Recognize whataboutism

In The Economist, writer Edward Lucas explains “whataboutism,” a debate tactic you’ll hear in political discussions.

He said that "Soviet propagandists during the cold war were trained in a tactic that their western interlocutors nicknamed 'whataboutism'. Any criticism of the Soviet Union (Afghanistan, martial law in Poland, imprisonment of dissidents, censorship) was met with a 'What about...' (apartheid South Africa, jailed trade-unionists, the Contras in Nicaragua, and so forth)."

In other words, you bring up a legitimate point, and the other person refuses to answer or discuss the question, and instead retorts with a critical counter-question which in reality actually expresses a counter-accusation.

A mom tells a child to go clean his room and the child responds, “But what about her room? Hers is worse!”

It’s a sign you’ve hit a nerve.

A boss tells an employee to deliver their work on time, and the employee gets defensive, saying, what about Jackson…he’s always late. It’s unfair.

The same happens in workplaces, text messages, and definitely online comment sections discussing politics.

Recognize it for what it is, and simply redirect the conversation back to the topic at hand. “I’ll talk to Jackson, but right now, we’re discussing your work.”