whataboutism

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16:56 Nov 22, 2019
English to Bosnian translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Government / Politics
Additional field(s): History, Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc., Journalism
English term or phrase: whataboutism
Definition from Merriam-Webster:
The rhetorical technique or practice by reversing the accusation, arguing that an opponent is guilty of an offense just as egregious or worse. Also known as "whataboutery".

Example sentence(s):
  • Fears of impending whataboutism do not appear to have been exaggerated. Pundits have been noticing Trump’s proclivity for the “what about” defense for months. Even since taking office, the president has been quick to respond to accusations of collusion or corruption by pointing to the alleged misdeeds of his former opponent, Hillary Clinton. HuffPost
  • For a nanosecond, especially to an uncritical listener, this stab at logic might seem interesting, even thought-provoking, and that’s why it’s a useful political tool. Whataboutism appears to broaden context, to offer a counterpoint, when really it’s diverting blame, muddying the waters and confusing the hell out of rational listeners. Washington Post
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Summary of translations provided
4 +1Promjena teme protupitanjem
Lidija Djujic (X)


  

Translations offered


34 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Promjena teme protupitanjem


Definition from own experience or research:
Tehnika ili praksa odgovaranja na optužbu ili teško pitanje postavljanjem kontraoptužbe ili postavljanjem protupitanja, sa namjerom da se promjeni tema.

Example sentence(s):
  • What-about-blablabla je najčešći način nesvjesnog ili svjesnog spina, <b>okretanja javnosti od teme na način da se nipodaštava određena činjenica</b> tako što se kaže "a šta je sa...(stavite šta želite) tj. "What about". To je logička pogreška vrlo česta u propagandi. Tako je jedan od najčešćih whataboutizama vezano za požar Notre-Dame de Paris bio onaj "što bogati daju tolike pare za obnovu nekakve crkve, a šta je sa gladnom djecom/gladnima/ratom u Siriji ..." Također, bilo je whataboutizama koji su izgledali kao "gori Notre-Dame, a šta je sa...tim-i-tim spomenikom koji je izgorio?" - Notre-Dame de Paris: žrtva požara ili  
  • Na novinarski upit može li Sabor Hrvatske pozivati na mijenjanje Ustava Bosne i Hercegovine. Musa je odgovorio <b>protupitanjem</b>: Pitanje je može li američki State Department, koji je isto tako potpisnik Daytona, tražiti provođenje odluka u BiH. - MUSA: Plenković te “umirovljenike”  
  • Postavljaju protupitanja U želji da izbjegnu odgovor, lašci često na pitanje odgovaraju <b>protupitanjem</b>. - Kako prepoznati lažljivca?  

Explanation:
“Whataboutism” je, naime, izraz za argument koji to nije. Temeljen je na pitanju “A šta ćemo sa…?” (What about…?), kako bi se promijenila tema, obično skretanjem pažnje na manje ili više usporediv problem, koji bi u principu trebao biti veći od onoga o kojemu se trenutno raspravlja.
Lidija Djujic (X)
Serbia
Local time: 13:59
Native speaker of: Native in CroatianCroatian, Native in BosnianBosnian

Votes in favor of/against selecting this as the best translation of the term asked
Yes  Marina Pjevalica
27 mins
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