What is "straw man"

1590s, "doll or scarecrow made of bound straw," from straw (n.) + man (n.). Figuratively, in debates, by 1896. Man of straw "imaginary opponent" is recorded from 1620s.

alt. 1 A doll or scarecrow (particularly one stuffed with straw). 2 An insubstantial concept, idea, endeavor or argument, particularly one deliberately set up to be weakly supported, so that it can be easily knock down; especially to impugn the strength of any related thing or ide

1. 3 An innocuous person or someone of nominal or lesser importance, as a front man or straw boss. n. 1 A doll or scarecrow (particularly one stuffed with straw). 2 An insubstantial concept, idea, endeavor or argument, particularly one deliberately set up to be weakly supported, so that it can be easily knock down; especially to impugn the strength of any related thing or idea. 3 An innocuous person or someone of nominal or lesser importance, as a front man or straw boss. v

2. to falsely attribute an insubstantial argument (a straw man argument) to another through direct declaration or indirect implication

1. n. a person used as a cover for some questionable activity [syn: front man, front, figurehead, nominal head, strawman]

2. a weak or sham argument set up to be easily refuted [syn: strawman]

3. an effigy in the shape of a man to frighten birds away from seeds [syn: scarecrow, strawman, bird-scarer, scarer]

A straw man is a common form of argument and is an informal fallacy based on giving the impression of refuting an opponent's argument, while actually refuting an argument that was not advanced by that opponent.

The so-called typical "attacking a straw man" argument creates the illusion of having completely refuted or defeated an opponent's proposition by covertly replacing it with a different proposition (i.e. "stand up a straw man") and then refuting that false argument ("knock down a straw man") instead of the original proposition.

This technique has been used throughout history in polemical debate, particularly in arguments about highly charged emotional issues where a fiery, entertaining "battle" and the defeat of an "enemy" may be more valued than critical thinking or understanding both sides of the issue.

Allegedly, straw-man tactics were once known in some parts of the United Kingdom as an Aunt Sally, after a pub game of the same name where patrons threw sticks or battens at a post to knock off a skittle balanced on top.

A straw man (ritual doll) is a dummy in the shape of a human usually made up entirely out of straw material, or created by stuffing straw into clothes.

Straw man is a rhetorical technique (also classified as a logical fallacy) based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position.

Straw man may also refer to:

• A reclaimable personal account according to the Redemption movement
• Straw man (dummy), a dummy made from straw
• Straw man (law), in law, a third party that acts as a "front" in a transaction
• Straw man (literature), in literature, a symbol for people regarded as lacking needed qualities
• Straw man proposal, in business and software development, a simple draft proposal intended to generate discussion
• Straw Man (comics), a Marvel Comics character originally called "The Scarecrow"
• A humanoid figure woven from plant stems, in the manner of a Corn dolly

The Scarecrow, later named the Straw Man, is a fictional character, a super hero appearing in the Marvel Comics universe.