When you were a kid, there was no better comeback than “I know you are, but what am I?” (The eloquent “I’m rubber and you’re glue” is a closely related second place.) While some of us have moved past the classroom, others still revert to this type of retort, now called whataboutism — and if you’re not aware of it, you can get drawn into an argument that’s not even mature enough for kindergarten.
The Art of Whataboutism
Whataboutism refers to turning an argument onto an opponent, thus avoiding their (probably valid) point. For example, if someone complains that you are stepping on their toes, and you say “But you stepped on my toes last week!” you’re ignoring their complaint and validating your behavior because they once did it in the past. However, by complaining about their past toe infraction, you’re agreeing that it’s an unacceptable behavior — but you’re entitled to do it because they did.
A Fallacy as Old as Time
While whataboutism is a relatively new term to describe this phenomenon, it’s not a new concept at all. It’s a logical fallacy known as the Tu Quoque (too-kwo-KWAY, meaning “You As Well”) fallacy, and it first appeared in print in John Cooke’s 1614 Greene’s Tu Quoque. That’s how long people have been excusing bad behavior with “But you did it first!”
This logical fallacy is a type of ad hominem attack that redirects an argument onto someone’s character rather than the substance of the argument itself. It’s also similar to the false analogy fallacy (equating two unlike points). Like most fallacies, you’re most likely to see it when someone's argument is empty.
Whataboutism In the Wild
All you need to do is turn on a 24-hour cable news station to find examples of whataboutism. However, if that’s too much to stomach, you can find examples of whataboutism in your everyday life.
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A driver cuts another driver off. When they confront each other, the first driver says “But it wasn’t my fault; you cut me off three off-ramps ago!”
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Parents punish a teenager for drinking alcohol. She yells “But you drink all the time!”
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A politician argues against Congressional impeachment by claiming “Congress does much worse than I’ve ever done!”
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Neighbors argue over the first neighbor’s constantly barking dog. She claims “Your kids were loud last weekend!”
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A basketball player fouls someone from the other team. When the referee calls the foul, the player complains “But he traveled three plays ago!”
What To Do About Whataboutism
It’s hard to recognize whataboutism in the moment, which is what the whatabouter is counting on. You’re so quick to defend yourself that you don’t notice how skillfully they have distracted you from the argument.
But you can ward off whataboutism by following these steps:
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Don’t get defensive. Acknowledge that they are correct. (Yes, I did step on your toes last week.)
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Dismiss it. (But that’s not what we’re talking about right now.)
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Get back on track. (We’re talking about your feet which happen to be on my toes.)
Chances are, they’ll try another fallacy to catch you off guard (“You only care about your toes! What about my feet’s right to crush your toes?”). But if you take a moment and gently steer the argument back, you’ll find that their feet will be off your toes momentarily.
Fight Fallacies With Fire (or Strong Arguments)
You can’t fight a fallacious argument with another fallacious argument. Strengthen your argument by knowing what not to say, and check out: