• Nevoic@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    Calling this whataboutism is like responding to the claim “people have a biological urge to reproduce” as a naturalistic fallacy.

    You’re using the word in sorta the right ballpark (I did make a comparison, e.g a “what about”), however not every time someone says “what about X” are they committing a fallacy.

    My entire point was how terrorist is a loaded word, that we only use it to describe one side (the side not in power), even though the technical definition obviously fits organizations in power. Making a comparison to demonstrate my literal only point isn’t fallacious.

    There were native american terror groups, yet the U.S government that literally genocided millions of native Americans isn’t a terror organization, despite their use of terror and violence to achieve political goals. It’s a word with clear problematic etymology.

    • FiniteBanjo@lemmy.today
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      2 months ago

      The CIA supporting Fascism in South America has fuck all to do with a confrontation between militarized police and a cult on May 13th 1985 in Philadelphia. If you think that’s not whataboutism then you’re dumb as a sack of bricks.

      • Nevoic@lemm.ee
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        2 months ago

        Yeah no need to get this hostile.

        The word “terrorist” was used, and getting into the etymology of the word is best exemplified by how large “non-terrorist” organizations operate exactly like large terrorist organizations.

          • Nevoic@lemm.ee
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            2 months ago

            Exactly. And saying “what about” isn’t always a fallacy. That’s like thinking anyone says a natural fact they’re committing a naturalistic fallacy.

              • Nevoic@lemm.ee
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                2 months ago

                Yup, you can also make comparisons to irrelevant things. Not all comparisons are fallacious.

                The way the CIA/IDF behave compared to other “terrorist” organizations is relevant to the etymology of the word. I don’t see how the Grand Canyon relates to any point you or I made.

                  • Nevoic@lemm.ee
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                    2 months ago

                    Oh wow, I didn’t get it until this message, fuck I’m an idiot. All comparisons are always fallacious. Thanks for helping me out, friend.