:: COMPARE ::
The short answer
A devil's advocate announces the position is borrowed. A concern troll insists the position is sincerely their own. The deception is the entire distinction — the arguments can be word-for-word identical.
Side by side
| Aspect | Concern trolling | Devil's advocacy |
|---|---|---|
| Position is owned | Falsely claimed | Openly borrowed |
| Announced | No | Yes |
| Good faith | No | Yes |
| Can be identical in wording | Yes | Yes |
What each one means
Posing as a sympathetic insider in order to sap a group's momentum — expressing worry about its tactics while actually working to undermine it. It is aimed at individuals too — false concern for someone's health or choices, used to criticise them.
Full definition of Concern Trolling →The contrast above sets out how Devil's advocacy differs from Concern Trolling on the points that actually matter.