what type of logical fallacy is someone using when they attack your position by omitting key parts of your argument?
The fallacy you’re describing is usually the straw man fallacy.
What’s Happening In That Situation?
When someone attacks your position after omitting key parts of your argument , they are typically:
- Distorting or oversimplifying what you actually said
- Ignoring important qualifiers, context, or evidence you included
- Then “refuting” that weaker, distorted version instead of your real view
That is exactly what defines a straw man: misrepresenting an opponent’s argument to make it easier to knock down.
Related Fallacies That Are Close
There are a couple of closely related ideas worth knowing:
- Cherry picking / suppressed evidence : Selecting only those parts of what you said (or the data) that help their case while silently leaving out what hurts it.
- Quoting out of context : Lifting a piece of your argument from its context so that it seems to mean something different or weaker than you intended.
When the omission of key parts leads to a changed or weakened version of your position that they then attack, it is best classified as a straw man fallacy.
Quick Forum-Style Takeaway
If someone “forgets” your strongest points, trims your nuance, and then argues against that trimmed-down version, they aren’t beating your argument — they’re attacking a straw man.
TL;DR: Attacking your position by leaving out crucial parts of your argument is typically a straw man fallacy, often achieved through selective omission (cherry picking) or quoting out of context.