flame bait
Deliberate online provocation
Flame bait is content posted online specifically to provoke angry responses or start arguments.
The term comes from fishing—you're baiting a hook to catch flames (hostile replies).
Someone might post a deliberately controversial opinion as flame bait: That comment about the Star Wars prequels was obvious flame bait.
Also written as one word: flamebait.
Deliberate online antagonist
- provocateurOne who deliberately incites
- pot-stirrerOne who foments discord
- firebrandAgitator or burning stick
- hecklerOne who taunts performers
antagonist · instigator · agitator · cyberbully · harasser · troublemaker · incendiary · snarky
Causing or designed for burning
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
- antagonizingDeliberately causing hostility
- goadingInciting through persistent pressure
- tauntingInsulting to provoke
inciting · triggering · needling · contentious · divisive · offensive · outrageous · controversial
Sensationalized content for traffic
- threadFiber for stitching
- forumGathering place for discourse
- postVertical structural beam
- viralSpreading quickly online
engagement · reaction · reply · pile-on · dogpile · dunking · ratio · brigading
Intense hostile emotion
- outrageFierce moral indignation
- furyIntense violent anger
- rageIntense, violent anger
- indignationAnger from mistreatment
resentment · hostility · offense · umbrage · triggered · incensed · riled · provoked
Verbal clash over differences
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- debateFormal argument on issues
- conflictOpposition between parties
- contentionAssertion or rivalry
discord · disagreement · polarization · divisiveness · hot-button · outrage · backlash · firestorm
troll
Deliberate online antagonist
- provocateurOne who deliberately incites
- pot-stirrerOne who foments discord
- firebrandAgitator or burning stick
heckler · antagonist · instigator · agitator · cyberbully · harasser · troublemaker · incendiary · snarky · mocking
incendiary
Causing or designed for burning
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
- antagonizingDeliberately causing hostility
- goadingInciting through persistent pressure
taunting · inciting · triggering · needling · contentious · divisive · offensive · outrageous · controversial · loaded
clickbait
Sensationalized content for traffic
viral · engagement · reaction · reply · pile-on · dogpile · dunking · ratio · brigading · shitstorm
anger
Intense hostile emotion
indignation · resentment · hostility · offense · umbrage · triggered · incensed · riled · provoked · aggravated
dispute
Verbal clash over differences
contention · discord · disagreement · polarization · divisiveness · hot-button · outrage · backlash · firestorm · blowback
- cyberbullyingcyberbullying, online harassment, targeted harassment, doxxing, threats
- online trollingtrolling, trollface, shitposting, taunting, provocation
- UsenetUsenet, newsgroup, newsgroups, NNTP, post
flame baitgood faith argument
constructive criticism · civil discourse · bridge-building · peace offering · olive branch
flame, bait, flames, flamed, flaming, flamer, flamers, baits, baited