whataboutism

[ hwuht-uh-bou-tiz-uhm, wuht‐, hwot‐, wot‐ ]

noun

1. a conversational tactic in which a person responds to an argument or attack by changing the subject to focus on someone else’s misconduct, implying that all criticism is invalid because no one is completely blameless:

   Excusing your mistakes with whataboutism is not the same as defending your record.

Word History and Origins

Origin of whataboutism¹

First recorded in 1975–80; from the phrase what about? + -ism ( def )

Example Sentences

Whataboutism and bothsidesism are tactics utilized to dismiss moral calls to end genocide.

From Salon

Despite the whataboutism of the counter-accusation, they’ve got a point.

From Salon

And he did so with his favorite tool: dishonest whataboutism.

From Salon

The whataboutism narrative is that this is a race between two old men.

From Salon

They indulge in whataboutism and catastrophism—the belief that society is on the edge of collapse—to justify their support for Trump.

From Slate