# 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:** 24
**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:** [March 29, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/461 "2012-03-29T14:21:03Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > No, but it does, together with other things such as Messrs. Jackson and Sharpton grabbing the opportunity to do some more rabble rousing, help to turn the whole sorry affair into a circus. Bit late to the party, then. I think it’s a bit early to jump to conclusions about her being a grasping bitch, anyway; makes perfect sense to me that she might think she could do some good with the money. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/462 "2012-03-29T14:55:23Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > No, but it does, together with other things such as Messrs. Jackson and Sharpton grabbing the opportunity to do some more rabble rousing, help to turn the whole sorry affair into a circus. The point of seeking trademark protection for phrases associated with her son’s death might just be a justifiable attempt to control his image, name, and phrases associated with him. It doesn’t automatically indicate glee at the opportunity to cash in. Would you have thought so when the families of the Shanksville victims sought to register their rights in the term “Let’s Roll”? It’s also a way to try to preserve the dignity of the memory of the victims. And the dismissive labeling of the public reaction to this situation as a “circus” doesn’t really impress me. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/463 "2012-03-29T15:20:42Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Bit late to the party, then. I think it’s a bit early to jump to conclusions about her being a grasping bitch, anyway; makes perfect sense to me that she might think she could do some good with the money. I don’t know if she’s a “grasping bitch” or not, but trademarking the name and likeness of a murder victim is so unusual, I might even say bizarre, that it certainly adds to the surrealistic atmosphere surrounding this business. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/464 "2012-03-29T15:21:53Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > You seem to think I’m on “Team Zimmerman,” i.e. that I’ve conclusively made up my mind that Zimmerman is innocent in the same way that others have conclusively made up her mind that he is guilty. That’s just not so. > > I did see the video and I agree that Zimmerman appears to be uninjured in the video. I agree that this is evidence against him. I will continue to evaluate the evidence with an open mind. Further to my previous post, somebody showed me this [article](http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/29/police-surveillance-video-of-zimmerman-may-show-head-injury/) which contains a still from the surveillance tape of Zimmerman. The still photo does seem to show a discoloration on the back of Zimmerman’s head, narrow and a few inches long. Is this an injury from having his head slammed on the ground by Martin? Possibly, but I think it’s best not to jump to conclusions. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/465 "2012-03-29T15:23:28Z")
Apparently there were no signs of injury to Martin’s hands per the funeral director - [http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/03/28/funeral-director-saw-no-signs-fight-trayvons-hands](http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/03/28/funeral-director-saw-no-signs-fight-trayvons-hands) How does one beat someone up to the point of feeling threatened with death and have nothing to show on his hands? hmm. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/466 "2012-03-29T15:23:38Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > And the dismissive labeling of the public reaction to this situation as a “circus” doesn’t really impress me. Meh. Well, I was thinking more of the media than the general public reaction when I used the word circus, but let’s face it, this whole thing is getting pretty strange even for racial politics in the United States. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/467 "2012-03-29T15:23:47Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I think that for some of Zimmerman’s supporters, the very idea of a young black male walking in their neighborhood is inherently intimidating. If you read some of the comments in the threads on this board, people are asking things like “why was he walking so slow,” or “what was he doing outside in the rain?” From that level of fear, it’s not a huge jump to someone getting shot. Yep. On CNN last night, a Zimmerman supporter related an incident where Zimmerman called him to tell him he’d left a window open in his house and that a “young black male” was peering in the window. The reporter interrupted to ask why he thought Zimmerman said black, how was that relevant, and the guy says “Because that’s what he was, if he’d been Hispanic, Zimmerman would have said Hispanic”. The guy just didn’t get it, probably never will. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/468 "2012-03-29T15:25:13Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > I don’t know if she’s a “grasping bitch” or not, but trademarking the name and likeness of a murder victim is so unusual, I might even say bizarre, that it certainly adds to the surrealistic atmosphere surrounding this business. Anyway, some of the claims about the case apparently come from the Martin family’s attorney, for example the claim that he was just out to get a snack. So if Martin’s mother turns out to be a cold-hearted mercenary bitch, it casts a bit of doubt her lawyer’s claims. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/469 "2012-03-29T15:26:52Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > I don’t know if she’s a “grasping bitch” or not, but trademarking the name and likeness of a murder victim is so unusual, I might even say bizarre, that it certainly adds to the surrealistic atmosphere surrounding this business. Considering how right-wing groups might have used those phrases, I can’t say I blame her. Imagine the image that might have accompanied that phrase. BTW, is anyone else getting really fucking sick of hearing or reading Zimmerman described as the man who “allegedly” shot and killed Trayvon Martin? Is there any dispute over that fact? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/470 "2012-03-29T15:28:47Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Anyway, some of the claims about the case apparently come from the Martin family’s attorney, for example the claim that he was just out to get a snack. So if Martin’s mother turns out to be a cold-hearted mercenary bitch, it casts a bit of doubt her lawyer’s claims. Wanting to secure trademark rights does not make you mercenary or a bitch. I would recommend it for any family who has lost someone in a case that has garnered public attention. They _should_ protect their interests, and if they want to use those interests to make money, that doesn’t make them mercenary or cold or bitches either. ---
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/471 "2012-03-29T15:32:26Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > I don’t know if she’s a “grasping bitch” or not, but trademarking the name and likeness of a murder victim is so unusual, I might even say bizarre, that it certainly adds to the surrealistic atmosphere surrounding this business. I thought it was in the same vein as tradmarking the “Let’s Roll” from Todd Beamer’s estate. [Linky](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let's_roll) > [@](#): > > The catchphrase became especially known and popular after being used by President George W. Bush in a speech to AmeriCorps volunteers and during his 2002 State of the Union Address. Even though the phrase was in common use long before September 11, profiteers soon tried to lay claim to it as a trademark. The Todd M. Beamer Foundation was eventually granted a trademark for uses of the phrase relating to “pre-recorded compact discs, audio tapes, digital audio tapes, and phonograph records featuring music.” Is there a reason why Martin’s mother’s attempt to do the same would be considered any different than Beamer’s family? Does it still seem unusual in context, now? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/472 "2012-03-29T15:33:22Z")
You want to be able to prevent NAMBLA from selling “I am Trayvon” gear. Hell, it may well be that they want to prevent +anyone+ from selling things with this slogan on it, only because it could be upsetting to see. ---
**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, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/473 "2012-03-29T15:46:58Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > The still photo does seem to show a discoloration on the back of Zimmerman’s head, narrow and a few inches long. Funny that the EMT didn’t put a bandage on this bizarrely invisible Marianas trench of a gash when they “treated” him. Poor Zimmerman. It must have been hell sleeping that night, with so much exposed skull coming in contact with his pillowcase! Or not. Here’s a thought, **brazil**. If the only way you can convince yourself the man was injured is by looking at some wannabe CSI zoomed-in images with your head cocked at a 35 degree angle while squinting in a dark room, guess what? The man isn’t sufficiently injured to justify shooting a teenager to death. Stop embarrassing yourself by posting this crap here. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/474 "2012-03-29T15:47:21Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Wanting to secure trademark rights does not make you mercenary or a bitch. I would recommend it for any family who has lost someone in a case that has garnered public attention. I’m not sure, it seems pretty bizarre to me. Is this the normal practice when a family member dies a highly publicized death? ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/475 "2012-03-29T15:50:38Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Funny that the EMT didn’t put a bandage on this bizarrely invisible Marianas trench of a gash when they “treated” him. I agree, as far as the public is concerned there are still a lot of unanswered questions. Presumably the authorities have access to medical records, forensic photographs, etc. And all of that will likely come out if there is a trial. > [@](#): > > Here’s a thought, **brazil**. If the only way you can convince yourself the man was injured is by looking at some wannabe CSI zoomed-in images with your head cocked at a 35 degree angle while squinting in a dark room, guess what? The man isn’t sufficiently injured to justify shooting a teenager to death. Maybe he was injured and maybe he wasn’t. I will continue to keep an open mind. > [@](#): > > Stop embarrassing yourself by posting this crap here. Lol, I take it you have made up your mind that Zimmerman is a murderer? ---
**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, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/476 "2012-03-29T15:53:55Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Lol, I take it you have made up your mind that Zimmerman is a murderer? I consider him a liar who has lied about why he shot a person dead. If it’s crazy to assume that such a person likely committed murder, then call me crazy. I do not care. ---
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/477 "2012-03-29T15:58:55Z")
May I ask a serious question of those of you who are way way in the Trayvon camp? Now that this whole thing is exposed to this much national attention, why rush to judgment? Why not wait a bit for this all to sort out, and then decide guilt if you must? Who does it hurt for you to take a measure approach to this? If you believe there was an attempt at a “cover up” any further cover up is pretty impossible at this point due to the matters exposure. We’re all just dancing monkeys waiting for the next bit of information to drop, but as we have all seen, sometimes its inaccurate. But we all look like damn fools when you cherry-pick what you’re willing to believe at this point. I will admit, I was gleeful for a moment when I saw the possible head wound. Not because I am team Zimmerman, but I thought, “ha! now we at least have some factual evidence…” But hell, it could be dirt, a birthmark, who knows right now… Many of you last night were shouting that the ABC video is proof Zimmerman wasn’t hurt and there was a cover-up. Now that same video, if viewed closer, might show an injury. Now you don’t believe what is in the video? If everyone can just wait, I think we will get to the Fire Dept. folks that acted as EMS and cleaned up Zimmerman’s alleged wounds. I think you’ll eventually see medical records about what treatment Zimmerman received. They might have even been smart enough to take pictures… Right now HIPAA is in the way. I think we will find out the police may have done a slightly better job investigating than you think. And, again, maybe I just know how the process normally works and feel more comfortable about it. I deal with troopers and police officers very often although I don’t do criminal law any more, but I did prosecute for DA’s office for two years a million years ago. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/478 "2012-03-29T16:01:17Z")
> [@BottledBlondJeanie](#): > > May I ask a serious question of those of you who are way way in the Trayvon camp? Now that this whole thing is exposed to this much national attention, why rush to judgment? Why not wait a bit for this all to sort out, and then decide guilt if you must? Who does it hurt for you to take a measure approach to this? If you believe there was an attempt at a “cover up” any further cover up is pretty impossible at this point due to the matters exposure. Why post on a topic about which you have no opinion? ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/479 "2012-03-29T16:06:19Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > _marks **RedFury** ’s name in the “Team Trayvon” column_ Don’t be stealing him from my team! ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/480 "2012-03-29T16:06:29Z")
Yeah, this is a message board. It is used to talk about things, oftentimes news items, like this one. What is your solution, delete all the threads about this topic from the board and noone says a peep about anything related to the case until after the trial? If there is one that is. Not really sure what your suggestion would be here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881.md?page=25)