this post was submitted on 28 Feb 2024
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Sealioning (lemmy.world)
submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 62 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

This strip has always rubbed me the wrong way. If you make a statement in a public forum, don't be surprised when the public responds. They are not entitled to your attention, but you're not entitled to their silence. I will not be providing any sources to back up my position, but I'm sure your requests for them will be very witty.

[–] [email protected] 70 points 6 months ago (2 children)

If you make a statement in a public forum, don't be surprised when the public responds

Sure. That's not what sealioning is, though. As the comic illustrates, sealioning is bad faith weaponizing of false politeness and feigned high mindedness, not honest inquiry.

[–] [email protected] 49 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

To add what other people have said: the sealion in the comic is following them around and being obnoxious. It even follows them to their bedroom.

One aspect of sealioning is continually trying to "debate" someone for something they once said, even if they're currently engaged in a completely unrelated conversation.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (2 children)

But the reality they're referencing is someone being "in their house" in the sense of being in their tweet replies. Nobody is following you around online, you're carrying them around in your pocket.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Nobody is following you around online

i invite you to look at my inbox

[–] [email protected] -2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I invite you to not look at your phone, the internet is ironically not a private place

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

i don't understand what this means

[–] [email protected] -3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

What inbox? Like people are sending you angry emails? Still doesn't really have a "following you around" vibe.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

my inbox on lemmy. there are users who will follow me from thread to thread harassing me about an argument we had days ago, or will bring it up out of context if i reply to them, which happens often when i don't pay attention to the username. some of them make posts an comments whining about how biased the mods are when their harassing comments are removed or they get banned, and some have even gone so far as to start maintaining multiple identities to continue to spread misinformation and harass me and other users.

and the invitation to see my inbox was a bit hyperbolic. in truth, you only need to look at my comment history and the few individuals with whom i have had protracted disagreements should leap out at you.

some people will definitely follow you around online if you rub them the wrong way.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

That seems more like you are going to hang out in a place where those people also hang out, and are encountering them there, as opposed to them following you around.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

that's, obviously, not how I would characterize it, but if you need to be right you can think whatever you want.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 6 months ago

Thanks I appreciate that, I do need to be right and will think whatever I want.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 6 months ago

The proper response would have been to apologize at the first opportunity.