masturbation

Manual stimulation of one's own genitals for pleasure, usually but not always to the point of orgasm. While views on the subject differ greatly among various groups, it is generally viewed as an activity whose primary purpose and effect is self-gratification; hence the term (or its synonyms, particularly 'wanking') is commonly used as a pejorative metaphor for other activities that are viewed by the speaker as accomplishing nothing besides self-gratification, such as self-aggrandizing internet trolling or focusing one's study on certain poorly defined subjects or doctrines, particularly in the Humanities.

"Post-modernism is intellectual masturbation, plain and simple!"
"Wanking: Making self-congratulary comments intended only to give an impression of your importance or intelligence." (Pharyngula dungeon page)

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