On May 12, 8:19*am, Larry Dighera wrote:

The argumentative personal attacks of which you speak are known as
'flames':http://www.eps.mcgill.ca/jargon/jargon.html#flame
They've been a phenomenon since the '60s. *I doubt that flames are
unique to airmen.
Are you an English Teacher . I take breaks for months at a time from
this list, and its not just because of the flames. *

Is the "car racing group" you mentioned a Usenet newsgroup?

Yup, its just like this one (Without the flames of course).