A favorite opponent of philosophers, politicians, pseudo-intellectuals, real intellectuals, atheists, creationists, political activists, and conspiracy theorists, and a perennially useful one at that.
Said the creationist to the uninformed, using his favorite straw man, "Since randomly jamming your television set rarely fixes any problem, the blind process of evolution is therefore a scientific improbability."
by Killing Kittens November 13, 2005
A sucker who is roped into a scam unknowingly and often used as a scapegoat to deflect the attention of the authorities from the real crime.
by Yochana October 20, 2008
A term that nerds overuse in online debates because they think that it makes them sound intelligent. Very common to see nerds arguing within Youtube comments or on Twitter throw out this term every time they get into an online argument.
by Dave11663265 May 14, 2022
A locical fallacy in which the arguementative point is made into a caracature of it's original point. Extremely effective because it's not based on facts, but lies and assumptions. The burden of proof then lies in the defense, not the offense. Especially effective when the defense isn't allowed to offer objection. Popularized by right wing talk radio hosts Rush and Hannity.
Step one: Build the straw man. Ignore facts and make outlandish lies/slander. Redefine the facts. "liberals want to take your guns away and turn the U.S. over to the U.N."
Step 2: Knock down the straw man. "That flies in the face of everything we Americans believe in."
Step 3: Connect step 2 to step 1. "Only a communist would think of something like that."
Step 4: "Negate" your opponant by opposing the conclusion in step 3. "I hate those liberal communists. If they think us right-wingers will sit quietly while they destroy the country the're dead wrong."
Step one: Build the straw man. Ignore facts and make outlandish lies/slander. Redefine the facts. "liberals want to take your guns away and turn the U.S. over to the U.N."
Step 2: Knock down the straw man. "That flies in the face of everything we Americans believe in."
Step 3: Connect step 2 to step 1. "Only a communist would think of something like that."
Step 4: "Negate" your opponant by opposing the conclusion in step 3. "I hate those liberal communists. If they think us right-wingers will sit quietly while they destroy the country the're dead wrong."
Rush and Hannity can't argue the facts, so they have to make up the "evil liberal agenda" and then appear patriotic by opposing it.
by spot December 06, 2004
Laying down a straw man is a project management technique where you throw out an idea for review/criticism knowing the idea is probably flawed. Kind of like the 3 little pigs straw house. Something made of straw is not likely to last.
by jdoggit January 15, 2010
A person who entangles another persons statements in an argument and uses those words in a completely different manner than intended to attack the other person
I said it’s just been a stressful few days,, the straw man took that comment and said “see I’m at fault you said you’re under stress, stress is your problem and I’m causing it.
by wtf is wrong with people March 30, 2023