# Martin / Zimmerman police angle **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 15, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583 "2013-07-15T19:19:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/21 "2013-07-15T23:32:49Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Since neither you nor Der Trihs can actually point to even one instance of that happening, that belief seems to be a purely irrational one. So? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/22 "2013-07-15T23:43:28Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > So? Irrational = not based on reality. If Martin didn’t call the police because of some irrational belief, that’s too bad, but it’s due to the irrational belief, not some kind of discrimination, like Der Trihs etc. try to imply. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/23 "2013-07-15T23:51:10Z")
Here’s another wild idea. He was in a strange neighborhood. If the cops asked where he was located, what was he going to say? “The grassy area behind my dad’s girlfriend’s house! You know the place! Please hurry!” For what real reason would a kid, who probably didn’t even have a learner’s permit, need to know a family friend’s street address? Especially when under duress? Fucking George Zimmerman didn’t even know the name of the street he’d been patrolling for years (assuming you believe this…I sure as hell don’t). So I’m pretty damn sure Trayvon Martin would have been just as clueless about his location, if not more. And trying to direct the police to his location while a creep is creeping up on him doesn’t strike me as a very good idea. Let’s say there was evidence that Trayvon dialed 911 before he was shot. Would this really make a difference to the outcome of the case? Really? And should it? I would like someone else’s WAG, because in my mind it shouldn’t. He could have been the aggressor even with a 911 call. If he was bold enough to be chatting to his friend right before turning into a vicious animal, then it’s perfectly plausible that he could have done the same thing after dialing 911. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/24 "2013-07-15T23:54:04Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Here’s another wild idea. > > He was in a strange neighborhood. If the cops asked where he was located, what was he going to say? “The grassy area behind my dad’s girlfriend’s house! You know the place! Please hurry!” For what real reason would a kid, who probably didn’t even have a learner’s permit, need to know a family friend’s street address? Especially when under duress? 911 (note: not NEN that Zimmerman called, but 911) can tell where the cell phone you’re calling from is located). ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/25 "2013-07-16T00:27:29Z")
Hell, I’m white and I can’t recall any time the situation got _better_ when the the cops showed up. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/26 "2013-07-16T00:36:03Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Let’s say there was evidence that Trayvon dialed 911 before he was shot. Would this really make a difference to the outcome of the case? I don’t know, but I would have considered it significant. In fact, it would have been a _WTF?_ discovery for me, something completely incongruous with what the rest of the evidence (by and large) said to me. Not saying it would necessarily have changed the outcome, but it would have given me pause, since you asked. ISTM Trayvon was pissed off, went back to the T and put a beat down on Zimmerman. That’s what I infer from the actions of a kid who was already home and could easily have just gone inside if he was scared. He went back for a purpose, and I think he did what he set out to do–to show that creepy ass cracker just who he was fucking with. But if I learned today that Trayvon had called 911, I would not know what to make of it, it would significantly shake up my thoughts on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/27 "2013-07-16T00:36:49Z")
I never considered calling the cops when I was a teenager, it’s not what teenagers do. I also would not have attacked some unknown guy who was following me when I was a teenager because he might have been a cop. ---
**Author:** ![Mr-Pookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@Mr-Pookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr-Pookie)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/28 "2013-07-16T00:39:37Z")
Why Trayvon didn’t call 911? Trayvon wasn’t paranoid or profiling. Trayvon wasn’t out to get somebody that night. Trayvon saw some wierdo, but like many, you keep yourself at a safe distance and go about your business. He ran when GZ got out of his car and followed him. A sensible move. Nobody has a freaking clue what happened after TM did everything right up to that point. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/29 "2013-07-16T00:39:38Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I never considered calling the cops when I was a teenager, it’s not what teenagers do. I also would not have attacked some unknown guy who was following me when I was a teenager because he might have been a cop. It’s a good thing that cops typically identify themselves and wear uniforms, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Mr-Pookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@Mr-Pookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr-Pookie)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/30 "2013-07-16T00:47:45Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I never considered calling the cops when I was a teenager, it’s not what teenagers do. I also would not have attacked some unknown guy who was following me when I was a teenager because he might have been a cop. Now that the criminal trial is over I’d like for the Zimmerman defenders to substantiate the claims like “TM attacked GZ”. It can’t be done. Nobody knows if Zimmerman put a hand on Trayvon, or called him a name, or made a threat. Nobody knows so stop spouting the killer’s story as fact. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/31 "2013-07-16T00:52:55Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > It’s a good thing that cops typically identify themselves and wear uniforms, yes? Yes. But they don’t all do that. There wouldn’t have been any reason for some random guy to start following Trayvon. Nothing about the situation points to Trayvon starting a fight witha stranger. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/32 "2013-07-16T00:53:43Z")
> [@Mr-Pookie](#): > > Now that the criminal trial is over I’d like for the Zimmerman defenders to substantiate the claims like “TM attacked GZ”. It can’t be done. Nobody knows if Zimmerman put a hand on Trayvon, or called him a name, or made a threat. I hadn’t thought of that. If Zimmerman called him a name, I’d have to rethink the whole thing. Wow. That’s deep. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/33 "2013-07-16T00:54:45Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Nothing about the situation points to Trayvon starting a fight witha stranger. Nothing other than the fact that he returned to Zimmerman after he was already home, and Zimmerman got his ass kicked. ---
**Author:** ![Mr-Pookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@Mr-Pookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr-Pookie)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/34 "2013-07-16T00:58:59Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > … I think he did what he set out to do–to show that creepy ass cracker just who he was fucking with. And where did you get this wild fucking guess and stereotypical piece of shit statement? Did you and George Zimmerman come up with it, or did you do it all by yourself? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/35 "2013-07-16T01:01:36Z")
> [@Mr-Pookie](#): > > And where did you get this wild fucking guess and stereotypical piece of shit statement? Did you and George Zimmerman come up with it, or did you do it all by yourself? Hey, what are you getting all bent out of shape over? I already told you I saw the light, after you mentioned Zimmerman might have called Trayvon a name. If George were here right now, I’d shoot him. ---
**Author:** ![Mr-Pookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@Mr-Pookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr-Pookie)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/36 "2013-07-16T01:05:20Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Hey, what are you getting all bent out of shape over? I already told you I saw the light, after you mentioned Zimmerman might have called Trayvon a name. If George were here right now, I’d shoot him. Classic, two reasonable ideas such as Zimmerman initiated contact or threatened Zimmerman verbally, and you pick on the fact that I’d rather say “calling him a name” rather than Zimmerman called TM a n\*\*\*\*r. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/37 "2013-07-16T01:07:18Z")
> [@Mr-Pookie](#): > > Classic, two reasonable ideas such as Zimmerman initiated contact or threatened Zimmerman verbally, and you pick on the fact that I’d rather say “calling him a name” rather than Zimmerman called TM a n\*\*\*\*r. He called him a _n_\*\*_r!!!_ Now I’m really mad. ---
**Author:** ![Mr-Pookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@Mr-Pookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr-Pookie)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/38 "2013-07-16T01:07:45Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Hey, what are you getting all bent out of shape over? I already told you I saw the light, after you mentioned Zimmerman might have called Trayvon a name. If George were here right now, I’d shoot him. Bent out of shape because you fail to read the content and meaning of a message rather than poke the tiniest hole in order to attempt to trivialize an idea. ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/39 "2013-07-16T01:19:48Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Yes, 'cuz the first thing they ask when you call 911 is “Sir, are you black or white?”. Well, I thought this was fairly obvious to anyone…if a minority has some reluctance to call the police, its not the 911 operator their worried about (really?!) ---
**Author:** ![Tollhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tollhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tollhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583/40 "2013-07-16T01:23:51Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > LOL so your statement is unfalsifiable… How convenient. And stupid. Terr, You sound somewhat sheltered from reality [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-zimmerman-police-angle/663583.md?page=3)