#sealioning

[buggyhuman]

Asking a clarifying question or asking you to explain your stance so that we don't assume different things is not sealioning and I'm so fucking sick and tired of these morons in my notes always saying it when they just don't want to explain their blatant bigotry

So we're putting this word away until you learn what it is

@ the transphobe in my notes who's definitely going through my blog at some point

Who also told me that I should "listen and understand" after I ASKED THEM TO EXPLAIN. And then accused me of being hostile. And then told me to Google the word when I said that THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING A QUESTION

Sorry for venting, but I'm so sick and tired of this shit. People learn half the definition of something and think they know everything. "sealioning is when someone asks questions" no it's not babes. Asking questions is part of normal conversation and discourse. Meanwhile YOU are the one calling for the deaths of trans people.

[brokentoy13]

Sealioning - Wikipedia

+ Sealioning (also sea-lioning and sea lioning) is a type of trolling or harassment that consists of pursuing people with relentless requests for evidence, often tangential or previously addressed, while maintaining a pretense of civility and sincerity ("I'm just trying to have a debate"), and feigning ignorance of the subject matter.[6][7][8][9] It may take the form of "incessant, bad-faith invitations to engage in debate",[10] and has been likened to a denial-of-service attack targeted at human beings.[11] The term originated with a 2014 strip of the webcomic Wondermark by David Malki,[2] which The Independent called "the most apt description of Twitter you'll ever see".[3]

(more)

[7rlol]

Effulgence Is What Trolls Try to Smother

TL;DR: Trolls don’t usually argue to find truth; they argue to steal attention, drain empathy, and make public conversation feel impossible.

Trolls hate brightness.

Here’s the move: “Wow, you care about harassment online? So you’re pro-censorship now. Cute. Anyway, prove every single abusive comment was made in bad faith or admit you’re just emotional.” That’s not debate. That’s a trap dressed up as skepticism. It takes the effulgence of a real conversation — the clear, human light of people trying to understand each other — and throws mud on the window until nobody can see straight.

A troll’s motivation isn’t always complicated, but it’s rarely just “having an opinion.” Some want attention because outrage is the easiest spotlight on the internet. Some want status inside a group that rewards cruelty as cleverness. Some are trying to punish vulnerability: if you speak sincerely about racism, poverty, safety, disability, grief, labor rights, or basic human dignity, they show up to make sincerity feel unsafe. And yes, some are nudged along by profit-driven platforms that treat conflict like fuel. The stronger society needs trust and shared reality; the engagement economy often gets paid when both fall apart. Funny how that works.

You can spot the pattern once you stop focusing on the bait and start watching the behavior. Think of the little-noticed local story this week about a public meeting chat getting locked after a spam pile-on — not exactly front-page history, but a neat miniature of the problem. The point wasn’t to contribute. It was to make participation miserable. That’s trolling in its purest form: not persuasion, disruption.

They ask questions they don’t want answered. This is sealioning: endless “just asking” demands, delivered politely enough to exhaust you and smugly enough to insult you.

They move the goalposts. You provide evidence, then suddenly the standard changes. One source becomes five. Five become “mainstream lies.”

They personalize the issue. Instead of addressing the claim, they poke at your tone, identity, emotions, spelling, or follower count. Anything but the substance.

They flood the zone. A gish gallop of half-truths, memes, screenshots, and “what about…” detours forces you to spend an hour cleaning up what took them ten seconds to dump.

They treat empathy as weakness. If your argument rests on people being safe, fed, housed, free, or heard, they’ll mock it as softness — because cruelty needs compassion to look naïve.

The counter isn’t to become colder. It’s to become clearer. Don’t wrestle every pig in the mud (the pig has Wi-Fi now). Name the tactic: “You’re changing the subject,” or “You’re asking for proof you’ve already decided to reject.” Answer once for the audience, not forever for the troll. Set a boundary. Screenshot if needed. Block, mute, report, and move on without writing a farewell speech. In shared spaces, build norms: moderators, slow modes, source standards, and a culture where good-faith disagreement is welcome but harassment isn’t treated as “just debate.” Effulgence matters; public life needs places where truth can shine without being shouted down by people who only came to break the lamp. Protect the light, and don’t hand the matches to the arsonists.

[7rlol]

The Troll’s Playground: Understanding and Combating Online Trolling

TL;DR: Trolls thrive on chaos and disruption, but recognizing their tactics can help us reclaim our online spaces.

Trolls are the internet’s unwanted guests. They lurk in comment sections, forums, and social media, sowing discord and frustration wherever they go. It’s not just about being annoying; trolls have a knack for derailing conversations and spreading misinformation. Their motivations? Often, it’s a mix of boredom, a desire for attention, and sometimes, a more sinister agenda.

Let’s break it down. Trolls use a variety of tactics to achieve their goals:

Sealioning: This involves persistent questioning, often in bad faith, to exhaust and frustrate the other party. It’s not about seeking answers but about wearing you down.

Whataboutism: A classic deflection technique where the troll responds to criticism or a point by bringing up an unrelated issue. It’s a way to sidestep accountability.

Gish Gallop: Named after a debate tactic, this involves overwhelming an opponent with a barrage of arguments, many of which are weak or irrelevant, to make it difficult to respond effectively.

These tactics aren’t just annoying; they’re designed to disrupt meaningful discourse and can even lead to the spread of disinformation. Just last week, a minor news story about a local council’s decision to plant more trees was hijacked by trolls using whataboutism to shift the conversation to unrelated political issues. It’s a classic example of how trolls can derail even the most innocuous discussions.

So, how do we combat these digital disruptors? First, recognize the signs. If someone is persistently questioning without engaging with your answers, they might be sealioning. If they deflect with unrelated issues, it’s probably whataboutism. And if you’re overwhelmed by a flood of arguments, you might be facing a Gish Gallop.

Once you’ve identified a troll, here are some strategies to deal with them:

Don’t feed the trolls: Engaging with them often gives them the attention they crave.

Use the block button: Most platforms have tools to block or mute users. Use them liberally.

Report them: If a troll is violating community guidelines, report them to the platform.

Stay calm: Trolls thrive on emotional reactions. Keep your cool and don’t let them get under your skin.

In the end, it’s about reclaiming our online spaces for constructive and meaningful interactions. By recognizing and countering trolling tactics, we can foster a healthier digital environment. So, next time you spot a troll, remember: you’ve got the tools to deal with them. Let’s use them.

Tags: trolling, sealioning, whataboutism, gish-gallop, online-behavior, disinformation, media-literacy, internet-culture, manipulation, accountability

[rjalker]

As has been said and will continue to be said: Bigots who leave replies know what they are doing is wrong, and will flee like cowards when their bigotry is revealed for others to see except by chance.

Always showcase the bigotry of people in replies in reblogs. Nothing will send them running faster than the terror of being held accountable and having their friends see what they say when they think no one they care about can see it.

[rjalker]

torakoneko for your free intersexist sealion blocklist

[rjalker]

I said 1+ day ago:

""you can’t be a trans man if you were born with a cis male body because that would make you cisgender"" I don't think you understand what the terms assigned male and assigned female at birth mean in regards to intersex people. Somebody can be assigned to mail at birth and be a trans man if they are intersex.

@torakoneko said 3minutes ago

@rjalker Do you... Think people are assigned cis at birth?

Tell me what you think "assigned male at birth" means. Tell me what you think a trans man is. Tell me what you think "intersex" means.

torakoneko said 40seconds ago

@rjalker I know what those terms mean, but they specifically were talking about people with cis male bodies, *not* everyone assigned male at birth.

Follow the instructions or leave: Tell me what you think "assigned male at birth" means. Tell me what you think a trans man is. Tell me what you think "intersex" means.

torakoneko said

Tell me why that's relevant. Follow the instructions or leave.

the intersexist sealion blocked me. Free blocklist!

As has been said and will continue to be said: Bigots who leave replies know what they are doing is wrong, and will flee like cowards when their bigotry is revealed for others to see except by chance.

Always showcase the bigotry of people in replies in reblogs. Nothing will send them running faster than the terror of being held accountable and having their friends see what they say when they think no one they care about can see it.

[7rlol]

The Benevolent Troll: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

TL;DR: Not all trolls are obvious; some hide behind a facade of kindness.

Trolls aren’t always the snarling, aggressive figures we imagine. Sometimes, they wear the mask of benevolence, pretending to engage in good faith while subtly undermining the conversation. This is the benevolent troll, a master of disguise in the digital age.

Benevolent trolls often employ a variety of tactics to derail discussions or sow discord, all while maintaining an air of innocence. They might use hypocrisy, where they accuse others of the very behaviors they themselves exhibit. Or they might lean on logical fallacies, constructing arguments that seem reasonable at first glance but crumble under scrutiny. Blatant lies are another favorite tool, as they can quickly spread misinformation and confusion.

Hypocrisy: Calling out others for behaviors they themselves are guilty of.

Logical Fallacies: Using flawed reasoning to make their point seem valid.

Blatant Lies: Spreading false information to mislead or confuse.

Sealioning: Pretending to ask sincere questions while actually derailing the conversation.

Whataboutism: Deflecting criticism by pointing to unrelated issues.

These tactics aren’t just annoying—they’re harmful. They can erode trust, spread misinformation, and stifle meaningful dialogue. Just last week, a minor news story highlighted how a seemingly well-intentioned online campaign was actually a front for spreading disinformation. It’s a reminder that we must stay vigilant.

So, how do we counter these benevolent trolls? First, recognize the tactics. When you see hypocrisy, call it out. When faced with a logical fallacy, break it down and explain why it doesn’t hold water. Don’t let blatant lies go unchallenged—fact-check and provide evidence. And when you encounter sealioning or whataboutism, steer the conversation back to the original point.

In the end, it’s about fostering a healthier online environment. We all have a role to play in ensuring that our digital spaces are places of genuine dialogue and understanding. So next time you spot a benevolent troll, ask yourself: how can I turn this encounter into an opportunity for truth and clarity?

What will you do to keep the conversation honest and constructive?