ThinkCritical.eu · Manipulation atlas
Flawed argumentsStraw man
Exaggerating or distorting the other side's view so it is easier to knock down.
A straw man is a simplified or exaggerated version of someone else's view. It is easy to knock down – but it no longer has anything to do with what the other person actually said.
“Could the school canteen serve a meat-free meal once a week?” – “So you want to ban meat for children and turn them all into vegetarians?”
How to spot it
- The reply starts with “So you want…” followed by something far more extreme.
- “Sometimes” becomes “always”, “less” becomes “none at all”.
- Criticising a view that nobody actually expressed.
How to check and what to do
- Go back to the original words: what exactly did the other person propose?
- Ask: “Do I understand correctly that you're saying…?” and let them confirm or correct it.
- If it's your view being twisted, calmly restate what you actually proposed.
Full explanation and exercises:
thinkcritical.eu/en/manipulation-atlas/strawman