An argument strategy in which person A, after calling person B something derogatory, brings up misinformation on a subject which a person rightfully belonging under said derogatory label would be passionate about, even if the information is relatively common knowledge. If person B is struggling for a rebuttal and decides to instead criticize person A's lack of understanding of the subject as a means of degrading them, they will instead end up lending validity to person A's insult by appearing to be knowledgeable on topics which a person belonging to the derogatory label would normally be knowledgeable on. Anyone attempting a Fool's Strawman can appear less intelligent and jock-ish due to the nature of the maneuver, but is usually of higher intelligence than the person they are roasting. It is best explained by example:
A: Wow, I bet you jerk off to those Chinese hentais you f***ing f**g.
B: Haha, those are Japanese not Chinese, you can't even get that right? R****d.
A: I wouldn't know, I don't watch that s**t... you would know though.
As we can see, B falls right into the Fool's Strawman by showing some degree of knowledge on the topic of hentai, thus making A's accusations more credible. Let's keep going:
B: Wow you're so edgy, f***ing memelord using tricks he learned on Urban Dictionary and s**t.
A: What the f**k is a memelord? Are you one of those 4chan f****ts? Are you gonna be triggered if I don't get your gender right?
B: That's not a 4chan thing, that's Tumblr!
A: Sorry, I don't sit on my computer jerking off to hentai and going on 4chan instead of talking to girls.
B: Haha, those are Japanese not Chinese, you can't even get that right? R****d.
A: I wouldn't know, I don't watch that s**t... you would know though.
As we can see, B falls right into the Fool's Strawman by showing some degree of knowledge on the topic of hentai, thus making A's accusations more credible. Let's keep going:
B: Wow you're so edgy, f***ing memelord using tricks he learned on Urban Dictionary and s**t.
A: What the f**k is a memelord? Are you one of those 4chan f****ts? Are you gonna be triggered if I don't get your gender right?
B: That's not a 4chan thing, that's Tumblr!
A: Sorry, I don't sit on my computer jerking off to hentai and going on 4chan instead of talking to girls.
by R@D November 08, 2016
A: Trump has repeatedly demonstrated racially insensitive behavior
B: "Everyone I disagree with is Hitler."
A: That is a recursive strawman.
B: "Everyone I disagree with is Hitler."
A: That is a recursive strawman.
by ovusar December 07, 2020
Strawman Arguments (I call them Stickman Arguments, sometimes) are arguments in which someone who you are debating takes your points and twists them to get ground on you in order to form a refutation in which they are correct.
Person A: *Signs on to start a topic saying:* For anyone out there who questions God because God doesn't always answer your prayers, the truth is: God doesn't help us because we have free will.
Person B: That's an unsound argument because it has no ground to stand on and it is overused. It's like saying, "What if I'm right and you're wrong and you go to Hell?" to an atheist.
Person A: We're not talking about Hell, therefore your refutation has no grounds.
Person B: Please take your strawman arguments somewhere else
Person A: You're going to burn in Hell for not believing in God!
Person A signs off.
Person B facepalms.
Person B: That's an unsound argument because it has no ground to stand on and it is overused. It's like saying, "What if I'm right and you're wrong and you go to Hell?" to an atheist.
Person A: We're not talking about Hell, therefore your refutation has no grounds.
Person B: Please take your strawman arguments somewhere else
Person A: You're going to burn in Hell for not believing in God!
Person A signs off.
Person B facepalms.
by Life's Outcast Of Death April 03, 2009
What 99% of the definitions and examples on Urban Dictionary articles that have even the smallest relationship with religion and/or politics.
Strawman Fallacy:
From UD's humanist entry: "Ha, you believe in God? We humanists are smarter than you because we think we are just going to rot in a hole in the ground and that the universe just appeared on it's own one day."
"And that is smart because...?"
"Uh... gay pride?"
"God have mercy on these morons..."
Strawman Fallacy: From UD's entry on liberal: 2. "I hate liberals. Stupid pinko liberals are ruining America."
"Yeah, damn liberals and their...their...liberty. Psht, this is America, we don't need liberty. God bless America."
"Hey, wait..."
From UD's humanist entry: "Ha, you believe in God? We humanists are smarter than you because we think we are just going to rot in a hole in the ground and that the universe just appeared on it's own one day."
"And that is smart because...?"
"Uh... gay pride?"
"God have mercy on these morons..."
Strawman Fallacy: From UD's entry on liberal: 2. "I hate liberals. Stupid pinko liberals are ruining America."
"Yeah, damn liberals and their...their...liberty. Psht, this is America, we don't need liberty. God bless America."
"Hey, wait..."
by Flambe December 17, 2009
A "holy strawman" is when someone takes someone else's words or a definition and twists them SO out of proportion. A normal strawman was bad but this is just worse...
Person 1: “I think that we should give better study guides to students.”
Person 2: “I think that your idea is bad, because we shouldn't just give out easy A's to everyone.”
Person 1: “Holy strawman, that's not what I said.”
Person 2: “I think that your idea is bad, because we shouldn't just give out easy A's to everyone.”
Person 1: “Holy strawman, that's not what I said.”
by opr8r April 14, 2021
A logical fallacy where someone unintentionally or purposely twists something someone else says during an arguement. It is mostly used on purpose by oversensitive snowflakes who distort something someone is saying to fit their own narrative or they can begin an argument of their own.
Person reads that an individual passed away due to complications of covid-19 on the media.
Person 1. That person was over 80 and had underlying health conditions.
Person 2. So it's ok for old people are people in ill health to die of covid?
Person 1. Now that there is the classic strawman fallacy. I didn’t say that, I was just stating the possible reasons why he/she passed due to covid-19.
Person 1. That person was over 80 and had underlying health conditions.
Person 2. So it's ok for old people are people in ill health to die of covid?
Person 1. Now that there is the classic strawman fallacy. I didn’t say that, I was just stating the possible reasons why he/she passed due to covid-19.
by PlatinumDoge December 12, 2020
Person A: I think driving under the influence of alcohol is bad.
Person 2: Oh so we should ban alcohol?
Person 1: Well that's a strawman and a half......
Person 2: Oh so we should ban alcohol?
Person 1: Well that's a strawman and a half......
by PlatinumDoge September 03, 2021