What is it called when…

You say something and someone else tries to present what you said differently to make it seem like you’re a negative person?

i.e. You say that people should not walk naked down the street because it’s inappropriate and the other person rebuttals you by saying that you wish you had that type of confidence.

Another example is you joking that you’ve been inside too long from quarantine that you look like a caveman and the person again rebuttals that there’s nothing wrong with cavemen in a very passionate way.

It doesn’t feel like gaslighting. What is this shit?

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Adstar · 56-60, M

The fake representation of what you are saying is called a Straw man..

People who do this are said to build a straw man of you so they then can burn you.. If others are not diligent in listening to, or reading what you actually said they can be fooled into believing that your stance is what the other person portrayed when they built their straw man..

Of course if a third party thinks the truth is important they will go back to what you actually said and they will know the one opposing you is falsely representing your position on the topic. They will have no respect for the dirty tactics of the straw man builder..

DecafD

@Adstar ooh thank you so much! I’ve never heard of this before.

Adstar · 56-60, M

@DecafD People who are building a straw man of your poiton will use this term a lot before they put forward their fake representation..

[b]""So you're saying""[/b] This video is a classic example of a interviewer continuously trying to build a Straw man so they can undermine the person they are interviewing..

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A99G6O721gA]

DecafD

@Adstar oooh I see what you mean. She already made up her mind about him and she’s making him the straw man to represent him as this rude guy, when really she’s the only one feeling that way. Her emotions are driving the straw man.