flame

A flame is noun associated with the action of flaming, what people do when they express a strongly held opinion without holding back any emotion. Although flames often get out of hand, they have a purpose in the ecology of cyberspace. Many flames are aimed at teaching someone something (usually in overstated language) or stopping them from doing something (like offending other people). Flame messages often use more brute force than is strictly necessary, but that's half the fun. Netiquette does ask that you consider the art of flaming before pulling out the flame-thrower.