Source: https://x.com/asherwolfstein/status/2048857453409013899
Thread posts: 39
For reference: https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/
This is a revision of an article Maus and I coauthored in August 4, 2025. It was re-posted and revised (with anchors) on February 4, 2026 to include 37 references including Freyd's publication on DARVO.
2026-04-27 20:10:57 / 2048857453409013899 / Twitter Web App
Understandably, the reader may wish to skip the verbose personal intro, and so, I provide anchored links to each salient section in this thread.
2026-04-27 20:11:01 / 2048857471259931055 / Twitter Web App
The article itself # on-manipulation:
2026-04-27 20:11:30 / 2048857593133912072 / Twitter Web App
Five common vulnerabilities that targeted by manipulative tactics, as identified by George K. Simon, author of In Sheep’s Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People # five-common-vulnerabilities
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#five-common-vulnerabilities
2026-04-27 20:12:39 / 2048857882570228166 / Twitter Web App
Denial # denial
2026-04-27 20:39:05 / 2048864531838128396 / Twitter Web App
Shifting Blame # shifting-blame
2026-04-27 20:39:48 / 2048864712314744906 / Twitter Web App
Isolation # isolation
2026-04-27 20:40:02 / 2048864773790679390 / Twitter Web App
Vilification # vilification
2026-04-27 20:40:18 / 2048864840018780474 / Twitter Web App
Threats of Self-Harm
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#threats-of-self-harm
2026-04-27 20:40:32 / 2048864898860618080 / Twitter Web App
Passive Aggression # passive-aggression
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#passive-aggression
2026-04-27 20:40:48 / 2048864967320052146 / Twitter Web App
Guilt Tripping # guilt-tripping
2026-04-27 20:41:01 / 2048865017987256565 / Twitter Web App
Shaming # shaming
2026-04-27 20:41:14 / 2048865076493586459 / Twitter Web App
Lying, By Commission or Omission # lying-by-commission-or-omission
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#lying-by-commission-or-omission
2026-04-27 20:41:42 / 2048865192088658374 / Twitter Web App
Bandwagon Effect or Threatened Ostracism # bandwagon-effect-or-threatened-ostracism
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#bandwagon-effect-or-threatened-ostracism
2026-04-27 20:42:04 / 2048865286103998642 / Twitter Web App
Playing The Victim # playing-the-victim
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#playing-the-victim
2026-04-27 20:42:22 / 2048865359017705781 / Twitter Web App
Spinning or Rationalization # spinning-or-rationalization
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#spinning-or-rationalization
2026-04-27 20:42:41 / 2048865437392441645 / Twitter Web App
Love-Bombing, Instant Intimacy, or the Intimacy Rush # love-bombing-instant-intimacy-or-the-intimacy-rush
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#love-bombing-instant-intimacy-or-the-intimacy-rush
2026-04-27 20:44:47 / 2048865966982053984 / Twitter Web App
Seduction # seduction
2026-04-27 20:44:59 / 2048866016948805870 / Twitter Web App
Poisoning the Well # poisoning-the-well
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#poisoning-the-wall
2026-04-27 20:45:15 / 2048866086192611329 / Twitter Web App
Brandishing Anger # brandishing-anger
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#brandishing-anger
2026-04-27 20:45:25 / 2048866127397405181 / Twitter Web App
Pantomimes of Virtue # pantomimes-of-virtue
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#pantomimes-of-virtue
2026-04-27 20:45:40 / 2048866189515137334 / Twitter Web App
Diversion # diversion
2026-04-27 20:45:52 / 2048866238508728387 / Twitter Web App
Encouraging Self-Doubt # encouraging-self-doubt
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#encouraging-self-doubt
2026-04-27 20:46:08 / 2048866309103026368 / Twitter Web App
Feigning Innocence # feigning-innocence
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#feigning-innocence
2026-04-27 20:46:22 / 2048866364866351123 / Twitter Web App
Projection # projection
2026-04-27 20:46:32 / 2048866408466108719 / Twitter Web App
Invalidation # invalidation
2026-04-27 20:47:44 / 2048866709587870184 / Twitter Web App
Double Standards # double-standards
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#double-standards
2026-04-27 20:47:57 / 2048866763056808078 / Twitter Web App
Shifting Context # shifting-context
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#shifting-context
2026-04-27 20:48:09 / 2048866817184330192 / Twitter Web App
Feigning Confusion # feigning-confusion
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#feigning-confusion
2026-04-27 20:48:23 / 2048866874872725939 / Twitter Web App
Leveraging Obligations # leveraging-obligations
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#leveraging-obligations
2026-04-27 20:48:41 / 2048866948604387731 / Twitter Web App
Intentional Vagueness # intentional-vagueness
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#intentional-vagueness
2026-04-27 20:48:55 / 2048867008578744824 / Twitter Web App
Gaslighting # gaslighting
2026-04-27 20:49:09 / 2048867064761500119 / Twitter Web App
Intimidation # intimidation
2026-04-27 20:49:22 / 2048867122429018476 / Twitter Web App
Triangulation or Pot Stirring # triangulation-or-pot-stirring
https://asherwolfstein.com/on-manipulation/#triangulation-or-pot-stirring
2026-04-27 20:49:41 / 2048867202099720386 / Twitter Web App
References # references
2026-04-27 20:49:57 / 2048867266197107100 / Twitter Web App
It's laughable to not think, at this point—with my husband's bsky account suspended for… what? Confronting someone on a legitimate point of contention?—that my asbuser(s) had no hand in getting me permanently suspended from all major microblogging atproto appviews (as of now).
2026-04-27 20:52:50 / 2048867991987872213 / Twitter Web App
I know this platform sucks. Like, it sucks hard, and not balls, but something much worse. I know.
2026-04-27 20:52:59 / 2048868033616306610 / Twitter Web App
Despite this, one way to show support is some interaction:
*share,* wherever, any Tweet above that you've witnessed seen recently, or any other time in your life, as I think our article does pretty well at laying it out.
Thanks!
2026-04-27 20:53:03 / 2048868048627757206 / Twitter Web App
Addendum: Since I spent some time on this, I might as well pop in and say that my grievances, issues, relationships, and observations are a grotesque mockery of *serious* issues because…
I have BPD I guess.
2026-04-27 21:01:38 / 2048870206752412066 / Twitter Web App
Twitter/X root tweet: 2048857453409013899