Outside Criticism Trap

A rhetorical maneuver where an accuser repeatedly redefines the relevant boundary of 'outside' critics so that any engagement the accused offers is dismissed as still 'within the bubble.' It functions as a moving‑goalposts bad‑faith tactic that converts any denial of closed‑mindedness into further proof of culpability. — Naming and diagnosing this trap helps reporters, scholars, and debate participants avoid an unresolvable form of accusation that corrodes accountability and public reasoning.