this post was submitted on 28 Feb 2024
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Sealioning (lemmy.world)
submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 55 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Sealioning 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, and feigning ignorance of the subject matter.

Often the troll will just shift slightly and keep making demands regardless of evidence.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 months ago (3 children)

Don't let them dictate the convo. You can assert control as well, don't let them lead uncontested.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Still sounds like feeding the troll

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The point is not to fight the troll.

The point is to inform the lurkers.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

If done poorly it very much is. But practice makes you better at it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

It's easier said than done, but it can be done. The key is to unleash your inner troll and embrace the "u mad bro" while being

I recommend engaging once or twice in good faith, then hounding them to make a hard claim you can disprove. If they don't, start politely asking if there's any part they'd like to elaborate on while dropping implications they didn't read or understand what you said, and then asking about their beliefs on the topic.

It happened to me on Lemmy a while ago, I don't think the guy was actually a troll (I think he just didn't like what I had to say about the world bank and imf being the reason central and South America have stayed so poor despite incredible natural resources)

The dude got so mad he started going through my old posts and calling me a hypocrite. But he made a mistake, that was a hard claim - there was no contradiction in my beliefs and stance. I slapped him down a few times before realizing my posts from days ago were getting a lot of responses

Once I started recognizing the username and realized what happened, I started getting patronizing... It was oh so satisfying. I kind of wish he'd kept going for longer

I love reverse trolling trolls, all of the fun and none of the guilt

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (4 children)

What's your usual method of parry?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Remember the original discussion and don't take the bait to deviate. "We are not talking about X, we are talking about Y as originally posted by OP and I will not follow you down your rabbit hole."

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

It depends too much on way too many factors. Generally I'll be almost as polite as they're being.

Convos usually involve turn-taking though, so once you've provided evidence or a sound argument, you should not be forced to do it again. It should be their turn to assert something, and then possibly have to provide whatever.

Just don't let the opportunity pass to treat them exactly, or potentially slightly worse, depending, than they're treating you. Don't stay on defense, assert, ask questions, directly contradict, whatever is needful.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

When repetition occurs I link to the previous point in the conversation.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

For me, relentless mockery is best

Inform them that you're wise to their game, and furthermore, they're an idiot. Doesn't cede the field to them but doesn't let them persist in bad faith questions.

Internet arguments are like a rock paper scissors game of evidence based arguments, sealioning, and good old fashioned trolling.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

i don't answer questions (present thread excepted). i insist someone say plainly what it is they are getting at. and if they refuse that's that. if they persist in asking, i tell them not to be petulant. and if they present an argument, and it's sound, i usually just let that stand. if it's unsound, i let them know.

and, of course, one of the best ways is to never take a strong position yourself that can be sealioned.