Flaming typically occurs in public settings and involves a
brief, heated exchange between two or more individuals.
At first flaming can appear to occur between two equals,
however an unsuspected aggressive act by one may
create a power imbalance (particularly if one individual is
worried about who else may be brought into the ‘flame
war’). Therefore what might appear to observers to be a
level playing field may not be perceived as such by those
involved.