#Sealioning

[creature-wizard]

Sealioning 101

So if you don't already know, "sealioning" is a term for a type of bad faith behavior where someone repeatedly asks for information or evidence that they're not actually interested in. It's a form of trolling.

For example, a young earth creationist might go around saying something like, "Can anybody show me proof of evolution? I keep asking people, but no one will answer me."

Then well-meaning people come and and provide resources. The troll, who of course isn't actually interested in learning or changing their mind, will just keep acting like nobody's answering their question, and keep demanding answers. It's frustrating and exhausting.

A big sign that you're being sealioned is demanding information that's incredibly easy to find. Now of course, people sometimes genuinely just don't know where to find certain information that most of us take for granted, and sometimes people are just lazy and treat random Internet strangers like their personal butlers. (Having a pinned post with a FAQ will take care of most of these people, btw.)

What gives a sealion away is their refusal to accept and engage with provided resources, and their favorite lie, "I keep asking, but no one will answer me."

Think for a moment: how likely is it that someone went around asking a bunch of biologists or at least biology nerds for evidence of evolution, and no one gave them anything? Does it seem that likely that no one gave them any links or made any book recommendations? Does it seem likely that a bunch of people who really love talking about biology just suddenly clammed up around this person for no reason?

Trolls will sealion over anything, especially hot political topics. For example, they've been sealioning with JK Rowling's transphobia, asking for evidence that she ever said or did anything transphobic while claiming no one ever answers them when they ask. Trolls have been sealioning for Donald Trump for years now, pretending they just don't understand why people are so worked up over Trump, and that nobody they've asked will give them a real answer.

Again, ask yourself: how likely is it, really, that someone on Tumblr Dot Com can't find a single person who can tell them what these people have done and said that have so many people displeased with them? And do we think that this person who is supposedly soooo interested in seeing what all the fuss is about, never once tried Google or something?

Seems pretty unlikely, when you actually stop and think about it. In fact, it's a pretty obvious lie, because we know damn well that lots of people are more than happy to explain why they don't like Trump and Rowling, and any determined person could find the information they want in like five minutes on any search engine.

Sealioning is troll behavior. If someone is sealioning, they are a troll. It's that simple.

[notaplaceofhonour]

istg I get way too many stupid attempts at gotchas like this despite the fact that they never in any way follow from anything I’ve ever said about the I/P conflict

[lilithsaintcrow]

“If you’re a man and that O.P. is a woman, her facts are feelings and your feelings are facts, and those forty-seven increasingly lengthy responses you fired off were clearly a rational reaction. If she reacted negatively to them, do not forget to rebuke her for being emotional."

[brightlotusmoon]

[existennialmemes]

[describe-things]

instead of asking people to explain again why something is racist, go to the reblogs and read the posts that have already been made explaining why it's racist instead of demanding Black people repeat themselves for every single person who's too lazy to read what has already been written.

Demanding a personal explanation of why something is racist tailor-made for you when it's already been explained multiple times is just more racism.

Instead of jumping in to the replies to demand yet another explanation of why something is racist...how about go to the reblogs, set it to comments only, and read what's already been said first?

If you actually want to understand, then put in the bare minimum effort to learn. It's right there in the reblogs. Demanding people give you a personal presentation when it's already been said multiple times is just more racism.

You are demanding even more emotional and intellectual labor from the person who took the time in the first place to point out the racism, instead of actually putting in the effort to read what has already been said. That's racist.

[mitchfynde]

I want so desperately for people to understand that asking for evidence of something one single time IS NOT SEALIONING.

I'm not harassing you, I'm asking you a single fucking question and you are either unable or unwilling to answer. You are the bad guy in this scenario. You're quite literally just bullying people.

[dirtangeldean]

[ like journaling? ]

check my shop for the DARBS (Date, Action, Response, Behaviour, Situation) Journal!

like to be prepared for defense against gaslighting? talking to your therapist? want to combat sealioning? check out DARBS guided journal for all your situation needs!

[melblogsgfreethruptsd]

It’s not that they “don’t understand”

They’re not “confused”

It’s weaponized incompetence.

[rjalker]

freakthemer said on July 24 2024:

You’re still not offering alternatives. Tell me in your own words what you want me to do to fix this and how i will be protected from dying about it if i do. I’ll listen, with an open mind i promise. I just dont want to lay down and die. What is it exactly that you want me to do to change things?

point and laugh at the sealion everyone

[nainoamk]

In this week's lecture, we identified multiple forms of online harassment. Many of us are aware of online "trolling". However, the term "sealioning" is likely unfamiliar to most of us. This video provides an in depth description of how sealioning is used as a form of harassment. When someone is sealioning, they're attempting to instigate arguments that are not in good faith by excessively asking for evidence that is either common knowledge or could easily be looked up. Check out the video to find out more about the term, so we can learn to identify this form of harassment online.

[notaplaceofhonour]

who TALKS like this?

[lilycat23]

Remember this when your online folks! Some examples would be:

"Tell me where JK Rowling said something transphobic" OR "How exactly is X Racist?" And then continuing to argue no matter what response you give.

[tachyonblu]

Lisa shares her thoughts on the harassment claims that some have made against GamerGate, how GG supporters like herself approached the topic, her own experience with harassment, the ZachAttack incident and her thoughts on the term "sealioning."

[soapdispensersalesman]

[daddydotissuesatgmaildotcom]

"is it racist to display gollywogs in my pub?" i ponder, twirling my mustache and waiting until everyone leaves to laugh in the dark.