• Bytemeister@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    No. It’s a complete misunderstanding of whataboutism.

    Whataboutism is when you point to another similar situation and say “what about that”.

    Examples…

    A non-whataboutism - Biden is old, but we absolutely cannot have trump, a self proclaimed wannabe dictator, become president.

    A whataboutism - Biden is old. Yeah, but trump is old too!

    • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      There is nowhere that defines whataboutism with that restriction. You guys are so deep in the sand you’re pulling out literal propaganda techniques to manufacture consent.

        • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          The wiki article does not support what you’re saying. It even suggests 2 other methods, accusations of double standards, and hypocrisy. The main point is to distract from the actual conversation by using an accusation.

          Actually try reading your sources.

          • Bytemeister@lemmy.world
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            6 months ago

            Common accusations include double standards, and hypocrisy, but it can also be used to relativize criticism of one’s own viewpoints or behaviors. (A: “Long-term unemployment often means poverty in Germany.” B: “And what about the starving in Africa and Asia?”).

            Might as well quote the relevant section.

            Well would you look at that, there it is laying out exactly what I said. Deflection of an argument by accusing someone else of the same thing.

            Stating that you’re voting for Biden because Trump is a Fascist wannabe dictator is not a whataboutism.

            • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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              6 months ago

              For comparison, what you said was,

              Whataboutism is when you point to another similar situation and say “what about that”.

              You presented that as the only valid use of the technique. Even the section you just quoted says there are other ways to use it. That’s why there’s the words, “but can also be used to…”

              Stop digging your hole.

              • Bytemeister@lemmy.world
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                6 months ago

                What the fuck do you think “relativize criticism” means?

                Whataboutism is a specific type of logical fallacy. It is not enough for it to just be a deflection to another topic

                For instance… Biden is old. Yeah, but Trump golfs too much and he cheats at it.

                That is not a whataboutism.