whataboutism

Welcome to the Undictionary, an ick!tionary of all things best left unsaid. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z *

English

Noun

Whataboutism (plural Whataboutisms)

1. Yo squirrel! argument method. To bring up unrelated subjects to a direct question. For example: Question: "Is the USA racist?" Answer: "I listen to Kanye West."
2. Comparative-outrages argument method. To put phenomena in context (or to bring up unrelated subjects, as above). For example: Question: "Did you see what the President did?" Answer: "What about the time Trump...?" Finish to taste.

Named after American philosopher Ted Whatabout.