this post was submitted on 28 Feb 2024
750 points (96.2% liked)

Comic Strips

12812 readers
3953 users here now

Comic Strips is a community for those who love comic stories.

The rules are simple:

Web of links

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
750
Sealioning (lemmy.world)
submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by ahlooolahhh to c/comicstrips
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago (4 children)

To add one more aspect: When someone writes a reply asking for a source, did they actually do a short Google-search related to the claim? It basically takes the same time to just look at the summary of the search results as asking for a source. So I assume if someone asks for verification for an easily searchable fact, then they are acting in bad faith.

Also one more thing: If you notice someone acting in bad faith, don't engage with them. Downvote them, move on. This is especially true for the next few months until the US elections are over. You will notice it a day after the elections that the quality of discussions will increase because the bad faith actors will take a vacation. What happened on Reddit in 2016 is happening here right now.

[–] federatingIsTooHard 21 points 9 months ago (1 children)

When someone writes a reply asking for a source, did they actually do a short Google-search related to the claim?

no one is responsible for supporting our argument except you.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Yeah, I feel the same. If you are making claims with no source people should be allowed to ask for the source without needing to look themselves.

[–] PDFuego 16 points 9 months ago

Exactly. If I ask someone for a source on something I feel is wrong it's because I specifically want to know the information they're working from. If I look it up straight away and send them a link that says they're wrong straight out of the gate they aren't even going to open it.

[–] Cryophilia 5 points 9 months ago

Do you have any evidence supporting your position that this is the proper way to debate a sealion?

[–] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

To add one more aspect: When someone writes a reply asking for a source, did they actually do a short Google-search related to the claim? It basically takes the same time to just look at the summary of the search results as asking for a source. So I assume if someone asks for verification for an easily searchable fact, then they are acting in bad faith.

This point rubs me a little wrong both on the basis that

A) onus of proof falls on the one making the claim

B) if it takes the same amount of time to find the answer as it took for them to ask you, then logically it takes the same amount of time to include a source for anyone that wants further reading as it would to make them look for it

and (most importantly)

C) you can find pretty much anything on the internet if you've got 12 minutes to dedicate to looking through all the clickbait.

The result becomes that I can say any batshit thing I want to and now it's your job to discredit your own stance for me, and if you aren't convinced, you aren't googling hard enough. Instead of just asking and finding out I got it from The Onion, which I would naturally be very against having to say out loud.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

While it might not take a long time to search for something, its also not unreasonable to ask for the OPs reasoning/evidence. Outside of the blindingly obvious, if you make a claim it's on you to back it up. Even for the blindingly obvious sometimes its only clear to you. Otherwise, claims made without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

See Russells teapot

[–] Cryophilia 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I've had sealions ask me for a source that the sun shines during the day before. The idea is to wear your opponent down. It's not a good faith line of questioning.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago

At which point you point out their obvious bad faith argument and stop responding.

[–] Cryophilia 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

If you notice someone acting in bad faith, don’t engage with them

I find that relentless mockery is the best way of countering a sealion. Don't cede the field to them. But also don't get drawn into a bad faith argument. Just insult and make fun of them until they leave.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That just feeds their persecution complex and their argument that "You don't have any rebuttal, just insults!"

Don't get into a drawn out conversation with them, but a field of people giving simple responses pointing out the obvious flaws it what they are saying drowns out their message to any outside observer and shows why they are incorrect.

[–] uid0gid0 0 points 9 months ago

I just link to the comic at that point