# Martin/Zimmerman: humble opinions and speculation thread **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 18, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125 "2012-04-18T04:41:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 595
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11884 "2013-07-08T17:47:02Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > It’s funny that one claim, somewhat prevalent in the early days of this controversy, seems to have been abandoned without much comment on its apparent error: I would like to proudly state that I never believed that he said coon after I actually listened to the tape. And I’m actually kind of disgusted that anybody did since nothing in it sounds like that to me. But then again I’m one of the few people who think he’s guilty that isn’t also obsessed with thinking he is a big racist. So yay for me. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11885 "2013-07-08T18:17:49Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I would like to proudly state that I never believed that he said coon after I actually listened to the tape. And I’m actually kind of disgusted that anybody did since nothing in it sounds like that to me. But then again I’m one of the few people who think he’s guilty that isn’t also obsessed with thinking he is a big racist. So yay for me. Yup. Not only did you not accept the “coon” theory, but you argued strongly against it. Double yay for you. ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11886 "2013-07-08T18:40:47Z")
From all I have seen and heard, Zimmerman is guilty. His only friend, Frank Taaffe, a self avowed racist, praised gz for his willingness to volunteer to patrol the neighborhood, how he eagerly did it for free. A little too eagerly, yes, like the mouse selflessly volunteering to guard the cheese ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11887 "2013-07-08T18:48:43Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > From all I have seen and heard, Zimmerman is guilty. His only friend, Frank Taaffe, a self avowed racist, praised gz for his willingness to volunteer to patrol the neighborhood, how he eagerly did it for free. A little too eagerly, yes, like the mouse selflessly volunteering to guard the cheese Well, case closed, then. Can’t argue with evidence that strong. I dare anyone to even try. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11888 "2013-07-08T18:49:43Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > From all I have seen and heard, Zimmerman is guilty. His only friend, Frank Taaffe, a self avowed racist, praised gz for his willingness to volunteer to patrol the neighborhood, how he eagerly did it for free. A little too eagerly, yes, like the mouse selflessly volunteering to guard the cheese ROFLMAO. Is Taaffe on trial? Is Taaffe a witness? Another witness has said that GZ was “the best friend he ever had” but NOBODY involved in the actual case is saying Frank Taaffe is GZ’s only friend. :smack: Can I assume that you have nothing else to add so you’ve decided to drag a red herrings across the thread? ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11889 "2013-07-08T19:09:51Z")
I did have something to add, and glad you got a laugh out of it though you missed the point entirely. Gz eagerly raises his hand to freely volunteer to play patrolman…like a pedophile volunteering to be a boy scout leader, or the old mouse volunteering to guard the cheese. Gz volunteered to do ALL that for free, (how selfless of him) but , …the next thing you know a black kid ends up dead simply for walking through his neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11890 "2013-07-08T19:18:41Z")
Regarding Taaffe, it is not the point that he is not on trial. Taaffe isnt, but the intent and motive of gz is, and since the question is raised about gz being a racist who targested tm for his race, it is at least worth noting that taaffe is somone with very prolific racist views, to the point of publicly calling african americans shineboys ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11891 "2013-07-08T19:21:03Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > Regarding Taaffe, it is not the point that he is not on trial. Taaffe isnt, but the intent and motive of gz is, and since the question is raised about gz being a racist who targested tm for his race, it is at least worth noting that taaffe is somone with very prolific racist views, to the point of publicly calling african americans shineboys Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11892 "2013-07-08T19:23:11Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > From all I have seen and heard, Zimmerman is guilty. His only friend, Frank Taaffe, a self avowed racist, praised gz for his willingness to volunteer to patrol the neighborhood, how he eagerly did it for free. A little too eagerly, yes, like the mouse selflessly volunteering to guard the cheese It’s not correct that Taafe is his only friend. Just today, the defense called Sandra Osterman and John Donnelly to the stand. Both testified they were friends of Zimmerman. Sandra’s husband Mark, who also testified, describes himself as Zimmerman’s best friend. So why did you say that Taafe was Zimmerman’s only friend? ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11893 "2013-07-08T19:26:05Z")
Cite: umpteen news reports, interviews, and witness statements from the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11894 "2013-07-08T19:28:25Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > Cite: umpteen news reports, interviews, and witness statements from the beginning. Cite that Taaffe “is somone with very prolific racist views, to the point of publicly calling african americans shineboys”? ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11895 "2013-07-08T19:31:34Z")
I said that on a show recently, one of the hosts asked Taaffe why he seemed to be gzs only friend, and asked taaffe where all his other family or friends are to speak on his behalf. The only person I have seen speaking out and praising gz has been taaffe. Perhaps they managed to dig up a couple other people who know him for the trial, but taaffe is by far his main supporter and who sings his praises ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11896 "2013-07-08T19:33:31Z")
He has a twitter where he openly made references to : shineboy, aunt jemima, uncle ben etc. An African american man wrote he is a supporter of justice for tm, and taaffes reply was " fuck you, shineboy" ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11897 "2013-07-08T19:36:32Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > Cite: umpteen news reports, interviews, and witness statements from the beginning. Can you link to any of them that described him as the only friend? [Here’s an ABC News story from March 2012.](http://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmermans-attorney-friend-speak-trayvon-martin-incident/story?id=15999256#.UdsUFhpDsyQ) It identifies Joe Oliver as a friend of Zimmerman’s. That kind of contradicts your claim that “from the beginning” no other friend was identified, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11898 "2013-07-08T19:43:30Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > I said that on a show recently, one of the hosts asked Taaffe why he seemed to be gzs only friend, and asked taaffe where all his other family or friends are to speak on his behalf. The only person I have seen speaking out and praising gz has been taaffe. Perhaps they managed to dig up a couple other people who know him for the trial, but taaffe is by far his main supporter and who sings his praises Here’s another reference: [Joe Oliver, George Zimmerman’s Friend, Defends Shooter In Trayvon Martin Case](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/25/joe-oliver-george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin_n_1378390.html). It’s also from March 2012. [Here’s an interview with Dr. Phil](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTAEWOzJg0k) that Mark Osterman, Zimmerman’s friend, gave in 2012. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11899 "2013-07-08T19:51:20Z")
> [@Tollhouse](#): > > He has a twitter where he openly made references to : shineboy, aunt jemima, uncle ben etc. An African american man wrote he is a supporter of justice for tm, and taaffes reply was " fuck you, shineboy" So someone with a Twitter account who claims to be him got into Twitter fights with people who support conviction and used racial attacks. Not particularly meaningful. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11900 "2013-07-08T19:58:41Z")
Well, it is odd that Taafe (so far as I know) has not testified; he was in the news a lot early on as a friend of GZ’s. Wasn’t it near his house that George first saw Martin, the house that had been broken into earlier? Maybe he’ll be called later. Osterman not only testified, he wrote a book (that contradicted parts of Zimmerman’s earlier statements). The older husband & wife couple that testified today said they were ‘close friends’ but hadn’t met with him in person in some years, and insist they didn’t discuss the case together in the last year and a half, to the extent that the husband donated close to five thousand dollars to Zimmerman ‘without discussing it with his wife’. Not discussing together how they could help someone who was clearly in dire need? Seems a rather odd choice of action for a ‘close friend’. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11901 "2013-07-08T20:01:35Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > So someone with a Twitter account who claims to be him got into Twitter fights with people who support conviction and used racial attacks. Not particularly meaningful. I’m with ya on that. I think it’s a mistake to obsess about the race thing, I really do. The idea that any and all profiling is fundamentally wrong and insulting and offensive is bullshit. The idea that any and all profiling makes you a racist is bullshit. It’s what leads to 90 year old ladies being forced to strip at airports. Man I hate it when my side puts on their stupid hats. ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11902 "2013-07-08T20:15:16Z")
Stoid, what do you mean by that? Trayvon Martin was a highschool kid, simply walking in his own neighborhood that day. What about this would justify the use of racial profiling? Perhaps I misunderstood ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/11903 "2013-07-08T20:17:33Z")
The twitter appears to belong to him…and I dont know what you mean that we shouldnt get hung up on race, but its a disturbing remark [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125.md?page=594) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125.md?page=596)