A digitallighting tactic where the perpetrator ignores the overwhelming majority of an argument and instead seizes on a single minor point—often a typo, an awkward phrasing, or a peripheral claim—then uses that isolated element to dismiss the entire argument as invalid. By focusing all attention on the weakest or most easily misinterpreted fragment, the selective responder creates the illusion that the whole argument has been refuted. The target is left frustrated, feeling that their main points were never addressed, while the audience sees only the “debunked” fragment. This tactic is common in bad‑faith online debates and coordinated harassment campaigns.
Example: “She wrote a detailed post with ten supporting points. He replied only ‘You misspelled ‘their’ — selective response, pretending a typo invalidated everything else.”
by Abzugal April 5, 2026
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