Imagine you see, hear or read the “fly-lighting” (Gaslighting) bate of a shadowy fisher-fish but, before you can show others, it disappears.

This is flylighting, also known as gaslighting, for its quick appearance and disappearance like a fly-fishing fly upon water. You’ve seen it but no one else has. It is an underground (or overwater) behavior where the perpetrator does something to trigger you and then pretends that nothing happened and even plays victim. This produces doubt amongst your “fish” peers and even doubt within yourself. It can cause significant pain and distress due to its malice nature. There are many choices before the targeted fish that they can take:

  1. Confront the perpetrator: Asking why they would do such a thing? Likely, you’ll be met with defensiveness and claimed innocence. A tactic to further twist the hook of their efforts. This can lead to doubting your perceptions, a desired effect, confusion and emotional turmoil. Confronting them can also lead to the spreading of a narrative of your “false” perceptions and suddenly you are in defense of your reputation. This is like a shadowy barbed hook to maximize damage. Malice? Such shadowy fisher-fish tactics can really unhinge a person leading to further behaviors that get the targeted fish in trouble. This is the shadowy fisher-fish’s primary goal. Not saying don’t confront this behavior. Just be tactful and get support prior.

  2. Tell another, be adamant with no evidence and possibly be seen as delusional or “crazy” from your own supports. This fulfills the shadowy fisher-fish’s malice intent and could be part of the plot. This is akin to taking the bate. Not to be discouraged, as seeking support is important, but this tactic is an intentionally well-tied-fly. It will depend on your support system on how it is received or believed. The shadow counts on deception and the probabilities of their success. Especially if the plot sounds outlandish. “Your telling me that there is a fish out there with waders, throwing fake flies on a string? Riiight.” This is especially true when social media clubs are setup around the success of the behavior. A shadow culture is born.

  3. They, the fish, could not tell other’s but still be in a state of distress. This is less desirable to the shadow but they likely will persist due to perceived malice’d righteousness or purely because they can. Power hungry shadows are kinda like hungry ghosts or energy vampires . Bottomless is their craving, desire and sole void. They may have other motives by continuing to “fly-light” you and it is important to have a framework to cope, get support and be less reactive to its presence. More on that down river.

  4. They could ignore the bate and see it as a part of human/fish nature. Maybe categorize it as the behavior of underdeveloped or stunted shadow fish? Almost like a lost sole. This is the down river stuff I was referring to. Course down river from this behavior when possible or develop mechanisms to be still in the depths of its presence as it is only a superficial surface behavior or lure.

  5. They, the fish, could make an online course to help other fish sea the behavior for what it is and find kelp. Humor helps.