whataboutery
Counter-accusation as defense
Whataboutery is the practice of responding to criticism by pointing to someone else's wrongdoing rather than addressing the accusation: When confronted about the scandal, his only defense was whataboutery—pointing to his opponent's past mistakes.
The tactic deflects rather than engages, changing the subject instead of answering the charge.
Also whataboutism.
Intentional misleading distraction
- smokescreenConcealment through misdirection
- digressionVeering off topic
- obfuscationDeliberate concealment through confusion
- sidetrackDivert from purpose
derailment · tangent · non sequitur · circumlocution · muddying · evasion · dodging · prevarication
Flawed comparison of unlike things
- counteraccusationAllegation made in response
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- pivotingRotating around fixed point
blame-shifting · finger-pointing · countercharge · redirection · equivocation · sophistry · rebuttal · disputation
Unrelated to discussion
- tangentialBarely connected to main point
- extraneousNot pertinent or essential
- immaterialLacking physical form; unimportant
- unrelatedHaving no link
non-answer · peripheral · inconsequential · incidental · superfluous · inessential · nonessential
Pretense of virtue
- double standardsJudging others differently than yourself
- inconsistencyLack of steady pattern
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- faultfindingSeeking out imperfections
criticism · reproach · insinuation · implication · recrimination · condemnation · censure · denunciation
red herring
Intentional misleading distraction
- smokescreenConcealment through misdirection
- digressionVeering off topic
- obfuscationDeliberate concealment through confusion
sidetrack · derailment · tangent · non sequitur · circumlocution · muddying · evasion · dodging · prevarication · stalling
false equivalence
Flawed comparison of unlike things
- counteraccusationAllegation made in response
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
pivoting · blame-shifting · finger-pointing · countercharge · redirection · equivocation · sophistry · rebuttal · disputation · rejoinder
off-topic
Unrelated to discussion
- tangentialBarely connected to main point
- extraneousNot pertinent or essential
- immaterialLacking physical form; unimportant
unrelated · non-answer · peripheral · inconsequential · incidental · superfluous · inessential · nonessential
hypocrisy
Pretense of virtue
- double standardsJudging others differently than yourself
- inconsistencyLack of steady pattern
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
faultfinding · criticism · reproach · insinuation · implication · recrimination · condemnation · censure · denunciation · indictment
whatabouterydirect response
Communication prompting immediate action
accountability · intellectual honesty · owning up · taking responsibility · mea culpa
whatabouterytaking responsibility
mea culpa · self-criticism · contrition · facing the music · reckoning