Idea of injustice: ‘Whataboutery’ on Web, trolls’ tactics to divert from issue and demoralize victim

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

It’s a serious issue that needs to be talked more— how online cyber bullying can affect voices in support of victims through organised trolling and ‘whataboutery, which aims at diverting people and demoralizes the victim apart from the aim to confuse a large section, through deception, lies and weird counter-questioning. Ten points:

1. If there is a crime, we talk about it and seek action. Then, a lot of people suddenly appear with this strange argument — ‘There was another crime too last month [or last year]?’

Now, what sort of logic is this that if a person is attacked, rather than seeking justice, you say attacks happened in the past too, so be silent!

2. We mention X’s murder. Suddenly, reply comes — ‘Y was killed too, you didn’t speak then’.

How can anyone support goons, criminals or those involved in atrocities. We mustn’t divert either. We shouldn’t do this ‘whatboutery’ and make attempts to shut up anyone raising voice for justice.

3. Then there are those who have other issues. If there was attack on say, Khalil, they’re upset. And, comes reply, ‘Kapil was attacked that day or month’. This is to give a spin — a religious turn.

If X attacked, it doesn’t justify attack on Y. Both are wrong.

Demand tough action in each case. And if you can’t, at least, don’t try to silence others who are demanding action. But, eyes are not justice, your aim is something else!

4. There is a deeper thing. Apart from biased thought process, the prejudices, a strong urge to dominate and do as you please without caring about law, the wish to crush the ‘other’ (sic).

It’s like, if X is attacked, rather than getting culprits arrested, what you want is to attack in retaliation, on him or someone else — revenge and atrocities (sic). And, then power to get away.

Not justice. Not happy with our voice for justice, when we speak up. Baser instincts and attempts to subvert the system by peddling fake stories and false claims, by hook or crook, misusing power of those vigilante groups or presence in media.

5. It’s the same thing that one TV artist ‘shaktimaan’ Mukesh Khanna in a recent video was heard saying, his grievance, ‘they [Muslims] talk to us as equals’.

Already, assailants have benefit due to political links, favourable regimes, leaders, organisations, their links and use of laws selectively. They don’t face tough laws like UAPA or NSA, get bail instantly. However, you want more, ‘freedom to take revenge, commit atrocity and then get away’!.

6. The strong desire is to shut up everyone else. “How they even ask for justice or talk about fighting for justice”!!! “Hamse equal ki tarah baat” [Minority, talking to us like equals].

If someone wants justice, you try to stop them, put pressure. This ‘whataboutery’ is part of this dangerous thought process, which I am now going to explain.

7. Due to interactions over years, we know this psychology well. The actual thing that is going on in the brains of such people, it’s much higher level, more disturbing. Can’t give example because too blatant and difficult to write in a public space. But will try to give a hint.

8. If out of hundreds of crimes, there is one case in which the ‘other’ is accused, they note it, publicise it so much that others too nurse a sense of grievance.

They don’t just want the person arrested and jailed, but also want his house razed and his family destroyed and want a woman of those ‘others’ to suffer in a similar way. That’s their idea. This dirty concept. It’s to teach a lesson, in fact, totally crush.

9. Does this happen that if your kin is killed, you go and stab (sic) someone else? No. In civilized world, the person who commits the crime is arrested. It’s not that you go and kill the person’s kin.

And if you commit such a crime, you too must face the consequences, same punishment. But here, the through process is that if it’s case of inter-faith crime, then take revenge, make other innocents suffer and get away, then their heart gets some satisfaction.

10. That’s not justice. That’s the concept of a totally lawless society, injustice. But no question of getting silenced due to organised attempts. We will speak up, raise voice strongly and speak up, always. We also know why you do this, your diversionary tactics, are for a reason. But that’s for another day.

Photo courtesy Liza Summer, Pexels.