Message Board Flamers Bible

[[EoM]Console]

Revision 1: Dec. 2, 1987 by Joe Talmadge

[glow=red,2,300]This is FUNNY[/glow]

In the time I have been posting to net, I have encountered flame wars of epic
proportions (Brahms Gang vs. Tim Maroney), and flame wars of a more modest
nature (MIT vs. CIT). Flaming has evolved into a highly-stylized art form,
complete with unwritten rules and guidelines.

Here, I have attempted to document the Art of Flaming, in such a way as it will
be interesting to old hands (flame masters) and novices (newbies) alike.
Without a further ado, then, I present:

***********The twelve commandments of flaming**************

1. Make things up about your opponent: It's important to make your lies sound
true. Preface your argument with the word "clearly.""Clearly, Fred
Flooney is a liar, and a dirtball to boot."

2. Be an armchair psychologist: You're a smart person. You've heard of
Freud. You took a psychology course in college. Clearly, you're qualified
to psychoanalyze your opponent."Polly Purebread, by using the word
'zucchini' in her posting, shows she has a bad case of envy."

3. Cross-post your flames: Everyone on the net is just waiting for the next
literary masterpiece to leave your terminal. They're all holding their breaths until your next flame.

4. Conspiracies abound: If everyone's against you, the reason can't
*possibly* be that you're a dirtball. There's obviously a conspiracy
against you, and you will be doing the entire net a favor by exposing it.

5. Lawsuit threats: This is the reverse of Rule #4 (sort of like the Yin &
Yang of flaming). Threatening a lawsuit is always considered to be in
good form."By saying that I've posted to the wrong forum, Bertha has
libelled me and slandered me. See you in court, Bertha."

6. Force them to document their claims: Even if Harry Hoinkus states outright
that he likes tomato sauce on his pasta, you should demand documentation.
If Newsweek hasn't written an article on Harry's pasta preferences, then
Harry's obviously lying.

7. Use foreign phrases: French is good, but Latin is the lingua franca of
flaming. You should use the words "ad hominem" at least three times per
article. Other favorite Latin phrases are "ad nauseum","vini, vidi,
vici","fetuccini alfredo".

8. Tell 'em how smart you are: Why use intelligent arguments to convince them
you're smart when all you have to do is tell them? State that you're a
member of Mensa or Mega or Idiots of America. Tell them the scores you
received on every exam since high school."I got an 800 on my SATs, LSATs,
GREs, MCATs, and I can also spell the word 'premeiotic'".

9. Accuse your opponent of censorship. It is your right as a citizen
to post whatever the hell you want to the net. Anyone who tries to limit your free-speech or move
a flame war to email is either a communist, a fascist, or both.

10. Doubt their existence: You've never actually seen your opponent, have you?
And since you're the center of the universe, you should have seen them by
now, shouldn't you? Therefore, THEY DON'T EXIST! This is the beauty of
flamers' logic.

11. Lie, cheat, steal, leave the toilet seat up.

12. When in doubt, insult: If you forget the other 11 rules, remember this one.
At some point during your wonderful career as a flamer you will
undoubtedly end up in a flame war with someone who is better than you.
This person will expose your lies, tear apart your arguments, make you
look generally like a bozo. At this point, there's only one thing to do:
insult the dirtbag!!!"Oh yeah? Well, your mother does wear's army boots or has
hairy armpits."

The Golden Rule of Flaming:

My flames will be witty, insulting, interesting, funny, caustic, or sarcastic,
but never, ever, will they be boring.

FUN AND FRIENDLY

Here endeth the scriptures.

Joe Talmadge