# Mea Culpa: George Zimmerman case **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 11, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858 "2012-06-11T23:32:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/1 "2012-06-11T23:32:42Z")
I’ve been meaning to do this and didn’t get around to it. However… I was wrong and misjudged goerge Zimmerman (of the “Trayvon Martin” case). Right when it first came out, I said a thing or two on this board. I was disgusted at what I thought happened… except as the days and weeks passed, the story I thoguht I knew turned out to be a lot more complicated, and the evidence a lot less convincing. Some of which turned out to be more-or-less fake, and in fact altered and publicized by certain major news organization, who will remain nameless because this is my apology. So, in short, I rushed to judge a man who may have done nothing wrong, and should have engaged in a more thorough study of the facts. (Well, this is the Pit… so Fuck you, you goddamn _self_. You make me want to vomit, you miserable assbitch!) ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/2 "2012-06-12T00:00:56Z")
Well, good on you. Though I gave up on this particular scandal a long time ago so I don’t know the recent developments. Do you at least hate dogs or cats or kids or like to run around shaking women’s hands? Give us something real to work with here 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/3 "2012-06-12T00:10:57Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Do you at least hate dogs or cats or kids or like to run around shaking women’s hands? Give us something real to work with here 🙂 I _still_ get really nervous around cute girls. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/4 "2012-06-12T00:12:49Z")
Is that code for underage boys? Cause we might have something to work with here now. ---
**Author:** ![Honesty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f04885/32.png) [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/5 "2012-06-12T00:15:39Z")
> [@(new) smiling bandit](#): > > … > So, in short, I rushed to judge a man who may have done nothing wrong, and should have engaged in a more thorough study of the facts. That’s all well and good, but I’m curious how would you respond to the old you, specifically this: > [@Florida's Stand Your Ground law - good or bad law? Poorly understood?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridas-stand-your-ground-law-good-or-bad-law-poorly-understood/616560/21): > > Yes, the murderer claimed he was acting in self-defense. _Why not?_ **He stood to lose nothing by doing so** and clouding the issue. (emphasis mine) I think you make a good point here and would be curious to hear how you’d _specifically_ rebut it. Thanks. - Honesty ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/6 "2012-06-12T00:34:57Z")
> [@Honesty](#): > > I think you make a good point here and would be curious to hear how you’d _specifically_ rebut it. If it were just a matter of his say-so, I’d be just as dismissive now. It’s the _other_ evidence which I discovered was flawed, or nonexistent. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/7 "2012-06-12T00:52:01Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > If it were just a matter of his say-so, I’d be just as dismissive now. It’s the _other_ evidence which I discovered was flawed, or nonexistent. What in the world are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/8 "2012-06-12T01:24:06Z")
So just so we’re clear, you’re apologizing to Trayvon for assuming he forced George to kill him? ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/9 "2012-06-12T01:51:08Z")
So the OP’s solution to jumping to conclusions about GZ’s guilt is to jump to conclusions about his innocence? Is this what I’m reading? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/10 "2012-06-12T02:50:54Z")
> [@](#): > > So the OP’s solution to jumping to conclusions about GZ’s guilt is to jump to conclusions about his innocence? No, but even if he is guilty, it’s unfair to prejudge him so. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/11 "2012-06-12T03:48:29Z")
Wish I’d known that before I revoked his bond. _Damn_! ---
**Author:** ![mister\_nyx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@mister\_nyx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_nyx)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/12 "2012-06-12T04:28:49Z")
So as time goes by, the fact that Zimmerman refused to be examined after he supposedly received his injuries, and the fact that he had a secret extra passport which he failed to surrender (and shouldn’t have owned anyway), and the fact that he had large amounts of money that he kept secret rather than divulging as required – these things make you _less_ certain of his guilt? Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/13 "2012-06-12T04:38:55Z")
> [@mister\_nyx](#): > > So as time goes by, the fact that Zimmerman refused to be examined after he supposedly received his injuries, and the fact that he had a secret extra passport which he failed to surrender (and shouldn’t have owned anyway), and the fact that he had large amounts of money that he kept secret rather than divulging as required – these things make you _less_ certain of his guilt? > > Interesting. I don’t find the passport to be an issue. I lost a passport once, I might not think to turn in the old passport. The extra _money_, OTOH, could indicate that he is either a habitual liar, or that he’s not taking this situation seriously…and not taking murder charges seriously, unless you are a multi-millionaire like OJ Simpson, is a _very_ big mistake. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/14 "2012-06-12T04:52:01Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > So, in short, I rushed to judge a man who may have done nothing wrong, and should have engaged in a more thorough study of the facts. You **do** mean Martin, don’t you? Just making sure. ---
**Author:** ![mister\_nyx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@mister\_nyx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_nyx)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/15 "2012-06-12T06:39:07Z")
> [@al27052](#): > > I don’t find the passport to be an issue. I lost a passport once, I might not think to turn in the old passport. > > The extra _money_, OTOH, could indicate that he is either a habitual liar, or that he’s not taking this situation seriously…and not taking murder charges seriously, unless you are a multi-millionaire like OJ Simpson, is a _very_ big mistake. I could easily have lost a passport. I’m awesome at losing things. But, uh, unlike Mr. Zimmerman, I wouldn’t have found it again right after getting into legal trouble. And I wouldn’t have falsely claimed not to have another one. Anyway, I was smart enough to give that shit to my mom, it’s in her filing cabinet somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/16 "2012-06-12T13:20:31Z")
I bet you’ll feel _really_ silly if he’s convicted, and future you has to apologize to past you for present you. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/17 "2012-06-12T14:31:32Z")
> [@mister\_nyx](#): > > So as time goes by, the fact that Zimmerman refused to be examined after he supposedly received his injuries, and the fact that he had a secret extra passport which he failed to surrender (and shouldn’t have owned anyway), and the fact that he had large amounts of money that he kept secret rather than divulging as required – these things make you _less_ certain of his guilt? > > Interesting. If I got sucked into a major trial with national press and all the BS that both sides gets to flinging I might consider making a run for it. And my possible decision to run would have nothing to do with my innocence. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/18 "2012-06-12T14:38:08Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > If I got sucked into a major trial with national press and all the BS that both sides gets to flinging I might consider making a run for it. And my possible decision to run would have nothing to do with my innocence. You and OJ must have a lot in common. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/19 "2012-06-12T14:38:30Z")
Regardless of the topic, whenever I start a thread it usually dies a quick death. Threads like this make me consider starting my own Zimmermen thread just so I can say I once started a multipage thread. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858/20 "2012-06-12T14:54:16Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Regardless of the topic, whenever I start a thread it usually dies a quick death. Threads like this make me consider starting my own Zimmermen thread just so I can say I once started a multipage thread. The multipage odds go up if you assert that Zimmerman has a declawed cat that he lets go out, and that he texts spoilers about Game of Thrones while running bicyclists off the road with his SUV. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mea-culpa-george-zimmerman-case/624858.md?page=2)