# Pitting the Zimmerman trial circus **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 13, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419 "2013-07-13T19:53:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**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:** [July 15, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/361 "2013-07-15T14:34:46Z")
^^This is the kind of happy horse crap that has characterized this travesty from the beginning. Debates about how tall the kid actually was. Like, seriously. 158-lbs in a 5"11 body would make Trayvon a bean pole. An Olive Oly in sneakers. But you know, if we stretch him out further, we can call him a big scary thug! A menance! A monster!Sure, he weighed less than an anorexic scareacrow, but he was tall! When the documentarians produce films about this saga, they will have plenty of jaw-dropping material to work with. Courtesy of the internet. I hope they research this board. ---
**Author:** ![Tee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Tee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tee)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/362 "2013-07-15T14:36:54Z")
> [@Lunchy](#): > > I don’t believe he’s 5’11’'. ok then. :shrugs: ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/363 "2013-07-15T14:46:46Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > ^^This is the kind of happy horse crap that has characterized this travesty from the beginning. Debates about how tall the kid actually was. Like, seriously. 158-lbs in a 5"11 body would make Trayvon a bean pole. An Olive Oly in sneakers. But you know, if we stretch him out further, we can call him a big scary thug! A menance! A monster!Sure, he weighed less than an anorexic scareacrow, but he was tall! I have no idea how tall he is, but I think you’re overstating your case. His BMI would be about 22, which isn’t that skinny. When I was his age, I was about 6’4and maybe, _maybe_ 175. I was pretty darn skinny, but still not an “Olive Oyl in sneakers”. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/364 "2013-07-15T14:47:57Z")
I was 6’0" and 150ish in college. I was an Olive Oyl in sneakers (now I’m 165 and more of an Olive Oyl in flip-flops with a Bluto gut.) > [@Lunchy](#): > > I’ve seen myself in enough photos next to a lot of people who are average, and being 5’11 myself, I know a height discrepancy when I see it. If that isn’t enough, dudes as tall as the goddamn horse. He’s got a solid foot over almost everyone else, and a good 4 inches on the fridge. I do none of those things, and I’m (gonna have to take my word) 5’11’. Were you 5’11" as a high school junior? I’m 6’0" now but I was 5’4" then. Look at his height relative to the _door_ in the picture with the girl. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/365 "2013-07-15T14:56:23Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I have no idea how tall he is, but I think you’re overstating your case. His BMI would be about 22, which isn’t that skinny. When I was his age, I was about 6’4and maybe, _maybe_ 175. I was pretty darn skinny, but still not an “Olive Oyl in sneakers”. Pretty darn skinny is “Olive Oyl in sneakers”. I’m overstating nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Lunchy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Lunchy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunchy)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/366 "2013-07-15T15:09:01Z")
If anyone noticed, I haven’t posted in this thread ‘till now. Obviously, since I don’t think he’s 5’11’’ like people claim, then I think he’s a tall thug nasty thug, and a gangbanger, and obviously I must be racist! How people can make that connection, is beyond me. I could care less if he was 5’ or 8’. The picture of him in the orange Reeses’ shirt is supposed to be the last photo of him alive. I don’t know how tall he was, but I’d wager he was 6’2’’ atleast. Man, if I could only prove how tall he was, then I could prove to you all how big and scary he was, then maybe you would see how GZ could see him as more of a threat! /s ---
**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:** [July 15, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/367 "2013-07-15T15:28:45Z")
It’s just bizarre that you would argue about something you could easily [look up for yourself](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2012/images/05/17/trayvon.martin.autopsy.pdf). Whaddya know; 71 inches. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/368 "2013-07-15T15:34:57Z")
How big and threatening Martin my have been means 'D" for diddly squat. This whole tragic circumstance rotates on one axis, the decision by Z to play junior cop, a role for which he was not authorized, not trained, and not competent. Had he left the matters in the hands of the local police, none of this would be happening now. He didn’t, and his decision is the crux of the biscuit. He is responsible for the death of Martin. Period. Full stop. Whether that responsibility carries the force of law, whether he is guilty of murder or manslaughter, whether he is not guilty of any crime whatsoever is secondary, he made the decision that made all of this happen. Those other questions are a playground for lawyers to frolic. All those legal questions are essentially academic. Trayvon Martin is dead because Z made the wrong decision. ---
**Author:** ![Lunchy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Lunchy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunchy)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/369 "2013-07-15T15:39:26Z")
Then everyone else was hella short. Guess I’ll go to another site and try to convince them of this. Forgive me, I’m somewhat new to posting here, and forgot it was The Pitt. Should have remembered I’d get grouped into any category that loosely doesn’t fit the norm. I shall remember and go back to lurking! ---
**Author:** ![G-SE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f0a364/32.png) [@G-SE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G-SE)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/370 "2013-07-15T15:49:30Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > How big and threatening Martin my have been means 'D" for diddly squat. This whole tragic circumstance rotates on one axis, the decision by Z to play junior cop, a role for which he was not authorized, not trained, and not competent. Had he left the matters in the hands of the local police, none of this would be happening now. He didn’t, and his decision is the crux of the biscuit. > > He is responsible for the death of Martin. Period. Full stop. Whether that responsibility carries the force of law, whether he is guilty of murder or manslaughter, whether he is not guilty of any crime whatsoever is secondary, he made the decision that made all of this happen. Those other questions are a playground for lawyers to frolic. > > All those legal questions are essentially academic. Trayvon Martin is dead because Z made the wrong decision. Wrong. Period. Full stop. This whole tragic circumstance is because of the decision by Trayvon Martin to assault George Zimmerman. Trayvon made the decision that made all of this happen. That’s why he deserved to be shot. In the heart. Trayvon Martin is dead because Trayvon made the wrong decision. It’s time for you to get over it and move the hell on. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/371 "2013-07-15T15:52:05Z")
> [@G-SE](#): > > Wrong. Period. Full stop. > > This whole tragic circumstance is because of the decision by Trayvon Martin to assault George Zimmerman. Trayvon made the decision that made all of this happen. That’s why he deserved to be shot. In the heart. Trayvon Martin is dead because Trayvon made the wrong decision. > > It’s time for you to get over it and move the hell on. … because talking about it hurts your feelings, and your feelings are our paramount concern. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/372 "2013-07-15T15:57:52Z")
> [@Lunchy](#): > > Then everyone else was hella short. Guess I’ll go to another site and try to convince them of this. Forgive me, I’m somewhat new to posting here, and forgot it was The Pitt. Should have remembered I’d get grouped into any category that loosely doesn’t fit the norm. I shall remember and go back to lurking! Why don’t you just read the autopsy report? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/373 "2013-07-15T15:59:48Z")
> [@G-SE](#): > > Wrong. Period. Full stop. > > This whole tragic circumstance is because of the decision by Trayvon Martin to assault George Zimmerman. Trayvon made the decision that made all of this happen. You’re absolutely correct. > [@](#): > > That’s why he deserved to be shot. In the heart. This bit, however, is false. No-one deserves to be shot in the heart. Had Zimmerman shot him as a punishment, it would have been both illegal and grossly wrong. However, that’s not what happened. Martin did not deserve to die, or need to die, or anything like that. Zimmerman’s action was legal solely because it was done with the intent of protecting himself, and Martin’s death was a side effect of that - albeit a predictable one. > [@](#): > > Trayvon Martin is dead because Trayvon made the wrong decision. > > It’s time for you to get over it and move the hell on. These two statements are also true. It’s a shame you had to spoil a mostly true post with such a mess of deeply unpleasant bullshit in the middle. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/374 "2013-07-15T15:59:53Z")
> [@Lunchy](#): > > Then everyone else was hella short. Guess I’ll go to another site and try to convince them of this. Forgive me, I’m somewhat new to posting here, and forgot it was The Pitt. Should have remembered I’d get grouped into any category that loosely doesn’t fit the norm. I shall remember and go back to lurking! In Doper Land, we like to use objective devices to determine height. Like tape measures and scales. We don’t determine height by simply looking at how tall someone looks compared to others, based on a photo or video image. Because, like, that is a stupid and imprecise way of going about things. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/375 "2013-07-15T16:00:25Z")
> [@G-SE](#): > > Wrong. Period. Full stop. > > This whole tragic circumstance is because of the decision by Trayvon Martin to assault George Zimmerman. Trayvon made the decision that made all of this happen. That’s why he deserved to be shot. In the heart. Trayvon Martin is dead because Trayvon made the wrong decision. > > It’s time for you to get over it and move the hell on. May the blessed Baby Jesus shut your mouth and open your mind. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/376 "2013-07-15T16:02:11Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Why don’t you just read the autopsy report? 😕 Because it’s evidence, and evidence should be ignored when it doesn’t fit your preconceptions. No, wait, that only applies to Team Trayvon. **Lunchy** , I don’t know why you’re arguing this. It’s not particularly relevant, as either way Martin was significantly taller than Zimmerman, and a coroner with a tape measure is unlikely to either be mistaken or lying. ---
**Author:** ![G-SE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f0a364/32.png) [@G-SE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G-SE)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/377 "2013-07-15T16:02:56Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > … because talking about it hurts your feelings, and your feelings are our paramount concern. Huh? It doesn’t hurt my feelings one bit. I still have a huge smile on my face that Trayvon is dead and Zimmerman is free. It’s all of you Trayvon supporters that seem to have the hurt feelings. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/378 "2013-07-15T16:03:11Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > May the blessed Baby Jesus shut your mouth and open your mind. Whilst being deeply unpleasant, he’s been far more right in this thread than you. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tequila\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Party)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/379 "2013-07-15T16:04:07Z")
> [@G-SE](#): > > Wrong. Period. Full stop. > > This whole tragic circumstance is because of the decision by Trayvon Martin to assault George Zimmerman. Trayvon made the decision that made all of this happen. That’s why he deserved to be shot. In the heart. Trayvon Martin is dead because Trayvon made the wrong decision. > > It’s time for you to get over it and move the hell on. See, you are still wrong and still a moron. If Zimmerman didn’t think it was his god given right to follow kids around in hoodies, when he was told not to, brandishing his gun and acting like an authority on who was allowed to walk through _his_ fucking neighborhood, then no one would’ve felt their life threatened or ended up shot. Jesus, you are about as stupid as they come. I’m surprised you even can figure out how to work the interwebs. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Why don’t you just read the autopsy report? 😕 Too hard. Conspiracy theories are much more rewarding! ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/380 "2013-07-15T16:05:15Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Pretty darn skinny is “Olive Oyl in sneakers”. I’m overstating nothing. “Pretty darn skinny” was a description of myself, not Martin. A BMI of 22 isn’t particularly skinny. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419.md?page=20)