# Terr:  an asshole again.  No surprise.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [December 28, 2013, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340 "2013-12-28T05:29:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 18\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/21 "2013-12-29T03:27:18Z")

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Definitely one of those “Dear lord, is that guy an asshole!” people.

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**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/22 "2013-12-29T06:09:44Z")

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> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#):
>
> To be honest that’s part of the reason I’ve always found his more Catholic than the Pope attitude towards Israel so odd because Israel is about as unlibertarian as you can get.

Yeah, I’ve called him out on that a number of times. He’s really good at bearing my country’s name in vain.

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/23 "2013-12-30T20:33:55Z")

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> [@Trinopus](#):
>
> I will still disagree (vigorously!) with hose who can say, “I’m sorry this has to happen, but I hold the view that the country can’t pay for these things,” but, yes, you’re right, I can’t really pit them in all fairness. Only the ones who say “Hahahaha.”

But, that’s still rather a lot of them . . . and not only on the Intertubes, unfortunately.

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**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/24 "2013-12-30T21:50:41Z")

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> [@Karrius](#):
>
> Terr is basically purely worthless as a person. He gets off on oppressing others, and constantly posts false information. You can even see how he deliberately misquotes somebody twice in that thread.
> 
> Example of how he posts knowing falsehoods: Once in GQ he claimed, with no sense of irony, that a company who released an online game that had servers that didn’t work on the first day would go out of business guaranteed. When I posted about a dozen examples off the top of my head (and better yet, the new pokemon _just did that this week_) he didn’t respond, because what’s truth? Not something he needs!

Well, at least he’s consistent. That is his (and **adaher’s** ) argument for the repeal of Obamacare: the [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov) servers didn’t work, which caused modifications to the mandate, therefore the law must be repealed it its entirety. The game company servers didn’t work, causing their “playable” date to be delayed, and they should be forced into bankruptcy.

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**Author:** ![Karrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@Karrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karrius)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/25 "2013-12-30T23:20:10Z")

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> [@JohnT](#):
>
> Well, at least he’s consistent. That is his (and **adaher’s** ) argument for the repeal of Obamacare: the [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov) servers didn’t work, which caused modifications to the mandate, therefore the law must be repealed it its entirety. The game company servers didn’t work, causing their “playable” date to be delayed, and they should be forced into bankruptcy.

Oh no, he didn’t say they should be forced into bankruptcy. He said that if any game company did it, they _would_ go bankrupt. Despite proof to the contrary. Because things like facts don’t matter to conservatives, especially not in GQ.

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**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/26 "2013-12-31T00:00:04Z")

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> [@Karrius](#):
>
> Because things like facts don’t matter to conservatives, especially not in GQ.

:rolleyes:

We’ve got enough loons on the Left who never believe that facts matter and a number of “conservatives” (however we are defining that word these days) who do think facts matter.

Terr provides no value, but it is his personality that causes that, not his politics.

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**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/27 "2013-12-31T00:30:37Z")

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> [@tomndebb](#):
>
> :rolleyes:
> 
> We’ve got enough loons on the Left who never believe that facts matter and a number of “conservatives” (however we are defining that word these days) who do think facts matter.
> 
> Terr provides no value, but it is his personality that causes that, not his politics.

His personality drives his politics. He seems to exult in suffering and speaks of any assistance from the government whatsoever as loathsome _welfare_.

He’s a shitty person, and as such, has been drawn to the ideology of shitty people, far-far-right conservatism. It’s not like someone as bitter and hateful as Terr could think that poor people need to be fed. His hatred of others necessitates extreme conservatism, because anything else on the American mainstream spectrum (even moderate conservatism) actually helps people.

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**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/28 "2013-12-31T01:48:16Z")

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> [@Karrius](#):
>
> . . . Because things like facts don’t matter to conservatives, especially not in GQ.

> [@tomndebb](#):
>
> . . . We’ve got enough loons on the Left who never believe that facts matter and a number of “conservatives” (however we are defining that word these days) who do think facts matter. . . .

Exactly; I made the same blunder in my OP, and **DMC** politely and properly corrected me. There are bad people on any side of any division of ideas and ideals. Right now, the conservative movement in the U.S. is more heavily influenced by extremism than the liberal movement is. The relative proportions of rotters and ratbags is a little higher among conservatives than among liberals. But there are still no shortages of liberal jerks and jackoffs, and, while it’s harder than it used to be, you can still find good, reasonable, sensible, intelligent, and wise conservatives.

(You can also drive nails with a wrench…)

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**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/29 "2013-12-31T04:54:57Z")

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> [@Lobohan](#):
>
> His personality drives his politics. He seems to exult in suffering and speaks of any assistance from the government whatsoever as loathsome _welfare_.

This is actually a very good point. While there are racists, homophobes, mysogynists, etc. across the political spectrum, people in those groups are definitely attracted to the Republican party in greater numbers.

So, being a stupid, hateful bigot isn’t a requirement of being Republican, and there are many who aren’t, but if you happen to be one, you’ll likely find that to be a better home.

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**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/30 "2014-01-14T09:53:32Z")

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This exchange speaks volumes about **Terr** not only being an asshole but also weaseling away when he is shown to be remarkably wrong.

I revived a thread I started over a year ago [Darrell Issa: This time you’ve gone too far](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=669451) with the [following post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17005716&postcount=47):

> [@Darrell Issa: This time you've gone too far](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/darrell-issa-this-time-youve-gone-too-far/638388/47):
>
> Once again, Darrell Issa has compromised security with his bullshit antics, this time the security of the Obamacare website and all of the millions who have put sensitive information there:
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > [HealthCare.gov](http://HealthCare.gov) could clearly be compromised if, say, sensitive documents were leaked to the public that included software code or other technical information that provided hackers with a road map for vulnerabilities in the site. Such documents currently reside with Issa, who obtained them last month – unredacted – after subpoenaing them from MITRE Corporation, the federal contractor overseeing security of the website.
> > 
> > Throughout the subpoena process, MITRE officials warned Issa in three separate letters that the documents could result in “irreparable harm” to the website’s security if they end up in the wrong hands, even with redactions. They offered to let him come into MITRE’s offices and view redacted versions of them. Beyond that, White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler sent Issa a letter warning that disclosures could increase risks to all IT systems across the federal government. Top House Democrats, meanwhile, pressed for a classified briefing with administration cyber security officials to assess the risks posed by a potential leak of those documents.
> > 
> > But Issa insisted on getting the unredacted versions, and on Dec. 17, he posted excerpts from them online in a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in which he raised concerns with the website’s security.
> > 
> > [Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/10/obamacare-website-darrell-issa_n_4569255.html?1389367586)
> 
> Fuck this fucking fuck. He needs to be censured and to have any and all requests for any information including the menu for lunch in the Congress dinning hall denied because he’s a treasonous fuck stick who cannot be trusted with the information.

This was Terr’s overly caustic [response](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17006754&postcount=59):

> [@](#):
>
> You’re a biased idiot who apparently can’t read simple English. The article you’re quoting claims that Issa _could_ (if he published them) compromise the [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov)’s security with the documents he subpoenaed. It definitely doesn’t say that he did compromise it.

Well, so I am a biased idiot who cannot read! Funny how my view is actually proven in the very cite I provided as well as another, which [I detailed as such](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17012457&postcount=66):

> [@](#):
>
> It’s really precious and adorable that you would White Knight Darrell Issa. I’m pretty sure he still won’t fuck you, but I guess it’s worth a shot, eh?
> 
> Now then, from the link:
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > Issa insisted on getting the unredacted versions, and on Dec. 17, he posted excerpts from them online in a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in which he raised concerns with the website’s security.
> > 
> > The move drew a harsh response from Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), ranking member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He blasted Issa for being “reckless” with sensitive data.
> 
> So yeah, he kind of already was “‘reckless’ with sensitive data.”
> 
> (And I’m not talking about the time he released court-sealed documents related to the “Fast and Furious” gun sales investigation, supposedly because his office forgot about the court order. Nor the time he selectively leaked IRS emails to attempt to make that more than the non-scandal it was. Nor the time that he leaked 166 pages of sensitive information regarding Libya, which prompted me to start this thread some 15 months ago.)
> 
> Let’s say you knew that a neighbor left his door unlocked when he left the house one morning. Maybe he was in a hurry and forgot, or maybe he left it open so his son, who left his key at home, would be able to enter when he got home from school.
> 
> Wouldn’t you say that this information - that a door is left unlocked - might be considered sensitive? That maybe it would be a reckless thing if you shouted from the rooftops that your neighbor’s door was left open? That making this information public might - even if it wasn’t true - tempt some unscrupulous people into trying that door to see if maybe they might enter and help themselves to something?
> 
> Well, gee, wouldn’t you know that’s exactly what Issa did! Except instead of a neighbor, it was a federal website. And instead of rooftops, he went to two national media outlets. Which you have to admit is far more efficient than just about any rooftop you might find:
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > The sun has risen in the East, so there must be a news report somewhere quoting a partial transcript leaked by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) purporting to show the shortcomings of Obamacare.
> > 
> > We have not one but two “investigative” news reports, from CBS and ABC, based on the same partial transcript.
> > 
> > Cue Sharyl Attkisson of CBS: “A top [HealthCare.gov](http://HealthCare.gov) security officer told Congress there have been two, serious high-risk findings since the website’s launch, including one on Monday of this week.”
> > 
> > But (Issa) didn’t stop there. He suggested to CBS that the [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov) website exposed virtually the entire government to hacking. “Remember, Sharyl, this is not about your application being compromised. This is a system, exchange and portal, that lets me go into the Department of Homeland Security, lets me go into the IRS … Social Security. Think about what’s at Social Security, what’s at IRS, what’s at Department of Homeland Security. That’s the vulnerability.”
> > 
> > Is that so? A flaw in a healthcare enrollment website that could let hackers in on our most precious government secrets? Let’s agree that if this were true, it would be huge.
> > 
> > [Los Angeles Times](http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-leak-from-issa-20131220,0,4513971.story#axzz2qM6jJIJn)
> 
> Now, I didn’t excerpt the parts about how Issa also happened to be full of shit, once again using partial transcripts that misrepresent the truth in the matter, because simple common sense (please find someone who has this available to them to explain it to you) makes it apparent that it doesn’t fucking matter that it’s untrue.
> 
> Try and keep up: Not only did Issa not have to actually unlock the door himself to be reckless with sensitive information, the door didn’t even have to be unlocked because simply by publicizing that the door was unlocked, it opens up his neighbor to getting a lot of unwanted visitors to his door, some of whom might not merely walk away when they discover the door was in fact not left unopened.
> 
> Would you want your neighbor broadcasting that you left your door open - even if you did not - to the world? I wouldn’t. And I wouldn’t want to compromise my neighbor’s security unless I was an asshole with a vendetta against them, a vendetta that is so intense that I don’t even care that I am potentially letting the block I live on be overrun by people who might try and ransack my own house. I mean, since they’re in the neighborhood and all.
> 
> But Issa did this. He did it despite numerous warnings from numerous people in numerous organizations in the Federal government. It’s all there for anyone to see. There is no _could_ here, except for the fact that he _could_ continue his pattern by doing it again and again with more and more sensitive information.
> 
> See, that’s kind of his thing.
> 
> Now then, you mentioned something about a biased idiot who was unable to read English… I can’t help you with your obvious bias but if you need any help with the English in this post or either of the two citations I gave that show that he Issa was indeed reckless with sensitive information, let me know and I’ll try and use smaller words.

And his retort, also known as “the best Terr can do,” was this:

> [@](#):
>
> Wow, so much verbiage, and all instead of saying “I was wrong”.

:rolleyes:

The fact is that I have shown that “Issa compromise(d) the [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov)’s security.” It’s all there. The only question is whether Terr is intellectually dishonest or a coward. Although, it sure seems like both to me.

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/31 "2014-01-14T10:14:39Z")

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> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#):
>
> The fact is that I have shown that “Issa compromise(d) the [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov)’s security.” It’s all there. The only question is whether Terr is intellectually dishonest or a coward. Although, it sure seems like both to me.

To be intellectually dishonest requires having an intellect to begin with.

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**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2014, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/32 "2014-01-14T11:40:16Z")

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Debating **Terr** on matters of fact is a waste of time unless you’re researching the Dunning-Kruger Effect. Give me a solid average guy who knows he has average intellect over a creep like Terr. He probably has an IQ of 105 or so, but is so fondly preening of his intellect he ends up prattling at moron level.

When reading posts by right-wing dolts like **Terr** , one wonders how so much stupidity can be packed into one skull. The _$10,000 to every American_ is an interesting concept which would obviously require massive increases in taxation. **Terr** “analyzed” that program by trying to finance it with no new taxes, only cuts to existing programs. :smack: I often try to inject a note of sanity in threads where the right-wingers are confused, but that level of imbecility left me speechless.

I was doing a good job of ignoring **Terr** completely until he insulted me in a thread, writing, in effect “I know absolutely nothing about statistics, so I’ll assume you know nothing too.”

**Terr** , here’s a hint for future reference: If you’re in a debate where knowledge of science, math, or economics is relevant … you’re wrong.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/33 "2014-01-15T19:00:49Z")

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> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#):
>
> The fact is that I have shown that “Issa compromise(d) the [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov)’s security.” It’s all there. The only question is whether Terr is intellectually dishonest or a coward. Although, it sure seems like both to me.

No, you just made yourself look like a dumbass in that thread. And you’re a cock for making me defend **Terr**.

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**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/34 "2014-01-15T23:59:53Z")

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its not my fault you’re living up to your username.

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**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/35 "2014-01-16T01:44:39Z")

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> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#):
>
> its not my fault you’re living up to your username.

No. You really were wrong in that thread. Read it over and find out why.

And, please stop making me agree with Terr - especially when I’m trying to eat.

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**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/36 "2014-01-16T04:08:29Z")

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Yeah, I did look it over. Several times. What I see is a guy screaming “This website is insecure!” in the media. It seems that this is a no-brainer that such a thing compromises security. If you scream that a website is insecure, why is it a shock that would lead to more attempts to crack it open?

My front door analogy is incorrect only because it doesn’t make it clear how much of a problem there is here. There are not a ton of house thieves on any given block or city. The internet is filled with hackers, crackers, scammers and other people who will do anything to get your personal information for profit or just for shits and giggles.

Why anyone thinks that announcing to the world “this website is insecure” - a website that collects some very sensitive data - doesn’t at the very least cause an uptick of traffic from some of those folks seems silly to me.

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**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/37 "2014-01-16T04:56:29Z")

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_All_ websites are insecure, just as _all_ balloons are insecure.

I’m doubting if pointing at the flaws on one site alerts those sort of people to anything they didn’t already know.

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**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terr-an-asshole-again-no-surprise/677340/38 "2014-01-16T06:57:57Z")

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Yes, all websites are insecure. But not every website has some asshole running to the media pointing out just how insecure it is. Nor does every website have millions of Americans submitting very personal and sensitive information on them.

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