@freemo as non native english speaker these terminologies piss me off extra-much as they are completely random for me "gaslighting", "sealioning", cont. ad nauseam. i can't get meaning from context, instead have to learn specialized terminology. which might as well serve the dual purpose of feeling right. "look, we even have our own vocabulary, how could we be wrong!!1".
> To manipulate someone psychologically such that they question their own sanity.
the funny thing is, this is exactly what happens if you just throw around such teminology and accusations 💁
It is a valid term and a valid tactic for sure.. but I often find the people going around being assholes on fediverse and then get called out for it keep claiming they are being gaslit.. and im just sitting here watching going "no, you were a legit asshole dude".
@bonifartius @freemo to be fair, "gaslighting" isn't obvious to native English speakers either. It has a legitimate meaning but is, I think, based on an old movie few have seen.
To manipulate someone psychologically such that they question their own sanity.
That's one dictionary definition. I think it's a real thing we often see in politics and the media lately. But used as a common insult? Odd.