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!
Person 2. What about Biden? This is all about Trump and is nothing but Whataboutism!
by sbohandley August 20, 2022
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 07, 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 08, 2021
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!!!!!!!
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
'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 08, 2023
A term used to dismiss valid criticism of the user's own hypocrisy.
Not to be confused with saying literally "what about-", which is a similar act of comparing someone's behavior with their own past actions.
Not to be confused with saying literally "what about-", which is a similar act of comparing someone's behavior with their own past actions.
"You're a terrible parent because you won't let your kids watch tv!"
"Didn't one of your kids die because of neglect?"
"That's whataboutism!"
"Didn't one of your kids die because of neglect?"
"That's whataboutism!"
by ColonelCluster February 14, 2024