Re:Why I’m skeptical of “steelmanning”
by quickthrower2 on Tuesday May 03, 2022 @05:10AM
(#31246233)
I thought a strawman was a totally made up position then arguing against it. Which comes off a bit like someone having a fight with themselves. Thinking about it that is more likely on the internet forums like HN where it is easy to just comment without there really being a “conversation”
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Re:Why I’m skeptical of “steelmanning”
by TulliusCicero on Tuesday May 03, 2022 @05:16AM
(#31246268)
It's misrepresenting your opponent's argument, generally by exaggerating it, so that it's easy to argue against.
> Which comes off a bit like someone having a fight with themselves.
Yes, that's basically it. Inventing a related position that your opponent didn't actually take to argue with.
Like if my opponent wants a new tax for more school funding, I could be like, "well when does it end? Are we gonna buy every teacher a BMW by raising taxes 300%? I can't afford that!!" That's a strawman.