Comparing actions to that of dictators - AIBU to think Governments etc deliberately miss the point and get offended

[cakeorwine]

So this comment was made in Parliament today

"What does she think it looks like to the outside world when a much-loved sports presenter is taken off air for tweeting something that the Government do not like? It sounds more like Putin’s Russia to me."

Followed by a comment from a Tory MP a bit later

"I hope the shadow Secretary of State will reflect on her comparison of this Government to the Putin regime, which is of course engaged in war crimes and the murder of men, women and children in Ukraine. That was beneath her."

and then

"I also think it was distasteful to compare the Government’s actions, or otherwise, to the Putin regime. That is a disgraceful comparison to make and I think it is way off the mark."

So regardless of what you think of the comment -

She was not saying that this Government committed war crimes.

She was saying that some of the actions were like those seen in Putin's Russia with State Control of the media.

But people do this - when you say that they are doing something that is seen in other countries, they just say "So and so compares the Government to Russia" or other awful countries and dictators in the past.

Which is not really true - it's just saying that some things they do are similar to things that are seen in other countries and some behaviours are similar to behaviours seen in other countries.

This is not about the actual comment made about Putin's Russia - more the reaction.

Hitler was known for making speeches that did persuade his audience.
Johnson is known for making speeches that persuaded his audience.

So if someone said that Hitler and Johnson both made speeches that persuaded their audience, I bet that people would be outraged and would demand an apology as a headline would read "Johnson compared to Hitler".

It's just been seen this weekend - Lineker compares Tories to the Nazi party. When he said that the language used was not dissimilar to that used by them during the 1930s. But the use of comparing them to Nazis is a much better headline.

According to the Express

"Labour blasted over disgraceful comparisons to Putin's Russia"

www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1746227/gary-lineker-bbc-labour-Lucy-Powell-illegal-migration-bill

Not saying they committed war crimes or invaded other countries. Just talking about the actions that may have happened with the BBC and the Government are the kinds of things you might see happening in countries such as Russia.

But it's a much simpler headline

There is a debating thing called “reductio ad Hitlorum” which means resorting to comparing your opponent with Hitler.

As this is well known by school children to be a sign of weakness, it should be avoided by professional debaters.

Suspect partly they were leaping with joy on a newby error.

But yes. Politicians use what they can. Emotions, fake upset, moral authority based on their power.

BBC being state funded is the issue here.