A 'flame-starter' is an individual or entity that intentionally provokes conflict, controversy, or strong emotional reactions, particularly online. They achieve this through inflammatory statements, provocative posts, or the spread of misinformation. Their aim is often to elicit angry responses, fuel arguments, and disrupt online communities or social discourse. Flame-starters thrive on discord and often engage in deliberately offensive or malicious behavior to incite outrage and negativity. They can exist in online communities, political discourse, and even in personal communications. They exploit vulnerabilities and prey on sensitivities to spread negativity.
Flame-starter meaning with examples
- The anonymous commenter, known for their inflammatory posts, was quickly identified as a flame-starter, consistently baiting users with deliberately offensive and unsubstantiated claims in online forums. They specialized in crafting divisive messages.
- Political pundits accused the opposition party of using the leaked documents as a flame-starter, seeking to ignite public outrage and derail the government's proposed legislation through selective misrepresentation in their articles.
- In the heated gaming community, the streamer's constant taunting and accusations toward other players labeled them a flame-starter, ruining gameplay for players not involved, pushing users into arguments.
- Social media trolls often act as flame-starters, posting deliberately provocative content and then delighting in the ensuing chaos and heated arguments among users about the information.
- During the board meeting, the consultant was exposed as a flame-starter when it became evident they fabricated data, sparking conflict among team members to destabilize the decision-making processes for their advantage.