Electronic Arts, the video game maker, is being acquired and taken private for about $52.5 billion in what could become the largest-ever buyout funded by private-equity firms.
I tried bringing exactly this up and got the whataboutism argument
I am acknowledging the murder of Khashoggi was a heinous crime, and I’m just asking they acknowledge Israel also committed this heinous crime (over two hundred times; in addition to also targeting the families of the reporters) and that the news should make just as much a fuss. The guy was arguing that I’m trying to whitewash the murder of Khashoggi; BRO, I AM SAYING THE MURDER OF KHASHOGGI WAS MONSTROUS, I AM AGREEING WITH YOU 110%! I AM JUST SAYING THAT IF THE NEWS IS BEING OBJECTIVE AND NOT BEHAVING AS A STATE MOUTHPIECE, THEY SHOULD ALSO TALK ABOUT ISRAEL’S SLAUGHTER OF REPORTERS AS WELL! HOW ARE WE ARGUING ABOUT THIS!
It’s part of the same brainworm complex that makes them think being critical of the Democrats means you must support Republicans. They literally cannot conceive of politics outside the sports team style Red vs. Blue system–if I say “boo Red!” I must also mean “yay Blue!” and vice-versa. Similarly, there’s a “good country” set and a “bad country” set. If we disagree about whether a country is good or bad, we must just be using opposite sets.
I tried bringing exactly this up and got the whataboutism argument
I am acknowledging the murder of Khashoggi was a heinous crime, and I’m just asking they acknowledge Israel also committed this heinous crime (over two hundred times; in addition to also targeting the families of the reporters) and that the news should make just as much a fuss. The guy was arguing that I’m trying to whitewash the murder of Khashoggi; BRO, I AM SAYING THE MURDER OF KHASHOGGI WAS MONSTROUS, I AM AGREEING WITH YOU 110%! I AM JUST SAYING THAT IF THE NEWS IS BEING OBJECTIVE AND NOT BEHAVING AS A STATE MOUTHPIECE, THEY SHOULD ALSO TALK ABOUT ISRAEL’S SLAUGHTER OF REPORTERS AS WELL! HOW ARE WE ARGUING ABOUT THIS!
Whataboutism? What about deez nuts?
It’s part of the same brainworm complex that makes them think being critical of the Democrats means you must support Republicans. They literally cannot conceive of politics outside the sports team style Red vs. Blue system–if I say “boo Red!” I must also mean “yay Blue!” and vice-versa. Similarly, there’s a “good country” set and a “bad country” set. If we disagree about whether a country is good or bad, we must just be using opposite sets.