Whataboutism or whataboutery (as in “what about…?”) denotes in a pejorative sense a procedure in which a critical question or argument is not answered or discussed, but retorted with a critical counter-question which expresses a counter-accusation. From a logical and argumentative point of view it is considered a variant of the Tu quoque pattern (Latin ‘you too’, term for a counter-accusation), which is a subtype of the Ad-hominem argument. (1,2,3,4)

The communication intent here is often to distract from the content of a topic (red herring). The goal may also be to question the justification for criticism, the legitimacy, integrity, and fairness of the critic, which can take on the character of discrediting the criticism, which may or may not be justified. Common accusations include double standards, and hypocrisy.

Whataboutism can also be used to relativize criticism of one’s own viewpoints or behaviours. (A: “Long-term unemployment often means poverty in Germany.” B: “And what about the starving in Africa and Asia?”). (5)

Accusing an interlocutor of whataboutism can also in itself be manipulative and serve the motive of discrediting, as critical talking points can be used selectively and purposefully even as the starting point of the conversation. The deviation from them can then be branded as whataboutism.

Related manipulation and propaganda techniques in the sense of rhetorical evasion of the topic are the change of topic and false balance (bothsidesism). (6)

Common phrases of whataboutism, besides the typical “And what about…?” are the proverbs “He who sits in glass houses should not throw stones”, “When you point a finger at others, three fingers point back at yourself”, “You see the mote in another’s eye, you do not see the beam in your own”, and “Sweep in front of your own door.” (7)