What is a 'straw man'
10 August 2004, 01:28 PM
#1
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What is a 'straw man'
Ok ... I have heard this so many times now I just have to ask someone what the hell this is? Everytime we are discuss new ways of doing things at work someone will pipe up "let's do a straw man" ... now if we'd ever done one I would know what the hell it was but it only ever gets that far.
Now, yesterday I was asked directly by one of our VPs to produce a 'straw man' on a new concept of an operational support environment for one of our I prroducts.
Anyone out there have a clue? Have tried google but it returns thousands of hits, scanning the first few do not answer my question.
Cheers,
Darren
Now, yesterday I was asked directly by one of our VPs to produce a 'straw man' on a new concept of an operational support environment for one of our I prroducts.
Anyone out there have a clue? Have tried google but it returns thousands of hits, scanning the first few do not answer my question.
Cheers,
Darren
10 August 2004, 01:32 PM
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Don't know the exact origin of the concept but essentially a "straw man" is a proposal that you would make for the solution - the purpose is then to criticise/deconstruct/evaluate your straw man as a team - there should be no issue with the creator that their creation is being pulled apart - that's its job.
For example, your straw man for an ideal track car may be... light wieght, front engined, 5 speed blah blah, and the team would pick it apart by saying, good stuff, but I'd suggest mid engined and 6 speed blah blah.
For example, your straw man for an ideal track car may be... light wieght, front engined, 5 speed blah blah, and the team would pick it apart by saying, good stuff, but I'd suggest mid engined and 6 speed blah blah.
10 August 2004, 01:34 PM
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Does it differ from a "man of straw" ?
I thought it was when somebody was referred to as having no real substance, ie. no money or backing they were "men of straw".
Straw men was also a book, although I don't read many of them.
Del
I thought it was when somebody was referred to as having no real substance, ie. no money or backing they were "men of straw".
Straw men was also a book, although I don't read many of them.
Del
10 August 2004, 01:41 PM
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From the Chambers Dictionary:
Man of straw: person of no substance (esp. financially);one nominally, but not really, responsisible; a sham opponent or argument set up for the sake of disputation; (Also straw man).
Basically what the guys above said.
Man of straw: person of no substance (esp. financially);one nominally, but not really, responsisible; a sham opponent or argument set up for the sake of disputation; (Also straw man).
Basically what the guys above said.
10 August 2004, 01:49 PM
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Thanks Dapster .... You have confirmed one of the things I had read about it so thanks for that ... Do I assume that there is no specific format for this type of proposal, the 'straw man' is purely a concept?
10 August 2004, 02:01 PM
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Whenever you hear GW Bush saying "some have said" or "many hold the opinion" he is inventing opponents to make himself look good.
They are 'straw men' they do not exist.
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/...20122_8933.htm
Damo
They are 'straw men' they do not exist.
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/...20122_8933.htm
Damo
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10 August 2004, 02:03 PM
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straw man fallacy
One of the characteristics of a cogent refutation of an argument is that the argument one is refuting be represented fairly and accurately. To distort or misrepresent an argument one is trying to refute is called the straw man fallacy. It doesn't matter whether the misrepresentation or distortion is accidental and due to misunderstanding the argument or is intentional and aimed at making it easier to refute. Either way, one commits the straw man fallacy.
In other words, the attacker of a straw man argument is refuting a position of his own creation, not the position of someone else. The refutation may appear to be a good one to someone unfamiliar with the original argument.
One of the characteristics of a cogent refutation of an argument is that the argument one is refuting be represented fairly and accurately. To distort or misrepresent an argument one is trying to refute is called the straw man fallacy. It doesn't matter whether the misrepresentation or distortion is accidental and due to misunderstanding the argument or is intentional and aimed at making it easier to refute. Either way, one commits the straw man fallacy.
In other words, the attacker of a straw man argument is refuting a position of his own creation, not the position of someone else. The refutation may appear to be a good one to someone unfamiliar with the original argument.
10 August 2004, 02:14 PM
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Originally Posted by R333TER
Thanks Dapster .... You have confirmed one of the things I had read about it so thanks for that ... Do I assume that there is no specific format for this type of proposal, the 'straw man' is purely a concept?
You may wish to take a sample specification and try and populate that template with your ideas, leaving blanks if required. Therefore the critique and improvements can be in componant form.
See, being a consultant does have it's advantages. That'll be £2,000 please. Plus expenses.
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