# Are you Team Trayvon or Team Zimmerman? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881 "2012-03-26T21:27:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/421 "2012-03-29T02:22:30Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > Team Zimmerman. Somebody still has to defend the accused. > > Really I am on the side of Team Justice. > > If justice prevails I don’t give a rip whose side wins. If justice takes a back seat to media, I think we are all losers. Move over on the bench. I’m with you. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/422 "2012-03-29T02:22:51Z")
No need to bother with either report when the video says more than enough about Zimmermans’s so-called injuries. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/423 "2012-03-29T02:25:45Z")
> [@](#): > > MIC CHECK! MIC CHECK! MIC CHECK! Uhm, the purpose of mic checks is to establish that all participants in a discussion can understand clearly. Unless there’s a specific instance of it being used that annoys you particularly, why is that a bad principle? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/424 "2012-03-29T02:31:27Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > Uhm, the purpose of mic checks is to establish that all participants in a discussion can understand clearly. Unless there’s a specific instance of it being used that annoys you particularly, why is that a bad principle? I’ve seen lots of videos where someone besides the leader of the group tries to talk, and everyone else shouts him down with the MIC CHECK thing. It’s used as a way to drown out everyone besides the leader (who of course calls himself a facilitator or some damn thing, not a leader). ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/425 "2012-03-29T02:33:26Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > No need to bother with either report when the video says more than enough about Zimmermans’s so-called injuries. What if in the future we are shown a photo of Zimmerman taken on the scene, and he has a bloody nose and blood on the back of his head? And then it is explained that he was cleaned up on the scene before riding back to the police station? What would you say then? ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/426 "2012-03-29T02:40:07Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > What if in the future we are shown a photo of Zimmerman taken on the scene, and he has a bloody nose and blood on the back of his head? And then it is explained that he was cleaned up on the scene before riding back to the police station? What would you say then? Unless we see some MEDICAL evidence of injury (skin trauma, broken bones, etc), I won’t be impressed by photos that show him with some blood on his face. If he shot a person within arms reach like he claimed, he damn well better have some blood on his face. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/427 "2012-03-29T02:42:55Z")
> [@](#): > > …who of course calls himself a facilitator or some damn thing, not a leader). Exactly so. Let me give you just a rudimentary hint of collective decision making. In the collectives I have shared in, the facilitator is most definitely not a lead. Rather the whole point, actually. It is a difficult and respected function, as a facilitator is “good” if he/she can moderate an argument without so much as a hint of a personal opinion. The facilitator may not argue, a facilitator who attempts to lead is an utter failure. Thus, the facilitator is not so much deferred to as attended to. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/428 "2012-03-29T02:48:18Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > What if in the future we are shown a photo of Zimmerman taken on the scene, and he has a bloody nose and blood on the back of his head? And then it is explained that he was cleaned up on the scene before riding back to the police station? What would you say then? Me: “Far fucking out! **Randy Rooter** might actually have been right about something! Wow!” ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/429 "2012-03-29T02:51:42Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Me: “Far fucking out! **Randy Rooter** might actually have been right about something! Wow!” What would I “be right” about? What claim have I made that that evidence would support? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/430 "2012-03-29T02:55:25Z")
Here’s a thought. If that video had shown Zimmerman with actual blood on his face and the back of his head, I have no doubt that you with the face, monstro, ibn, luci, etc. etc. barf barf barf would be saying “Oh, that is so fake. The cops obviously put some blood on him to help in their cover-up. He was seen by paramedics, so surely they would have cleaned the blood off of him at the scene.” You idiots don’t realize what you are doing–you think every little thing you learn reinforces your belief, but that’s because you can basically make any fact support any belief. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/431 "2012-03-29T03:04:40Z")
And what’s your handy explanation for the apparent absence of injury on Zimmerman, old wise one? Come on, I know you have something. The resolution on the video is too grainy? The lighting is too poor? The sidewalk that Martin dribbled his head against was made of nerf material studded with needles that inflicted punture wounds too small to be captured on film? Zimmerman is that rare breed of mammal that has transparent blood and wounds that heal almost instantly? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/432 "2012-03-29T03:07:26Z")
Oh my God! They’ve arrested Chuck Norris! ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/433 "2012-03-29T03:09:58Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > And what’s your handy explanation for the apparent absence of injury on Zimmerman, old wise one? Come on, I know you have something. > > The resolution on the video is too grainy? > > The lighting is too poor? > > The sidewalk that Martin dribbled his head against was made of nerf material studded with needles that inflicted punture wounds too small to be captured on film? > > Zimmerman is that rare breed of mammal that has transparent blood and wounds that heal almost instantly? Why do you think I have a “handy explanation”? Have I come up with a “handy explanation” for anything else in any of the threads about this? I don’t do “handy explanations.” That’s for you and your ilk. I’m just sitting back and waiting for the actual process to work and trying to educate you idiots by showing you that you can use any fact to support any belief (which isn’t working all that well, incidentally). ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/434 "2012-03-29T03:17:12Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Move over on the bench. I’m with you. That would be the “worthless fucktard bench” at this juncture, wouldn’t it? Watch the video. Boom goes the dynamite. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/435 "2012-03-29T03:24:17Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Here’s a thought. If that video had shown Zimmerman with actual blood on his face and the back of his head, I have no doubt that you with the face, monstro, ibn, luci, etc. etc. barf barf barf would be saying “Oh, that is so fake. The cops obviously put some blood on him to help in their cover-up. He was seen by paramedics, so surely they would have cleaned the blood off of him at the scene.” > > You idiots don’t realize what you are doing–you think every little thing you learn reinforces your belief, but that’s because you can basically make any fact support any belief. I can’t speak for anyone else, but such a photo would only confirm a physical altercation of some sort. There is still no reason to believe that Martin attacked Zimmermann. There is still plenty of other real evidence that the whole situation was created by Zimmermann to begin with. Those defending Zimmermann are essentially implying that this is a media conspiracy. That all of the information we have been given is contrary to what actually happened. Now that would be scary. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/436 "2012-03-29T03:30:34Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > OTOH, hats off to **monstro** , **you with the face** , **Ibn Warraq** (never thought I’d agree with him on _anything_!), **Stoid** , **DianaG** , **Sampiro** , **Tao’s Revenge** , **madmonk** , **Vinyl** , **Jack Batty** & many others (including, of course, my main man, **'luc** , who just happens to be my smarter echo on most matters). And w/out a doubt, the biggest surprise ever, **Lonesome Polecat** – who remains an a-hole in my book…but has been amazingly lucid in this whole sordid affair. Thank you, although I’m not sure I’m worthy, I’m too pissed off to be truly persuasive. By the way, don’t let this alter your opinion of LP, he’s not exactly itching to jump to the defense of an off-white guy named Zimmerman. All not-white is pretty much the same to him. > [@brazil84](#): > > I would say it depends what you mean and when you mean. At the time Obama made his statement (and probably even today), the mainstream news articles about the case generally did NOT have the hoodie pic. Agreed? No. The mainstream media generally has access to facebook. > [@](#): > > Lol, let’s see if he says it again. Are you trying to unseat Clothy and ralphrandomnumbers as the SDMB’s stupidest poster? > [@](#): > > How are you so confident that it is “worthless”? Is it the same way that you are confident that a 160 pound, 6 feet tall athlete could never sucker punch and beat up a 240 pound fatty? Pretty fucking confident, even before the video that made a laughingstock of you and everyone who shares your worthless opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/437 "2012-03-29T03:50:37Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Yes, and isn’t it interesting that the initial police report didn’t mention any injuries? Oh but it did! Haven’t you been schooled by Terr that “initial report” doesn’t refer to the first report that is made, it actually refers to the report filed by the first officer on the scene. (Where is Terr, anyway, now that we have video of poor George?) > [@brazil84](#): > > After he is shot, Martin falls all the way to the ground and rolls onto his front in an attempt to keep his lungs from filling with blood. He clutches his hands to his chest in a vain attempt to stop the bleeding. “all the way”? He’s pretty mcuuh there already, only George Zimmerman is between him and the ground… > [@Condescending\_Robot](#): > > Repeat for the other 100 pieces of evidence that prove, beyond all doubt, that this person, in cold blood, stalked and executed a black child. See, I don’t think it helps to dramatize it like this. I dont’ think that is what Zimmerman did and I don’t think it’s helpful to try to make it seem that way. I think Zimmerman was a stupid, careless, paranoid zealot with a gun, and that’s just guaranteed to lead to somewhere unfortunate. But I do not believe that Zimmerman “stalked and executed a black child”. > [@Normal\_Phase](#): > > Point. > > I’ve had issues with that “face down hands underneath” thing all along, but too much in the nature of speculation to mention. Now with this video – > Enough armchair detective-ing; it’s kind of silly. Just been bothering me. It all matters. It all bears on verifying or undermining Zimmerman’s story. > [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if the kid was shot in the back and they just lied and said the chest. That’s how untrustworthy these cops are. See my comment above. Seriously, people, no matter how fucked up it was, it wasn’t a premeditated execution that Zimmerman carried out because he hates blacks, I don’t believe that at all and I dont’ think the evidence shows that. And I don’t think going there contributes to reasonable discussion. And I know I’m saying this in the Pit, but still… ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/438 "2012-03-29T03:59:22Z")
Team Trayvon. I think Zimmerman caused the situation. I think he had already made his mind up and the 911 tape supports this “these assholes always get away” and then claiming Trayvon was stoned (through some magical power he knew this). I think he chose to disregard the 911 dispatcher’s advice to not follow. He claimed he was viciously attacked. But there are no bruises and no blood anywhere. His story stinks fro beginning to end. Barney fife wanted to be the Punisher. A would be vigilante. Disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/439 "2012-03-29T04:19:03Z")
Sheesh, I forgot the part about him saying that Martin looked like he was on drugs. ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/440 "2012-03-29T04:29:32Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Wrong. Here is he initial police report: > > [http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/NEWS/120226\_TrayvonMartinPoliceReport.pdf](http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/NEWS/120226_TrayvonMartinPoliceReport.pdf) > > Talks about back being wet from grass and bloody injuries. How could the _initial_ police report have Trayvon’s full name and info in it? I thought he was _initially_ listed as a John Doe? I don’t really expect \*\*Terr \*\*to reply, now that the video is out, but does anyone have an explanation? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881.md?page=23)