BlueVeins · 22-25
"The Soviets were developing biological weapons during the Cold War! The Soviet Union was terrible!"
Whataboutism: "What about the biological weapons the US was developing?"
Pointing out double standards: "I agree, it was bad that the USSR developed bio-weapons. It's also worth noting that the US was developing bio-weapons too though. Do you also acknowledge that the US's bio-weapons program was terrible?"
Sometimes they can seem similar, but there is a legitimate difference.
Whataboutism: "What about the biological weapons the US was developing?"
Pointing out double standards: "I agree, it was bad that the USSR developed bio-weapons. It's also worth noting that the US was developing bio-weapons too though. Do you also acknowledge that the US's bio-weapons program was terrible?"
Sometimes they can seem similar, but there is a legitimate difference.
Castenmas · M
SWers really don’t like it when you have your own opinion.
DunningKruger · 61-69, M
Whataboutism isn't about double standards. Its purpose is to deflect attention away from something the speaker doesn't want to discuss or be discussed.
Ceinwyn · 26-30, F
@DunningKruger It that case I’ve been accused of it by someone who doesn’t know what it means.
DunningKruger · 61-69, M
@Ceinwyn Whataboutism is pretty much always disingenuous, as well — the people who use it rarely if ever are making good-faith arguments.
HeidiA · 41-45, F
Agreed. People shouldn’t expect their bullshit to go unchallenged