"WhatAboutIsm" is a form of Gaslighting and Arguing towards the person or party calling you out on something bad that you've done by deflecting blame and responsibility for your actions and consequences - legal, criminal, moral, ethical, etc. - onto the other party. "WhatAboutIsm" is a tactic where a person responds to an argument or attack by changing the subject to focus on someone else’s misconduct, implying that all criticism is invalid because no one is completely blameless. "WhatAboutIsm" is to say "what about you and what you did?" versus what I did.
An example is the ludicrous and crazy Legal and Public Relations strategy of President Trump's Republican lawyers at Trump's 2nd impeachment trial to deflect, to confuse and to distract the American public and Republican Senators from President Trump's crime of inciting insurrection and violence by a mob of his MAGA followers to attack the US Capitol, the police and Congress on January 6, 2021 to block the vote formalizing the Presidential victory of the winner. Joe Biden. This attack left 7 people dead including many police officers who fought the rioters.
An example is the ludicrous and crazy Legal and Public Relations strategy of President Trump's Republican lawyers at Trump's 2nd impeachment trial to deflect, to confuse and to distract the American public and Republican Senators from President Trump's crime of inciting insurrection and violence by a mob of his MAGA followers to attack the US Capitol, the police and Congress on January 6, 2021 to block the vote formalizing the Presidential victory of the winner. Joe Biden. This attack left 7 people dead including many police officers who fought the rioters.
"Excusing your mistakes with WhatAboutIsm is not the same as defending your record." (quoted from Dictionary.com:
"Donald Trump’s second impeachment defense, having few promising options, has focused on the theme of whataboutism: Democrats have frequently used the word “fight” in their speeches...The purpose of these false comparisons is too obscure the main activities that are the heart of Trump’s crimes: First, he spent years cultivating violent extremist supporters. And then he mobilized them behind a campaign designed to overturn the result of an election. Neither of these remotely apply to the Democratic Party. Indeed, neither applied to other Republicans, at least not until Trump came along..." (quoted from New York Magazine " Trump’s Defense: What About Democratic Violence? (Answer: There Wasn’t Any.)" by Jonathan Chait on Feb. 12, 2021
"Donald Trump’s second impeachment defense, having few promising options, has focused on the theme of whataboutism: Democrats have frequently used the word “fight” in their speeches...The purpose of these false comparisons is too obscure the main activities that are the heart of Trump’s crimes: First, he spent years cultivating violent extremist supporters. And then he mobilized them behind a campaign designed to overturn the result of an election. Neither of these remotely apply to the Democratic Party. Indeed, neither applied to other Republicans, at least not until Trump came along..." (quoted from New York Magazine " Trump’s Defense: What About Democratic Violence? (Answer: There Wasn’t Any.)" by Jonathan Chait on Feb. 12, 2021
by EmpressSquad February 13, 2021
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."
"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."
by Davezilla July 7, 2019
A person who can't disprove a relevant point which may show bias or a double-standard. So all they have is to say nice whataboutism.
Chris doesn't want to acknowledge his double-standards, when I showed him and example he said nice whataboutism. He had no other response, he is just like all the other whataboutism-flakes.
by MickyD777 January 8, 2021
1.) Anytime someone wants to win the debate and then going back to what they were doing.
2.) Another word for cop out
3.) A verbal kick in the balls during a debate
2.) Another word for cop out
3.) A verbal kick in the balls during a debate
Unable to be used effectively in a sentence here is an example of whataboutism
Laura: I feel we should keep the death penalty in the U.S. Taylor: Well, I think that's because you lack empathy for people.
Laura: I feel we should keep the death penalty in the U.S. Taylor: Well, I think that's because you lack empathy for people.
by stainless67 March 11, 2022
What americans scream when you point out their obvious hypocrisy because apparently they have some special privilege to do horrible things but other don't
American: China must free Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Manchuria!! They stole the land from the native people!!
Chinese: Aren't you literally living in the land your ancestors stole from native Americans?
American: WTF!! HOW DARE YOU POINT OUT MY HYPOCRISY!! THIS IS WHATABOUTISM!!!!!!!
Chinese: Aren't you literally living in the land your ancestors stole from native Americans?
American: WTF!! HOW DARE YOU POINT OUT MY HYPOCRISY!! THIS IS WHATABOUTISM!!!!!!!
'Hold on this situation is similar to the one you behaved in a different manner about last week.'
'I'm sorry that's whataboutism'
'I'm sorry that's whataboutism'
by WafflingWatermelon November 8, 2023
A term used by neoliberals that discourages people using critical thinking skills and/or dismissing them when they stay on point but bring up a valid objective and measureble fact that should be considered in debate. The neoliberal drops the term 'whataboutism" and declares victory in the debate while dismissing all the data necessary to come to a valid conclusion that examines all the evidence.
Person 1: "Put your gun down and surrender!"
Person 2: "What about that gun in your hand? We both have guns. How about if we both put our guns down?"
Person 1: "Stop your whataboutism and surrender"
Person 2: Bang, Bang, shoots person 1 dead
Person 2: "What about that gun in your hand? We both have guns. How about if we both put our guns down?"
Person 1: "Stop your whataboutism and surrender"
Person 2: Bang, Bang, shoots person 1 dead
by Mojorayjones March 2, 2023