Wednesday, May 27, 1998

Flame on: How to avoid being charred online

By BRIAN BETHEL / Abilene Reporter-News

One of the great things about writing columns is that you can freely express your own opinion.

I don't pull too many punches with my own opinions here, and naturally, there are times when readers disagree.

Last week's take on the Microsoft anti-trust action generated a healthy response. Some of you agree with me, while others ...

Well, let's just say you don't.

Actually, all of the responses I received were generally reasoned and well-expressed arguments, pro or con.

But on the Internet at large, things are not always so civilized.

So, this week, we'll take a look at flaming and how to contend with it when it inevitably happens.

"Flaming" is when someone really doesn't like something you've written on the Internet and tells you so, usually in a not-so-civilized manner.

If you participate in any sort of forum in which your private opinions are made public, then chances are this will happen at some point.

For example: You, being a reasonable person, do not like firearms.

Your opponent, also being a reasonable person, does.

For whatever reason, you decide to write a passionate plea to alt.guns.big.and.semi-automatic decrying the woe that such weapons bring.

Your opponent, a cost accountant from Fresno and weekend warrior, reads your words and decides that his sensibilities have been offended and his hobby, which he has worked to promote as safe and fun under controlled conditions, has been unfairly characterized.

Here we have a disagreement in fundamental philosophy.

From one perspective, we have someone opposed to the use of a dangerous object, one often utilized to ignoble ends.

From the other perspective, we have someone who sees such objects as tools, neither good nor evil, but necessary and useful if used properly.

In case you haven't figured it out, there's going to be a fight.

If the usual flaming patterns are followed, your opponent may be quite civil in the beginning. A few messages of thoughtful patter will be exchanged by either side.

But eventually, something will break. Someone will, from the opposing perspective, step over the line. Sometimes, this happens with the very first message.

When it does happen, you'll know. This is where the shouting match begins, usually degenerating into scatological references concerning your opponent's parentage and intellectual capacity.

You are suddenly locked into a full-bore flame war, and the only ways out are one side conceding defeat, compromising (rare) or both parties giving up.

One of the easiest lures into this sort of situation is a message called a "troll," i.e. the same sort of thing certain fisherfolk do.

Someone will post a message with content so outrageous that anyone passing by to read it will probably be offended. This is, of course, a deliberate action on their part. They want to fight.

Recognizing obvious trolls is the first step to living a relatively flame-free existence.

For the most part, the rest is common sense: The easiest way to avoid a flame war is to not post. Barring that, the next method is posting with care.

Check out the alt.atheism Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) file on debating. Although it's written for those who want to answer the Ultimate Question, it also contains a stellar overview of how to craft a logical argument.

Since it's written for debating an essentially unanswerable question, you get a good overview of how to write an argument either pro or con.

Finally, before you send in a response, especially concerning a subject you feel really passionate about, stop. Take a moment to step away and come back to what you've written.

Is there a better way to get across your points? Were you as clear and precise as you could have been, or did you let emotions get in the way?

And is the person you're about to send this off to or the public forum you are about to invade likely to even care?

As I said, sometimes the best way to avoid the infamous flame is to avoid posting altogether.

There are, of course, situations where there is little you can do. If someone doesn't like you, the anonymity of the Internet gives plenty of leeway to be a jerk, and many take advantage of the opportunity.

But a little common sense can make the difference between being lightly singed and becoming charbroiled.

Brian Bethel may be reached at (915) 676-6735 or bethelb@abinews.com.