Quite frequently, small (or not so small) flame wars erupt between halfbakers, often off-topic. I'm as guilty as anyone for doing this (Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa) ......

Often, another HalfBaker cuts in with an anno like "Come on, guys, be nice to one another." which sometimes has the desired and desireable effect of bringing battling 'Bakers to their senses.

Maybe what is needed is a standard symbol (like a smiley) or phrase that can be used when the heat is getiing turned up a little high ? Something like a stylised fire extinguisher ?

Any suggestions ?
-- 8th of 7, Aug 07 2002

(?) Pour Encourager Les Autres .... http://www.halfbake...20swap_20punishment
A newbie posts a controversial idea and gets char-broiled ... [8th of 7, Aug 07 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

(?) Flame War Forum http://www.flamewarforum.com
There's plenty of fire on this website! [FlameBaker, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Are you saying there's someone more disliked than me? Wow!
-- NickTheGreat, Aug 07 2002


I favor use of the delete button. This not, after all, being a chat room.
-- DrCurry, Aug 07 2002


Nick The Great: Watch and learn, dear boy. Check out my "brain transplant" idea (see link).

"So, Luke, you want to be a Jedi ?"

Blissmiss: Well, four of the five for certain, but what's a "hellian" ? I'll go on vacation any time, just send me the tickets ..... I did keep an eye on the 'Bakery while I was away, and I voted a bit, but the Videophone is just too tricky for inputting decent annotations, so I saved up all my spite and insanity for my return. The first bitter fruits seem to be just about ready for picking ...
-- 8th of 7, Aug 07 2002


Steve: Yes ... I would add that capability to the idea's author too, but it's something like what I had in mind.

Prior to that someone could anno "PSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHT" (The sound of an extinguisher being fired) to gently remind the bickering parties that they are out of line.

DrCurry: Valid in many cases, but I was advocating something a little less drastic. Watching the verbal ping-pong can be fun, but sometimes it gets out of hand. <Restrains mean-spirited impulse to delete DrCurry's anno>
-- 8th of 7, Aug 07 2002


Maybe the moderator could edit the annos to change their meanings 180 degrees, so they kiss and make up. The remainder deleted to protect the not so innocent.
-- FarmerJohn, Aug 07 2002


FarmerJohn: No, I don't think so. People would vomit. And besides, no-one would ever believe stuff like that. The idea is to damp down the flames, not drown everyone in sugar syrup ... you'll be wanting tweeting bluebirds and singing animals next .... the last thing we want is a "Disney" button ....
-- 8th of 7, Aug 07 2002


[unbakerlike conduct]
-- thumbwax, Jun 04 2003


Deleting annotations is for revisionist sissies....real men ignore trolls [similar to how many of my annotations go ignored....sigh...]
-- normzone, Feb 05 2004


[jutta] implemented a system where, if you go to destroy your account, you're greeted with a nice picture while you decide if you *really* want to destroy it.

Presumably, this is so that people who lose their temper and go to destroy their account out of anger see the picture, are reminded how absurd and ridiculous life is, and calm down.

So maybe a button that inserts a picture of something neutral but strangely incongruous.
-- Detly, Feb 05 2004



random, halfbakery