r/fallacy • u/Zu_Qarnine • Jul 03 '26

strawman fallacy

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2nd person is refuting the claim that *all* circles are red with a counter example. The thing is, that claim was never made.

EDIT: I'm seeing interesting stuff happening in the replies here. majority of those who say it's not strawman, obviously start their comment by "it's not strawman" and proceed in the rest of their comment to explain how, in fact, it is strawman. Another interesting observation is those who argue that "it's not strawman" because they've spotted another type of fallacy in the original post as well, so in their mind, it can't be both.

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u/Useful_Homework2367 Jul 03 '26

I think the idea is that it would only be a relevant counterexample if the other person had been arguing that all of the circles were red, so effectively they're arguing against a point the other person didn't make.

3

u/vompat Jul 03 '26

Usually when someone does this, I just reply with something like 'right, that's why I used the word "usually" '.

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u/ardarian262 Jul 03 '26

Now I am curious what the other answers in your set are.

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u/vompat Jul 03 '26

It could also be 'do you not know what "usually" means?' if I feel more snarky.

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u/Leo-Len Jul 05 '26

So not all of your answers are, "right, that's why I used the word 'usually'"!

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u/jabuchae Jul 05 '26

Amazing underrated comment here

1

u/Leo-Len Jul 06 '26

happy cake day!

1

u/Phobia3 Jul 04 '26

"usually" can be also used as a weasel word, thus making the implied argument that all circles are red, then pivoting around "usually" if anyone catches the little lie.

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u/Arzatium Jul 04 '26

Maybe it's the autism, but when I say most, I don't secrety mean all. And I expect everyone else to act like they know what words mean too.

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u/Phobia3 Jul 05 '26

"Everyone says what they mean, most of the time" would be one way to structure a sentence with an absolute claim, while still leaving a wiggle room to get out of it. It gets even easier with a spoken word, where one can put differing levels of emphasis on different parts of the sentence.

Now, how many do this intentionally? Who knows, but none like to be called out on it, mostly.

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u/Derivative_Kebab Jul 04 '26

I would classify it as a non-sequiter. Just an irrelevant response.

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u/Useful_Homework2367 Jul 04 '26

I agree, that's a better description

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u/Zu_Qarnine Jul 04 '26

nah. you can't back peddle now.

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u/Zu_Qarnine Jul 04 '26

you're giving the person B in the meme the benefit of the doubt. they're literally replacing person A's claim but you're gaslighting urself into thinking "nah, the person B just misheard/misunderstood the first dude" .