this post was submitted on 04 Dec 2023
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Not to excuse the behaviour, but I honestly think some people do it reflexively. Like I think some of the most egregious "sea lions" actually believe that they're being measured and rational and just asking questions and raising concerns, or whatever bullshit.
Definitely some real bad actors, too, but also many many many useful idiots. I'm convinced. Just because I remember being a white 21yo and thinking I was some kind of atheist truth seeker, when really it was mostly just gas bagging
I'm honestly interested in how people think. There's no meaningful action happening here - it's mostly circle jerking. Most situations where people are accused of sea lioning online aren't meaningful. Bit of a straw person.
Those are the types of situations where we should be asking ourselves if our interrogations are doing more harm than good. I'm interested in people, too, but there is some tact involved in knowing when to insert yourself.
Especially if it's about something that might not affect us directly, like trans people being bullied at school, or black people venting about experiences with the cops (etc, I don't know you, but insert your own).
Like the image says, these might be theoretical to us, but they are deadly serious to someone else, you know?
I mean, yeah. We should ask those things of ourselves. I'm better about it in person. You fucks, tho? Nah. Gimme your stances. Explain what I'm missing. I've learned so much from asking questions, and they're usually things I can use to reach other people. I try to be respectful of things that aren't just ideological.
This isn't just social shit. When I'm learning new software, or a process, or pretty much anything I can't learn from rote memorization. I have to understand why. That's how things fit in my head. When I meet people that I can work with, that's great. For those that want to just tell me something without explanation I prefer to remove myself from the conversation.
That's fair. This is all contextual and case by case blah blah etc. If you're doing it genuinely and with good will towards the person you're asking, then that goes a long way.
What is a sea lion in this context?
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/sea-lioning
In short: 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.
Unless they're a little kid or something, that's absolutely not an excuse.
Man i cringe at my militant atheist phase so hard.
Some Christians never grow out of it. At least being an edgelord is part of youth.