NationStates Jolt Archive

Just earlier this day, I was called a flamer for the wrong reasons. To clarify what is and what is not flaming, I will set up this guide to assist new and confused players.

(All swear words are censored to appease the mods.)

What is Flaming?

Flaming is insulting another person over the net directly. This includes obscene words, telling them they are a fool, whatever.

Example: "I think you are a [expletive deleted], get out of my thread you [expletive deleted]!

There is a right and a wrong way to reply to this.

Incorrect reply: "How dare you call me a [expletive deleted]! I bet you [expletive deleted] your mother every night!

Correct Reply: "That is flaming. I will report you to the mods"

Tell the mods if somone is flaming you. don't flame back. when the mods see the flame insult, they will either give the person a warning if they are a first time offender, or delete them if they are a continual offender. If the post contains obscene words they may delete it.

What is not Flaming?

The following is examples of non-flaming that may be considered flaming by newbies and the confused.

"That is godmodding... I suggest you scale down that mech. 4 legs and a Nuke launcher holding 9,000000 nukes? Ha ha ha! I think you are a little too small for that. Scale it down."

This was not flaming. This was constructive critisism. if you take this the right way, you may actually be praised for making ammendments to your godmodding/subject.

never reply: "You flamed me! I'm telling the mods on you!"

This may just get you laughed at, because there was no flaming involved. Constructive critisism may seem harsh at times, but it can be beneficial.

How should I react if I am flamed?

Somtimes it is best to ignore it. After all, they were stupid enough to insult someone on the net, which is cowardly and shows just how weak they are. But If they keep flaming you and follow you around, then do what i said above and tell an mod. The mods should act fast and decisively, taking action against the offending nation.

What if I am flamed via telegram?

Keep the telegram in your inbox-you will need it. Then go and tell a mod straight away. They will check your inbox, and if the telegram is bad enough, give the offender a warning. If they do it again, the mods may delete them. NEVER reply to telegram flaming. Just quietly inform a mod.

They came back as a new nation and keep flaming me! what should I do?

They're being spiteful eh? Just go and tell the mods again, and this time they should be removed straight away. after a while, they should get bored of doing this and wonder off. If not, the mods may give them an IP ban. (I don't know if this still applies in the new forums...)

Keep your cool, and flamers will never pose a problem. Happy RP'ing! and remember, Constructive critisism is good, as long as they don't use any naughty words!

Input by others:

Info by: Momanguise

Flame baiting, a quasi-complete guide

Flame baiting is, like it's counterpart Flaming, and ooc transgression. Flame baiting is far more subtle and covert action, it is an underhand tactic that is designed to provoke a response from another player. As the name suggest, the aim of this crime is to lay the bait for another player to Flame you back, and then incur the wrath of The Mods.

Example of Flame baiting

In the following example, Nation Y is a known Jewish player.

Nation X 'I firmly believe that the holocaust was a fake and the construction of a global Zionist conspiracy.'

Nation Y 'Why you <insert expletive> Nazi <expletive>head, I hope you <expletive> well go and die in a etc.'

(Feel free to add your own opinions. Lets destroy flaming together!)

-The TIN Man.

OOC: you've taken up my suggestion then? I've replaced you as seph's teacher. I think i've made some pregress....

Nice thread! Just as a piece of constructive critisism I would say that saying 'Ha ha ha!' could be constituted as a mild flamebait. Just my opinion.

tin i wish to appologize

I still think he's ignoring you Golddragons. I'll post it for you

My student wishes to apologise for accusing you of flaming. He understands that he has over-reacted and wishes to say how sorry he is. He also wants you to un-ignore him. Do you accept?

Nice thread! Just as a piece of constructive critisism I would say that saying 'Ha ha ha!' could be constituted as a mild flamebait. Just my opinion.

True. but it's not enough to contribute critisism from the mods. I think they would find it acceptable.

I still think he's ignoring you Golddragons. I'll post it for you

My student wishes to apologise for accusing you of flaming. He understands that he has over-reacted and wishes to say how sorry he is. He also wants you to un-ignore him. Do you accept?

Oh, very well. But i still ignore him IC. Just try and train him, please.

Well, the Mods clearly have better things to do. Still, I only ever mock someone ic.

Words of Wisdom eh? mehehehehe Good show TIN, :D

There Golddragons/Septh. I have helped you. You msut now be good while I'm busy over the next 2 weeks. do you promise not to Godmod?

Words of Wisdom eh? mehehehehe Good show TIN, :D

*Bows* I just felt that it was time to explain a few things to the youngsters.

I doubt this will become a sticky, but at least I taught Sephrioth a thing or two.

Sticky eh? here *hands glue* use this...

Okay that was lame...but yeah i suppose you taught him a lesson, hopefully he remembers it

Hmm... Perhaps whenever there is a flame contest going on I can always bump this...

does no-one else wish to add their own wisdom to this thread? I'm sure there are more aspects of flaming we don't know about. Point out anything good, and i'll add it to the main post.

B to the U to the M to the P

That spells bump, now come and see!

One part of flaming v not flaming has to be target.

If my president stands up and yells explicatives at the army coming to run over his capital - not flaming.

If I (the player) yell explicatives at you (the player) because you beat me in a war - flaming.

One part of flaming v not flaming has to be target.

If my president stands up and yells explicatives at the army coming to run over his capital - not flaming.

If I (the player) yell explicatives at you (the player) because you beat me in a war - flaming.

As I said, IC expletives are fine, OOC Expletives targeting the player are not.

I'd say that a section should be added to distinguish between IC and OOC offensives. If an IC announcement is made that targets a specific country, normally, it's fine. But if continuous verbal attacks are made, due to OOC reasons, then there are grounds of flaming.

Yeah you should add a bit about the context. Whether its flaming (designed to upset you) or just poking fun in a friendly manner should be looked at carefully, and IC ve OOC is very important.
Maybe something about flamebaiting being nearly as bad could be added. I'd post it myself, but Im lazy and you seem to have a better way with words than me.

Yeah you should add a bit about the context. Whether its flaming (designed to upset you) or just poking fun in a friendly manner should be looked at carefully, and IC ve OOC is very important.
Maybe something about flamebaiting being nearly as bad could be added. I'd post it myself, but Im lazy and you seem to have a better way with words than me.

As soon as somone explains it to me, (I'm not actually sure how to dexribe it) I will put it on the main thread and give credit to the person that did.

(read my sig; the first line)

Maybe you should just add a side note. Not to over react. Assuming flaming is as bad as flaming. Example follows picking up on what was obviously just a slip of your fingers when typing one word in the above post.

ie teehee you smelt of cheese because you spelt describe incorrectly. :p

vs

You blatantly cant spell somethig as simple, are you some sort of stupid, bed wetting inbred?

And the context, as I was explining an example, this was blatantly not flaming. If anyone were to call the mods (on free phone 0800 54FLAME) now, they would be as bad as a real flamer.

I think that OOC vs IC insults would make up the largest part of the context section though.

Hmm... I have some research to do into flaming... I need to know more.

Hmm... I have some research to do into flaming... I need to know more.

Perhaps you ought to experiment and see what the mods ban you for TIN? :P

Come on that statement asked for it :)

As I am inhumanly bored, I will try and do an entry on flame baiting.

Flame baiting, a quasi-complete guide

Flame baiting is, like it's counterpart Flaming, and ooc transgression. Flame baiting is far more subtle and covert action, it is an underhand tactic that is designed to provoke a response from another player. As the name suggest, the aim of this crime is to lay the bait for another player to Flame you back, and then incur the wrath of The Mods.

Example of Flame baiting

In the following example, Nation Y is a known Jewish player.

Nation X 'I firmly believe that the holocaust was a fake and the construction of a global Zionist conspiracy.'

Nation Y 'Why you <insert expletive> Nazi <expletive>head, I hope you <expletive> well go and die in a etc.'

As I am inhumanly bored, I will try and do an entry on flame baiting.

Flame baiting, a quasi-complete guide

Flame baiting is, like it's counterpart Flaming, and ooc transgression. Flame baiting is far more subtle and covert action, it is an underhand tactic that is designed to provoke a response from another player. As the name suggest, the aim of this crime is to lay the bait for another player to Flame you back, and then incur the wrath of The Mods.

Example of Flame baiting

In the following example, Nation Y is a known Jewish player.

Nation X 'I firmly believe that the holocaust was a fake and the construction of a global Zionist conspiracy.'

Nation Y 'Why you <insert expletive> Nazi <expletive>head, I hope you <expletive> well go and die in a etc.'

Thanks. I will add this.

Thanks :)

Thanks :)

check the 1st post to see your handywork! :D

Extras
Flaming is a sign of a horrible roleplayer. There is a difference between reacting to a nations' actions within NS, and mocking it. For example, if a nation creates a situation/roleplay that may offend someone else, know that it really shouldn't be taken too seriously, unless it is a blatant offense to a specific group of people/person. Remember, Nationstates is only a game, and specific people take it much too seriously.

If there is something you disagree with, then make it creative, and reply to it In Character. There are so many things you can do, other than stoop down to the lowest level possible, and bash something OOC'ly. For example:

Nation A: Today, the President has decided to expel all proven Communists, due to the fact that recent terrorist actions, proven to be backed by Communists, are threatening to destabilize the nation, and force it into anarchy.

Wrongs Way to Respond: Nation B: Communists aren't terrorists you ***. You suck at RP'ing. Go to ****.

Nation B: Communizm Rulez!! (insert many smilies, probably the ones shooting guns). They should kill everyone in your country. Long live Stalin!!!

There are many ways to reply to such an action. Make it creative.

One of Many Right Ways to Respond
Nation B: In reaction to the decision of 'Nation A', the President has stated that "These actions are too hasty, as Nation A in all honesty, has shown no proof that the Communists are really behind the attacks." We believe that they should investigate into it more thoroughly.

It's all up to you. Free-form roleplay gives you many options in reacting to this sort of thing. Remember, if someone says something offensive, don't respond to it, report it to the mods.

This may not get stickified, but it's been wikified:

http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Flaming

This may not get stickified, but it's been wikified:

http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Flaming

cool! Now I am imortalised.

Extras
Flaming is a sign of a horrible roleplayer. There is a difference between reacting to a nations' actions within NS, and mocking it. For example, if a nation creates a situation/roleplay that may offend someone else, know that it really shouldn't be taken too seriously, unless it is a blatant offense to a specific group of people/person. Remember, Nationstates is only a game, and specific people take it much too seriously.

If there is something you disagree with, then make it creative, and reply to it In Character. There are so many things you can do, other than stoop down to the lowest level possible, and bash something OOC'ly. For example:

Nation A: Today, the President has decided to expel all proven Communists, due to the fact that recent terrorist actions, proven to be backed by Communists, are threatening to destabilize the nation, and force it into anarchy.

Wrongs Way to Respond: Nation B: Communists aren't terrorists you ***. You suck at RP'ing. Go to ****.

Nation B: Communizm Rulez!! (insert many smilies, probably the ones shooting guns). They should kill everyone in your country. Long live Stalin!!!

There are many ways to reply to such an action. Make it creative.

One of Many Right Ways to Respond
Nation B: In reaction to the decision of 'Nation A', the President has stated that "These actions are too hasty, as Nation A in all honesty, has shown no proof that the Communists are really behind the attacks." We believe that they should investigate into it more thoroughly.

It's all up to you. Free-form roleplay gives you many options in reacting to this sort of thing. Remember, if someone says something offensive, don't respond to it, report it to the mods.


Alright, here I disagree. We all get upset, we all get emotionally involved in what is going on. A single flame from any is going to happen now and again, and does not in and of itself reflect on the roleplaying ability.

Continued flaming is a horse of a different color. When one cannot do anything but flame and is unable to be civil outside of the RP format... then there's a problem.

We all make mistakes. When mistakes become habitual, they are no longer mistakes. This is why mods give warnings.

I do understand the fact that these things happen, and that majority of all nations will slip up every once in a while, but we all need to remember that this is only a game, and shouldn't be taken too seriously.

I do understand the fact that these things happen, and that majority of all nations will slip up every once in a while, but we all need to remember that this is only a game, and shouldn't be taken too seriously.

True. My point is merely "one slip doesn't make a bad RP'er". Everyone slips. Its when the flaming becomes the majority of the RP - or destroys RPs - that theres a problem.

True. My point is merely "one slip doesn't make a bad RP'er". Everyone slips. Its when the flaming becomes the majority of the RP - or destroys RPs - that theres a problem.

True True. Good point.

*kerr-bump!*

Bumped Because I feel some people need to read it and learn just what flaming is.

This thread is wikified:

http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Flaming

I don't know about you, but I find well placed In Character insults to be rather fun and suiting for some situations, they could be concidered under flaming, but the fact they stay on topic and within the boundaries of the game make the insult legitimate and in some cases, damn good fun.

I submit the following example:

http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=375622&page=3

To be honest, I probably should have quelled the urge to take advantage of such a silly thread, but lets face it, when a nation bans male homosexuality it's just asking for it... the following page shows the situation reaching a climax as my diplomat implied their leader much be gay, and how they threatened me with nuclear weapons because of the "insult".

What fun.

Some decisions can somtimes be decided to be "over the top."

That didn't seem to bad to me.

Well I wasn't about to outright call him gay, we were even, to a degree, respectful about it.