SHOCKING: The Dirty Secret Behind Debaters' Favorite Trick Revealed! Are They Trying to Deceive You or Just Not Listening?
When debaters use the Straw Man Fallacy, they either try to mislead you or have stopped listening (if they ever started).
Looking at emails early in the morning can start my day badly. Among the most annoying emails comes from the Quora website, which wants to show me questions from the most politically ignorant people. While it would be easier to unsubscribe from this site and the subgroup that sends me the questions, I prefer, for some reason, to just be annoyed by it—something I need to work on.
The standard form of these questions, from the right and the left, starts with making a statement about the side they disagree with, believing something that probably few or none of the people on that side would subscribe to, and then arguing why that belief is evil. This technique of debate is called Straw Manning.
The Straw Man Fallacy occurs when someone distorts or exaggerates another person's argument and attacks the distorted version instead of genuinely engaging.
Let's think of a couple of examples from a non-controversial subject, say abortion.
All people who believe in the 'right to life' want all victims of rape to carry the fetus to full term.
All people who believe in the 'right to choose' want the ability to end the life of the baby, including the third trimester.
Of course, some may believe these, but it is likely not all or even a few
. I never use "ALL" when discussing other people and their beliefs. The word "ALL" is probably one of the most significant reasons for war and is used to dehumanize and minimize what good people believe.
When you replace "ALL" with "SOME" or “FEW,” you introduce gray areas into the debate. This is how we find a middle ground and resolve problems or differences. We may agree to disagree at the end of the day, but the discussion is how we show our humanity.
So why do some people continue to use a Straw Man to persuade?
They might not want to listen.
They think it's how they can get a quick win (lazy).
They are trying to manipulate the audience.
Of course, it may be a combination of all these or because they don't know any better. Our politicians and media pundits need to set a better example. To keep an open mind, here are four reasonable steps:
Never use "ALL."
Ask questions before giving speeches.
Assume the other person in the discussion has the best intentions (until proven otherwise).
Be open to being wrong.
Of course, few people think they are closed-minded about anything, but that may be a story they tell themselves.