I think this is a drop in the bucket of the press attention that says "it works" to potential murderers. I see that as problematic, I actually hate the stupid focus put on individuals that are related to actual news stories (like Snowdon's girlfriend, or Snowdon himself really..) and especially when it's a violent…

I see nothing wrong with the story or publishing his face on the cover of a magazine (is a magazine inherently different than a newspaper or a website in this regard?) though I can see how people may be uncomfortable with it, merely because he does look quite "cool" in that picture, and the tag-line definitely…

I don't know if I would have done the same thing - but if I didn't I know it would be because I was too scared. I probably would have fucking run home as soon as I noticed someone following me. Too bad there wasn't an actual neighborhood watch to protect residents from a menace like that.

It is very nice to have a pleasant and engaging conversation with someone with whom you may disagree on some points. What a revolutionary idea around here. I'm glad we didn't get into using meanie adjectives and ad-homs.

Cheers!

My impression is that in almost all other states you are specifically required under the "duty to retreat" to exhaust all avenues (i.e, try to escape, run, or neutralize the situation in any other reasonable way) before resorting to violence or, you know, murder, in order to claim self-defense (unless you are in a…

I generally am not a fan of illustrative comparisons, but I do think the whole women's self-defense thing I've mentioned a few times is relevant here. We realize that if Trayvon were a young woman being stalked by a man at night, through her neighborhood, that this would be extremely aggressive and creepy even if he…

Even though they are generally better educated that the Gawker commentariat, I also wouldn't like to rely on journalists/pundits and comedians to function as lawmakers.

I readily admit I am not at all qualified to put forth a suggestion, but I do think it would be 'workable" to examine the claims of those claiming…

I didn't say it was air-tight evidence, but it is the testimony of the only third party with any ability to shed light on what happened, the only indication we can get about what happened beyond GZ's own statement. I suppose we just believe that statement of GZ's without any corroborating evidence (like, you know, DNA…

Succinct, reasonable, clear-headed, and absolutely correct. It's baffling to me that people are so viciously defending GZ's right to defend himself, as though others haven't considered that, when they clearly do not think Trayvon's actions in defending himself were justified, if they've thought of it at all.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_16…

Jeantel testified at trial that Martin told her he was being followed by a "creepy ass cracker", and later heard him say "Get off, get off" before the phone went dead.

Yes, she included that in her testimony, which was "not understood" or disregarded by the judge and jury, because…

The only evidence given by anyone (who isn't GZ) who was privy to the thoughts or actions of either party during this situation indicates that Trayvon said "get off me" several times, clearly indicating that GZ initiated the physical aspect of the altercation.

Why don't you go give that advice to a women's self…

You do realize that this is the problem outlined in the daily show quote and OP which you replied to? That the hideousness of this situation lies in the fact that GZ's actions were legal. Nobody is arguing that they were not legal.

Since you support defend GZ's right to defend himself in the dangerous situation he not…

I suppose I might have to pose the question again, why does that self-defense not apply to Trayvon, having been approached and confronted by an armed man with no authority to police the area? I'm sure you know that the only person who communicated with either party during these events testified that she heard Trayvon…

Yes sir. I will now use that as my reason for never never ever going to Florida. I encourage you all to do the same.

God forbid you point out to the believers of the Stand Your Ground law that TM was followed and confronted by an armed gunman. Clearly he should have cowered on the ground and submitted to the authority of a deranged "neighborhood watchman." They're just glad Trayvon didn't have a gun.

So what should Trayvon's rights have been? To cower on the ground and cover his head because someone with a gun was pursuing him and confronting him for absolutely no reason?

If the events happened as described above, he was defending himself from an armed man who was stalking him. You don't think these same principles…

So you take no issue with the part where he was pursuing him for absolutely no reason (except a "hunch") and was explicitly told by the 911 operator to, in no circumstances, pursue or approach Trayvon? That doesn't have any bearing on your "he was attacked and was protecting himself!" narrative? If that confrontation…

Because lots of people are sheep, and those sheeple take some sort of weird, cowardly comfort in the idea that GZ technically did not break the law. I guess it can be scary for a person with a very inefficient mind to confront how horrifyingly backward the law is.

Perfect example here of why I fucking hate those thought-eliminating "if this person were a totally other person" comparisons that are meant to highlight inequality and are almost always ludicrously off-base.
It seems to me that Lindsay's ONLY redeeming quality (in the scope of public opinion) is that she's a somewhat…

Rosamund Pike is the most compelling actress, I just love her. Her voice sounds like a bell. I can't wait until she has an amazing breakthrough role that propels her to the top of the well-respected British actor heap where she belongs. If Michelle Dockery can appear opposite in this fictional film, then I will squee…