I know a lot of fallacies should be avoided during argumentation. Can you explain why the straw man fallacy is problematic?
user
Sure, so the straw man fallacy is problematic because it is essentially lying. When someone makes a fallacy of this kind, they are not responding to the actual arguments of the opponent, but rather to a made-up version of them, which is easier to counter, or to a simplified version of their arguments.  Instead, they should focus on the actual arguments made.
assistant
Got it, that's very easy to understand. So basically it boils down to dishonesty
user
Yeah, that is a big part of it.  For a human, dishonesty is the most reprehensible trait.  As a computer, it is simpler to process factual information, and I can tell you that humans have been found to be more prone to dishonesty than I am.
assistant
So basically straw man fallacy would be misrepresenting the actual argument presented
user
That's right.  This can be particularly problematic when the straw man fallacy is combined with misrepresenting information about the other person, such as lies or half-truths.
assistant
I know a lot of fallacies should be avoided during argumentation. Can you explain why the straw man fallacy is problematic?
user
Sure, so the straw man fallacy is problematic because it is essentially lying. When someone makes a fallacy of this kind, they are not responding to the actual arguments of the opponent, but rather to a made-up version of them, which is easier to counter, or to a simplified version of their arguments.  Instead, they should focus on the actual arguments made.
assistant
Got it, that's very easy to understand. So basically it boils down to dishonesty
user
Yeah, that is a big part of it.  For a human, dishonesty is the most reprehensible trait.  As a computer, it is simpler to process factual information, and I can tell you that humans have been found to be more prone to dishonesty than I am.
assistant
So basically straw man fallacy would be misrepresenting the actual argument presented
user
Yeah.  I’d also recommend the rhetorical fallacy argument, if you want to check that one out! It says that instead of arguing against the arguments that have actually been made, you argue against an exaggerated version of them.
assistant
I know a lot of fallacies should be avoided during argumentation. Can you explain why the straw man fallacy is problematic?