I read this article in Dictionary.com. I thought I’d pass on an edited version for you (with my own thoughts added) because I think this is an important issue we face today…
There are all sorts of retorts people resort to when criticized or called out for a mistake or wrongdoing of some kind. One of the most maddening kinds is increasingly being referred to as “whataboutism”.
You know it when you hear it. “Hey, weren’t you supposed to do the dishes last night?” you ask your roommate as you stare at a sink full of crusty dishes. Instead of acknowledging it, apologizing, and jumping to clean up, your roommate opens a fresh can of whataboutism: “But what about that time last week when you were supposed to take out the garbage and you didn’t.”
Wait, what? Can’t they just do the dishes?!
This kind of doltish deflection is infuriating. The idea, here, is that a person charged with some offense tries to discredit the accuser by charging them with a similar one or bringing up a different issue altogether; none of which is relevant to the original accusation. It’s basically like blowing a raspberry at someone and saying “I know you are, but what am I?” Classy, right?
The Russians coined whataboutism
The term whataboutism has been dated to 1978, when it applied to propaganda techniques used by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. When the West criticized the Soviet Union, say, over human rights abuses, the Soviet Union would point out crimes committed by the West (e.g., the practice of lynching in the United States). The term whataboutery is found slightly earlier, in 1974, used of the conflict between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Both terms are based on the structure of the common retort “What about”?
The whereabouts of whataboutism
If we’re being honest, we’re all guilty of whataboutism. It’s often a knee-jerk response or a last-resort defense to answer a criticism or charge. It’s also a pretty good way to shift the attention off your mistake and onto your accuser.
But one man, in particular, has thrust whataboutism as a word and practice into the spotlight. You guessed it: President Donald Trump.
Search interest in the term jumped during the investigation of Russian meddling into the 2016 presidential election, including the Trump campaign’s possible collusion and conspiracy with them.
However, Whataboutism has been used, or called out, in the context of some of the other leading issues in the late 2010s, such as the Me Too Movement. After Senator Al Franken, for example, stepped down over sexual misconduct allegations in 2017, many accused him of whataboutism when he raised the fact that Trump has faced sexual assault allegations. As if to say, well, since Mr. Trump did it did it; therefore it somehow justified his actions.
Personal responsibility remember that?
Whataboutism is worrisome because it pushes aside personal responsibility. Apologies, at least apologies done right, seem to be a dying breed when everyone seems to point fingers and dodges, ducks, or dances around any admission that they may not be perfect. Might someone be hypocritical calling you out for something they’ve done too? Yes, but that doesn’t excuse your refusal to act responsibly and offer a genuine, thoughtful apology.
And, for the record, I have made many mistakes in my life. I have wronged many in my 60+ years. Am I proud of that? No. Do I regret some of those action? Yes! And for the record, to those who have been affected by my actions, I’m not going to blame my circumstances, or that I was different then or that I was under a lot of pressure. But I’ve tried to learn from those situations and not make those mistakes again or hurt others as a result. And for those who I have offended or hurt, I apologize profusely. I recognize and accept that I am responsible for my actions – we are ALL responsible for our actions.
How do you point out hypocrisy without engaging in whataboutism?
This is an interesting question. I think the answer lies in not taking criticism as a personal attack (although the criticism might be intended to be personal AND an attack). Rather, find the principle behind the criticism and remove the emotion. And ask two simple questions, “Is there any truth to the statement?” and “Can I change my behavior to be a better person/boss/parent/mate?”
And, if the answer is “Yes”, then truly apologize or say, “Yes, you’re right.” Then go do those dishes.
When we take these simple little steps, we can make our world better and the lives of others – a little bit better each day.