Whataboutism definitions
| Word backwards | msituobatahw |
|---|---|
| Part of speech | The word "whataboutism" is a noun. |
| Syllabic division | What-a-bout-ism |
| Plural | The plural of the word whataboutism is whataboutisms. |
| Total letters | 12 |
| Vogais (4) | a,o,u,i |
| Consonants (6) | w,h,t,b,s,m |
Whataboutism is a tactic used in arguments to deflect criticism by responding with a counter-accusation. This technique shifts the focus away from the original issue at hand and instead tries to point out flaws in the other party. It is often employed as a distraction or to avoid accountability.
Origin of Whataboutism
Whataboutism has its roots in Soviet propaganda, where it was used to deflect criticism of the Soviet Union by pointing out faults in capitalist countries. The term itself comes from the phrase "What about...?" often used as a rebuttal. It has since been adopted as a common strategy in political debates and discussions.
How Whataboutism Works
When faced with criticism, a person using whataboutism will respond by bringing up a different issue entirely. For example, if someone accuses a politician of corruption, the politician might respond by bringing up allegations against their opponent, shifting the focus away from their own wrongdoing.
Impact of Whataboutism
Whataboutism can be detrimental to constructive dialogue as it derails discussions and prevents meaningful solutions from being reached. It often leads to a "tit for tat" exchange where both parties are more focused on attacking each other rather than addressing the original issue.
Furthermore, whataboutism can create a false equivalence between two issues that are not comparable. By shifting the focus to a different topic, the original concern is downplayed or dismissed entirely.
It is important to recognize when whataboutism is being used in an argument and to steer the conversation back to the original point. By staying focused on the issue at hand and not allowing distractions to take over, more productive discussions can take place.
Whataboutism Examples
- When presented with evidence of corruption, the politician resorted to whataboutism by bringing up unrelated scandals.
- During the debate, the candidate tried to deflect criticism by using whataboutism to shift the focus onto their opponent's past actions.
- The student used whataboutism to avoid taking responsibility for failing to complete the assignment on time.
- In response to accusations of unfair treatment, the manager employed whataboutism to point out similar incidents involving other employees.
- When questioned about his controversial statements, the celebrity employed whataboutism by highlighting the misdeeds of other public figures.
- The company's spokesperson used whataboutism to downplay concerns about their environmental impact by referencing other companies in the industry.
- The athlete resorted to whataboutism when confronted about doping allegations by bringing up instances of cheating by their competitors.
- The individual employed whataboutism to avoid addressing their harmful behavior by pointing out the flaws of the accuser.
- In response to criticism of their policies, the government official resorted to whataboutism by highlighting the faults of previous administrations.
- The employee used whataboutism to deflect blame for a mistake by pointing out errors made by their coworkers.