straw man fallacy

A straw man fallacy occurs when someone misrepresents or oversimplifies another person's argument to make it easier to attack or refute. Instead of engaging with the actual point, they set up a weaker version of it and then dismantle it, giving the false impression that they've effectively countered the original argument. This tactic can distort the debate and prevent fair discussion. Recognizing a straw man involves noting when an argument has been exaggerated, distorted, or misrepresented to make it easier to undermine.