but it’s always wrong, incorrect, and immoral when done purposely.

It is the habit seen more often than not on discussion boards of misrepresenting one person’s argument in order for an attack, sometimes attacking the person, not just the argument.

When it’s done intentionally the doer brings their cognitive bias into play in his interpretation, thereby denying the original statement or argument being addressed. This is bad in several ways, but the most important for the sake of meaningful discussion is that it is intellectually dishonest.

When it’s done out of ignorance, or both ignorance and deliberate misrepresentation, it’s just a big red light that meaningful discussion won’t happen.

When principle and rational thought are abandoned for impulse, emotion and the general inability to employ logic, it’s a waste of time to pursue. An idee fixe is just that.