@aral "...cynical troll or sea lion. ..."
I did not recognize the term "sea lion" used in this context,
So five seconds worth of Duck-Duck-Go-ing earned me clarity :
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/sealioning-internet-trolling
And also
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sealioning
I have experienced the wrong end of "Sea Lioning",
No doubt many people have at some point or other,
Yet never until your post here,
Did I know it had a name.
Mark this as one of those "TIL" or "Today I Learned" reply/posts.
Thank you Aral for including the term.