whataboutism

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16:55 Nov 22, 2019
English to Japanese 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そっちこそどうなんだ主義
Shiho Fukuda Koski


  

Translations offered


4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
そっちこそどうなんだ主義


Definition from Wikipedia:
冷戦時期においてソビエト連邦(ソ連)が対西側諸国で使用したプロパガンダの手法。ソ連が批判されたとき、その返事が「(西側諸国における事件を挙げて)~こそどうなんだ?」になることから名づけられた。いわゆるお前だって論法、つまり相手の論点に直接反論せず、相手の言動が主張と矛盾していると指摘して相手の論点の信用をなくそうとする論理的誤謬の一種である。

Example sentence(s):
  • トルコ人の国粋主義者と同席すると、彼らがいまだ虐殺否定論に固執する人たちであれば、大虐殺の言い訳によく使う決まり文句のひとつがある。「英米のやってきた虐殺はどうなんだ?」 いわゆる「そっちこそどうなんだ主義(Whataboutism)」である。 - GlobalVoices  
  • トランプ氏の政策をテレビやSNSが伝え、政治的分裂が起これば起こるほどエバンジェリカルズはトランプ氏の肩を持った。まさにWhataboutism(そっちこそどうなんだ主義)だった。 - livedoor NEWS  
  • 近年すごく流行りだした論法ですよね。あれはもともとソ連が欧米諸国から国内の人権弾圧とかについて指摘されると、「おまえらだって19世紀に植民地やったじゃないか!」って打ち返していた手法なんです。「どの口が言うか」ですね。「君たちにわれわれを批判するような倫理的な優位性はない」と言えば反論できる。Whataboutism、「そっちこそどうなんだ主義」という手法です。 - 文春オンライン  
Shiho Fukuda Koski
United States
Local time: 08:24
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 4
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