# Florida: 5 Teens Mock, Don't Help Drowning Man

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811>\
**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:** 1\
**Page:** 9

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**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/161 "2018-06-25T22:12:23Z")

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> [@BigT](#):
>
> I didn’t see this the first time, but it so misstates what I was saying that I feel I have to address it. I already told you higher in the thread what my problem was with you. You moved the goalposts in making it about calling the police.
> 
> You kept on saying that it was normal that these kids were laughing at a guy struggling in the water. That is was understandable. That it was human. **This is entirely false.** Any decent human being, when seeing someone who seems to be drowning, will want to help. Maybe they try to jump in. Maybe they talk about calling the police, whether they actually do it or not. Maybe they freeze up in fear. There are lots of normal reactions **But they do. not. laugh.**
> 
> I am actually worried about the consequences of the lack of charges. Maybe some of them will find the media attention to be enough to shake them up and become better people. But if they or anyone seeing this result learns that what they did was okay, then we may have a repeat of the problem in the future.
> 
> That is why it is important that I fight those who try to claim that their actions were understandable. I actually find such claims scary.

I think it’s been a while since you watched the video. Watch again, and really listen. They are laughing and making fun of an idiot who jumps in the water. They get very quiet and serious when they realize he’s really in trouble. One kid responds with far more nervous laughter, and then some of the others are clearly trying to "be cool"about it. Several voices just stay quiet after that point.

They are teenage boys with goodness knows what in their systems. (Later reports mention marijuana.)

It’s not optimal, it’s not what I would hope for from my child, but it is perfectly understandable from a teenaged boy, especially one who has grown up with excellent reason to be afraid of calling 911. And as Lord Feldon has confirmed, it is not criminal behavior.

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