The straw man fallacy is when you disparage someone’s argument by misrepresenting it. In a way, this sly foe is not all that different from an ad hominem attack, or name-calling. It’s a deceitful tactic where one misrepresents, exaggerates, or distorts another’s argument to make it easier to attack and discredit. In a sense, they hold up a straw man version of an argument and then attack it.
To avoid using this pitfall yourself, do as Socrates insists, and listen carefully to opposing views. Show your true wisdom and strive to help the person make their argument stronger. Only after hearing the best version of an opposing argument can you give it the true weight it deserves. Remember, you are after truth, not the win.
If someone uses a straw man argument on you, stay calm and call it out! Don’t get sidetracked, clarify your original position and steer the conversation back to the true issue at hand.
If someone insists on using a straw man argument, exit. Do not waste your time. Firmly let them know they are purposely not willing to understand what you are saying, so it’s time to end the conversation. You can say something like, “It seems you are unwilling to understand what I’m saying, so it is time to end this conversation. I cannot open your eyes; you have to choose to look. Only then can productive discussions occur.”
