What is Whataboutism?
What about that is a rhetorical move in which a person avoids answering a criticism, statement, or question by pointing to a different problem, usually with a response such as, ‘What about that other thing?’
Whataboutism matters because it can sound like justice while functioning as avoidance. Instead of answering the question before the discussion, it diverts attention to another problem, another person, or another example of wrongdoing.
This does not mean that every comparison is a fallacy. Comparisons can clarify patterns, reveal inconsistencies, or help students see how two situations are similar and different. Whataboutism becomes a problem when the comparison replaces the original question rather than helping to answer it.
In this sense, whataboutism is closely related to logical fallacies such as for example you toored herring arguments and false equivalence. This is especially common in political debate, arguments on social media, classroom disagreements, and any discussion where accountability, evidence, or fairness is called into question.
Related Terms
| Term | How it relates to Whataboutism |
|---|---|
| You too | Responds to criticism by accusing the critic of similar behavior or hypocrisy. |
| A red herring | It distracts from the original problem by redirecting attention to another topic. |
| False equivalence | Treats two situations as equal while ignoring important differences. |
| Deviation | Avoids direct engagement with the original claim, question or evidence. |
Examples of Whataboutism
| Initial claim | Whataboutism Response | Why it weakens the discussion |
|---|---|---|
| “You did not contribute to the group project.” | “What about Jordan? He missed the first meeting.” | Jordan’s behavior may matter, but it does not answer whether this student contributed. |
| “This source does not support your claim.” | “What about the other group? Their source was also weak.” | The answer shifts attention away from the quality of the current argument. |
| “That comment was unfair.” | “What about all the unfair things people say about me?” | The second problem may be real, but it doesn’t solve the first. |
Why Whataboutism feels compelling
Whataboutism is tempting because it often contains a modicum of truth. The other problem may be real. Comparison can reveal hypocrisy. The person being criticized may actually feel picked on. This is why whataboutism can be difficult to identify in real time.
The problem is that the true comparison may still be inappropriate. A student may be right that someone else also failed to help with the project while still being accountable for their own role. A writer can correctly notice bias in another source while still having to support the claim he made.
Key difference: A useful comparison helps clarify the original problem. Whataboutism avoids the original problem by replacing it with another.
The problem: It changes the question
The central problem with whataboutism is that it changes the issue under discussion. Instead of asking “Is this statement accurate?” or “Was this action justified?” the conversation turns to another question: “Has anyone else done something similar or worse?”
This change can make the discussion circular. It can also make accountability nearly impossible, because every statement can be answered with another statement, every criticism with another criticism, and every problem with a different problem.
For students learning argument, discussion, and evidence-based reasoning, this is an important distinction. Strong critical thinking requires staying with a question long enough to consider it. That is why classroom tools such as critical thinking questions, questioning strategiesand Socratic seminar can help students separate relevant comparisons from simple deviance.
How to Respond to Whataboutism
- Back to original claim: “That might be worth discussing, but does it answer the question we started with?”
- Break down the issues: “We can look into this further. First, let’s finish this statement.”
- Ask for relevance: “How does this example change whether this statement is true?”
- Admit without admitting: “That could be a problem too, but it doesn’t solve this one.”
Conclusion
Whataboutism is a rhetorical diversion that avoids answering a statement by shifting attention to a different issue. Whataboutism weakens thinking when it uses comparison to avoid evidence, responsibility, or the original question. For students, the goal is to keep asking “For what?” but to put it precisely: What does the comparison make clear, and what question remains to be answered?
Reference: Merriam-Webster defines whataboutism as a response to an accusation by claiming that another crime is similar or worse. Look Merriam-Webster: What’s up with that?.
