Guiltbait
A two-part term describing manipulative tactics centered on guilt. First: baiting designed to make someone feel guilty—for their opinions, their actions, their existence—often by framing them as morally deficient, harmful, or complicit in injustice. Second (and more insidious): the practice of approaching someone for an interview or conversation with the predetermined goal of exposing them, getting them banned, or publicly shaming them. The interviewer already considers them guilty; the "conversation" is just evidence collection. The target is baited into speaking, then destroyed with their own words, taken out of context, amplified, weaponized. It's not dialogue—it's a trap with ethical pretensions.
"A stranger messaged me asking 'genuinely curious, can you explain your views?' I explained. Next day, screenshots everywhere with 'Look at this horrible person.' Guiltbait: they never wanted to understand—they wanted to collect. The curiosity was a trap, the conversation was evidence, and I walked right in."
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