What does Sealioning mean?
A disingenuous debate tactic of feigning ignorance
Detailed Explanation
'Sealioning' is a form of online trolling or harassment that consists of relentlessly pursuing someone in a debate by asking for evidence or asking repeated questions, all while maintaining a pretense of civility and sincerity. The goal of the 'sealion' is not to learn, but to exhaust the opponent and make them appear unreasonable. It's a bad-faith tactic designed to frustrate someone into silence.
Usage Examples
“I provided her with three different sources, but she just kept asking for more. She was clearly sealioning.”
“He's not actually interested in an answer; he's just sealioning to waste my time.”
“The conversation was pointless because he started sealioning.”
Origin & History
The term originated from a 2014 webcomic by David Malki called 'Wondermark.' In the comic, a character expresses a dislike for sea lions, and a sea lion politely and relentlessly follows them everywhere, demanding evidence and asking for clarification, until the character is driven to exasperation. The comic perfectly illustrated this debate tactic, and the term was adopted by online communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is asking for evidence always sealioning?
No. Asking for evidence in good faith is a normal and healthy part of a debate. It becomes sealioning when the questions are incessant, ignore the evidence already provided, and are clearly designed to harass and exhaust the other person rather than to understand their point of view.