# Can we have a dictionary, please? {about sealioning} **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 20, 2022, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793 "2022-05-20T20:33:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/101 "2022-05-22T12:55:07Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > > [@k9bfriender](#): > > > > And I’d say that it’s quite evident that the sealion knows that it is exactly the behavior it is exhibiting that one could do without. > > I think that interpretation is far from obvious. We’ll just have to disagree on that. I agree with @k9bfriender, I’m not sure how anyone is seeing any interpretation other than that one. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/102 "2022-05-22T12:56:43Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Again, we’ll have to disagree that it is clear. How, other than “sea lions are known for this behavior”, can you possibly interpret the man telling her not to criticize sea lions out loud, then saying “now you’ve done it”? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/103 "2022-05-22T14:03:57Z")
Sure, you can read things that way. But then that’s a meta way of portraying the concept of sealioning, isn’t it? You’re saying that the sea lion is sealioning about _being_ a sealioner. In general, sealioning doesn’t have that reflexivity. Someone sealions about [something]. And even under that interpretation, the insincerity element doesn’t come out clearly. Again, if you believe that someone unfamiliar with the concept of sealioning would read that comic and derive a definition of sealioining that resembles the definitions posted at the beginning of the thread, try it out with some friends or relatives. I think your success rate will be 0%. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/104 "2022-05-22T14:05:27Z")
As this has stopped being an ATMB thread quite a while ago, I’m going to move it to IMHO. What a weird hijack but as the OP was answered quite a while ago, no harm and no foul. Enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/105 "2022-05-22T14:09:08Z")
Gormless is a pretty old-school term in England- it’s not one of these new-fangled internet meme things. One of my Dad’s favourite mild insults, as it happens. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/106 "2022-05-22T14:09:36Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Again, if you believe that someone unfamiliar with the concept of sealioning would read that comic and derive a definition of sealioining that resembles the definitions posted at the beginning of the thread, try it out with some friends or relatives. I think your success rate will be 0%. As I already stated, when I came across the comic, I had no idea what sea lioning was, yet this was my interpretation. Maybe you are right, and that makes me some sort of Chosen One, but in that case @k9bfriender and @Kimstu are Chosen Ones as well. Maybe we are meant to go on a quest together? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/107 "2022-05-22T14:12:43Z")
To hunt the foul and fishy smelling sealion king? [![](https://www.nicepng.com/png/full/79-795380_sea-lion-sea-lion-mythical-creature.png) ](https://www.nicepng.com/png/full/79-795380_sea-lion-sea-lion-mythical-creature.png) ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/108 "2022-05-22T14:16:38Z")
Behold! The Monitor of these Hallowed Halls has granted us a quest! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/109 "2022-05-22T14:28:59Z")
Is this thread meta-performance art? because it sure seems that a thread defining sea lioning has been taken over by sea lions. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/110 "2022-05-22T14:41:31Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Is this thread meta-performance art? Are you Just Asking Questions? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/111 "2022-05-22T15:00:40Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > Imagine the sealion in the original comic as a disabled person, and you’ll understand. (chef kiss) Don’t ever change. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/112 "2022-05-22T15:02:15Z")
I had missed that post. Erm, what the fuck?\* \*a sincere question ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/113 "2022-05-22T15:09:56Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Is this thread meta-performance art? There is considerable irony, but perhaps not for the reason you think. In discussing whether the comic is an effective portrayal of the concept of sealioning, the point I and others were making was that it obviously portrays a persistent questioner, but it lacks the other essential element that the questioner is insincere. In the middle of a discussion of the comic, I was accused of sealioning just because I framed the issue with the comic in the form of a couple of questions, by someone who had absolutely no reason to think I was being insincere. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/114 "2022-05-22T15:21:28Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Is this thread meta-performance art? Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/115 "2022-05-22T15:23:35Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > > > Is this thread meta-performance art? > > Are you Just Asking Questions? ![](https://c.tenor.com/dypucHMixbEAAAAC/patrick-star-no-this-is-patrick.gif) I am NOT a crusty crab ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/116 "2022-05-22T15:26:15Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > According to Urban Dictionary: > > A subtle form of trolling involving “bad-faith” questions. A quibble with this definition: sealioning often involves bad-faith questioning, but often it doesn’t. The central required feature is a posture of being a persuadable truth-seeker, and doing so in bad faith. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being a persuadable truth-seeker. But the sealion differs in the way he uses this posture to create a certain conversational weather pattern: - Has no real intention of being persuaded - Pretends not to understand, employing numerous different ruses (focus on irrelevant detail, circular argument, selective rigor, idiosyncratic semantics, special pleading) - Through his feigned misunderstanding, he draws exasperated and otherwise emotional reactions from others, which he then uses to discredit their entire line of reasoning - As a tropical storm is fed by drawing in a supply of warm humid air, the sealion’s late-game weather pattern is sustained by influx of bystanders who are tempted by what seems like low-hanging fruit: a long, acrimonious debate that has a clear resolution that’s been neglected due to excess emotion and incivility. As these bystanders wander in to strike the decisive blow, it inevitably falls short, and their frustration adds its energy to this weather pattern. - The sealion’s only goal is to see how long he can keep this pattern running. Currently this board has an all-star sealion in its midst. I won’t personalize this by calling them out, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/117 "2022-05-22T15:38:43Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > …often involves bad-faith questioning, but **often it doesn’t** … > > - Has no real intention of being persuaded > - Pretends not to understand [my bold] I like your list of key characteristics, but it seems to me that the first two things on your list are pretty much the _definition_ of bad faith, and bad faith is an element in _all_ the things on your list. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/118 "2022-05-22T15:47:06Z")
Sometimes sealions remind me of this kid. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/v0mDnaESnrM/maxresdefault.jpg "Kids in the Hall: Butchershop") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0mDnaESnrM) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/119 "2022-05-22T15:49:10Z")
Caught in a landside, No escape from reality ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793/120 "2022-05-22T18:36:47Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > ETA: Looks like it was first used on the SDMB December 2017. I’m reasonably sure it is quite a bit older, it seems like a obvious message board term once you see it. You mean I can’t claim credit for inventing it? 😢 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-have-a-dictionary-please-about-sealioning/964793.md?page=7)