Conspilighting

A Digitallighting tactic that accuses the target of being a conspiracy theorist, regardless of whether the target has expressed any conspiratorial views. The conspilighter uses “conspiracy theory” as a generic insult to dismiss any claim that challenges official narratives, institutional authority, or the perpetrator’s worldview. By labeling the target a “tin foil hat,” “conspiracist,” or “QAnon believer,” they attempt to associate the target with the most extreme and stigmatized figures, hoping that the association alone will discredit them. Conspilighting is a cheap way to avoid engaging with substance.

Example: “He pointed out documented corporate lobbying that influenced policy; she called him a conspiracy theorist. Conspilighting: using the label to avoid addressing evidence.”

Conspilighting by Abzugal March 31, 2026

Conspilighting

A form of Digitallighting that uses the label “conspiracy theorist” to gaslight targets into doubting their own research and judgment. The perpetrator repeatedly tells the target that they are “paranoid,” “seeing patterns that aren’t there,” or “falling for disinformation.” Even when the target presents documented evidence, the accusation is repeated until the target begins to question whether their research is credible. Conspilighting leverages the social stigma associated with “conspiracy” to isolate and silence.

Example: “She provided government documents, whistleblower testimony, and media reports; he responded only with ‘conspiracy theorist.’ Months later, she wondered if she was being irrational—conspilighting, making the truth feel like delusion.”

Conspilighting by Abzugal April 1, 2026