Re:Facebook Expects to Be Fined Up to $5B by FTC Over Privac...
by colordrops on Thursday April 25, 2019 @02:23AM
(#19745540)
The problem with the term "whataboutism" is that its users wield it to prevent discussion about anything that doesn't fit their agenda. In particular, its main use has been to amplify the Russiagate conspiracy which was never backed by any evidence and yet was the forefront of public attention for almost three years. If you pointed out actual evidence-based foreign influence such as that put forward by the Saudis, you were accused of "whataboutism". This was almost certainly a tactic dreamed up in a politically motivated D.C. think tank or PR firm, and has prevented fruitful discussion of countless real issues for an extended period of time.
Re:Facebook Expects to Be Fined Up to $5B by FTC Over Privac...
by dredmorbius on Thursday April 25, 2019 @06:41AM
(#19746719)
You're labouring under several grave misapprehensions.
This addresses one of them:
The term "whataboutery" has been used in Britain and Ireland since the period of the Troubles (conflict) in Northern Ireland.[10][11][12] Lexicographers date the first appearance of the variant whataboutism to the 1990s[1][10] or 1970s...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=tu+quoque&case...