Straw Man Argument:
“…an intentionally misrepresented proposition that is set up because it is easier to defeat than an opponent's real argument.” https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/straw_man
“…an informal fallacy based on giving the impression of refuting an opponent's argument, while refuting an argument that was not advanced.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man
Nutpicking (term coined by Kevin Drum):
“…intentionally seeking out extremely fringe, non-representative statements and/or individuals from members of an opposing group and parading these as evidence of that entire group's incompetence or irrationality.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man
Illustration:
“… it is true: climate has changed even before humans began to burn fossil fuels. So what can we conclude from that? … (1) that humans cannot change the climate? (2) that we do not know whether humans are to blame for global warming? (3) that global warming will not have any severe consequences? (4) that we cannot stop global warming?” - The climate has always changed. What do you conclude? stefan @ 20 July 2017
In the above quote, the author’s rhetorical question, “what can we conclude from that?” sets-up a series of opinions he considers commonplace among climate change skeptics. Problem is, those statements are not typical of climate change skeptics.
Don’t believe me? Just Google “Humans cannot change the climate”; “We do not know whether humans are to blame for global warming”; “Global warming will not have any severe consequences”; and “We cannot stop global warming”. You will not find climate change skeptics making those statements. You will find climate change believers attributing them to skeptics - the one exception being “We cannot stop global warming”, which turns out to be a common lament among climate change activists. For a more representative sample of skeptic opinions and arguments, I suggest the popular website Watts Up with That?
Why does this matter? Because making people into cartoons creates unnecessary animosity and leads to a hardening of positions, all to the detriment of collective problem solving.
Next: Climate Change Beliefs and Pro-Environment Behaviors: What’s the Connection?