Whataboutism
Deflects criticism by pointing to an unrelated wrongdoing elsewhere.
Specimen
Yes, this policy may have problems — but what about what the previous government did ?
Fabricated passage — teaching example designed for clarity.
whataboutism — original criticism deflected by pointing elsewhere
Dissection
Yes, this policy may have problems — but what about what the previous government did?
- original criticism unaddressed
- comparison doesn't resolve the issue
- deflection via moral symmetry
Field notes
- Family
- Logical fallacy
- Habitat
- political reporting, debate coverage, press conferences
- Frequency
- found in 12% of analyzed articles
- Confused with
- Red herring , False equivalence
In the wild
"You're criticising our record on housing? Where was this concern when the other lot were in charge?"
Parliamentary coverage, national daily, February 2026
"Our emissions are up, sure — but look at what China is producing every year."
Climate commentary, political magazine, March 2026
Why it works
Pointing to another wrong implies moral symmetry. The original criticism feels less important once you're weighing it against something else.
Counter-move
Return to the original point. Does this response actually address it?
See it flagged in real articles while you read.
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