straw man
It is one of the oldest tricks in the book to make a purposeful misrepresentation of another person's position and then arguing against the fictitious position, knocking it down. It is the straw man rhetorical fallacy.
Man 1 sets up a weak position and attributes it to Man 2, then attacks the weak position; like setting up and fighting a straw man, easily knocking it down. Then the opponent, Man 2 is drawn into defending himself against the misrepresentations, and Man 1 doesn't have to talk about his opponents actual position.
Man 1 sets up a weak position and attributes it to Man 2, then attacks the weak position; like setting up and fighting a straw man, easily knocking it down. Then the opponent, Man 2 is drawn into defending himself against the misrepresentations, and Man 1 doesn't have to talk about his opponents actual position.
Mary began lecturing John about the benefits of immigration for our country after John spoke in favor of building a wall along the border. But Mary was fighting a straw man because John is actually in favor of legal immigration; he just wants it done in an orderly manner so the drug cartels cannot easily cross the border undetected.
straw man by topcat1957 August 5, 2016
Get the straw man mug.