# NBC edit of the Zimmerman tape **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 19, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291 "2012-04-19T17:13:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/21 "2012-04-19T18:12:48Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > WHAT? you don’t think this was racist rewrite? No. It was wrong and egregiously stupid, but not racist. > [@](#): > > To suggest this didn’t add to public outrage early on when it’s the ONLY piece of information pointing to racism is a complete abandonment of logic. It is not, at least in some people’s minds, the only thing poniting to racism. Which you acknowledged here: > [@](#): > > It was gasoline to the unqualified suggestion from race-agitators that it was a racist event in the first place. In which you admit the concept already existed. I think the idea that something that happened a week after the news went national shaped the _initial_ response is really ludicrous. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > If the March 27th date is correct, then I agree. Is it? [Yes, that’s the correct date.](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upshot/nbc-fires-producer-over-edited-zimmerman-911-call-201124740.html) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/22 "2012-04-19T18:15:04Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Good point. I didn’t recall the time frame as well as I thought. That answers my question, and the answer is: “Very little.” I think it’s an argument without a cause. You and Marley are trying to say that it wasn’t the single spark from the first second of the outrage (as a point of argument). It’s a pointless argument because the outrage builds with time and the information available. This was pure gasoline thrown on a fire, not the match. ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/23 "2012-04-19T18:15:13Z")
This may have been already said but when I read the OP, I got the impression that he was questioning why this didnt explode in the media. He seems to be implying that if Fox did this, the Liberal Media would be all over it like Stink on pit ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/24 "2012-04-19T18:20:02Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [Yes, that’s the correct date.](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upshot/nbc-fires-producer-over-edited-zimmerman-911-call-201124740.html) OK, so it was about 1 month after the shooting that the edited tape was aired. As a point of reference, Obama’s comments were mode on March 23. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/25 "2012-04-19T18:22:25Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > No. It was wrong and egregiously stupid, but not racist. Even a retarded monkey would have understood that the context was changed in a way that made Zimmerman out as a racist. I think it’s safe to say the person who did this was not a retarded monkey, therefore it was deliberate. Now maybe it wasn’t racist and the person just wanted to make his overlord news masters happy with some ratings. Call it what you like. When a person makes someone out to be a racist, I’m calling that person a racist sans any other information to go on. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/26 "2012-04-19T18:35:39Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Even a retarded monkey would have understood that the context was changed in a way that made Zimmerman out as a racist. I don’t have a problem accepting that retarded monkeys work at the Today show, and I agree the edit made Zimmerman out to be a racist. Now, how does that make the _edit_ racist? > [@](#): > > Call it what you like. You seem to have already taken that job. > [@](#): > > When a person makes someone out to be a racist, I’m calling that person a racist sans any other information to go on. That makes no sense at all, but I don’t expect that to be a major obstacle here. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/27 "2012-04-19T18:49:06Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Even a retarded monkey would have understood that the context was changed in a way that made Zimmerman out as a racist. I think it’s safe to say the person who did this was not a retarded monkey, therefore it was deliberate. Now maybe it wasn’t racist and the person just wanted to make his overlord news masters happy with some ratings. Call it what you like. When a person makes someone out to be a racist, I’m calling that person a racist sans any other information to go on. Why wouldn’t you call the editor an amoral sensationalist? Doesn’t that fit the evidence better? ---
**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:** [April 19, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/28 "2012-04-19T18:49:20Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Now maybe it wasn’t racist and the person just wanted to make his overlord news masters happy with some ratings. A TV producer editing a tape to increase his show’s ratings. You’re giving that option a “maybe”? Hanlon’s Razor states “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” I suggest a corollary, “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by greed.” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/29 "2012-04-19T18:49:50Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Why wouldn’t you call the editor an amoral sensationalist? Doesn’t that fit the evidence better? Or an incompetent cretin who deserved to be fired. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/30 "2012-04-19T18:56:17Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > A TV producer editing a tape to increase his show’s ratings. You’re giving that option a “maybe”? > Hanlon’s Razor states “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” > I suggest a corollary, “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by greed.” > [@Marley23](#): > > Or an incompetent cretin who deserved to be fired. Well, I’d say that the edit was deliberate and intended to produce a particular result. That, at least to me, suggests more than incompetence; it wasn’t accidental. What is not shown, though, is racism. It seems to me more likely that it was motivated by a lack of caring about the truth (amoral) and a desire to spark up the narrative (sensationalist). ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/31 "2012-04-19T18:57:54Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > A TV producer editing a tape to increase his show’s ratings. You’re giving that option a “maybe”? > Hanlon’s Razor states “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” > I suggest a corollary, “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by greed.” Dammit, I was on a roll. Point taken and conceded. Good quote. We now have the Cheesesteak Razor. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/32 "2012-04-19T19:12:05Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Well, I’d say that the edit was deliberate and intended to produce a particular result. That, at least to me, suggests more than incompetence; it wasn’t accidental. The edit was definitely deliberate. I don’t know that the false implication about Zimmerman was deliberate. I think it’s possible they heard the reference to Martin’s race and decided it had to be included in the broadcast (since there were already racially-charged debates about the incident) with other noteworthy parts of the call without appreciating the huge change in meaning that came from removing the dispatcher’s question. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/33 "2012-04-19T19:32:55Z")
I always hate to guess at someone’s motives, especially when we know nothing about that someone at all, not even his name. So, back to the OP. Did this little “mistake” fan the flames of the fire? Probably. But the flames were already raging, so I don’t know whether it added that much and I don’t really think there is any way to know. Seems like the idea that Zim called Martin a “coon” (dubious, at best) was the more impactful error. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/34 "2012-04-19T20:06:58Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > A TV producer editing a tape to increase his show’s ratings. You’re giving that option a “maybe”? > Hanlon’s Razor states “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” > I suggest a corollary, “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by greed.” Not quite the same. Just because malice is driven by greed doesn’t mean it’s not malice. Whether or not it was racist, the NBC edit was certainly malicious and unethical. That is, I do not believe it was caused by incompetence. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/35 "2012-04-19T20:13:45Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The edit was definitely deliberate. I don’t know that the false implication about Zimmerman was deliberate. I think it’s possible they heard the reference to Martin’s race and decided it had to be included in the broadcast (since there were already racially-charged debates about the incident) with other noteworthy parts of the call without appreciating the huge change in meaning that came from removing the dispatcher’s question. I grant the possibility; I doubt the likelihood. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/36 "2012-04-19T20:39:30Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I always hate to guess at someone’s motives, especially when we know nothing about that someone at all, not even his name. > > So, back to the OP. Did this little “mistake” fan the flames of the fire? Probably. But the flames were already raging, so I don’t know whether it added that much and I don’t really think there is any way to know. > > Seems like the idea that Zim called Martin a “coon” (dubious, at best) was the more impactful error. Was “coon” interpretation ever reported as such or was it thrown out for comment? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/37 "2012-04-19T20:41:45Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The edit was definitely deliberate. I don’t know that the false implication about Zimmerman was deliberate. I think it’s possible they heard the reference to Martin’s race and decided it had to be included in the broadcast (since there were already racially-charged debates about the incident) with other noteworthy parts of the call without appreciating the huge change in meaning that came from removing the dispatcher’s question. I would say it was deliberate in the sense that the person knew the implications. I can’t say for certainty that a racist did it. I can only conjecture. It was certainly done with malice or a malicious disregard for Zimmerman. ---
**Author:** ![Blkshp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blkshp/32/7135_2.png) [@Blkshp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blkshp)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/38 "2012-04-19T21:03:13Z")
CNN raised the question, though they also said it couldn’t be determined what what was said on 3/21. [http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/21/did-trayvon-martins-shooter-use-a-racial-slur/?iref=allsearch](http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/21/did-trayvon-martins-shooter-use-a-racial-slur/?iref=allsearch) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/39 "2012-04-19T21:06:21Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Was “coon” interpretation ever reported as such or was it thrown out for comment? I thought it was reported in the context of “he appears to say ‘coons,’” but certainly some people felt he definitely said it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291/40 "2012-04-19T21:25:35Z")
He said “toons”. One of them dropped an anvil on his brother. Hates them toons! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbc-edit-of-the-zimmerman-tape/619291.md?page=3)