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What I'm really curious about is the psychology of people that makes them engage in this whataboutism that's present in almost every post about Facebook and thi

by tabeth 8y ago

What I'm really curious about is the psychology of people that makes them engage in this whataboutism that's present in almost every post about Facebook and this data issue. By the way, both Equifax (American based) and Experian (Irish) are subject to way more regulation than Facebook, which is currently none AFAIK. P.S. Though Experian had a minor data breach in 2015 you're most likely referring to the far larger (order magnitude higher) Equifax breach.

threatofrain 8y ago
Instead of thinking about the inner factors to whataboutism, I'd look at what factors predict the tactic's success for more insight into why that technique is effective. What enables the tactical fruitfulness of pointing a finger the other way?
msravi 8y ago
I might be able to satisfy your curiosity. People indulge in whataboutism for the fairly straightforward reason that they dislike hypocrisy and have a sense of fairness and would like everyone to be held to the same standards.
- musage 8y ago
  Not when they're using imaginary others as an excuse to not hold it to that standard themselves. When A is criticized, it's "what about B?", and the other way around. The real question is, what about them? A is criticized, for reasons X, and instead of having a position on that, they talk about some imaginary other monolith that doesn't criticize B when B wasn't even mentioned until they brought it up. So to say that has somehow to do with a heightened intellectual honesty, is like saying they're shitting on the floor to make it cleaner. Maybe in their mind that's what they think they're doing.
Izkata 8y ago
I know I get accused of it when I'm honestly trying to understand why people are okay with one instance, but not another. Did they just not know about the it? Am I missing some context? Is it okay with them if it's "their side"? Something else? It's really frustrating and largely makes me think they don't want to admit to themselves that they are being biased for one reason or another.

by tabeth 8y ago

threatofrain 8y ago

Instead of thinking about the inner factors to whataboutism, I'd look at what factors predict the tactic's success for more insight into why that technique is effective. What enables the tactical fruitfulness of pointing a finger the other way?

msravi 8y ago

I might be able to satisfy your curiosity. People indulge in whataboutism for the fairly straightforward reason that they dislike hypocrisy and have a sense of fairness and would like everyone to be held to the same standards.

musage 8y ago
Not when they're using imaginary others as an excuse to not hold it to that standard themselves. When A is criticized, it's "what about B?", and the other way around. The real question is, what about them? A is criticized, for reasons X, and instead of having a position on that, they talk about some imaginary other monolith that doesn't criticize B when B wasn't even mentioned until they brought it up. So to say that has somehow to do with a heightened intellectual honesty, is like saying they're shitting on the floor to make it cleaner. Maybe in their mind that's what they think they're doing.

Izkata 8y ago

I know I get accused of it when I'm honestly trying to understand why people are okay with one instance, but not another. Did they just not know about the it? Am I missing some context? Is it okay with them if it's "their side"? Something else? It's really frustrating and largely makes me think they don't want to admit to themselves that they are being biased for one reason or another.