I don't think that steelmanning a position you're arguing against is unfair or dismissive of that argument's opponents. > Alexander was “steelmanning” and bend

I don't think that steelmanning a position you're arguing against is unfair or dismissive of that argument's opponents. > Alexander was “steelmanning” and bending over backward to understand the position... but in doing so he was swallowing whole a “strawman”... It's only "swallowing whole" if you actually believe the argument, not merely contemplate it.