Bansplaining

A Digitallighting tactic where the perpetrator “explains” to a target why they deserve to be banned, often before the ban has even been issued, and frames the explanation as helpful feedback. Bansplaining is used to pre‑justify a ban, to make the target feel that their own behavior is clearly toxic, and to deter others from supporting them. It often appears in servers where a clique controls moderation: the target is told in detail how they “failed” to meet community standards, while the provocations that led to their reaction are ignored.

Example: “After she defended herself against his bait, a mod DMed her a 10‑point list of why her ‘tone’ was unacceptable—bansplaining, justifying exclusion by reframing her response as the offense.”

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 25, 2026

baysplaining

A Baysplainer can be characterized as someone who didn’t grow up in the Bay Area (probably not even California), most likely works in tech, eats at “hole in the wall” restaurants (I.e. restaurants that used to actually be a hole in the wall, but was taken over by a new Asian/fusion spot), considers themselves a “foodie”, most likely lives in the City or Oakland, goes to Outside Lands, wears their work badge to the bars, and so on.

A Baysplainer tends try to explain to a local “the best parts of the Bay”, the local community, etc., and doesn’t realize the impact they may have had on the local community by moving here and thus, affecting the job market, housing market, influencing the quick rise of gentrification, etc.

I was talking to someone who works in tech and they started Baysplaining about what the Bay Area is like.

by notyourbestfriend1299 September 28, 2021

Batsplaining

Batsplaining is a method used by the popular Twitch streamer "lilbatbbyz" in order to hold her EU viewers hostage from sleeping.

Char and SIIMBARIA felt knackered as they listened to Bat batsplaining how she got poisoned in university.

by Char9346 April 11, 2023

Banksplaining

Banksplaining (noun) Informal - the explanation of something by the officials of the World Bank, typically to developing countries, in a manner regarded as both overly simplified and overly complicated.

Banksplaining (noun) Informal - the explanation of something by the officials of the World Bank, typically to developing countries, in a manner regarded as both overly simplified and overly complicated.
'They banksplained it, making sure the proposal sounded vague, simple, possible, unintelligible, and complicated all at the same time. '

by D.FIJI October 24, 2023

Brainsplaining

A form of Digitalsplaining where the perpetrator uses brain-related insults to dismiss, belittle, and gaslight the target—telling them they “don’t have a brain,” calling them “dumb,” “retarded,” or suggesting they “dropped their brain.” The splainer positions themselves as the sole possessor of intelligence, framing any disagreement as evidence of the target’s cognitive deficiency. Brainsplaining often escalates: starting with condescending explanations of basic concepts, moving to direct insults when challenged, and culminating in claims that the target is simply incapable of understanding. Unlike ordinary insults, brainsplaining is systematic—it’s not just name-calling but a sustained effort to undermine the target’s confidence in their own reasoning, making them doubt whether they are thinking clearly at all.

Example: “When she questioned his claim, he replied with ‘people with a brain exist and we force you to cope.’ Every response was framed as her lacking basic intelligence. Brainsplaining: using cognitive superiority as a weapon.”

by Abzugal April 1, 2026

Banksplaining

A form of gaslighting that uses the authority of “banks,” “finance,” or “the economy” to dismiss critique of financial systems. The perpetrator explains why banking regulations, interest rates, or credit systems must work as they do—often invoking inevitability or technical complexity—while portraying any alternative as naive. Banksplaining is common in debates about predatory lending, student debt, or monetary policy, where the speaker presents the current financial order as a natural fact rather than a political choice.

Example: “She argued for student debt cancellation; he explained how banks need ‘collateralization’ and ‘risk pricing’ to function. Banksplaining: treating a political choice as an immutable law of finance.”

by Abzugal April 1, 2026