Welcome to Career Advise, the newsletter providing career advice, how-tos, and life musings through an optimistic and intriguing lens.

Each week, you will receive two newsletters written by the Oppstartr Team. Mondays — Our career-focused newsletter. Fridays — Out of Office where we discuss life and other thought-provoking ideas.

Happy Friday to you all, and welcome to Out of Office, the weekend edition of Career Advise.

If you are familiar with debate or logic, you may have heard the term “Straw Man” or the Straw Man Fallacy. According to Texas State Univerity, the Straw Man “occurs when, in attempting to refute another person's argument, you address only a weak or distorted version of it. Straw person is the misrepresentation of an opponent's position or a competitor's product to tout one's own argument or product as superior. This fallacy occurs when the weakest version of an argument is attacked while stronger ones are ignored.” The link also has some great examples of this fallacy in action.

The opposite of a Straw Man is a Steel Man. This is where instead of stating your opponent’s argument in the worst way possible, you actually state it in the most credible and endearing way possible.

It is the latter, the Steel Man, that we should frame our opponent's argument.

It Doesn’t Make Your Opponent Seem Stupid

When you state that holding a belief is stupid or you frame it dishonestly, this usually annoys or irritates the holder of the belief. If they don’t disassociate, they will “take the gloves off” and come after you in a way that most likely is not fair. Don’t create enemies.

You Hone Your Argument

If you seek the truth, you must be open to the truth. If you are refuting the best arguments against your opponent, then you have most likely formulated a solid offense; likewise, if your opponent knows your best arguments, then you have to provide the best defense against those attacks. This, in turn, helps you think through your position and can help you solidify your argument.

Strike the Crucial Points

Nothing is brought down by removing the weakest points. For example, structures are brought down when the columns that support the structure are dismantled. That is why explosive technicians identify the strongest columns and supports to bring down a condemned building. The same applies to ideas. If you go after the weakest points or made-up tenets to dismantle them, you still need to refute the claim. You may have knocked down a wall, but the building is still standing. Go for the strong points.

Thoughts & Actions

Have you heard of any Straw Mans against any positions you hold? Have you committed the Straw Man fallacy?

How can you commit yourself to Steel Man your opponent’s position?

Thank you for reading Career Advise. Be sure to read our upcoming issue on Monday where we focus on our fourth pillar: Craft the Skills.

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