• chuckleslord@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      No, it isn’t. Whataboutism is pointing to a different wrong as a way to dismiss a currently discussed wrong. This is using someone’s past actions as a reason they shouldn’t be trusted in their current statement. It’s a legitimate attack on the speaker’s ethos.

      • yetiftw@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        but it functions as a whataboutism. it doesn’t address the original concerns of the statement. instead it uses an ad hominem attach to discredit the argument

        • Fedizen@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          If this were a debate he’s making an argument that he’s denied the underlying principle of: eg arguing the “sky is blue” after saying “blue doesn’t exist”. I’m pointing out that this is a nonsensical statement in the context it was given.

          • yetiftw@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            how is a concern about upending precedent a nonsensical statement? the source of an argument does not impact its validity as a point

    • OnlyJabs@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      This is not a whataboutism, this is calling someone out, and their party out, for their hypocrisy.

      • yetiftw@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        but it functions as a whataboutism. it doesn’t address the original concerns of the statement. instead it uses an ad hominem attach to discredit the argument

        • gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          4 months ago

          it doesn’t address the original concerns of the statement

          Yes, it does. The statements concerns were bullshit fakery, as proven by the points given.

    • ayyy
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      4 months ago

      This is gaslighting