Whats a straw man argument?

Question

Give me an example if you can.

Answer 1

It is when you argue against something that isn't actually part of the oppositions position.

Example: Asking why atheists believe in The Flying Spaghetti Monster. That argument has nothing to do with atheism. It is just an example that some of us use to show how religion is illogical.

Answer 2

It is when someone misrepresents another persons argument and then attacks the misrepresentation. For example, the "can God create a rock so big that He cannot lift it" argument misrepresents the Christian position on Gods omnipotence by claiming that it means that God can do anything. However, most Christians view omnipotence as Gods ability to do anything possible.

Of the above examples, only The Great Wazoo has it right. Andro's example is an ad hominem (attacking the person, rather than the argument), whereas deazone's sounds like a false dilemma). Angeltre... is just being funny.

Answer 3

It's when you take an argument and unfairly critique it.

Like if someone argues that God exists because he is the first cause of the universe and you reply by saying this man is a pervert, how can you believe what he says. You're attacking the person and not the argument. Your argument would be making a straw man out of his argument.

Answer 4

A strawman argument is when someone makes a claim that you said something you did not, and then attacks it.

Example:

Deazone: I don't think there is anything wrong with homosexuals.

John: Deazone, you are obviously gay because only gay people like homosexuals.

Edit:
I stand corrected, Deof Movestofca has the right explanation.

Answer 5

Dorothy: But how can you talk, if you haven't got a brain?
Strawman: I don't know. But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking.
Dorothy: Yes, that's true.

That is an example of a Strawman argument.
=D