The Straw Man Fallacy – “That’s Not What I Said!

🎭 What Is the Strawman Fallacy?

The Strawman Fallacy happens when someone misrepresents another person’s argument—often by oversimplifying, exaggerating, or twisting it—so they can easily attack or refute it.

🧠 Example:

Original argument:

“We should have stricter environmental regulations to reduce pollution.”

Strawman version:

“My opponent wants to shut down all factories and make everyone lose their jobs!”

Instead of addressing the real argument, the person attacks a distorted version—that’s the “straw man.”

🚨 Why It’s Misleading

Strawman arguments distract from real issues and can make genuine debate impossible. They’re often used in politics, media, and online arguments to win points rather than seek truth.

✅ How to Spot It

Ask yourself:

• Is the argument being criticized actually what was said?
  
• Has it been exaggerated or twisted to sound extreme?
  

🔍 Tip:

To avoid using this fallacy yourself, repeat the other person’s point clearly and fairly before disagreeing.