# Florida: 5 Teens Mock, Don't Help Drowning Man **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 21, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811 "2017-07-21T17:00:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/61 "2017-07-22T03:18:33Z")
If one needs to be compelled by law to provide reasonable aid to someone in grave danger society has deeper flaws than the lack of such a law. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/62 "2017-07-22T03:58:29Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I saw links to the Berg video, and the Pearl one too, I believe, but there’s no way I could click on them. I don’t know why I watched this, but I wish I didn’t. Unfortunately I had to watch it. Many times. I had to pixilate portions of the image and remove the audio to make it broadcast “safe”. ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Call_Me.Tim)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/63 "2017-07-22T04:03:53Z")
Apparently it is a first degree misdemeanor in Florida to [fail to report a death](http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0400-0499/0406/Sections/0406.12.html). Those witnesses may yet be charged with a crime, albeit the crime in question may be not reporting the death for several days rather than any crime of not helping in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/64 "2017-07-22T07:30:09Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > [A group of high school students rescue 7 people trapped in a car.](http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-05-13/news/fl-prom-crash-rescue-20130513_1_prom-flipped-van-baby) > > [Members of a high school baseball team lift a car pinning a fellow student.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/09/baseball-team-lifts-car-saves-life_n_3248973.html) > > [A teenager hides a rape victim from her attacker.](http://abcnews.go.com/US/michigan-hero-teen-hides-rape-victim-attacker/story?id=18272032) > > [A teenager pulls a drowning kid out of a frozen pond.](http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/herald/Teen-hero-didnt-think-twice-before-saving-a-life-117601199.html) > > And Dewey Finn has already shared the details of David Cash which goes to show that bravery is not bound by age cohorts and neither is cowardice. It is our character that determines our capabilities in times of stress, not whether we have a goddamn Snapchat account. Go eat a bag of dicks. Excellent post and you beat me to it. Every generation laments as they get older that the country is going to the dogs. It isn’t, it’s simply that well-known phenomenon of “when I was young things were so much better!” It’'s rarely true. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/65 "2017-07-22T07:36:14Z")
> [@emcee2k](#): > > I never watch someone die while mocking them and and refusing to help. Or anything anywhere near on that level. Maybe your youth was spent differently from mine. Neither did I but that still doesn’t mean these teens will grow up to be gangbangers or serial killers. They’re fucking teens and teens do stupid and mean things. It’s bullshit to suggest they’re somehow the embodiment of evil. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/66 "2017-07-22T11:44:38Z")
Stupid? Mean? That’s how you characterize taunting, failing to assist, filming, not calling for 911 and standing nearby and laughing as another human being dies before their eyes? Stupid is texting and driving. Mean is bullying someone for their lunch money. Sorry, I can’t see or excuse this as mere youthful antics/indiscretion. Anyone know the actual ages of these morally bankrupt individuals? ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/67 "2017-07-22T12:10:19Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > If one needs to be compelled by law to provide reasonable aid to someone in grave danger society has deeper flaws than the lack of such a law. Sonorous, but how does that work exactly ? a/ Country A ( Germany ) is so depraved, people are forced to help. b/ Country B ( Florida ) is so virtuous, people need no laws to make them help, just the instinctive goodness of the human heart, and they don’t help. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/68 "2017-07-22T13:09:11Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Leave it to Ann “Woe is Me, a Persecuted White Woman” Cunter to turn a tragedy into a racial issue: > > [https://twitter.com/anncoulter/status/888559186161938432](https://twitter.com/anncoulter/status/888559186161938432) Inspiring an uncomfortable thought experiment… ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/69 "2017-07-22T13:36:39Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > Sonorous, but how does that work exactly ? > a/ Country A ( Germany ) is so depraved, people are forced to help. > > b/ Country B ( Florida ) is so virtuous, people need no laws to make them help, just the instinctive goodness of the human heart, and they don’t help. It’s not that. The point is society should be instilling values in people to the point that one shouldn’t fear the consequences of breaking a law to do the right thing. I’ve helped people in danger because I was raised right. These teens obviously weren’t. And folks excusing this as just another example of stupid teen behavior are dumb. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/70 "2017-07-22T14:06:37Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Anyone know the actual ages of these morally bankrupt individuals? The article in the first post says 14 to 16 years old. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/71 "2017-07-22T14:36:20Z")
[New York Daily News](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/teens-taunted-drowning-florida-man-video-charged-article-1.3346897) reports that the police plan to file misdemeanour charges under a law that mandates anyone who “becomes aware of the death of any person” tell officials. The charges have been sent to the state attorney’s office, which will see if they’ll hold up. I guess they will but is it really worth it? The maximun penalty is probably only a small fine. The paper is misleading in the following. > [@](#): > > Police initially said they couldn’t press charges against the teenagers, one of whom was heard telling Dunn, “Ain’t nobody fixing to help you.” > > That’s because people aren’t legally required to jump in and save someone under Florida law. Under Florida law? I don’t believe even the states which have Good Samaritan laws legally require people to jump in and save someone, especially if it’s minors who are required to do the jumping. Make a phone call, yes. Risk your life? There’s no statute on Earth which would require that of someone. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/72 "2017-07-22T15:03:45Z")
Vinyl Turnip wrote: “Inspiring an uncomfortable thought experiment…” Just to be sure we understood that. Were you inquiring as to who might take no action if the drowning victim were Ms. Coulter? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/73 "2017-07-22T15:05:26Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > “Cocoa Police Chief Michael Cantaloupe”? Really? [Ole Melon-head.](http://spacecoastdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CANTALOUPE-MIKE-435-4.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Pippers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b5a626/32.png) [@Pippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pippers)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/74 "2017-07-22T15:08:48Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Wait for the lawsuits that are sure to come. Are you thinking lawsuits from the deceased guys family against the families of the teenagers? I’m not a “sue em all” type, but in this case I hope those kids and their parents get their asses sued off. Yeah kids do dumb things, geezus we all still do dumb things. But making fun of someone dying? That is a new low in humanity. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/75 "2017-07-22T15:12:24Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I must be getting old and soft, because not only do I have no desire whatsoever to watch that, just reading about the incident makes me want to grab the nearest bottle of strong stuff and watch cute kitten videos until I black out. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/76 "2017-07-22T16:47:08Z")
I sometimes joke that I can watch any level of human suffering but show me an animal with a pebble in his paw and I won’t be able to sleep that night. But I had to stop this video at about 20 seconds in when one of the shitstains shouted, “we not fittin’ to help yo ass!”. Very disturbing. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/77 "2017-07-22T17:39:30Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > They knew full-well that he was drowning, and didn’t care. None of them showed any remorse or seemed to even care. I believe you. I just don’t want it to be true. > [@elbows](#): > > Yeah, I’m not watching the video. And I only read the headline, not the story, on my newsfeed. And I waited quite a while before I could open this thread. > > I don’t care about the social shaming they’ll be subject to, or the scorn of their community or family, or if they go to jail or go free. They are young and will go their entire lives knowing they did this horrific thing. I don’t think anything anyone can do _to_ them is going to compare to that life sentence. And it won’t be just them either. They all have families, parents, siblings, cousins, schoolmates, who will all feel it too. > > My heart just breaks that this exists anywhere in the world. I really don’t think these teens going to lose sleep over what they did. At least one of them showed remorse, I guess, but they sound like a bunch of sociopaths. Sometimes there is no justice. [QUOTE=russianheel] Leave it to Ann “Woe is Me, a Persecuted White Woman” Cunter to turn a tragedy into a racial issue: [/QUOTE] Well, those comments are something. At least one person blamed the scourge of liberalism. A bunch of sociopathic teens mocked the death of a disabled black man because liberals. I’m still trying to work out how that could be. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/78 "2017-07-22T17:41:12Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > If one needs to be compelled by law to provide reasonable aid to someone in grave danger society has deeper flaws than the lack of such a law. Agreed. However, these kids are sociopaths. I’m not sure it’s an indication of a flawed society so much as the flawed human genome or damage to the prefrontal lobe. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/79 "2017-07-22T18:34:02Z")
If someone needs to be compelled by law not to murder, that is a bad thing, too. But it’s still good to have a law against murdering. There will always be people who lack the morality to do right, but can be coerced by legal penalties. That is why the law, in broad strokes, is a good thing. I think it is possible that there was a bit of mob mentality or peer pressure here, in that, since some of them weren’t reacting, they all acted shitty. It mattered more to them to fit in than to even sound sympathetic. So I wouldn’t necessarily assume they are all sociopaths. That doesn’t mean I don’t want them punished, so they realize such peer pressure is not an excuse. I do think there is a problem in this country of devaluing morality for other concerns. Doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of good people out there, but I do see a worrying trend. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/80 "2017-07-22T21:25:05Z")
I’m also kind of reminded of Kitty Genovese and the fraternity pledge who died recently when his “friends” did nothing to help him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811.md?page=5)