# Why doesn't Trump's childishness simply disqualify him outright in your mind? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 2, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184 "2017-01-02T23:26:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/201 "2017-01-04T00:42:26Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Then why didn’t he say that? > > Why didn’t he say: “We live in a digital age where all businesses, all infrastructure, all private and social media, all government and military systems are subject to electronic espionage by state and independent enemy actors. During my administration I will direct our top cyber-security experts to develop and implement the most advanced state of the art digital security infrastructure to protect all US public and privately held assets.” Because you say that and people’s eyes glaze over and they fall asleep in the middle of that paragraph. As I said, why in the world would he stop doing what works? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/202 "2017-01-04T00:42:42Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > And it’s a fucking stupid idea. > > There’s no way to have enough drivers to transport the number of messages that the federal gov’t sends. And that’s just local. What do you propose for a message going to San Francisco? Sure, but just in case, I’m buying more stock in UPS and FedEx. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/203 "2017-01-04T00:42:48Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > No. It is not to be taken literally. He is saying that anything transmitted electronically should be considered insecure (I should add, unless extraordinary measures are taken, which very few people take). > > You are pretending to take his statement literally because of your bias/agenda. It is pretty clear to anyone without such that it was not to be taken literally. “You are pretending to take his statement literally because of your bias/agenda.” This is the perfect answer for everything that comes up. Are you reading this out of some playbook? No matter what happens just keep repeating a rationalization or a projection? Am I getting warm? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/204 "2017-01-04T00:45:21Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Because you say that and people’s eyes glaze over and they fall asleep in the middle of that paragraph. You mean Trump supporters, right? > [@Okrahoma](#): > > As I said, why in the world would he stop doing what works? …for Trump supporters. Look, there isn’t enough lipstick in the world to make this pig pass for anything but a pig. But you go on and keep trying. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/205 "2017-01-04T00:47:20Z")
Let’s say someone says that the only 100% surefire method of encryption is using one-time pads. Now, when someone would say that, are you going to jump on it and try to ridicule it by saying that it is impractical, archaic, and cannot handle high volumes of information? No, because it is not to be taken as a literal advice to someone. But it illustrates the fact that if you want practical, modern, and efficient, you have to give up something. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/206 "2017-01-04T00:51:50Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > No. It is not to be taken literally. He is saying that anything transmitted electronically should be considered insecure (I should add, unless extraordinary measures are taken, which very few people take). :dubious: > [@Donald Trump](#): > > “It’s very important, if you have something really important, write it out and have it delivered by courier, the old fashioned way because I’ll tell you what, no computer is safe,” Trump responded when asked about the importance of cybersecurity, according to pool reporters. > > “I don’t care what they say, no computer is safe. I have a boy who’s 10 years old, he can do anything with a computer. You want something to really go without detection, write it out and have it sent by courier,” Trump reiterated. So, you’re saying that Trump’s only meaningful response to the press-pool query on cybersecurity is to insist that it’s theoretically impossible? You claim that his words aren’t literally advising people to transmit confidential information in handwritten form by courier. But in that case, **he’s not saying anything useful at all about cybersecurity issues**. He’s just declaring “Can’t be done, too bad!”, and blathering a bit about old-fashioned data delivery and his young son’s computer skills merely to fill some airspace. The problem is that **while you can insist that Trump’s shallow-sounding folksy-grandpa blatherings aren’t intended to be taken literally, you can’t replace them with something that’s actually well-informed and meaningful unless you make up your preferred interpretation out of whole cloth.** ISTM that Trumpian exegesis is shaping up to be the new conservative ideological endeavor, like CCP members arguing about the correct interpretation of Chairman Mao’s mystic utterances. _“Obviously the Dear Leader did not intend that remark **literally**! It’s a metaphor for the inevitable flowering of worker prosperity under the stimulus of upper-bracket tax cuts!”_ Uh-huh. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/207 "2017-01-04T00:52:02Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Let’s say someone says that the only 100% surefire method of encryption is using one-time pads. > > Now, when someone would say that, are you going to jump on it and try to ridicule it by saying that it is impractical, archaic, and cannot handle high volumes of information? No, because it is not to be taken as a literal advice to someone. But it illustrates the fact that if you want practical, modern, and efficient, you have to give up something. I can’t respond because I don’t even understand what you’re trying to say. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/208 "2017-01-04T01:24:39Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > You probably ridiculed Trump’s “immaturity” for more than a year and were utterly convinced that he was going to lose in a landslide and in the process destroy the Republican party as well. Right? This thread is moving so fast this will probably get lost in the shuffle, but… I’ll readily admit that I thought those things, and that I was wrong. But I don’t see that I was wrong about his character- I was wrong about the character of a huge swath of the American public. “He Won” is no more a justification for terrible behavior than “he’s rich” is justification for a bank robber’s behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/209 "2017-01-04T01:28:36Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > This thread is moving so fast this will probably get lost in the shuffle, but… > > I’ll readily admit that I thought those things, and that I was wrong. But I don’t see that I was wrong about his character- I was wrong about the character of a huge swath of the American public. “He Won” is no more a justification for terrible behavior than “he’s rich” is justification for a bank robber’s behavior. … and that kind of sentiment is why Democrats will keep losing. The contempt that you (again, plural) feel for “a huge swath” of the electorate is something that that swath understands very well and rewards you with losses. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/210 "2017-01-04T01:35:41Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > … and that kind of sentiment is why Democrats will keep losing. The contempt that you (again, plural) feel for “a huge swath” of the electorate is something that that swath understands very well and rewards you with losses. This too shall pass. Enjoy it while it lasts. ---
**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 4, 2017, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/211 "2017-01-04T01:45:16Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > … and that kind of sentiment is why Democrats will keep losing. The contempt that you (again, plural) feel for “a huge swath” of the electorate is something that that swath understands very well and rewards you with losses. Because the huge swath of the electorate voted for a man who: Has said the minimum wage is too high. Has all his products produced overseas. Hires and underpays illegal immigrants. Refuses to recognize a legitimate union. Buys Chinese steel and aluminum for his projects. Doesn’t pay or underpays contractors after the work is completed. And they think he will bring jobs back to this country. That’s plain bugfuck stupid. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/212 "2017-01-04T02:03:40Z")
Look, Okrahoma. While I disagree with your politics, you don’t strike me as a stupid or bad person. I genuinely want to understand how someone like you isn’t genuinely embarrassed by at least some of Trump’s public statements (i.e. write it down and courier it solution to cybersecurity question). You may have voted for a man who promised to reduce your taxes, or secure the borders, or to DTS. Okay, I get that those may be your priorities. But you can’t honestly feel a sense of pride when Trump expresses himself in the inarticulate and ill informed manner as he so often does, can you? Are you really happy to have a president who has an entire team dedicated to interpreting, in often contradictory terms, that the president really meant Y when he said X? ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/213 "2017-01-04T02:36:46Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Look, Okrahoma. While I disagree with your politics, you don’t strike me as a stupid or bad person. I genuinely want to understand how someone like you isn’t genuinely embarrassed by at least some of Trump’s public statements (i.e. write it down and courier it solution to cybersecurity question). Once again, there may be Trump stupid statements, God knows everyone makes some (“wipe it - you mean like with a cloth?”). But that one wasn’t it. It was quite a reasonable statement. As in “you want something really secure, send it snail mail”. > [@](#): > > But you can’t honestly feel a sense of pride when Trump expresses himself in the inarticulate and ill informed manner as he so often does, can you? I would never be proud of any politician (shudder). And yes, he is less articulate than the alternative. But he is also less corrupt (IMO) than the alternative, less power-hungry (IMO) than the alternative, and less evil (IMO) than the alternative. We all make compromises. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/214 "2017-01-04T02:42:36Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > But he is also less corrupt (IMO) than the alternative, less power-hungry (IMO) than the alternative, and less evil (IMO) than the alternative. We shall see soon enough. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/215 "2017-01-04T02:58:07Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > As I said, only if you take him literally. …I mean this with the greatest of respects. But how the fuck are we supposed to do with this? If the president elect is incapable of being taken literally: then how will we know what his policy position is going to be on anything he says? Does he support Roe vs Wade? Is he going to build the wall? Is he going to drain the swamp? > **[Aide defends Trump ‘arms race’ remarks | CNN Politics](https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/23/politics/sean-spicer-trump-arms-race/)** > > Incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Friday defended Donald Trump’s reported comment about an “arms race” and said the President-elect will do whatever it takes to keep America safe. > [@](#): > > Later, the new White House press secretary was asked when the public should take Trump’s tweets and remarks literally – a problem created by Trump’s willingness to address serious topics like nuclear policy in tweets. > “I think you do take him literally,” Spicer said Friday. > “So every tweet he sends out, we are supposed to take those words literally?” Camerota asked. > “Sure,” Spicer replied. He later added, “Of course you can. If they’re from him, I mean – I don’t know what else you would take them as.” President Elect Trump’s Communications Director has told us directly that we should take him literally. But you: an anonymous person on the internet is telling us different. Who the fuck should we be listening too? Why the hell should I believe you, and not the President Elect of the United States or the person who he has chosen to speak on his behalf? Is Sean Spicer wrong, and are you right? Or is Sean Spicer lying? And if Spicer is lying: then what does that mean for the people of the United States? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/216 "2017-01-04T02:59:23Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > As I said, only if you take him literally. A silly strategy you (plural) have been using for more than a year now. What did that get you? This is a very strange argument to make. We shouldn’t take what the president elect says literally? What are you holding onto at that point where you have to rely on that argument? You’re just admitting that you lost the intelligent debate, the moral high ground and whatever else there is. donald has blurred the line numerous times as to what he means and when and who he is meaning it for. Don’t tell me you forgot. Really. Now he will hold our highest office. You seem to be arguing that one can’t hold any expectation for transparency in speech or thought from him. That’s not going to work for your boy as president. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/217 "2017-01-04T03:01:14Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > … and that kind of sentiment is why Democrats will keep losing. The contempt that you (again, plural) feel for “a huge swath” of the electorate is something that that swath understands very well and rewards you with losses. What you say- it doesn’t make me wrong. When did moral superiority become the exclusive property of the right? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/218 "2017-01-04T03:01:22Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …I mean this with the greatest of respects. > > But how the fuck are we supposed to do with this? If the president elect is incapable of being taken literally: then how will we know what his policy position is going to be on anything he says? Does he support Roe vs Wade? Is he going to build the wall? Is he going to drain the swamp? > > [http://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/23/politics/sean-spicer-trump-arms-race/](http://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/23/politics/sean-spicer-trump-arms-race/) > > President Elect Trump’s Communications Director has told us directly that we should take him literally. But you: an anonymous person on the internet is telling us different. > > Who the fuck should we be listening too? Why the hell should I believe you, and not the President Elect of the United States or the person who he has chosen to speak on his behalf? Is Sean Spicer wrong, and are you right? Or is Sean Spicer lying? And if Spicer is lying: then what does that mean for the people of the United States? Maybe he didn’t literally mean that you shouldn’t take Trump literally. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/219 "2017-01-04T03:03:43Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > This is a very strange argument to make. We shouldn’t take what the president elect says literally? What are you holding onto at that point where you have to rely on that argument? You’re just admitting that you lost the intelligent debate, the moral high ground and whatever else there is. Should we have taken Hillary’s “what, you mean like with a cloth” comment literally? > [@](#): > > Now he will hold our highest office. You seem to be arguing that one can’t hold any expectation for transparency in speech or thought from him. Trump has a way of expressing himself that you may not like. But that’s your problem. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/220 "2017-01-04T03:33:50Z")
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