Skeptical Violence

A form of harm perpetrated by self‑identified skeptics who weaponize doubt to silence, harass, or exclude. Skeptical violence often involves demanding impossible evidence, moving goalposts, and then declaring the target irrational. It is distinct from healthy skepticism because it is not open to being proven wrong; it uses the posture of doubt as a permanent shield. The violence is in the refusal to engage honestly, treating every claim as guilty until proven innocent—and then moving the standard of proof beyond reach.

Example: “She provided sources; he said they were biased. She provided more; he said they were too old. She provided recent peer‑reviewed papers; he said the field was corrupt. Skeptical violence: endless doubt as a weapon.”

Skeptical Violence by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal April 15, 2026