this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2023
695 points (94.3% liked)

Memes

45731 readers
609 users here now

Rules:

  1. Be civil and nice.
  2. Try not to excessively repost, as a rule of thumb, wait at least 2 months to do it if you have to.

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Right, people are treating it as sports where you have to either cheer for one side or the other.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (4 children)

My issue with hexbearians was that in every single thread I saw them in they would do nothing but whatabout regardless of the context. I understand they may have good points about certain things and to their credit some had very well written and informative comments but most of the time they weren't directly relevant to the topic. It could be a loud minority but it doesn't change the fact it's annoying to see huge threads of whatabout arguments all the time by them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

In my view, having consistent moral standards is a prerequisite for having an honest discussion on any topic. If anything, the actual whataboutism is pointing fingers at other countries while refusing to acknowledge what your own country is doing. People should focus on fixing problems at home and holding their own governments accountable first and foremost because that's where they have most agency.

This is what people who you accuse of whataboutism point out. Focusing on countries you don't like and talking about how bad they are when your own country does the same things simply serves to deflect attention and to create the impression that your own society is somehow better and more enlightened. This is how the west often justifies the atrocities it commits.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

getting called out for your bullshit on any topic pertains to the discussion, we've had problems with all crowds.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

"whataboutism" does not mean "you're never allowed to point out a double standard"

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You know whataboutism isn't an actual logical fallacy and was originally used in defense of British colonialism "well the IRA also does bad things" right?

[–] [email protected] -5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Again, my point was that people should focus on themselves and what their countries are doing. Your "well the IRA also does bad things" is precisely the kind of deflection I'm arguing against.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm replying to the person you're replying to.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is really a non-sequitur but I have zero idea how people choose to upvote it downvote anymore. You and I were in agreement and somehow I got upvoted and you got downvoted? I don't get it