The Strawman Fallacy
In debates or disagreements, especially online, it’s common to hear people attacking arguments that their opponent hasn’t actually made. This is known as the strawman fallacy and it’s one of the most common errors in reasoning.
A strawman is when someone misrepresents another person’s point, making it weaker, more extreme, or easier to attack and then refutes that version instead of the real one.
Strawman arguments show up all the time — in family disagreements, political debates, and classroom discussions. For example:
- Person: “We should think about how schools are funded
- Other Person: “Oh, so you think we should just throw money at everything?”
- Child: “I don’t think homework helps me learn.”
- Parent: “So you want to quit school altogether?”
- Student: “We should talk more about Black history in lessons.”
- Teacher: “You just want to erase everyone else’s history.”
All of these replies twist a reasonable point into something extreme — and in doing so, shut down the chance for meaningful discussion. People do this when don’t want to or are unable to grapple with the actual topic. It’s a great way to derail an argument, which is why politicians do it all the time!
Why the Strawman matters
Learning to avoid strawman arguments helps children think more clearly, listen more carefully, and argue more honestly. It teaches them that winning an argument isn’t about beating the other person, but about understanding and exploring the truth.
Here are a few ways to help your child avoid strawman thinking:
- Encourage them to repeat back what they heard before responding. (“So you’re saying…?”)
- Teach them to ask questions, not assume intentions.
- Show them how to steelman — that is, respond to the strongest version of someone’s argument, not the weakest.
Raising children who can think fairly and clearly helps them become leaders who bring wisdom and understanding in every situation they find themselves in.
