The term originates from English and describes the following strategy: an argument is presented, immediately followed by an objection : "And what about...?" - in English , "What about...?" Perhaps this sounds as familiar to you as it does to us. Through our commitment to nature and the environment, we at NIKIN sometimes find ourselves drawn into such discussion patterns. Two examples:
“I live vegan to keep my ecological footprint small.”
“And what about the car you drive every day?”
or
“I support a forestry project in Uganda because the world needs more trees.”
“And what about all the air miles in your account?”
Escape forward
Similar discussions are familiar from environmental policy debates – because such killer counters work particularly well when it comes to climate issues. We all know by now that there's always something we could improve when it comes to the environment. This can sometimes be a bit frightening, and we ask ourselves: Can I even make a positive difference?
Those who are confronted with their own inadequacies in this regard often take the bull by the horns: discrediting the other side to distract from the fact that they might also be thinking about their own actions. In the worst case, this not only stalls an interesting conversation, but also ecological progress itself. On the other hand, whataboutism can also be very hurtful, especially when one is constantly confronted with it despite good intentions.
Countering whataboutism fairly
There's only one thing that helps: stay calm and pause for a moment before responding. If you realize that your conversation partner's counterargument has nothing to do with the topic being discussed, use your response to steer the conversation back—even if the "what about" argument isn't fundamentally wrong. Observe the behavior of trained moderators during public discussions, such as talk shows. Especially in cases of whataboutism, they intervene and ensure that the conversation doesn't go around in circles.
Answers like:
“You’re right, but let’s get back to our topic first.”
or
“We are happy to debate this later if we come to a conclusion on this point.”
or simply directly:
“Your argument is valid but whataboutism.”
A calm, determined redirection often takes the wind (and aggression) out of your conversation partner's sails and gives you a grace period in which you can possibly familiarize yourself with the facts behind the distraction. This way, you don't let the lead slip from your grasp and remain confident.
What about you? Have you ever experienced such situations in conversations? Do you have any suggestions on how to handle them without getting upset? Share your tips in the comments section! #sharingiscaring
(Image: Aaron Blanco)
