A fork of Rural Dictionary
A lazy, but more sophisticated way for political campists to say "It's OK when we do it."
Person 1: "Your nation did crimes!"
Person 2: "What about your nation's crimes ?!"
Person 1: "That's a whataboutism!"
Whataboutism is a deflection tactic mainly employed by liberals and leftists when called out for their double standards, selective outrage, cognitive dissonance and hypocrisy. It is the favorite go to word that these people use to gaslight their critics.
Person 1. How can you call Trump a racist when Biden is on video saying even more racist things and you have never been upset or called him out for that?
Person 2. What about Biden? This is all about Trump and is nothing but Whataboutism!
Using an unusually stupid example of wrongdoing to try and excuse other wrongdoing. When in reality it just makes both examples wrong.
"It's okay for China to collect our metadata because the US did the same thing and used it to hunt terrorists in Yemen"
"Dude, that is the stupidest whataboutism I have ever heard. If you think it's wrong against terrorists then why the hell do you think it's okay to do the same against anyone else? If one is wrong then they're both wrong, dumbass."
When you deflect criticism by pointing out flaws in your opponent, specifically using the phrase "what about x?" This is an attempt to excuse you from changing you behavior by painting your opponent as a hypocrite.
Dad: Son, you haven't cleaned your room in two years. Please clean it up.
Son: Why are you always telling me to clean my room? What about YOUR room? Or what about your relation with mom? Shouldn't YOU be the one cleaning up your life?
Dad: Quit your whataboutism and clean your damn room. I'm tired of seeing that dead rat over there in the corner.
A tankie's favorite thing to do when they get into an argument
Person 1: Why is china genociding uyghurs?
Tankie: hurr durr Native Americans Guantanamo bay
Person 1: Quit your whataboutism
1.) An Individual who engages in Whataboutery: A propaganda technique where criticisms are deflected by raising corresponding criticisms of the opposite side.
2.) An individual who tries a "back door" defense of one's bad actions by framing a similar situation as alleged proof of a double-standard. With this they are attempting to provide a defense of the individual while at the same time, avoiding association with said bad action.
Mike: I can't believe "Roseanne" was canceled for making racist statements while "The View" is still on the air. After all, they've said worse about Trump.
Dan: Stop being a Whatabouter.
Mike: But what about Whoopi!!?!?!?
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Judge: Mr. Ramapovich, this court having found you guilty of 1st degree murder of your ex-wife Suzanne, I hereby sentenced you to the term of Life in Prison without the possibility of parole . . .
Defendant: BUT WHAT ABOUT OJ!?????????
Made up term created by US propagandists to defend their and their government's hypocrisy.
US propandist: this is an evil man because he has tortured people!
Concerned citizen: what about US torturing people in Guantánamo Bay?
US propandist: Whataboutism!