# 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:** 31
**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 30, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/601 "2012-03-30T00:57:22Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Probably you should ask that question of the attorney hired by Martin’s family. After all, he’s (apparently) the source of the claim that Martin was out to get a snack. > > If it doesn’t matter what Martin was doing, then why do his supporters need to assert that his purpose was simply to go to the store? Retard global warming denier makes a straw-man, news at eleven. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/602 "2012-03-30T00:58:54Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Because that’s what his father said he was doing. Did his father say what color socks he was wearing that day? Are people on “Team Trayvon” telling us what color socks Trayvon was wearing? Of course not, because the color of Trayvon’s socks is irrelevant. It’s clear that a lot of people on “Team Trayvon” think it’s relevant that Martin was simply going to a store. > [@](#): > > Why do you disbelieve him? I’m not sure what you mean by “disbelieve” – I think it’s a reasonable possibility that Martin was simply out purchasing food. I think it’s also a reasonable possibility that he was not. Look, do you accept that Zimmerman’s nose was broken? Of course not, since at this point it’s simply the uncorroborated word of his attorney. Possibly his nose was broken and possibly it was not. So too with the claims of the attorney hired by Martin’s family. > [@](#): > > You are focusing on the least important detail in this whole rigamorle. Trayvon Martin had a right to be where he was, If it’s not important, then let’s stipulate for the sake of discussion that Martin was wandering in a gated community for unknown reasons. Okay? You shouldn’t have a problem with that if it’s unimportant. It’s like assuming for the sake of discussion that Martin was wearing white socks that night. > [@](#): > > The fact that you intimate that he was out doing something nefarious is fucking disgraceful. Please show me where I did so, or admit that I did not and apologize. Your choice. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/603 "2012-03-30T01:03:55Z")
What’s the point of suggesting that Martin was doing anything other than what his father said he was doing if you’re not suggesting it was something nefarious. Whether Martin went out for a snack, or just to talk to his girlfriend is completely irrelevant. He had a right to do what he was doing: walking down a sidewalk. I won’t apologize for shit. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/604 "2012-03-30T01:05:14Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > He had a right to do what he was doing: walking down a sidewalk. And Zimmerman had a right to do what he was doing. All the way to the point of physical confrontation - whoever initiated it. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/605 "2012-03-30T01:05:55Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Please show me where I did so, or admit that I did not and apologize. Your choice. Here you can see the lying scum use the, “Lil’ ole me?” defense. It never works, but lying scum aren’t generally smart enough to get that. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/606 "2012-03-30T01:07:25Z")
Horse balls. Zimmerman initiated a confrontation, while armed, when he got out of his truck to follow someone who was doing nothing wrong, but who he was convinced was one of those assholes who always gets away. The end result - a dead kid - is his fault. ---
**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 30, 2012, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/607 "2012-03-30T01:07:39Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Assuming Trayvon didn’t attack Zimmerman from behind (extreme team Z scenario) and Zimmerman didn’t just chase and shoot Trayvon in cold blood (extreme team T scenario) what do you think is the most likely course of events? The only answer to this question that makes any sense is “I don’t know.” And that’s the whole divide between me and many of the posters here–I’m simply willing to say that (i) I don’t know what happened and (ii) any narrative I construct based on what I read in the news doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. I’m not constructing a personal narrative that makes Zimmerman out to be blameless, I’m just simply not constructing a personal narrative. I can wait for the wheels of justice to roll along. Why can’t you guys? ---
**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 30, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/608 "2012-03-30T01:08:11Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > And Zimmerman had a right to do what he was doing. All the way to the point of physical confrontation - whoever initiated it. Sweet. I have a right to stalk you through the night scaring the crap out of you, ignoring your questions like that murdering mentally defective thug Zimmerman. What’s your address? ---
**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 30, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/609 "2012-03-30T01:10:20Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > The only answer to this question that makes any sense is “I don’t know.” > > And that’s the whole divide between me and many of the posters here–I’m simply willing to say that (i) I don’t know what happened and (ii) any narrative I construct based on what I read in the news doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. I’m not constructing a personal narrative that makes Zimmerman out to be blameless, I’m just simply not constructing a personal narrative. I can wait for the wheels of justice to roll along. > > Why can’t you guys? You mean the same wheels of justice that wouldn’t take witness testimony if it contradicted Zimmerman? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/610 "2012-03-30T01:11:52Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Horse balls. Zimmerman initiated a confrontation, while armed, when he got out of his truck to follow someone who was doing nothing wrong Please explain which law he broke when he got out of the truck to “follow someone who was doing nothing”. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/611 "2012-03-30T01:12:29Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Whether Martin went out for a snack, or just to talk to his girlfriend is completely irrelevant. Fine, then let’s stipulate for the sake of argument that he was wandering around a gated community for unknown reasons. If it’s irrelevant, this should not be a problem for you. Agreed? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/612 "2012-03-30T01:13:05Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Sweet. I have a right to stalk you through the night scaring the crap out of you, ignoring your questions like that murdering mentally defective thug Zimmerman. Please cite the law that Zimmerman broke when he was following Martin. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/613 "2012-03-30T01:13:32Z")
I can’t tell from any new sources…did the cops actually look and see if his nose was broken? Did they not any tell-tale signs of a fight? Scrapes, swelling, redness, ripped clothing? Could they have noticed this, or the lack of it, and simply not told the press yet? ---
**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 30, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/614 "2012-03-30T01:14:21Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > You mean the same wheels of justice that wouldn’t take witness testimony if it contradicted Zimmerman? Cite? ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/615 "2012-03-30T01:14:57Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Fine, then let’s stipulate for the sake of argument that he was wandering around a gated community for unknown reasons. If it’s irrelevant, this should not be a problem for you. Agreed? Oh, for crying out loud. Okay. I’ll play. I hereby agree that Trayvon Martin was wandering around a gated community for unknown and unknowable reasons. Now what? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/616 "2012-03-30T01:15:36Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > I can’t tell from any new sources…did the cops actually look and see if his nose was broken? Did they not any tell-tale signs of a fight? Scrapes, swelling, redness, ripped clothing? Could they have noticed this, or the lack of it, and simply not told the press yet? All that, I believe, would be released at the end of the investigation if it is decided not to charge Zimmerman, or during trial if there is an indictment. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/617 "2012-03-30T01:17:34Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Fine, then let’s stipulate for the sake of argument that he was wandering around a gated community for unknown reasons. If it’s irrelevant, this should not be a problem for you. Agreed? What the fuck are you getting at? No it doesn’t matter what reason Martin was walking down a sidewalk, like billions of other human beings do on a daily basis, so what reason did Super-Zimmerman have to suspect him of something? ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/618 "2012-03-30T01:19:57Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > What the fuck are you getting at? Ummm, does that mean yes or no? > [@](#): > > No it doesn’t matter what reason Martin was walking down a sidewalk, Ok fine, then let’s assume for the sake of discussion that the story about Martin going for Skittles or whatever is false and he was wandering in a gated community for unknown reasons. Agreed? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/619 "2012-03-30T01:21:32Z")
Well, bless their hearts, they really aren’t very good at this whole “reasoned debate” thing. Still, a couple of Participation Ribbons seem appropriate. ---
**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 30, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881/620 "2012-03-30T01:21:43Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Please cite the law that Zimmerman broke when he was following Martin. First answer my question. What is your address? I intended to do nothing less legal than Zimmerman to you. Surely if Zimmerman did nothing wrong you’ll give me your address. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-team-trayvon-or-team-zimmerman/616881.md?page=32)