing, and that it should be given an example sectionary. I pointed out that this actually happens in-universe, and gave an example, and, after scrounging through all the subpages, found two more. Others in the thread proposed another couple of examples, and I agreed to go to YKTTW to see if the helpful folk there could find more. And here we are.

Note that it's not written in stone that this become an in-universe-example-only trope, but it's highly probable. Either way, though, we'd like to have a section of in-universe examples, since that's far more on-mission for the Wiki.

This is fairly common in webcomics, I think, but we haven't found any webcomic examples yet. I'm pretty sure that Penny Arcade, for example, has used this trope, but I couldn't remember any specific instances.

Executive summary of the trope for those who don't want to bother clicking through: a topic is so controversial on some on-line forum that merely mentioning it can stir up a storm of controversy and flaming.

courtesy link to the Repair Shop discussion.

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In-universe examples:

Anime & Manga

• In Lucky Star, Konata correctly predicts massive internet backlash after watching an Endless Eight episode of the Haruhi Suzumiya anime.

Literature

• In Vernor Vinge's Zones Of Thought series, on the interstellar internet equivalent, humanity itself becomes a topic that causes backdraft after they get blamed for waking the Great Old One/AI.

Live Action Television

• There's actually an example of this in an episode of The Big Bang Theory, where Sheldon gets in an internet argument with Batman fans over which Robin should be the rightful successor of Batman, in the event of Batman's death. It then spills over in real life when Sheldon mentions the argument to a friend who's a comic book salesman, and then they begin arguing with each other.
• In I Carly, the show-within-a-show becomes the target of backdraft, and the protagonists have to try to remind their viewers of the MST 3 K Mantra.
• In Mystery Science Theater 3000, in the 10th season, in an almost meta example, the characters joke about the on-line controversy surrounding the show's change in hosts.