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Post by Amadan on Dec 7, 2016 17:01:46 GMT -5
Not what you might think.Basically, an AskReddit thread in which people were asked, if they have ever met Trump personally, what he was like? Almost uniformly, everyone says he's very friendly, polite, respectful, and personable. Now of course you have to take this with a grain of salt - none of the stories are verified. And also, of course, public figures often have different "personnas" depending on who they are interacting with. Still, the stories are remarkably consistent. I have browsed through the entire thread and haven't seen a single person say "Yeah, I met him this one time and he was a real asshole," or anything like that. I know at least one person who had some casual business dealings with Trump, and I remember that years ago, he mentioned that Trump was always fair and above-board. I confess that this has always been my gut-level reaction to Trump as well - since long before he was making noises about running for President. Yeah, he's an egotistical grandstanding blowhard, but he also seemed a lot more sensible and decent than the caricature he has become during this election. That doesn't mean he'll be a good President. You can be the proverbial "Nice guy to have a beer with" and still be a disaster as President.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2016 17:20:44 GMT -5
Heh. Here's why I don't necessarily put much stock in such personal accolades.
I have a former boss who could be incredibly charming to his peers and to clients. And at times, he could be charming and kind to his underlings. Many, if you asked them, would say he was an awesome guy and great to work with.
But oh my fucking god. Working under him? He was often a horrific, screaming bully -- especially when he was under stress. I first-chaired a trial with the guy. I lost ten pounds and cried in my office nearly every day (and I am not, as a rule, a person who cries very easily).
Here's an anecdote -- while I worked for him, an ex-boyfriend of mine died in a tragic accident. This wasn't just any boyfriend. We dated for four and a half years, and in fact were engaged at one point. I had been very close to his family, too. His death hit me very hard -- broken up or not, he was an extraordinarily important person to me. Anyway, I wanted to leave the office for 24 hours -- on A WEEKEND, mind you -- to go to his memorial service. My boss denied my request. I told him I'd get all the work done, but that my going was non-negotiable, and if he chose to fire me when I got back, so be it. Of course he didn't fire me, but when I got back he was even more irate than usual, and just wouldn't get off my ass. Finally, for the first and only time, after three straight days working around the clock and only taking catnaps in my office, I burst into tears in front of him. He asked what the hell was wrong with me. I apologized (I still hate myself for that), explaining that I was still upset about the death. He screamed (he was heard in the next office), "WHAT DEATH?!" He'd forgotten completely that I'd been gone for 24 hours to go to a funeral.
Clients never saw this side of him. But I'm far from the only person who worked under him who has such stories to tell about him. Indeed, most do.
But when I left the job? He HUGGED me! Told me I was an extraordinary lawyer and he knew I'd do well, and that he was very sorry to see me leave the firm.
Gave me a great recommendation, too.
I don't think he was an evil guy. (And he was an EXCELLENT lawyer, by the way -- taught me a lot.) But his temperament left a lot to be desired. The same might well be true of Trump. I hope it is (since I do think he has some serious temperament issues).
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Post by celawson on Dec 7, 2016 17:57:15 GMT -5
You would think that more former employees would have come out by now with bad things to say about him, if he really is a terrible asshole. A few have, but really, Cass's boss sounds much worse! www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/14/donald-trump-former-employee-interviews-ego-diversityI honestly think the real Trump is more complex than the media gives him credit for. He's the Trump we see when interviewed with his family around. He's quieter and nicer and self-deprecating and gives credit to others. And the Trump who raised, by what I've read and seen, pretty stellar kids. And the Trump who considers and appoints people to his administration who attacked him mercilessly on the campaign trail. And the Trump who gave that very nice victory speech after the election. And the one who stated he wouldn't pursue charges against Clinton because "they're good people". Yes, he can be a blowhard. Yes, he makes mistakes. Yes, he says some things that he needs to walk back. Yes, he gets defensive and lashes out. Yes, he's learning. He's a salesman, and he knows how to work a crowd, and he sensed the heart beat of America and ran with it during the election. But I've never sensed or believed that he's the monster the left is making him out to be. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2016 18:09:10 GMT -5
I have to admit, my coming out "in public" about my former boss in this thread is only because I am anonymous. If I were using my real name, I wouldn't do so. Note that I'm not giving his, or saying where I was working at the time. Why? I stand to lose far more than I'd stand to gain by coming out and accusing him publicly of this behavior. (Indeed, I can't think of anything I would gain.)
If he were running for president, I'd maybe think about it -- but on the other hand, maybe not. I did have a very high opinion of the guy in many ways. His skill and his intellect, for sure. I would unquestionably recommend him to someone as their lawyer. So while I'd think, I'm not sure I'd conclude that this was a reason not to vote for him. HIS temperament issues were invisible to clients, judges and juries. (That said, if a newly minted lawyer asked whether she should go work for him, I'd tell this story to her. I'm pretty tough, and working for him drove me to the very edge of a breakdown. Seriously.)
Trump's temperament issue might be another thing. That 3 a.m. twitter rant about the former Miss America, his "such a nasty woman!" during the debate, for example. I found them horrifying and disturbing. My old boss NEVER would have done such things, NEVER. He had perfect control of himself when he had to do so -- it was only in private, under stress, that his underlings saw this side of him.
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Post by Rolling Thunder on Dec 7, 2016 18:14:50 GMT -5
You would think that more former employees would have come out by now with bad things to say about him, if he really is a terrible asshole. A few have, but really, Cass's boss sounds much worse! www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/14/donald-trump-former-employee-interviews-ego-diversityI honestly think the real Trump is more complex than the media gives him credit for. He's the Trump we see when interviewed with his family around. He's quieter and nicer and self-deprecating and gives credit to others. And the Trump who raised, by what I've read and seen, pretty stellar kids. And the Trump who considers and appoints people to his administration who attacked him mercilessly on the campaign trail. And the Trump who gave that very nice victory speech after the election. And the one who stated he wouldn't pursue charges against Clinton because "they're good people". Yes, he can be a blowhard. Yes, he makes mistakes. Yes, he says some things that he needs to walk back. Yes, he gets defensive and lashes out. Yes, he's learning. He's a salesman, and he knows how to work a crowd, and he sensed the heart beat of America and ran with it during the election. But I've never sensed or believed that he's the monster the left is making him out to be. Trump's penchant for suing probably keeps many quiet. |
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Post by Christine on Dec 7, 2016 23:08:19 GMT -5
Trump cares about what people think of him, to an extreme. It makes sense that he would try to be "the great guy" on a superficial level. Criticize him though, and behold, the real Donald Trump.
Everyone has seen, and it has been thoroughly documented, that he is not in fact a "great guy," on the national stage. And some of the excuses and rationalizations for his behavior I read about are more in line with what a hopeful parent would offer for a child who was a known bully or spoiled brat. "Remember that time he was really nice? He wasn't mean that time! Remember that time he behaved properly, shared one of his toys?" Etc., etc.
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Post by Don on Dec 8, 2016 6:44:50 GMT -5
Trump cares about what people think of him, to an extreme. It makes sense that he would try to be "the great guy" on a superficial level. Criticize him though, and behold, the real Donald Trump. Everyone has seen, and it has been thoroughly documented, that he is not in fact a "great guy," on the national stage. And some of the excuses and rationalizations for his behavior I read about are more in line with what a hopeful parent would offer for a child who was a known bully or spoiled brat. "Remember that time he was really nice? He wasn't mean that time! Remember that time he behaved properly, shared one of his toys?" Etc., etc. ...or a battered spouse making excuses to stay in a poisonous relationship. |
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Post by robeiae on Dec 8, 2016 9:38:27 GMT -5
Just fyi, Cass' real name is Omarosa.
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Post by celawson on Dec 8, 2016 10:43:43 GMT -5
I'm sure a psychoanalyst could have some great fodder for explaining Trump's behavior by looking at his relationship with his parents growing up. But that's true for all of us. And I do think some of his more brazen statements while campaigning were more for the effect he wanted than things he'd say and do routinely in real life.
And if caring about what people think of you to an extreme is part of it, I can think of a lot worse personality traits than that. BUT, if caring about what others think of you TO AN EXTREME is really the case, would he have taken campaign positions that he knew would incense half the country? The wall? The Muslim stuff? It seems to me that those who care most about what people think of them try to take a more centrist approach with things. It also seems to me that one of the things that attracted voters to him was that he could take those positions IN SPITE OF how angry it made half the country.
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Post by Angie on Dec 8, 2016 13:25:56 GMT -5
Even if I knew nothing else about Trump, his Cabinet choices so far would tell me everything I need to know.
And being nice to people on a superficial level doesn't change the fact that this is a man who has a hissy fit on Twitter when comedians poke fun of him.
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