Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
12 replies, 1463 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (33)
ReplyReply to this post
12 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Friday TOON Roundup 2 - Russians (Original Post)
n2doc
Feb 2018
OP
So our legit concerns over Russian trolls is because we want to nuke Russia?
emulatorloo
Feb 2018
#1
It is classic whataboutism too. As well as a defense of whataboutism as a propaganda technique
emulatorloo
Feb 2018
#3
emulatorloo
(44,133 posts)1. So our legit concerns over Russian trolls is because we want to nuke Russia?
Fuck that noise.
Thanks for the other cartoons! Appreciate what you do
Progressive dog
(6,905 posts)2. I've never seen a cartoon defending Russian bots
before and I hope never to again.
emulatorloo
(44,133 posts)3. It is classic whataboutism too. As well as a defense of whataboutism as a propaganda technique
What About "Whataboutism?"
If everyone is guilty of something, is no one guilty of anything?
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/whataboutism-origin-meaning
Some of the terms we use to describe political rhetoric are as old as politics itself (see ad hominem attacks, or such devices as synecdoche, metonymy, or zeugma). Others are more recent additions, driven by the evolution of the news cycle (like fake news and dog whistles).
But hey, arent we ignoring a bigger subject here? How can we talk about rhetorical devices and not mention whataboutism?
Essentially a reversal of accusation, arguing that an opponent is guilty of an offense just as egregious or worse
Whataboutism gives a clue to its meaning in its name. It is not merely the changing of a subject ("What about the economy?" ) to deflect away from an earlier subject as a political strategy; its essentially a reversal of accusation, arguing that an opponent is guilty of an offense just as egregious or worse than what the original party was accused of doing, however unconnected the offenses may be.
<snip>
The association of whataboutism with the Soviet Union began during the Cold War. As the regimes of Josef Stalin and his successors were criticized by the West for human rights atrocities, the Soviet propaganda machine would be ready with a comeback alleging atrocities of equal reprehensibility for which the West was guilty.
<snip>
Before the 2016 presidential election, more instances of whataboutism applied to criticism among regimes than between individual politicians:
<snip>
<snip>
The term is seeing a bit of a renaissance in our current political climate. Philip Bump writes in The Washington Post that President Donald Trump has utilized whataboutism frequently as a way of deflecting criticism for his actions, such as his pardon of former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio.
<snip>
Time will tell if whataboutism can persuade its way into the language, but its recent upswing in usage suggests it may have staying power. At least until someone changes the subject.
-
Much more at link.
If everyone is guilty of something, is no one guilty of anything?
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/whataboutism-origin-meaning
Some of the terms we use to describe political rhetoric are as old as politics itself (see ad hominem attacks, or such devices as synecdoche, metonymy, or zeugma). Others are more recent additions, driven by the evolution of the news cycle (like fake news and dog whistles).
But hey, arent we ignoring a bigger subject here? How can we talk about rhetorical devices and not mention whataboutism?
Essentially a reversal of accusation, arguing that an opponent is guilty of an offense just as egregious or worse
Whataboutism gives a clue to its meaning in its name. It is not merely the changing of a subject ("What about the economy?" ) to deflect away from an earlier subject as a political strategy; its essentially a reversal of accusation, arguing that an opponent is guilty of an offense just as egregious or worse than what the original party was accused of doing, however unconnected the offenses may be.
<snip>
The association of whataboutism with the Soviet Union began during the Cold War. As the regimes of Josef Stalin and his successors were criticized by the West for human rights atrocities, the Soviet propaganda machine would be ready with a comeback alleging atrocities of equal reprehensibility for which the West was guilty.
The weaknesses of whataboutismwhich dictates that no one must get away with an attack on the Kremlin's abuses without tossing a few bricks at South Africa, no one must indict the Cuban police State without castigating President Park, no one must mention Irak, Libya or the PLO without having a bash at Israel, &c. have been canvassed in this column before.
Michael Bernard, The Age (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia), 17 Jun. 1978
Michael Bernard, The Age (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia), 17 Jun. 1978
<snip>
Before the 2016 presidential election, more instances of whataboutism applied to criticism among regimes than between individual politicians:
<snip>
Since the Cold War, Moscow has engaged in a political points-scoring exercise known as "whataboutism" used to shut down criticism of Russia's own rights record by pointing out abuses elsewhere. All criticism of Russia is invalid, the idea goes, because problems exist in other countries too.
Max Seddon, Buzzfeed, 25 Nov. 2014
Max Seddon, Buzzfeed, 25 Nov. 2014
<snip>
The term is seeing a bit of a renaissance in our current political climate. Philip Bump writes in The Washington Post that President Donald Trump has utilized whataboutism frequently as a way of deflecting criticism for his actions, such as his pardon of former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio.
<snip>
Time will tell if whataboutism can persuade its way into the language, but its recent upswing in usage suggests it may have staying power. At least until someone changes the subject.
-
Much more at link.
marble falls
(57,124 posts)6. It got my attention, too.
poboy2
(2,078 posts)8. Thats exactly what its doing. Its insulting and misrepresenting the situation.
Are we not supposed to want our democracy protected from foreign interference?
Nobody wants to 'nuke Russia'. Fucking bullshit
Wounded Bear
(58,673 posts)5. K & R...nt
dalton99a
(81,534 posts)7. Great toons
Dyedinthewoolliberal
(15,580 posts)10. Thanks Doc :)
Gothmog
(145,374 posts)11. Thank you for the cartoons
PatSeg
(47,520 posts)12. Russian doping!