Banklighting
A digitallighting tactic that uses financial jargon and the threat of financial consequences to disorient and intimidate a target. The perpetrator may flood the conversation with references to credit scores, interest rates, or banking regulations, suggesting the target doesn’t understand “how money works.” The goal is to make the target feel economically illiterate and therefore unqualified to speak on economic issues. Banklighting is a form of class‑based gaslighting that leverages the intimidation of financial expertise.
Example: “When she mentioned high bank fees, he launched into a lecture about ‘interchange rates’ and ‘regulatory costs,’ implying her complaint was naive. Banklighting: using financial complexity to dismiss legitimate criticism.”
Banklighting by Abzugal April 1, 2026
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