L♥VE
08-22-2007, 04:50 PM
Okay folks, we have a problem. Seems some of you have missed the fine art of flaming and it's unique characteristics so I'm going to write a guide to efficient flaming that won't cause the moderators headaches and still get the job done. I wish we could all just get along, but the fact of the matter is you won't be able to avoid it always.
Lets point this little tidbit of info out first - no one ever "wins". You may humble your enemy, and be crowned Flame Master, but you will probably also be seen as a bully. Even if you go in as a peacemaker you will be part of it no matter how noble your intentions are. You post - you're in the game and fair target.
1) Strategy! - First off folks - if you want to be the humbler and not the fool you must think before you hit "Submit". Always plan ahead of your opponent's next post. You can normally know their direction of attack and favorite ways to flame back, head em off at the pass. Don't just go in blindly listing off insults and send the autocensor into shock. If you're as intelligent as you want to prove you are, show it.
2) "CENSORSHIP!" - What a BS cry to make when someone gets in to deep and gets spanked for going over the line. Censorship is what a government does, on a website it's called moderators doing their job. This isn't a public property where you're staging a protest, websites and forums are often times someone's business and form of income. Get over it, play by the rules or get banned.
3) Flaming Ones Self - If you get hot headed and lose your head, imagen in this fire fight you just rolled in napalm and decided to set off fireworks. If you don't maintain control, stay rational, and keep your wits you're as good as cooked. It's blood in the water of a shark tank. I can't stress this enough - DO NOT LOSE YOUR COOL, you can't let some noob get under your skin!
4) "The Legal Department" - Don't threaten lawsuits over the internet. The only examples of where this type of crap works is by large corporations that are willing to burn millions of dollars. Half the time it doesn't even work for them. I've been "threatened" several times since 1995 because I hurt someone's feelings/reputation. I have yet to get served. Two of those threateners I actually gave my full contact info to make it easier on them. Anyone that's a true Master of the Flame will laugh at you.. a lot.. and inform everyone else why to laugh at you.
5) Don't Swear - Bad words are just that, bad words. They might cause a 6 year old's eyes to widen and mouth to drop, but chances are anyone that's gone through the public-education system has become immune to them. A good flame burns and leave marks, but never requires a never ending supply of vulgar expletives. You should write that down.
6) Cross-Forum Flame Wars - This is the most useless get-no-where tactic I've ever seen. You leave your "turf" and try crap on their forum. You'll be absolutely no better than their renegade member, any point you were wanting to make is moot. You've come from nowhere, you have no creditials - you are just a trouble maker to them.
7) Ignore Them - Being ignored will weaken the resolve of any flamer short of a VERY seasoned professional. It's not the easiest tactic, but it is the simpleist, and most efficient.
Remember folks - every post you make shows towards the character of SBG. Our worst will be the benchmark we will all be measured by. If you flame, at least show you have a brain and some consideration to a Guest member that'll read it. No matter where you post, if you mention SBG on another site you are an ambassador for all of us. Do us all proud, and we'll do our best to do right by you.
We don't need to stand idly by as some fool fills the forums with garbage, and soils our threads with their vile and stupid posts. We do need to keep from going to their level though. We are SBG members, we are family, and won't take no crap off nobody - but we must show we're holding ourselves to a higher standard at all times!
Lets point this little tidbit of info out first - no one ever "wins". You may humble your enemy, and be crowned Flame Master, but you will probably also be seen as a bully. Even if you go in as a peacemaker you will be part of it no matter how noble your intentions are. You post - you're in the game and fair target.
1) Strategy! - First off folks - if you want to be the humbler and not the fool you must think before you hit "Submit". Always plan ahead of your opponent's next post. You can normally know their direction of attack and favorite ways to flame back, head em off at the pass. Don't just go in blindly listing off insults and send the autocensor into shock. If you're as intelligent as you want to prove you are, show it.
2) "CENSORSHIP!" - What a BS cry to make when someone gets in to deep and gets spanked for going over the line. Censorship is what a government does, on a website it's called moderators doing their job. This isn't a public property where you're staging a protest, websites and forums are often times someone's business and form of income. Get over it, play by the rules or get banned.
3) Flaming Ones Self - If you get hot headed and lose your head, imagen in this fire fight you just rolled in napalm and decided to set off fireworks. If you don't maintain control, stay rational, and keep your wits you're as good as cooked. It's blood in the water of a shark tank. I can't stress this enough - DO NOT LOSE YOUR COOL, you can't let some noob get under your skin!
4) "The Legal Department" - Don't threaten lawsuits over the internet. The only examples of where this type of crap works is by large corporations that are willing to burn millions of dollars. Half the time it doesn't even work for them. I've been "threatened" several times since 1995 because I hurt someone's feelings/reputation. I have yet to get served. Two of those threateners I actually gave my full contact info to make it easier on them. Anyone that's a true Master of the Flame will laugh at you.. a lot.. and inform everyone else why to laugh at you.
5) Don't Swear - Bad words are just that, bad words. They might cause a 6 year old's eyes to widen and mouth to drop, but chances are anyone that's gone through the public-education system has become immune to them. A good flame burns and leave marks, but never requires a never ending supply of vulgar expletives. You should write that down.
6) Cross-Forum Flame Wars - This is the most useless get-no-where tactic I've ever seen. You leave your "turf" and try crap on their forum. You'll be absolutely no better than their renegade member, any point you were wanting to make is moot. You've come from nowhere, you have no creditials - you are just a trouble maker to them.
7) Ignore Them - Being ignored will weaken the resolve of any flamer short of a VERY seasoned professional. It's not the easiest tactic, but it is the simpleist, and most efficient.
Remember folks - every post you make shows towards the character of SBG. Our worst will be the benchmark we will all be measured by. If you flame, at least show you have a brain and some consideration to a Guest member that'll read it. No matter where you post, if you mention SBG on another site you are an ambassador for all of us. Do us all proud, and we'll do our best to do right by you.
We don't need to stand idly by as some fool fills the forums with garbage, and soils our threads with their vile and stupid posts. We do need to keep from going to their level though. We are SBG members, we are family, and won't take no crap off nobody - but we must show we're holding ourselves to a higher standard at all times!