Humbugging
The artful dodge of putting down an activity someone finds an interest in. There's an implication that there's something wrong with the person who likes the activity, but because it's not spelled outright, there's plausible deniability.
Person A: I don't get why people like sportsball. It's so boring.
Person B: You're humbugging me because I like baseball?
Person A: I didn't say you're bad for liking sportsball...
Person B: No, but there's a strong implication there.
Person B: You're humbugging me because I like baseball?
Person A: I didn't say you're bad for liking sportsball...
Person B: No, but there's a strong implication there.
Humbugging by Sapphistry September 6, 2018
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