# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/41 "2012-03-27T00:29:04Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Yes, it is possible that Zimmerman, who had a 100 pound advantage on the kid, and who had a gun, was beaten senseless by a schoolboy with his bag of skittles. I agree to an extent, although it does not appear that Zimmerman was beaten senseless, perhaps due to the fact that he was armed. I’m not entirely sure why people have such a hard time accepting that a 160 pound athlete could sucker punch and bring down a 240 pound fatty. > [@](#): > > It’s possible that Zimmerman, who had called 911 dozens of times in the past, and who thought of himself as a citizen cop, and who called was told by 911 to not engage the “suspicious person”, was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Agree. > [@](#): > > It is within the realm of possibility that Zimmerman, who had previously assaulted a police officer, and had great motivation to lie to cover his ass after killing an unarmed teenager is being completely truthful. Agree. It’s also possible that he is being mostly truthful. The police apparently found wounds on his body which were consistent with his story. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/42 "2012-03-27T00:29:33Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Apparently, you weren’t nearly sarcastic enough. ☹ Thank you!! I was beginning to think the purpose behind my pitting was lost on everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/43 "2012-03-27T00:30:33Z")
> [@Amasia](#): > > For fuck’s sake people… I’m quite sure the OP was written in jest. Thank you also. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/44 "2012-03-27T00:37:04Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > That would be for a proper investigation to determine. What pissed people off in this case is that apparently there was not going to be an investigation, as the police seemed to simply believe one version of the story (ie the killers excuse) So the police interviewed only Zimmerman before deciding not to charge him? ---
**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 27, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/45 "2012-03-27T00:46:01Z")
I have it on pretty good authority that they didn’t interview the victim. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/46 "2012-03-27T00:49:31Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Did he or did he not stalk the kid through the night like some pedo creeper? Did he or did he not disregard police instructions to stay in his vehicle? Did he or did not ignore the kid’s requests about why he was following him? > > Documented testimony from the kid’s girlfriend shows Trayvon was scared for safety by this murderer’s actions. If you stalk someone through the night, scaring the crap out of them, and ignore requests to tell that person what you’re doing. You have no right to murder them when they try to protect themselves. > > Finally what did the murdered kid do that was so suspicious to warrant the murderer’s attentions? I don’t know…do you? Following the kid is not a crime. Disregarding instructions is not a crime. Ignoring the kid’s requests is not a crime. The kid’s girlfriend. . .really? So hearsay is now proof? So what exactly in any of that provides the burden of proof necessary for a conviction? I’m not defending the shooter; I’m just saying that the baying hounds need to dial down the rhetoric, and let the cops do their investigation thoroughly before making a bad bust. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/47 "2012-03-27T01:02:47Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Thank you!! > I was beginning to think the purpose behind my pitting was lost on everyone. If it were not for the public interest, this case would have been closed as a justifiable homicide. There would have been no further investigation, no further evidence revealed, no further reason to review the circumstances, no further fact-finding. Would that have suited you? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/48 "2012-03-27T01:04:28Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Ignoring the kid’s requests is not a crime. As far as I can tell, the kid standing his ground and defending himself against an armed hooligan is not a crime. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/49 "2012-03-27T01:04:34Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I’m with team “lawyer”. We’re rich bitch! And I got a side bets going with team “sleazy/incompetent journalism”, “knee jerk lawmakers”, “made for TV movie”,“poorly run civil rights movement”, and “crazy gun nutters”. I am going to clean up on this one. Can I be on your team? ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/50 "2012-03-27T01:08:12Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Travyon’s side has hoodies. Yeah, but Team Zimmerman has guns. Tough choice. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/51 "2012-03-27T01:09:28Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Travyon’s side has hoodies. > [@Isamu](#): > > But they have holes in them. That’s two days in a row you’ve made me laugh, Isamu. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/52 "2012-03-27T01:19:36Z")
I’m for whatever side is in favor of not letting gun fetishists with low self esteem drive around provoking confrontations with citizens minding their own business and I’m for properly investigating shooting deaths of citizens regardless of their color. I guess that makes me on Team Trayvon, but I would have thought it put me on Team Civilization. I know for certain it means I’m a Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/53 "2012-03-27T01:29:58Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I don’t know…do you? Following the kid is not a crime. Disregarding instructions is not a crime. Ignoring the kid’s requests is not a crime. The kid’s girlfriend. . .really? So hearsay is now proof? So what exactly in any of that provides the burden of proof necessary for a conviction? I’m not defending the shooter; I’m just saying that the baying hounds need to dial down the rhetoric, and let the cops do their investigation thoroughly before making a bad bust. He stalked the kid through the dark. Even just Zimmerman’s and 911’s account shows someone who’d creep me the hell out if I were in Martin’s place. And hearsay? She was on the god damn phone with him through a bluetooth device for much of it. She even encourage Martin to run. We can’t ask Martin if if he was scared because a bloodthirsty gun nut murdered him. Her testimony is of a very scared individual. Even just Zimmerman’s account alone shows an aggressive individual. Again I ask what did the dead kid do that was so suspicious? Please answer this question. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/54 "2012-03-27T01:41:54Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > If it were not for the public interest, this case would have been closed as a justifiable homicide. There would have been no further investigation, no further evidence revealed, no further reason to review the circumstances, no further fact-finding. > > Would that have suited you? I would have preferred a further investigation and if necessary a trial. But apparently the public has already decided they know what happened and is taking sides. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/55 "2012-03-27T01:48:55Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I would have preferred a further investigation and if necessary a trial. But apparently the public has already decided they know what happened and is taking sides. You’re missing my point, I think. If it were not for the side-taking, there would be no investigation. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/56 "2012-03-27T01:57:50Z")
If it were not for the outrage, there would not have been a proper investigation and it is likely that it is too late now to do one. Police did not take basic steps in the initial investigation and at least one witness has alledged that they tried to ‘correct’ her account [Orlando Watch Shooting Probe Reveals Questionable Police Conduct - ABC News](http://abcnews.go.com/US/neighborhood-watch-shooting-trayvon-martin-probe-reveals-questionable/story?id=15907136). If the public had not advocated for further action, a flawed investigation would have been accepted as gospel. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/57 "2012-03-27T02:02:18Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > You’re missing my point, I think. If it were not for the side-taking, there would be no investigation. I understand. There did need to be some pressure to force an investigation and it looks like that’s happening. But it sure escalated fast into “the motherfuckers guilty! hang em!” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/58 "2012-03-27T02:49:32Z")
I saw the opening of Lawrence O’Donnell tonight, he was going to have Zimmerman’s lawyer to interview, but the lawyer bailed. Larry kinda pissed. So he rattled off some good questions he wanted to ask. Where did the story about the broken nose originate? What medical attention did Zimmerman seek for his injuries. Where are the photos of Mr Zimmerman’s battered self? The blood stained clothing, it was tagged and bagged, yes? I find myself wondering if he got to take his gun home with him. You know, in case he needs it again. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/59 "2012-03-27T03:02:40Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I don’t know…do you? Following the kid is not a crime. Disregarding instructions is not a crime. Ignoring the kid’s requests is not a crime. The kid’s girlfriend. . .really? So hearsay is now proof? So what exactly in any of that provides the burden of proof necessary for a conviction? I’m not defending the shooter; I’m just saying that the baying hounds need to dial down the rhetoric, and let the cops do their investigation thoroughly before making a bad bust. I’m surprised by the number of people who don’t see anything threatening in Zimmerman’s behavior. Are you saying that if you were walking home and some random guy with a gun got out and asked you who you were and what you were doing, it wouldn’t bother you, or seem threatening? ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/60 "2012-03-27T03:18:00Z")
I’d be disgusted and appalled if my neighbor shot someone dead on my street, after pursuing that person because of ‘suspicious behavior’ on the part of the victim. And outraged and protesting in the streets if the police didn’t immediately start an investigation. Whether it was intentional or not, I’m 100% sure that the reason the investigation didn’t happen right away is because the shooter was white, and the victim was a no good hoodlum nigger. And we all know that they’re often bad apples. Hey, I mean, it’s not their fault, sure, but most of 'em just end up bad. Shame, really. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881.md?page=4)