Here is a definition of the term from Wikicrappia.
A straw man argument is an informal fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position. To "attack a straw man" is to create the illusion of having refuted a proposition by substituting a superficially similar proposition (the "straw man"), and refuting it, without ever having actually refuted the original position.
Presenting and refuting a weakened form of an opponent's argument can be a part of a valid argument. For example, one can argue that the opposing position implies that at least one other statement - being presumably easier to refute than the original position - must be true. If one refutes this weaker proposition, the refutation is valid and does not fit the above definition of a "straw man" argument.
On to pk's research. Have you had the chance to read the Spaulding manuscript? This was written before the Book of Mormon according to a friend who showed me this, and the Book of Mormon practically plagiarizes the manuscript. Also you ever notice you never heard of Mormon Temples being bombed by terrorist? Many ex-masonic members have shown that both religions are a part of their pyramid of power.
Now as for me, I look at the person not their belief, to judge who they are for the most part. Do I have an indifference to the beliefs of religions outside of Christianity? Yes and no. As long as it isn't imposing on my life then no. And I shall do the same for them or an atheist. Many times people want to debate about my faith and beliefs. I always decline and see it as a disrespect, when I respect that they believe differently already.
Now getting mad, angry, and furious on the forums, you could say, "That's not very Christian of you." Ok, no it isn't, but it very human of me. I grew up with a Sicilian father who was a devoted Roman Catholic and a mother who was Eastern Orthodox. I was raised being a Catholic. I went to CCD all through school. Then I left the church, went agnostic to atheism to agnosticism to non-denom Christianity.
Now does that make me religious? Ha! Hardly.
Do I get poked at in person that my faith is stupid or dumb. Nope. But that's where the internet is great. A trolling coward can type, audio record, or make a video and rip on you with whatever they want to say, with no fear of recourse and glee if you show anger or sadness to their ad hominems and name calling. Like one troll said to me in a PM when he thought I was a troll in a Christian chat room, "What's the worse they can do? Type angrily at me or boot me? That's a laugh." Took me awhile to remember that from an earlier incident right here in the forum. 
But I don't worship a church, follow any true dogma, or anything in that nature. People call it a relationship, but I hate the connotation to that because it sounds kind of elitist to some people.
There's my spin on this old and dusty subject.
See, there is no answer to any of these questions.
He wasn't alive then.