Bullpost

A rhetorical tactic where, instead of engaging with the content of someone's argument, you simply declare it "bullshit" and consider your point proven. The bullpost is similar to the sensepost but more aggressive—it doesn't just claim the argument lacks sense; it claims the argument is intentionally deceptive, manipulative, or worthless. Planting a bullpost is a power move: you're not just disagreeing; you're dismissing the entire discussion as beneath you. The bullpost is especially popular in online arguments, where "bullshit" can be typed faster than a thoughtful response and requires no evidence, no reasoning, and no accountability.

Example: "He posted a well-researched thread about climate policy. The first response was a bullpost: 'This is bullshit.' No engagement with the research, no counter-evidence, no specific critique—just the declaration that the entire thread was worthless. The bullposter felt victorious; the thread's author felt like they'd been shouted down by someone who hadn't read a word."

by AbzuInExile February 16, 2026

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Moving the Bullpost

The practice of shifting the criteria for what counts as "bullshit" after your opponent has already demonstrated that their argument meets your previous standards. First, you call their argument bullshit. They provide sources. You move the bullpost: "Those sources are bullshit." They provide different sources. You move again: "Your interpretation of those sources is bullshit." They explain their interpretation. You move again: "The whole field is bullshit." The bullpost keeps moving because the goal isn't to evaluate truth—it's to maintain the position that the other person is wrong, no matter what. Moving the bullpost is the favorite tactic of people who have decided that reality itself is bullshit when it doesn't agree with them.

Moving the Bullpost Example: "She cited a peer-reviewed study. He moved the bullpost: 'Peer review is bullshit.' She cited government data. He moved again: 'Government data is bullshit.' She cited his own past statements. He moved again: 'I was wrong then, and that's bullshit too.' There was no source, no evidence, no argument that could satisfy him, because the bullpost was not about evidence—it was about maintaining the position that she was wrong. She stopped trying. He declared victory."

by AbzuInExile February 16, 2026

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