Proofsplaining

A Digitallighting technique where the perpetrator “explains” to the target why their evidence is insufficient, often while demanding an impossibly high standard of proof. The perpetrator adopts a condescending tone, lecturing the target on what “real evidence” looks like, moving goalposts, and claiming that any failure to meet their ever‑escalating standards proves the target is dishonest. Proofsplaining exhausts the target while making them appear incompetent or evasive.

Example: “She provided a screenshot; he explained why screenshots can be faked. She provided metadata; he explained why metadata isn’t proof. She provided a video; he said it could be deepfaked. Proofsplaining: endless lectures on evidence to avoid acknowledging it.”

Proofsplaining by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 25, 2026