"Strawman" arguments...Huh?

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Van
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"Strawman" arguments...Huh?

Post by Van »

I frequently hear TVO and BSmack using that expression as a means of denigrating/discounting their opponent's argument.

"Nice strawman argument, fuckstain. Try again."

Gotta fess up here, I don't know what that expression means. What's its derivation?
Last edited by Van on Sat Jun 03, 2006 3:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
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TenTallBen
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Post by TenTallBen »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawman


Straw man

(Redirected from Strawman)


This article is about the logical fallacy. For other uses of the term, see Straw man (disambiguation).

A straw man argument is a rhetorical technique based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position. To "set up a straw man" or "set up a straw-man argument" is to create a position that is easy to refute, then attribute that position to the opponent. A straw-man argument can be a successful rhetorical technique (that is, it may succeed in persuading people) but it is in fact misleading, since the argument actually presented by the opponent has not been refuted.

Its name is derived from the use of straw men in combat training (see [1]). It is occasionally called a straw dog fallacy [2] or a scarecrow argument.
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Van
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Post by Van »

Okay, it's creating a statement or argument that's easy to refute and then attributing that argument to one's opponent.

Putting words into their mouth, basically, words which then provide you with a big fat softball to knock out of the park.

Thanks, TTB. I hate when I'm not in the loop about shit like that. :-)
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Post by Qbert »

what about the _______ argument?
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Post by PSUFAN »

Join us next week as TTB googles "bugbear" for Van!
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Post by The Whistle Is Screaming »

PSUFAN wrote:Join us next week as TTB googles "bugbear" for Van!
Nice Red Herring PSU. :meds:



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Post by ChargerMike »

PSUFAN wrote:Join us next week as TTB googles "bugbear" for Van!

...bwahahaha
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Post by TenTallBen »

PSUFAN wrote:Join us next week as TTB googles "bugbear" for Van!
Should I google how to wipe your ass properly while I'm at it? I'm sure you could stand to learn a few things.
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Post by PSUFAN »

nice strawman argument.
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Post by Jerkovich »

PSUFAN wrote:nice strawman argument.

Reductio Ad Absurdum :?
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