Whataboutism- We know our side sucks, but their side sucks even more!
Updated: 9 hours ago
"If we accept Whataboutism arguments, then nothing can ever be deemed wrong, as long as we can find examples that are worse" Instagram post
"Two wrongs don't make a right" Common proverb
There is a lot of consternation about corruption, cheating, violence, and oppression these days, and it seems like any time someone steps up to condemn it, they are swatted down by the phrase "what about the other guys who are worse?" Whataboutism has become a popular word to describe the devolution of our societal discussion about important problems and issues. No one wants to take responsibility for fixing anything, so they just shrug their shoulders and look for others to blame.
Whataboutism is thought to have originated in the Soviet Union in the 20th century. The Soviet regime, accused of a multitude of human rights abuses, routinely turned the tables on the accusers by pointing out US hypocrisy involving racial discrimination, foreign wars, and police violence. It was and remains a popular propaganda device for authoritarians everywhere because it shuts down and diverts complaints and protests.
Fossil fuels are causing climate change? Well even if it is, what about the fact that the earth's climate has changed many times over billions of years? What about the Chinese and their pollution? What about the fact that some obscure study (paid for by fossil fuel companies) proved it might not be anything to worry about?
Politicians are rigging elections through gerrymandering, cheating, and lie-filled advertisements? Maybe, but what about the fact that both sides are doing it? What about the fact that politics is messy and controlled by moneyed interests, so you might as well give up on campaign finance laws?
Country A is killing people in Country B? What about the fact that Country B had it coming? What about their past sins, real or imagined, that somehow hurt Country A? What about the need for any country to defend itself, even if that might mean pre-emptive wars?
Healthcare is an expensive mess, so why not establish a single payer system through the government? What about Socialism? What about Communism? What about some country that has government healthcare where people have to wait for elective surgeries?
Estimates are that a large majority of women experience some sort of sexual harassment, abuse, or rape in their lifetimes. Yes, but what about maybe they dressed provocatively, got drunk, or led a man on? Maybe it was their fault. And what about men? They have it rough too, and you can't help that boys will be boys sometimes.
Whataboutism can be used to justify just about anything- corruption, genocide, war, crime, or fascism. When things can always be worse, the bad things here and now go unchecked. The only solution to these things is confronting them head-on and putting in guardrails to prevent them from happening again. Weak excuses just won't cut it anymore.
One big problem about whataboutism is that in an age of rampant disinformation and misinformation, the equation can easily be manipulated to make the "whatabout" side look unreasonably worse. Politicians, podcasters, and other persuaders can cherry pick, nut pick, or just make up stuff about the other side to make them look unthinkably horrific. If the other side is just plain evil, that makes your side the good one. Even if it isn't.
During every public or online debate, there should be a giant buzzer that sounds whenever someone says "what about". They need to stop pointing at straw men, and come up with solutions that actually make things better here and now. And if there is an example of failures elsewhere, they shouldn't exaggerate, but provide plenty of evidence that helps us all figure out what went wrong and how to do better.
Martin Luther King inspired Americans to look into their souls and seek to become a better person. He could have easily called for violence and revolution given what his ancestors and neighbors had been through. But he chose not to. Dr King famously said, "If we do an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, we will be a blind and toothless nation." As a genuine man of peace, he organized a peaceful resistance movement that was more effective in improving civil rights than any violent protest could have ever been.
Want to improve things for everybody? Don't complain about something else, real or imagined. Get to the truth of it, and find the best solutions that work for everyone.
Here is a great video from John Oliver on this important topic.
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