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.
> 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.