Terts77's definitions
Gasloading (noun/verb): A playful, troll-style variation of gaslighting, where someone deliberately and mischievously messes with another person's perception of reality purely for comedic effect or to get a reaction, without any intent to cause lasting harm, emotional abuse, or control.
Unlike traditional gaslighting (which is a serious form of psychological manipulation that erodes someone's sanity and self-trust over time), gasloading is lighthearted trolling—think exaggerated pranks, fake scenarios, or absurd denials meant to confuse someone temporarily and elicit laughs (or frustration) in the moment.
Examples of gasloading:
Telling your friend their car is making a weird noise, then secretly unplugging something minor to make it happen, and acting like they're imagining it.
Convincing someone that a popular movie scene "never existed" or that a common phrase is spelled differently, just to watch them spiral in confusion before revealing the joke.
Pretending a shared memory happened differently (e.g., "Wait, you didn't say that at all—you said the opposite!") purely to troll, not to undermine their reality long-term.
Unlike traditional gaslighting (which is a serious form of psychological manipulation that erodes someone's sanity and self-trust over time), gasloading is lighthearted trolling—think exaggerated pranks, fake scenarios, or absurd denials meant to confuse someone temporarily and elicit laughs (or frustration) in the moment.
Examples of gasloading:
Telling your friend their car is making a weird noise, then secretly unplugging something minor to make it happen, and acting like they're imagining it.
Convincing someone that a popular movie scene "never existed" or that a common phrase is spelled differently, just to watch them spiral in confusion before revealing the joke.
Pretending a shared memory happened differently (e.g., "Wait, you didn't say that at all—you said the opposite!") purely to troll, not to undermine their reality long-term.
by Terts77 December 22, 2025
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