ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at three very distinct forms of online antisocial behaviour: flaming, trolling and online bullying, in order to consider the motivations behind them, the extent of the problem and the ways in which applied linguistics can shed light on the matter. Flaming can be defined as aggressive or hostile communication occurring via computer-mediated channels. More than the embodiment of the internet hate machine, trolls are the ultimate hero, trolls fuck shit up. Trolls exist to fuck with people, they fuck with people on every level, from their deepest held beliefs, to the trivial. Acts of flaming or trolling can develop into cyberbullying if the aggressor begins to repeatedly target one person with the intent of causing them harm. The relationship between bully and victim is likely to be characterised by a power imbalance. Cyberbullying is an unacceptable behaviour which by definition brings harm to vulnerable individuals with sometimes catastrophic consequences.
