Ok...how exactly does a straw man argument work...

[Fountain79]

I've heard of that description applied to arguments before. I guess I understand what they are, but what are some common examples in today's political climate?

[Deep13]

1. How can you like Volkswagons when they were designed by Hitler?!

You must like Hitler. That small connection is used to heap all of Hilters bad characteristics onto the listener even though it has nothing to do with unreliable German cars with inadequate heaters. The star man argument falls under the general heading of "changing the subject."

[asthmaticeog]

12. That's not quite a strawman.

It's more like Guilt By Association or a Circumstantial Ad Hominem, which aren't the same thing.

A straw man is more like exaggerating one's opponent's position to lengths so absurd they're unsupportable, then attacking that construct instead of addressing the opponent's actual argument points.

[Deep13]

14. So, rhetorically creating a virtual "Hitler" from lies.

Jimmy Carter thinks we should obey the Geneva Convention and give these terrorist thugs human rights that they will never give us. Jimmy Carter wants us to fail in the war on terror by taking away the tools to win. Why does Jimmy Carter hate America?

Something like that?

[SOteric]

2. Here:

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/mathew/logic.html#strawman

[trof]

13. Interesting website! Thanks.

[billyskank]

3. It's when you argue against an argument your opponent didn't make

It's extremely common practice. Instead of arguing against what your opponent said, you argue against something else, something you have a good argument against. Politicians do it all the time, and so do people on boards like this.

[LSK]

4. what he said

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. So you think it's funny to point fingers at the mentally retarded?

That people who can't focus on one issue at a time like a pitbull laser, in all perfection like you can, apparently, are somehow less than human and worthy of scorn?

Thanks for creating an environment in which genocide is acceptable.

:shrug:

[Boojatta]

6. Look!

Let's suppose that what you say is true, that you understand absolutely everything when it comes to the straw man fallacy. If you're such an expert, then shouldn't you be teaching us instead of asking questions?

Also, if what you say is true and the straw man is very common in today's political climate, then shouldn't you be able to easily find some examples without relying on our help? Are we supposed to believe that you are sending your message to us by means of a time machine, that you do not actually live in the present era?

As for this notion that a straw man argument is something that works in today's political climate, you might want to consider not just what works, but what is right and what is wrong. Just because your calculations allow you to effectively manipulate people doesn't mean that your methods are legitimate or acceptable. So there!

[xmas74]

7. Been in a few GD and GDP arguments?

Actually, that sounds like the run of the mill arguments in Israel/Palestine and in the Religion forums.

[Boojatta]

9. What can I say? I've developed an ear for the calculated sloppiness

of the straw man. However, I am not a connoisseur. I cannot say which parts of DU hold the most exquisite straw men.

[xmas74]

10. Depends more on the poster.

Some of those same strawmen connoisseurs cross post in many different forums.

[hyphenate]

8. What I've figured out

is that a straw man argument is when someone bases their whole argument on some element that may or may not be true, but really has nothing to do with the original argument at all. It's sort of like someone starting an argument with someone and saying "You're a hypocritical asshole." And the reply is "I know you are, but what am I?"

In other words, it's returning an argument to a childish quarrel, and evoking an emotional response instead of a measured and logical discussion.

[rug]

11. Give them a line and a straw and they stop arguing.