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Flaming Policy
What is a Flamer?
"Flaming is the hostile and insulting interaction between Internet users. Flaming usually occurs in the social context of a discussion board, Internet Relay Chat (IRC) or even through e-mail. An Internet user typically generates a flame response to other posts or users posting on a site, and is usually not constructive, does not clarify a discussion, and does not persuade others. Sometimes, flamers attempt to assert their authority, or establish a position of superiority over other users. Other times, a flamer is simply an individual who believes he or she carries the only valid opinion. This leads him or her to personally attack those who disagree. Occasionally, flamers wish to upset and offend other members of the forum, in which case they are trolls. Most often however, flames are angry or insulting messages transmitted by people who have strong feelings about a subject." --Wikipedia
Even having defined a flamer, it is important to remember that every case is different. Therefore, deciding who is or isn't a flamer, and how that contributor will be dealt with, is at the final and sole discretion of the Care2 staff.
This is also made clear in our Terms of Service. By creating an account, you are agreeing to abide by our Terms of Service. This means, of course, that you have chosen to abide by this policy.
Types of Flamers
Humans have always loved insulting one another, and on the Web this seems to be especially true. Here are three kinds of Flamers:
Garden Variety Flamers - Your average flamer is often very good at reading and attacking other users where it hits hardest (values, family, background). Flamers do not necessarily subscribe to the point of view they are touting, but they will defend it whole-heartedly. They lead with their passions first and their reason later (if at all).
Baiters - Most baiters tend to seek out other flamers with the intent of exploiting an already volatile personality and/or situation. However, a baiter may also be accidental, unconsciously starting a flame war simply by engaging a flamer (flames are easy to stoke).
Trolls - As mentioned earlier, trolls are users whose sole purpose in joining a discussion is to anger or incite the parties involved. They don't invest in the conversation or care about discourse; they come in to take the place down. They target and pick off people at will.
Etiquette
Use the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. Use common sense at all times, and if you don't have any then here are a few helpful hints:
- Be polite, civil and respectful.
- Appreciate that text comes without tone, subtlety, facial cues or body language.
- If you must argue, make it about facts and figures, not people and personalities (it’s the post, not the poster).
- Avoid sweeping statements (ie: 'All Americans are ignorant;' 'Women are not as strong as men,' etc.).
- Take the high road; if you're being flamed, don't be a baiter.
- Recognize that you, too, have biases and bring them to light.
- Be realistic; your opinion is not likely to change because of a comment, so why would you fight to change someone else's?
Spotting Flamers
First, determine whether you are really being flamed:
· The flamer attacks you personally (calling you names, being aggressive or threatening to you, making sweeping statements about you and/or your beliefs).
· The flamer ignores your attempts to respond to their accusations.
· The flamer presents his/her opinion as the only correct one.
· The flamer makes a statement or poses a question that seems hateful, abusive, inflammatory or racist or otherwise serves to marginalize a person or persons, or generalizes about a person or persons.
· The flamer makes a personal statement or poses a personal question that makes you uncomfortable or angry.
If you're unsure whether you're being flamed or not, contact our support team. Include a link and we'll determine whether action is warranted.
Diffusing the Situation
There are some steps you can take to diffuse the situation.
1. Ignore them - This is the most effective way to discourage a flamer; flamers crave baiters. Ignoring them will likely cause them to go away, and will allow us to see if they're habitual flamers or just responding to a subject they feel passionate about.
2. Respond reasonably - Sometimes, if you present a rational, reasoned, respectful retort to their flame, they will sidelined by it. More often than not, however, they will see it as bait and choose to continue the war.
3. Disengage - Step back and let the issue sit. Many times this will cause the flame to die out. If you get angry, you risk becoming a baiter.
Putting Out the Flame
Once a user has been pinpointed as a flamer by our staff (one or more instances of obvious flaming, and/or reported flaming from other site users), here's what we will do, in order:
1. Send the user a warning indicating that they're at risk of losing their account. This may or may not be accompanied by a temporary suspension depending on the situation. Sometimes we may post a comment in the thread so that users will know we are dealing with the situation, but may sometimes choose not to if we don't want to call attention to it.
2. Observe the user for reform or response. If the user reforms or responds and apologizes, they will be given another chance.
3. If they refuse to do so, we will revoke their status or block their account, whichever we deem more appropriate for the situation. The blocked user is not invited back to Care2.
In Closing
This bears repeating: Determining whether someone is a Flamer is at the sole discretion of Care2 staff. Problematic behavior will be dealt with if and when we deem it necessary.
Care2 is a community that values openness and intelligent discourse. Hate speech and abusive or inflammatory behavior is not needed to get your point across. Act like adults and you will be treated as such. Care2's staff hopes to help you make the most and the best of this experience in a way that allows others to have a good experience too.
Thank you.
Kristen
Care2 Support |
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Saturday March 1, 2008, 5:41 pm
Thank you! |
JOCELYNE A. (241) |
Sunday March 2, 2008, 10:08 pm
GUESS YOU SAID IT ALL ALI, CONGRATS !! |
Dale Husband (325) |
Tuesday March 18, 2008, 11:33 pm
We have been needing this for years. Thank you for addressing, FINALLY, one of my biggest concerns! |
Morgan G. (69) |
Saturday March 22, 2008, 11:05 pm
My only concern is that clients are not always being told exactly what they did that stepped over the line so that they cannot go back and review this or defend themselves if they feel this is unwarranted or in error. If accused of "flaming" more specific information should be given to the accused. |
Linda H. (60) |
Wednesday May 7, 2008, 7:11 pm
I have been harassed ,etc. on care2 to the point that I have not wanted to go near my computer and I did report it. I an glad to see that you have some expiation of what to expect of you. Thanks! |
Elle J. (170) |
Wednesday May 14, 2008, 2:14 pm
Thank you for the clarification on this issue. I have encountered people with opposing views but I haven't considered them troublemakers. They are just people with different opinions. I would never attack them because they didn't agree with me but I do think we need to maintain a position of non censorship. I think everyone would agree with that. That way views of an opposing nature can be explored in an adult like manner. As long as I have been on Care 2, I have never used inappropriate language and I choose my friend very carefully and I have found no such behavior in them. I can't say that censoring is a way to have a good experience. I do however completely agree with you that "trolls" are troublemakers and here for that sole reason. Thank you for recognizing that fact. I don't think I have any flamers as friends either. Some are very passionate as I am about a cause or an injustice but that is about as far as it goes. I appreciate the time you took to clarify things. |
pickerel weed (0) |
Thursday May 22, 2008, 5:03 pm
this is a good thing! unfortunately, this is needed to keep everyone civilized...thank you. |
pickerel weed (0) |
Thursday May 22, 2008, 5:03 pm
this is a good thing! unfortunately, this is needed to keep everyone civilized...thank you. |
YLynn F. (54) |
Friday June 13, 2008, 9:56 am
Do you consider if beinbg Flamed if I stepped down from a Group Hosting Position & then recieved 14 Group Invites from & to groups all owned by the owner of the group I quit hosting? |
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