# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/21 "2013-07-13T23:22:08Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > What is wrong with approaching a suspicious looking person and simply asking them what is going on? You might get stabbed or shot. Or in this case, punched in the face. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/22 "2013-07-13T23:28:24Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > He got to play out his fantasy of being the big bad vigilante gunning down the Scary Black Man; he’s not going to feel guilty and have nightmares, he’s going to go to sleep with a smile thinking about it, reliving every “glorious” moment. If only the jury could’ve heard your expert testimony, the prosecution would’ve had an open-and-shut case. ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/23 "2013-07-14T00:00:05Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > You might get stabbed or shot. Or in this case, punched in the face. On the brighter side, you might get to shoot someone and get away with it! ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/24 "2013-07-14T00:05:29Z")
> [@IgnoranceIsMyExcuse](#): > > This. The race-baiters and the gun nuts can both go to hell. yes. sadly. ---
**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/25 "2013-07-14T00:09:38Z")
> [@hansel](#): > > On the brighter side, you might get to shoot someone and get away with it! Some people need to be shot. The law accounts for that. Next? ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/26 "2013-07-14T00:13:13Z")
Excellent, the “He needed killin’” defence makes the explicit appearance it was afraid to make in the other threads. ---
**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/27 "2013-07-14T00:14:46Z")
I said it myself in the other threads. Next? ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/28 "2013-07-14T00:17:13Z")
> [@BlakeTyner](#): > > Next? Why do I get the feeling this thread isn’t really about Martin or Zimmerman? ---
**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/29 "2013-07-14T00:18:26Z")
Don’t know. Make an assertion and then prove it. I’m not the one trying to get into anyone else’s mind. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/30 "2013-07-14T00:25:53Z")
> [@BlakeTyner](#): > > Some people need to be shot. The law accounts for that. > > Next? Looks like it’s adjunct professor month again. ---
**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/31 "2013-07-14T00:30:49Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Looks like it’s adjunct professor month again. Looks like it’s ad hominem day! And I’m full-time, not adjunct. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/32 "2013-07-14T00:36:27Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > You know, most people don’t think like that. Your constant attempts to demonise your enemies make me wonder about your state of mind. You remind me of the opposite of one of those fundamentalist nutcase preachers always on about the evil temptation of THE GAY, because they are closet bottomists. > > Are you, by any chance, a closet misanthrope? No closet involved. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/33 "2013-07-14T00:50:28Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > If those neighbors, instead of calling 911, had run outside and broken up the fight, there wouldn’t have been a killing. Recall that GZ himself called the cops. Casting any blame on the neighbors for doing exactly what Zimmerman himself did is really fucking bizarre. That’s not exactly the same as victim blaming, but it’s a kissing cousin of the same principle. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/34 "2013-07-14T00:59:54Z")
> [@BlakeTyner](#): > > Ratings, I guess. Same as it was with the Casey Anthony trial (gotta say I wish she’d have been convicted.) > > And, I mean, anything the media can use to highlight racial tension, right? The initial reports describe GZ as “white,” and now we get “white hispanic.” What’s shocking about the term “white Hispanic”? Something like 37% of all Hispanics in the US consider themselves white and the percentage of Hispanics in Florida who believe this is even higher for obvious reasons. I’m pretty sure our own Red Fury considers himself both. Apologies to Señor Fury if I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/35 "2013-07-14T01:01:20Z")
Anyway, I think all the people hating on Trayvon on are creepy-ass crackers. ---
**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/36 "2013-07-14T01:02:53Z")
There’s nothing shocking about it. But the media initially presented the case as “black kid killed by white man” and then had to revise that. NBC selectively edited the NEN call to make it appear that it was Zimmerman who just blurted out “black guy!” I don’t personally think the race card should’ve been played in this case, but it was, and it’s understandable–it gets people to tune in. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/37 "2013-07-14T01:03:37Z")
> [@IgnoranceIsMyExcuse](#): > > This. The race-baiters and the gun nuts can both go to hell. Right. The circus around this trial is all about getting ratings by whipping up fervor on two “sides” of what is an unfortunate incident that could have been prevented by BOTH parties deciding to NOT “stand up” but rather quickly heading back to the safety of home. > [@marshmallow](#): > > > [@jtgain](#): > > > > What is wrong with approaching a suspicious looking person and simply asking them what is going on? > > You might get stabbed or shot. Or in this case, punched in the face. And why should any person walking down the public street feel compelled to justify their presence and intentions to any random Joe Blow that doesn’t like how they look? If when challenged by a “concerned citizen” their answer is “none of your damn business” and continue walking down the same street, what is his justified action? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/38 "2013-07-14T01:03:39Z")
Zimmerman is an idiot wannabe schmuck. But he’s not guilty. ---
**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/39 "2013-07-14T01:04:03Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Anyway, I think all the people hating on Trayvon on are creepy-ass crackers. +1 ---
**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 14, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419/40 "2013-07-14T01:04:54Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And why should any person walking down the public street feel compelled to justify their presence and intentions to any random Joe Blow that doesn’t like how they look? They shouldn’t feel compelled to do that. But neither should they feel entitled to punch the person who asks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-the-zimmerman-trial-circus/663419.md?page=3)