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 ahlooolahhh@lemmy.world to c/comicstrips@lemmy.world
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[–] dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com 76 points 8 months ago (70 children)

Is there a difference between sealioning and just asking for verification of a bold claim? On a forum such as Lemmy, where people are encouraged to have unsolicited debate in the comments, are we by nature immune from the worst aspects of sealioning?

[–] magnetosphere@kbin.social 7 points 8 months ago (14 children)

When I’m not sure, I just give them the benefit of the doubt. For example, there’s a good chance that the person replying to me speaks English well, but it’s not their first language. Also, their cultural norms might be very different from my own. It could be a simple misunderstanding, too. Overreacting would just make things worse.

When it’s obvious that the person replying is just being a pedantic nuisance, though, I merely stop responding. They may think they’ve “won”, but so what? I can go to bed knowing I don’t waste my time sealioning.

[–] livus@kbin.social 5 points 8 months ago (2 children)

The thing is a true sealion only "wins" by dragging you into a long offtopic comment chain.

Professional sealions (we don't have them here yet thank god) come armed with a list of "talking points" they use to try to derail genuine conversations and turn them into something else.

[–] magnetosphere@kbin.social 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Damn, that’s sad. I have nothing but pity for anyone who considers themselves a “true” or “professional” sea lion.

[–] livus@kbin.social 1 points 8 months ago

Eh, they get paid.

I'm talking about the 50 Cent-ers, the BJP IT, the Hasbara trolls, the Russian troll army, the Indonesian troll army etc etc etc.

Not sure what they conceptualize it as but they do tend to sealion.

Pretty sure Zucc has one as well, and that dodgy remote work company that advertises on Reddit definitely employs a couple of people.

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