flame wars

[d38dm8nw81k1ng]

what's people's opinions on flamewars? i personally find them funny depending on the subject. my personal favourite was linus' flamewar against the GNOME developers (lol @ interface nazis). link here: http://lists.osdl.org/pipermail/desk.../date.html#390

DISCLAIMER: this is not a thread about invading other boards or where to have a flamewar. this is merely about discussing whether flamewars are funny, and which flamewars have been the best/funniest. PLEASE don't get this thread locked.

[techieMoe]

For me personally it depends completely on the subject matter. I find flame wars between people who care WAY too much for something I find silly (such as a sports team, sport, brand of automobile, brand of beer) quite amusing. If it's something I actually care about however, I find it hard to take a step back and be objective.

[carlosponti]

sometimes they can be when both sides of the argument have no idea what they are actually talking about.

[techieMoe]

sometimes they can be when both sides of the argument have no idea what they are actually talking about.

Or just one side doesn't know what they're talking about, such as that deal with the mayor of Tuttle, Oklahoma.

[carlosponti]

Or just one side doesn't know what they're talking about, such as that deal with the mayor of Tuttle, Oklahoma.

yeah that fiasco was funny. that shelley chick is still getting her facts incorrect too.

[bigtomrodney]

Tey're funny when they appear to be one sided, or as mentioned when one side is completely clueless about a subject. That's entertainment to quote the Jam. But when you have two sides fighting tooth and nail over something that could better be solved with civil discussion, well that's just frustrating. Regardless of the side you take you just want frank discussion and pride put aside.

[fingal]

I try to remember the little bit of philosophy I know. In real terms, 'an argument' isn't a disagreement, but a civilised discussion where a group of people try to arrive at some sort of truth. To attack someone personally - I learned - is an ad hominem argument. You can't prove that you have a point by personally attacking someone. That's why I don't like flame wars. You have to address someone's point of view, not slate them personally.

Having said that, we're all human and everyone needs to let off steam once in a while. I have flamed people before, but I always felt dirty afterwards. Some people deserve to get an ear bashing, but I wouldn't do it on here lest I incur the wrath of Mod.

When I was a student I caused some problems in one of my seminars by attacking Socrates for being a bigot. Ironic really ...

[budman7]

I think flamewars can be funny until the personal attacks start

[oz]

Flame wars generally are not funny in my opinion, but they can be at times. You probably should have made a "sometimes" category.

[d38dm8nw81k1ng]

i think they can be funny when they get personal, but only when it shows one has went completely off the rails (like calling all linux users communists and saying bill gates is a "true american" for example).

also, all the people that voted "you suck" and "no" well... you're all poll nazis!! >.>

jk