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For reference: this specific fallacy being invoked by the CCP astroturfers is called “whataboutism”.

tpmx 3y ago
When faced with undeniable criticism: I believe China/CCP learned this "defense" tactic from the Soviet Union, who if, not inventing it, at the very least brought it to new standardized levels.
- gs17 3y ago
  One example from the Soviets: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_you_are_lynching_Negroes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_you_are_lynching_Negroes
  - Pulcinella 3y ago
    “Example from the Soviets”? Buddy that actually happened. You don’t get to deny the truth just because it is inconvenient or makes you look bad.
    - triyambakam 3y ago
      You're just further perpetuating whataboutism. The point is that yes, it happened, but it's distracting from the topic at hand.
      - Pulcinella 3y ago
        Talking about the truth is not a distraction. You are being taken for a ride. “No don’t look behind the curtain! It’s just a distraction!” The healthy adult thing to do would be to own up to it and work on fixing the problem. “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”
        tpmx 3y ago
        That was a great demonstration of why this technique is so effective. Thank you, Pulcinella!
nojonestownpls 3y ago
It's strange that old expressions like "the US is throwing stones from a glass house" or "the US is like a pot calling the kettle black" have existed for a long enough time to be idioms, but the term for decrying such expressions "whataboutism" is relatively much newer and more of a political term than a language idiom.
- DangitBobby 3y ago
  Well, being aware of and actively combating propaganda is a fairly recent social development.

tpmx 3y ago

When faced with undeniable criticism: I believe China/CCP learned this "defense" tactic from the Soviet Union, who if, not inventing it, at the very least brought it to new standardized levels.

gs17 3y ago
One example from the Soviets: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_you_are_lynching_Negroes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_you_are_lynching_Negroes
- Pulcinella 3y ago
  “Example from the Soviets”? Buddy that actually happened. You don’t get to deny the truth just because it is inconvenient or makes you look bad.
  - triyambakam 3y ago
    You're just further perpetuating whataboutism. The point is that yes, it happened, but it's distracting from the topic at hand.
    - Pulcinella 3y ago
      Talking about the truth is not a distraction. You are being taken for a ride. “No don’t look behind the curtain! It’s just a distraction!” The healthy adult thing to do would be to own up to it and work on fixing the problem. “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”
      - tpmx 3y ago
        That was a great demonstration of why this technique is so effective. Thank you, Pulcinella!

nojonestownpls 3y ago

It's strange that old expressions like "the US is throwing stones from a glass house" or "the US is like a pot calling the kettle black" have existed for a long enough time to be idioms, but the term for decrying such expressions "whataboutism" is relatively much newer and more of a political term than a language idiom.

DangitBobby 3y ago
Well, being aware of and actively combating propaganda is a fairly recent social development.