# Martin/Zimmerman: humble opinions and speculation thread

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125>\
**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:** 1\
**Showing post:** 12422

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125/12422 "2013-07-12T20:36:01Z")

</div>

> [@Stoid](#):
>
> The biggest division of perspective in this case is not race, it’s fear. There are people, lots of them, whose POV is profoundly shaped by a core belief that life is brimming with threats of all kinds and they need to be prepared. These people tend to think that Zimmerman acted in self-defense.
> 
> And it’s not a put down to say this, I’m not calling such people pussies. It’s just a fundamental difference in worldview.

I have an emergency kit at home:

> [@So, what should a home emergency kit contain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-a-home-emergency-kit-contain/319692/23):
>
> Here’s what I have in mine:
> 
> [ul]  
> [li]fire extinguisher[/li][li]flare gun and flares[/li][li]two empty five gallon cans, suitable for gas or water[/li][li]25 gallons of water[/li][li]water distillation kit and purification tablets[/li][li]two can-openers[/li][li]one case Sterno cans[/li][li]15 pounds canned Spam[/li][li]15 pounds canned tuna[/li][li]30 pounds canned assorted cooked vegetables[/li][li]powered milk and baby formula[/li][li]2 complete first aid kits, including syrup of ipecac and activated charcoal[/li][li]1 sting kit with epinephrine[/li][li]small collection of antibiotics and sulfa powder[/li][li]supply of batteries[/li][li]battery-operated shock-resistant radio [/li][li]handheld CB radio[/li][li]tool kit[/li][li]six rolls duct tape[/li][li]waterproof matches[/li][li]candles[/li][li]Coleman lantern and fuel[/li][li]compass and handheld GPS[/li][li]toilet paper and moist towelettes[/li][li]tampons[/li][li]three sleeping bags[/li][li]rain ponchos[/li][li]work gloves and work boots[/li][li]utility and hunting knives[/li][li]shovel, pick, spade[/li][li]12 ga. shotgun and shells - buck and birdshot[/li][li]15 Canadian maple-leaf gold coins[/li][li]$1500 cash[/li][/ul]
> 
> On the budget to buy this year: satellite phone.
> 
> I firmly believe luck favors the prepared.

Since I made that post eight years ago, I bought the satellite phone and upgraded it last year. I sold some of the gold because gold got so crazy high that I could sell 5 of my coins and cover the cost for all 15 as I paid it. Every year I donate the half the canned food and replace it.

If, in the unlikely even that disaster strike and I need this stuff, I can almost guarantee that someone will say it was just pure luck that I happened to have it.

---

_[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-humble-opinions-and-speculation-thread/619125)._