Comparison guide
Red Herring vs. Whataboutism
A red herring is any distracting irrelevant issue; whataboutism is a specific deflection that points to another person's wrongdoing or inconsistency.
Side by side
| Question | Red Herring | Whataboutism |
|---|---|---|
| New topic | Any distracting issue | Another wrongdoing, hypocrisy, or comparison |
| Typical wording | May have no "what about" phrase | Often "What about them?" or "You did it too" |
| Original issue answered? | Usually no | Usually no |
| Can the comparison be relevant? | Sometimes, if it adds needed context | Yes, for consistency, after the first issue is answered |
Which one is it?
Fits Red Herring
Asked about a product's safety, a company talks about its charity work instead.
Fits Whataboutism
Asked why a rule was broken, a student points out that another student broke it too.
Could fit both
Whataboutism is often a red-herring subtype, because pointing to someone else's wrongdoing also changes the subject.
Fits neither
"I broke the rule and will correct it. We should also check whether the rule is enforced equally."
A decision path
- What was the original question or criticism?
- Did the response answer it before changing topics?
- Is the new topic another person's wrongdoing specifically?
- Is the comparison being used for fairness or for avoidance?