A rhetorical term used by Americans to dismiss criticism of their own hypocrisy. Originated when the Soviet Union would respond to American criticisms of Soviet human rights by pointing out, for example, that if America was so concerned with human rights, it should repeal its Jim Crow segregation and address its own white supremacist violence. Americans, believing their country was, by definition, "the home of the free" and above such criticism, accused Soviets of "whataboutism."
American: "Cuba is a brutal, authoritarian dictatorship which suppresses political dissent."
Cuban: "You know the one place in Cuba where political prisoners are detained indefinitely without charge? Fucking Guantanamo Bay."
American: "Waaaah! That's whataboutism! "
Cuban: "You know the one place in Cuba where political prisoners are detained indefinitely without charge? Fucking Guantanamo Bay."
American: "Waaaah! That's whataboutism! "
by Thorstein Shiver May 7, 2018
Get the Whataboutism mug.Topher: "I totally wassabotaged Ryan's conch salad while he was in the bathroom"
Ryan: "Oh damn that's hot! Did you wassabotage me bro?"
Topher: "YUUUUUP!"
Ryan: "Oh damn that's hot! Did you wassabotage me bro?"
Topher: "YUUUUUP!"
by Shmopher November 4, 2012
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by Big C August 15, 2003
Get the whaddaboutchee mug.whataboutery at its best:-
Sleepy Boy: Celtic fans are bigoted and sectarian.
Nor: Aye, but what about you's.
Sleepy Boy: Celtic fans are bigoted and sectarian.
Nor: Aye, but what about you's.
by OLAS April 29, 2008
Get the whataboutery mug.A pejorative term for calling out hypocrisy, used by people who believe their own actions should be immune to criticism. Chiefly (though not exclusively) used by Americans to stave off criticism of their country's domestic human or civil rights abuses, or aggression against other countries.
American: Russia must be severely punished for its crimes against Ukraine.
Russian: why should Russia be punished when America has been doing far worse in Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria with impunity for decades?
American: That's whataboutism!
Russian: why should Russia be punished when America has been doing far worse in Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria with impunity for decades?
American: That's whataboutism!
by Thorstein Shiver March 9, 2022
Get the Whataboutism mug.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 7, 2021
Get the Whataboutism-flake mug.A term created by hypocrites in a pathetic attempt to dismiss/ discredit anyone who calls them out for their bullshit.
US Government: The actions of the Russian military in Ukraine are despicable and in violation of international law and basic human rights!
Rational person: But these are the same war crimes that the US military has been committing in the middle east for the last 30 years. Why didn't you care about international law and basic human rights when Uncle Sam was killing 380, 000 civilians during his war on terror?
US Government: That's whataboutism!
Rational person: But these are the same war crimes that the US military has been committing in the middle east for the last 30 years. Why didn't you care about international law and basic human rights when Uncle Sam was killing 380, 000 civilians during his war on terror?
US Government: That's whataboutism!
by Plonker69 August 9, 2022
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