Of Straw Men and Those Who Construct Them:
"Get a Life"
The "straw man" or the "straw man fallacy" is the attempt by some unscholarly (and sometimes unscrupulous) people to paint a false picture of their opponent's argument. After they paint the false picture and make it look bad, then they say that it should be rejected because it is wrong. Well, of course the argument that they painted should be rejected. It is wrong. The problem is that this is not really what their opponent believes.
A friend of mine gave this example: if I made a cardboard cut out of Mike Tyson, I could go up to it and knock it down with ease. Then, I could tell people, "See, I'm tougher than Mike Tyson." But, the cardboard cut out is just a "straw man." Let's see you do that with the real Mike Tyson.
The Straw-Man Constructionists
Actually, it does not take a great psychologist to discern that those who build "straw men" so they can look good to others when they knock them down are people who have a personality deficiency. Over the years I have met people who are always putting down others in an attempt to make themselves look better. Some of these people are so skilled at this tactic that most on-lookers do not realize what they are doing. In fact, some "straw-man constructionists" have gathered quite a following.
One man in particular I met years ago in church found that if he derisively laughed at others, then people would think he was better than those he mocked. This man was not an educated person. He wasn't rich. He didn't have a sophisticated job. I surmised that his problem was insecurity, and the way that he made himself feel better was to be rude and obnoxious to others. For a period of time, I was the target of his derision. I wondered why since he and I had never had a cross word, and we didn't travel in the same social groups. Later, a person who was a part of this man's "social club" became a friend of mine. He informed me that when this man had made his pot-shots at me, it was a reflection of the man's own insecurities. As it turns out, this man had actually gone to the same college I had, but when he found college too tough, he dropped out, whereas I went on to graduate. And, apparently, this was some source of irritation to him. Thus, the only way that he could feel better about himself was to make a straw man out of Rick Walston and knock it down. To help him feel better about himself and to try a psychological experiment, I went to the man and I complimented him on a certain talent he had. Interestingly, my friendliness and my compliment was to him an indication of my weakness.
Yes That is Bad, But We don't Do That
Another man I know is also a "straw-man constructionist." At one time he and I were both writing about nontraditional education at the same time. He called me one day and said that he liked me and our seminary. Then, he asked me what "dirt" I could provide him on the schools I had been researching. I found it odd that he didn't want a reasonable discussion on the qualifications or academic shortcomings of various schools. What he specifically asked for was "dirt." I told him that I wasn't into that, and I had nothing to share with him. I could tell by his tone thereafter that I had offended him by not lowering myself to his level. Soon thereafter he began attacks on me and on our seminary. I was not surprised. I also was not surprised by his lack of facts. When he attacked our school it was the classic Straw Man fallacy. He misrepresented both me and the seminary to such an extreme that anyone who believed him would have thought very little of me or of the seminary. In fact, when he would say, "Rick's school does thus and so, and thus and so is bad," I would agree with him in part. I would say, "Yes, thus and so is bad, and any school doing these things is substandard, but" . . . and this is the rub, "we were not doing thus and so." Yet, many believed this man because he was so good at building the straw-man argument. But, one must wonder what terrible feelings of inadequacy such a person must suffer with to make the straw man tactic a way of life.
Blood in the Water
I have also noticed that for some who have made the straw man tactic a way of life, they cannot accept a gracious bow-out by others. For instance, if someone wants to withdraw from an ongoing argument with a "straw-man constructionist"--after all, no reasonable person wants to continue with such an unreasonable argument--the "straw-man constructionist" sees it as a weakness. He will capitalize on it. It reminds me of the shark who smells blood. Any sign of "perceived" weakness is exploited for the self-aggrandizement of the "straw-man constructionist."
My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul; let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"--my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.--Prov. 1:10 -16
Typically, the straw-man constructionist is a person who simply cannot survive in a world of reality. Over the years I have met people who are far smarter than I am. And, I have met people who were not as smart as I am. The thing is, however, it does not matter where we fall. What matters is that we are happy and well adjusted individuals who do not need to resort to straw-man tactics to make ourselves look better than we are.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.--Rom. 12:3
Many years ago there was a song that asked the question, "Have you ever kicked a good man when he was down, just to make yourself feel strong?" If so, then you need to do some soul searching and find out why you feel the need to be on top at the expense of others. It is a well-adjusted person who does not kick a good man when he is down but rather extends a helping hand. Why is it that we who are Christians, we who should know better, why is it that we of all people must be reminded to extend a helping hand? Someone has said that the Christian army is the only army that shoots its wounded.
On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble. You should not march through the gates of my people in the day of their disaster, nor look down on them in their calamity in the day of their disaster, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster. You should not wait at the crossroads to cut down their fugitives, nor hand over their survivors in the day of their trouble. "The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head."--Obad. 11-15
Straw-Man Constructionists and their Agendas
Truth is truth whether it is spoken by your best friend or your worst enemy. However, when people who are adept at building "straw men" construct one, it is not unreasonable for us to ask, "What's the source?" Granted, the old phrase "consider the source" has often been used to summarily dismiss the opposition without giving the argument a fair hearing; but it is not illogical to consider the source of any attack.
Many people who build "straw men" simply want to make themselves look good. Others, however, have agendas and they want to win people over to those agendas. For example, when a homosexual attacks the veracity of the Bible, one might well ask, "What's his agenda?"
Frankly, I am astounded by the number of Christians who uncritically accept straw-man arguments against others simply because the society at large has told us that is not PC (politically correct) to "consider the source."
A year or so ago there was a "documentary" on who Jesus was. The TV program interviewed extreme theological liberals, and ultimately they "concluded" that Jesus was not divine. He was just a man in whom some people have mistakenly placed their blind faith. Yet, when solid, conservative Christian scholars attempted to expose the "documentary" as being biased at its source, many people--even some Christians!--said that it was not fair for them to discuss the "source."
We must, however, consider the source while at the same time we must reject the premise of the documentary. If the premise is true, then the source does not matter. If the premise is false, I will also consider the source.
For example, another person has done his best to attack our seminary. He has placed his "straw man" attacks on the Internet. I have read his account. It is inaccurate. And, the source? He's a Mormon. Well, gee, do you think that he might have an agenda?
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven (Moroni?) should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!--Gal. 1:6-8
Get a Life
Many "straw-man constructionists" spend much of their time putting others down. It is no secret that many of these people are seriously lacking a life. What is sad, however, is that many people who call themselves Christians also engage in this activity, some knowingly do so, and some do so out of sheer ignorance.
Last, no person who is a "straw-man constructionist" can be considered to be a real scholar. Just as no man who knocks down a cardboard cutout of Mike Tyson and then boasts about it can be considered a real fighter.
Straw-man constructionists should take to heart that old saying:
Great people do great things.
Mediocre people talk about great things.
Small people talk about people.
Send comments about this, or any, Coffee Talk to Rick Walston at: CES - @ - ColumbiaSeminary.edu
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