# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/101 "2017-01-03T17:44:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Because politics is not business. Trump has had several huge failures in his business career. Now he’s President. If he has a huge failure in his new career, it could literally result in the death of every person on this planet. Every successful person, including politicians, has some “huge failures” in his history. It’s the price of success. Yet it’s the overall success that counts. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/102 "2017-01-03T17:48:32Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Using politicians is a standard business practice. Has nothing to do with “wanting political power”. It’s the difference between using an umbrella not to get wet and standing on top of a building pissing on everyone. It really isn’t. You donate to political people to gain influence and forward your agenda. It’s the same drive. But I know better than to try and break a hardened “politicians are all evil” mindset. ---
**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 3, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/103 "2017-01-03T17:50:36Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > I think he’s going to be a good President. I don’t know about great. We shall see. > [@Okrahoma](#): > > In spite of stupid assertions I hear thrown about, he’s definitely not in it for the money. For one thing, he already has way more than almost anyone else, and for another, it is not a good business policy to alienate half of your customers and diminish your brand (which is an inevitable consequence of going into politics). Who are Trump’s customers? Do you even have any idea? Do you think the majority of Trump supporters are guests in his resorts and private golf clubs? You think he gives a fuck about these people as “customers” or consumers or his brand? > [@Okrahoma](#): > > So he’s in it for something else. It’s not thirst for power - that kind of stuff is what “professional” politicians are in it for and if he was that way, he would have started WAY earlier. Nope. He’s a classic narcissist. This is all about wielding influence and power for Trump. > [@Okrahoma](#): > > So it could be (yeah, yeah, I know, you will never believe it, but ask yourself so far how often were you right about him?) that he’s in it because he actually thinks he can accomplish good things for the country. And hopefully he succeeds. I was right about him being unfit for the job and a dangerous buffoon. He has yet to prove me wrong. I was wrong about the number of some people he could fool all of the time. > [@Okrahoma](#): > > As for what exactly he’ll do - I don’t know. If I could predict his success, I could do the same. Although moderately successful, I am not nearly in his league. Neither, I presume, are you. I don’t fetish-ize my heroes because of the size of their ego, notoriety and bank account. YMMV. ---
**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 3, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/104 "2017-01-03T18:09:37Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > You think his behavior is childish. I don’t. A lot of people think he’s stupid. I think it’s stupid to think that. Why is your opinion more valid than mine? Because you think you’re right and I’m wrong? That’s tautological. > [@QuickSilver](#): > > There are countless examples and I’m not about to catalog them all. But allow me to link the following [for your consideration](http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/312334-trumps-solution-to-cyberattacks-write-it-down-and-send-it-by) (tl;dr: write things down and send them by courier) > > Yeah. A lot of people think he’s stupid. Why don’t you? Still waiting for you to respond to the above and explain why you think Trump’s response to addressing security challenges in the digital age isn’t childish (or disturbingly ignorant, for that matter). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/105 "2017-01-03T18:13:43Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > In spite of stupid assertions I hear thrown about, he’s definitely not in it for the money. For one thing, he already has way more than almost anyone else, and for another, it is not a good business policy to alienate half of your customers and diminish your brand (which is an inevitable consequence of going into politics). I find this paragraph absolutely mystifying. 1. The notion that he might not be in it for the money because he already has a lot of money is, obviously, nonsensical. Trump was very rich decades ago, but continued to try to make even more money. If having a lot of money means he will not do things to make money, then why did he keep trying to make money in 2006? 1996? What was different then? 2. What makes you think he’s alienating his customers? ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/106 "2017-01-03T18:14:53Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Still waiting for you to respond to the above and explain why you think Trump’s response to addressing security challenges in the digital age isn’t childish (or disturbingly ignorant, for that matter). Respond to what? As I explained, and you refuse to understand, “childish” is not a fact. It’s an opinion, an interpretation of behavior, and a form of armchair-psychology. I believe your interpretation is incorrect. What is there to discuss? You (maybe not you specifically, but definitely someone in this thread) just assert “I am right and you’re wrong”. That’s a discussion? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/107 "2017-01-03T18:18:21Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > So it could be (yeah, yeah, I know, you will never believe it, but ask yourself so far how often were you right about him?) that he’s in it because he actually thinks he can accomplish good things for the country. And hopefully he succeeds. I’m just hoping he’s too incompetent to achieve what he says he wants to do, but not so incompetent he fucks everything up forever. It’s a fine line, and I’m not holding my breath. ---
**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 3, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/108 "2017-01-03T18:26:03Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Respond to what? As I explained, and you refuse to understand, “childish” is not a fact. It’s an opinion, an interpretation of behavior, and a form of armchair-psychology. I believe your interpretation is incorrect. > > What is there to discuss? You (maybe not you specifically, but definitely someone in this thread) just assert “I am right and you’re wrong”. That’s a discussion? Trump has stated that in order to address the security challenges we face in 2017 and going forward, we should write things down by hand on paper and deliver them by courier. Is that a reasonable and intellectually competent solution offered by an adult and informed mind of someone about to assume the position of POTUS? ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/109 "2017-01-03T18:38:24Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I find this paragraph absolutely mystifying. > > 1. The notion that he might not be in it for the money because he already has a lot of money is, obviously, nonsensical. Trump was very rich decades ago, but continued to try to make even more money. If having a lot of money means he will not do things to make money, then why did he keep trying to make money in 2006? 1996? What was different then? > > 2. What makes you think he’s alienating his customers? 1. Again, this is an opinion. Yes, he was rich decades ago, and continued to try to make even more money. That’s when he was in his 40s and 50s. When you’re in your 70s, and have achieved financially more than almost anyone on the planet, (being in the roughly top 0.00002% of the world) the drive diminishes. 2. A lot of his business empire is based on the “brand”. The “brand” depends on people liking “Trump” and things associated with “Trump”. Before he ran, his favorability was 50 or so. By the end of the campaign it was in the low 30s. That is in no way helpful to his business, if that is what he was shooting for. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/110 "2017-01-03T18:40:19Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > 1. A lot of his business empire is based on the “brand”. The “brand” depends on people liking “Trump” and things associated with “Trump”. Before he ran, his favorability was 50 or so. By the end of the campaign it was in the low 30s. That is in no way helpful to his business, if that is what he was shooting for. I doubt he was self-aware enough to predict that the more we learned about him the less we’d like him. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/111 "2017-01-03T18:40:34Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Trump has stated that in order to address the security challenges we face in 2017 and going forward, we should write things down by hand on paper and deliver them by courier. > > Is that a reasonable and intellectually competent solution offered by an adult and informed mind of someone about to assume the position of POTUS? If you insist on taking what he says literally. Seriously, have you learned nothing during his campaign? How has this indignation based on taking what he says literally work out for you? ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/112 "2017-01-03T18:41:37Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I doubt he was self-aware enough to predict that the more we learned about him the less we’d like him. I can only repeat: Trump’s road to success is littered with (figurative) crushed bodies of his opponents who underestimated him. And it seems the opponents never learn. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/113 "2017-01-03T18:47:57Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > 1. A lot of his business empire is based on the “brand”. The “brand” depends on people liking “Trump” and things associated with “Trump”. Before he ran, his favorability was 50 or so. By the end of the campaign it was in the low 30s. That is in no way helpful to his business, if that is what he was shooting for. :dubious: However, he now has a far more powerful position from which to make deals with far more influential customers. I doubt that widespread popular disdain for Trump Steaks or Trump University among the “little people” strikes him as a serious negative compared with his new leverage with foreign business partners. ---
**Author:** ![Univarsedivide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7ab992/32.png) [@Univarsedivide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Univarsedivide)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/114 "2017-01-03T18:51:57Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I had hoped that another attempt to get a rational, mature, intelligent justification for supporting Trump might produce a coherent response. There aren’t a lot of Trumpsters on the SDMB, true, but some of them are smart and articulate. > > I guess the best you’re gonna get is \ Hey Mate, I am an OZZIE and for the first time in my life I feel a sense of safety about the POTUS that has been elected. NO ONE OWNS HIM, UNLIKE MOST OF THE POLLIES AROUND THE WORLD. Yes I am talking about the evil corporations and there ability to buy POLLIES. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/115 "2017-01-03T18:55:39Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > That’s because Trump is not childish. End of debate. Wrong. NOW, end of debate. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/116 "2017-01-03T19:00:01Z")
> [@Univarsedivide](#): > > Hey Mate, I am an OZZIE and for the first time in my life I feel a sense of safety about the POTUS that has been elected. NO ONE OWNS HIM, UNLIKE MOST OF THE POLLIES AROUND THE WORLD. Yes I am talking about the evil corporations and there ability to buy POLLIES. Then how do you explain his apparent desire to hand over the reigns of power to corporate insiders? Just a good idea whose time has come? ---
**Author:** ![Univarsedivide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7ab992/32.png) [@Univarsedivide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Univarsedivide)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/117 "2017-01-03T19:03:20Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > I can only repeat: Trump’s road to success is littered with (figurative) crushed bodies of his opponents who underestimated him. And it seems the opponents never learn. Hey Mate, what happened to a fair contest. The DEMOCRATS made sure Hillary was the only candidate for them. BERNIE SANDERS would have slaughtered TRUMP in the election, every POLLIE has done what you have described to get where they are. If anyone wants to know how far POLLIES around the world will go to control us watch CITIZEN 4, and ask yourself if Obama is a good person??? And ask yourself if you are proud of what he did as your LEADER. ---
**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 3, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/118 "2017-01-03T19:05:31Z")
> [@Univarsedivide](#): > > Hey Mate, I am an OZZIE and for the first time in my life I feel a sense of safety about the POTUS that has been elected. NO ONE OWNS HIM, UNLIKE MOST OF THE POLLIES AROUND THE WORLD. Yes I am talking about the evil corporations and there ability to buy POLLIES. And yet he has shown that he will do _anything_ to make more money. He’s beholden to himself. Every decision will be based on what’s in it for Trump. How can Trump profit from this international crisis? Will it profit Trump to make _this_ deal with _that_ country? Or can he make more money by offering that deal to this _other_ country? Will Trump refuse to see a diplomat who did not stay at his hotel? And so on. ---
**Author:** ![Univarsedivide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7ab992/32.png) [@Univarsedivide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Univarsedivide)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/119 "2017-01-03T19:06:20Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Then how do you explain his apparent desire to hand over the reigns of power to corporate insiders? Just a good idea whose time has come? Who exactly? ---
**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 3, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/120 "2017-01-03T19:07:59Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > If you insist on taking what he says literally. Seriously, have you learned nothing during his campaign? How has this indignation based on taking what he says literally work out for you? It’s working out fantastically well, actually. Every utterance and tweet reinforces my conviction that he’s the most dangerous and incompetent buffoon ever elected to the office of POTUS. What I can’t quite understand, and you can’t quite explain, is why his supporters eat up the stupid like it’s manna from heaven. At what point are we to start holding him accountable for the words & ideas that come out of his mouth and/or twitter account? And who is the ultimate arbiter of things he says that he means and things he says that he doesn’t mean? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184.md?page=7)