๐๏ธ wryguy89 ยท 1533 points ยท Posted at 12:26:07 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Raw video: Attorney tells 'knock knock' joke in George Zimmerman trial opening statement
Defense attorney Don West's "knock knock" joke didn't get much of a reaction from the jury during his opening statement in the George Zimmerman murder trial.
zx7 ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 21:29:02 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Aww fuck. Well it'll more go like this:
Me: "If we had a magnet, we could hold it up in from of the car for perpetual energy."
Them: "Yeah, I don't think that'll work, zx7"
Me: "It was a joke."
Something like that, playing the /r/shittyaskscience user, but usually about math.
Fonzoon ยท -1 points ยท Posted at 21:01:38 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
The one comeback that actually works if no one laughs is to say with a half-laughing face that acknowledges you suck, "ah whaat, no takers?" But not even that could save this attorney - how could he have thought that was appropriate lol
[deleted] ยท -6 points ยท Posted at 01:49:34 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
People who think this is cringe don't get it. He wasn't trying to humour people. He wasn't trying to be funny.
[deleted] ยท 21 points ยท Posted at 15:39:25 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
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[deleted] ยท -4 points ยท Posted at 15:54:24 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Well you don't even need that. After all he claimed it was a joke... so I guess if he said it was a joke it must have been a joke, right?
That's the point of my whole reply. You don't get what he's doing. His point wasn't to be funny or amuse people or make light of the situation.
[deleted] ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 16:32:24 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
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[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 16:45:45 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I am not arguing that the joke, as a joke, didn't fail. I'm claiming his purpose was never for the joke, as a joke, to work.
He's a lawyer, not a comedian. People interpret this as if he momentarily forgot he was a lawyer, thought he was a comedian, and bombed as a comedian. He was always a lawyer, and he is doing his job.
He's not surprised no one laughed. He just insinuated he's defending his client in unfair circumstances, in front of what is most probably a biased jury. He just reminded the jury that they should be impartial and not subject to media bias, that they are coming there with a lot of baggage, and that his client deserves a fair trial.
He is emphasising no one laughed. They didn't laugh because it stung. They didn't laugh because they got the message. Because the joke he claimed to be "perfect for that audience" was never a joke.
Again he is a lawyer.
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 17:04:29 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
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[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 17:17:19 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Delivery matters when being a lawyer. In that sense it does have commonalities with stand up. A mere boring rehashing of the basic principles of a jury trial doesn't have quite the same impact.
And I already answered why he said "Nothing? That's funny". It's in my previous comment.
"He is emphasising no one laughed. They didn't laugh because it stung. They didn't laugh because they got the message. Because the joke he claimed to be "perfect for that audience" was never a joke."
MN- ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 14:11:25 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I will have to have my cringe-meter re-adjusted. I must not get it.
[deleted] ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 14:22:34 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He was highlighting that an independent jury is necessary for a fair trial, and that media's influence (which had been enormous) can be disruptive.
Media influence in criminal trials has been a much-debated issue. Many studies have been performed looking at whether press has influenced jurors and caused them to make a different decision to the one they would have made based only on the evidence presented at the trial.
Of course, media influence is not only harmful, and there can be benefits to significant press attention. For example, press coverage can mean that witnesses, who otherwise would not have known of the incident, can come forward and present their evidence.
(...)
Prejudicing juries
If a court decides that the jury is prejudiced by media coverage there are a number of options. The court may decide to stay or quash proceedings and may or may not decide to order a re-trial. The court may decide that the prejudice caused can be remedied by the judge directing the jury on the issue.
MN- ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 15:17:28 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Right, I understand that part. I guess my question is whether or not a knock knock joke where you tell both parts was the best way to make light of the situation.
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 15:36:31 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
It's not meant to make light of the situation. It's not meant to amuse.
That would be me, I laugh way too hard at all the wrong places. Human beings are funny
matty25 ยท 206 points ยท Posted at 21:07:48 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
For what it's worth I'm an attorney and I think this was brilliant.
Even though the joke fell flat he was able to have some interaction with the jury which is very very difficult to do in the courtroom since you can only speak directly to them twice - once in opening and once in closing.
It is a bit cringey though but cringe is all about empathy right? The jury probably cringed like we did and they now have felt some empathy for that attorney. He also framed the failed joke by using it to tell the jury how much he thinks they have been through.
So it was a shitty joke but a good strategy anyway.
PLAAND ยท 23 points ยท Posted at 03:29:48 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
The "Nothing!?" is what makes it art because he gets the laugh anyway and now he has the Jury empathizing with what he's up against, he's made them feel like he's on their side AND he got a laugh. He ramped up the tension and then got the laugh so they've relaxed a little bit and might be more receptive to what he has to say.
Bay1Bri ยท 8 points ยท Posted at 13:59:56 on December 14, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I choose to believe the lawyer didn't care about the legal tactic, he just always wanted to be a stand up, and decided it was time to give it one last shot. He had the audience, and if he could make those jurors on a murder trial laugh, then maybe he could make anyone laugh! He knew he had one shot, and if they laughed, he would drop the proverbial mic, leave the court room, and start working on his stand up. But alas, the dream died that day.
Pretty sure he became so after the case. Considering the media portrayal of him and the slanted portrayal of Treyvon. Also the NBC doctored tapes which was pretty much blatant slander.
dmt267 ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 13:23:06 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
After explaining exactly why he shouldn't get any laughs. His reaction makes it seem like he wasn't using it for rhetoric, since he was so eager for the laughs. I just don't get this guy, if you go into something saying "this is a bad idea," just don't.
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 07:52:22 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Maybe its just some next level empathy gaining or misdirection tactic like a modern chewbacca defense.
Yes, it's supposed to show that he is empathetic to the jury and that he understands how absurd of a situation they find themselves in. Not a hilarious joke, but a sombre one.
But he's also defending someone who shot an unarmed teenager, so he isn't exactly the best person to make light of the situation. That's why it's so cringeworthy.
Meh, to this day I agree with the jury ruling. He is a scumbag, but he unquestionably was not proven guilty of even manslaughter. His self defense argument was tight.
adrift98 ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 18:49:22 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Its just how people talk. I didn't take that to mean "hey, you guys didn't think the joke was funny?" I just took it as the type of banter one would normally use to help deliver the point behind the joke.
Are you (and your multiple other accounts) actually that lawyer?
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 06:30:05 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
and your multiple other accounts
Lol, wtf? I'm not the only one saying it because many people have seen this reposted a hundred times, and each time it's proven that it's not supposed to be funny. Everyone here loves the idea that they are smarter than the lawyer, without realizing how stupid they actually are.
You're really trying to argue that you're not using multiple accounts? There are 4 identical comments all posted at the same time. You can't be serious.
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 06:37:28 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)*
I'm not using different accounts. Maybe that's something you do, but I think that's pathetic. Again, the reason is because this has been posted a hundred times, and each time it's explained why it's not supposed to be funny. Keep pretending like you're superior to the high power lawyer, if you want. Hey, how about you quote me that comments you think I posted with a separate account. I'm genuinely curious.
So there are 3 posts identical to yours (not just similar, not just very close, literally identical) all posted within an hour of each other and you didn't have anything to do with it?
I couldn't give a shit about the joke the lawyer made really, I'm just intrigued as to how far you will go to deny that you're obviously using alternate accounts. Kinda temped to report this and watch you get banned tbh.
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 14:57:31 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
So there are 3 posts identical to yours (not just similar, not just very close, literally identical)
Please, go ahead and link them. I'm genuinely curious.
you didn't have anything to do with it?
I did not.
I couldn't give a shit about the joke the lawyer made really, I'm just intrigued as to how far you will go to deny that you're obviously using alternate accounts.
Because I'm not. If that's something you do, great, but I would never do that. It's pathetic.
Kinda temped to report this and watch you get banned tbh.
Seriously, please do. They won't find anything. Again, go ahead and link those comments. I'm waiting...
I went to a CLE where he explained this opening; he said that the State's opening was so serious and emotionally charged, that he improvised this part off the cuff (after getting the okay from Zim), and did it to kind of reset the room and then deliver their side. It came off bad to us watching, made sense from his angle, and ultimately aided in getting an NG for his client. The attorney was really nice and open to talking about stuff later at the hotel bar.
Probably struggling to fix a very awkward situation;!certainly wasn't effective, and he probably shouldn't have made the joke in the first place, but I think many of us would have had a difficult time trying to get ourselves out of that situation (assuming we made the joke in the first place). Bad idea, bad following comments but understandable.
adrift98 ยท -10 points ยท Posted at 18:51:07 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
As I say above, that's just how people talk. Its banter to move along the point. There's no need to read much more into it than that.
I think it was a joke referring to the fact that juries are not allowed to discuss cases they're working on while this case was particularly high-profile. So when it came up in their everyday discussion, the jury theoretically should not be discussing it at all.
Lucite23 ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 23:17:22 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I thought the joke was funny...
ndt ยท 89 points ยท Posted at 17:55:55 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)*
Not real cringe, because it was supposed to be a bit cringy.
He's a lawyer, who accomplished what he sat out to do, GZ did walk after all, and it started right here.
He turned what would have been a direct criticism of the jury, that they had already been tampered with (not good), into a moment where he seems like the pathetic one instead of them, but still managed to plant the seed he was trying to.
In one seemingly (but intentionally) awkward moment, he sat the mental stage for the jury, whether they realized it or not, that they had already been tampered with, by exposure to heresy and character assassination outside of the court room. That poor mr. Z couldn't possibly get a fair trial because he had already been convicted in the street.
It was done in a way that that he didn't need to directly accuse anyone of being manipulated by the media and popular public opinion, because despite the fact that everyone is subject to that kind of group think, nobody wants to think they are, and he managed to do it in a way that prevented them from getting defensive about it (<--- that's the key).
The fact that this is viewed as cringe (as it was intended to be by the lawer) rather than a shrewd if risky move is the real cringe and just goes to show easy it is to manipulate people, he got you too.
....
Do you see how that last bit made you feel instinctively defensive and make you want to downvote me? That's what he was trying to and successfully avoided.
I would have burst out laughing and not stopped until they held me in contempt of court.
Eldaia ยท 28 points ยท Posted at 14:44:45 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Why does he starts a joke by telling beforehand how innapropiate, unprofessional and innadecuate it is to tell it at that right moment? Way to throw yourself to the wolves before you even give yourself a chance to run.
Escopy ยท 14 points ยท Posted at 16:03:30 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
*inadequate
Eldaia ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 16:51:08 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Thank you. Also it's "inappropiate" not "innapropiate". I should look for words when I'm unsure of the spelling.
[deleted] ยท 7 points ยท Posted at 18:29:15 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
No, it's inappropriate.
Eldaia ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 19:41:08 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Fuck, english is difficult.
[deleted] ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 20:31:35 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He's a lawyer, who accomplished what he sat out to do, GZ did walk after all, and it started right here.
He turned what would have been a direct criticism of the jury, that they had already been tampered with (not good), into a moment where he seems like the pathetic one instead of them, but still managed to plant the seed he was trying to.
In one seemingly (but intentionally) awkward moment, he sat the mental stage for the jury, whether they realized it or not, that they had already been tampered with, by exposure to heresy and character assassination outside of the court room. That poor mr. Z couldn't possibly get a fair trial because he had already been convicted in the street.
It was done in a way that that he didn't need to directly accuse anyone of being manipulated by the media and popular public opinion, because despite the fact that everyone is subject to that kind of group think, nobody wants to think they are, and he managed to do it in a way that prevented them from getting defensive about it (<--- that's the key).
The fact that this is viewed as cringe (as it was intended to be by the lawer) rather than a shrewd if risky move is the real cringe and just goes to show easy it is to manipulate people, he got you too.
[deleted] ยท -17 points ยท Posted at 16:29:44 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He's not making a joke, he's proving a point. It wasn't supposed to be funny...
[deleted] ยท -1 points ยท Posted at 17:47:06 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Erm, he even tells them it's a joke and it's meant to be funny (if you find ot funny or not.. etc)
Saskyle ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 20:53:15 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Yeah and lawyers NEVER lie!
[deleted] ยท -17 points ยท Posted at 16:56:35 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He's not making a joke, he's proving a point. It wasn't supposed to be funny...
[deleted] ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 17:57:37 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
guyyyy ยท 7 points ยท Posted at 18:12:22 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I think it's not the same guy, it's a meme. See here for a similar circlejerk
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 18:28:05 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
guyyyy ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 18:36:58 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Eh, all it really takes is 1 person copy/pasting another guy's comment for the jerk to take off
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 18:32:12 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I don't have multiple accounts. I just copy pasted the other guy cause he was saying it a lot
He's not making a joke, he's proving a point. It wasn't supposed to be funny...
Saskyle ยท -3 points ยท Posted at 20:55:05 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He's making a joke, he's not proving a point? It's supposed to be funny?
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 18:25:08 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I can never really finish these things. the whole /cringe thing has to be the most honest advertising on Reddit today. shudder So vicariously ashamed and embarrassed.
soapgoat ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 08:09:02 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
i miss that trial, the threads were delicious, there was so much cringe, that one lady was spouting racial slurs, there was the old grizzled detective, zimzams black friend cracking jokes with zimzam himself, then jaffa called and they could not figure out how to use skype on live tv
"Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, I have one final thing I want you to consider. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Chewbacca. Chewbacca is a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk. But Chewbacca lives on the planet Endor. Now think about it; that does not make sense! That was a joke!"
Nope. Throwing a punch doesn't change someone's age.
And if I'm armed with a gun and stalking a random child through the night, please do punch me in the face, because I've clearly lost my mind and have become a danger to society.
samcrow ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 07:05:35 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
And if I'm armed with a gun and stalking a random child through the night, please do punch me in the face, because I've clearly lost my mind and have become a danger to society.
i'll call the cops and run away . if you are armed why would i give you a reason to shoot me by attacking you physically? that would probably get me shot. i'd get as far away from you as possible and call the police. i'm not gonna take you on. what am i ? batman ?
It definitely would have been better if the operator had said "do not follow him", but there was an obvious implication that he shouldn't follow him because they didn't need him to. The police aren't exactly fond of people trying to do their job for them.
samcrow ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 14:52:16 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
ok you call the cops and i call the cops. they will show up and figure it out. at the end of the day we'll probably both go home and live to see another day
Can't there be a middle ground where one realizes he did nothing legally wrong and acknowledge that, while also stating how what he did SHOULD be illegal? Or maybe we've all stopped trying to come to a consensus when we discuss things
I agree with you about needing a change in the overall system that will prevent racist idiot vigilantes from killing people willy-nilly. But pro-Zimmerman people simply see any deviation from the status quo as a slippery slope towards losing all gun rights. Also why are you browsing a month old cringe post? :p
That's why we need some sort of universal acceptance on a few minor tweaks, like background checks and whatnot, but that wouldn't have done anything in this case. SYG is just a bad law, imho. And I was drunk and browsing top cringe posts, wasn't thinking hahaha
[deleted] ยท -1 points ยท Posted at 09:04:54 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
So you shouldn't be allowed to defend yourself when you're being beaten to death?
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 00:43:21 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Why? Legally speaking, Zimmerman did NOTHING wrong. He should have never even been arrested under Florida law. The sheriff that arrested him resigned shortly after because it should have never happened.
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 00:08:48 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Other than stalking a minor and shooting him to death that is.
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 05:38:50 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Not considered stalking.
Martin was a 6 foot tall football player..
Zimmerman had some very bad wounds on his head from an altercation before the shooting.
Florida has a stand your ground law which means Zimmerman legally did nothing wrong.
Morally you can feel free to think otherwise. Legally you have no leg to stand on.
If you'd like to have a discussion on this you need to set aside your morals and look strictly at the law.
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 09:29:43 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Following somebody around with a weapon and ill intent is stalking them.
Martin was a 17 year old high school boy not yet old enough to vote or shave or join the Army. He weighed about 80 lbs less than the man who murdered him.
Zimmerman had a single scratch on the back of his head and one small red bruise on his face. Martin had a hole in his chest and died.
Florida's law is apparently being applied rather unequally, when we take other cases such as Marissa Alexander into account. Most assuredly it is being misinterpreted and misapplied, or else the outcome of both shooting incidents would have been the same. It is highly doubtful that the people who voted for SYG in Florida ever intended it to be a free ticket to murder someone by picking a fight with them and then shooting them when they fight back.
Morally your position is bankrupt and legally all you have is bad law with bad government actors interpreting and applying it badly. Florida will be a source of examples that bring about federal solutions that will, ironically considering the source of SYG, weaken the American system of federalism considerably, and will vastly increase the amount of power of the national government over the States.
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 15:19:49 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
You cannot say he had Ill intent. The 911 calls prove he didn't. He was just wanting to make sure nothing suspicious was going on.
Martin was not a "boy". He was old enough to understand his actions and he was much more athletic than Zimmerman. Even with a weight disadvantage he was most likely faster and stronger.
I'm not saying Zimmerman was right. He should have backed off. As a ccw holder he should have not placed himself in the situation at all.
But he did. And Florida law states he was legally in the clear.
As for the marrisa Alexander case... You cannot "fire a warning shot".... That right there indicates you do not fully fear for your life and that the stand your ground law doesn't apply.
[deleted] ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 18:19:12 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
You mean the 911 call where Zimmerman said "these assholes they always get away" and where Zimmerman told the police dispatcher "He's got his hand in his waistband. And he's a black male" and where the dispatcher specifically told Zimmerman not to chase Martin? THAT 911 call proved no ill intent?
And I see you frequent David Duke's web site. The KKK guy. I'm not interested in further discussion with someone like you.
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 18:55:14 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Yes. Please explain to me how that 911 call proves be did anything illegal?
He said "these asshole always get away" because, as I recall, the neighborhood had a string of suspicious activity and break ins in the past...
Also explain to me how him describing the person as a black male with his hands in his waist bad is literally anything other than a fucking description that the god damn 911 operator asked for?
You are not thinking clearly and letting emotions override your logic.
Oh my god he prefaced that with so much pre-apology there's no way he didn't know it was going to fail and yet he powered through it anyway. His delivery of the joke itself was actually spot on but gosh he had the self-awareness to realize that what he was doing was really bad but carried on anyway.
[deleted] ยท -10 points ยท Posted at 17:18:26 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Saved comment
MN- ยท 705 points ยท Posted at 17:18:27 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
When my jokes don't land, I follow up with "c'mon, that's funny" and then people realize that the joke was indeed funny.
zx7 ยท 136 points ยท Posted at 20:30:34 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
When I make a joke, I always follow up with "That was a joke." Then people realize that I am not at all funny.
DAL82 ยท 41 points ยท Posted at 00:21:17 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
"You suck McBain!"
[deleted] ยท 16 points ยท Posted at 01:49:54 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)*
[deleted]
JournalofFailure ยท 15 points ยท Posted at 02:05:57 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Now for my Woody Allen impression: I'm a neurotic nerd and I like to sleep with little girls.
[deleted] ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 08:31:21 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
It's actually a pretty good impression
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 01:36:29 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
"Hey, that impression really sucked!"
pooroldedgar ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 23:50:38 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
KidsMaker ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 20:42:50 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Like this?
zx7 ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 21:29:02 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Aww fuck. Well it'll more go like this:
Me: "If we had a magnet, we could hold it up in from of the car for perpetual energy."
Them: "Yeah, I don't think that'll work, zx7"
Me: "It was a joke."
Something like that, playing the /r/shittyaskscience user, but usually about math.
Fonzoon ยท -1 points ยท Posted at 21:01:38 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
The one comeback that actually works if no one laughs is to say with a half-laughing face that acknowledges you suck, "ah whaat, no takers?" But not even that could save this attorney - how could he have thought that was appropriate lol
[deleted] ยท -6 points ยท Posted at 01:49:34 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
People who think this is cringe don't get it. He wasn't trying to humour people. He wasn't trying to be funny.
[deleted] ยท 21 points ยท Posted at 15:39:25 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
[deleted] ยท -4 points ยท Posted at 15:54:24 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Well you don't even need that. After all he claimed it was a joke... so I guess if he said it was a joke it must have been a joke, right?
That's the point of my whole reply. You don't get what he's doing. His point wasn't to be funny or amuse people or make light of the situation.
[deleted] ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 16:32:24 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 16:45:45 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I am not arguing that the joke, as a joke, didn't fail. I'm claiming his purpose was never for the joke, as a joke, to work.
He's a lawyer, not a comedian. People interpret this as if he momentarily forgot he was a lawyer, thought he was a comedian, and bombed as a comedian. He was always a lawyer, and he is doing his job.
He's not surprised no one laughed. He just insinuated he's defending his client in unfair circumstances, in front of what is most probably a biased jury. He just reminded the jury that they should be impartial and not subject to media bias, that they are coming there with a lot of baggage, and that his client deserves a fair trial.
He is emphasising no one laughed. They didn't laugh because it stung. They didn't laugh because they got the message. Because the joke he claimed to be "perfect for that audience" was never a joke.
Again he is a lawyer.
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 17:04:29 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 17:17:19 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Delivery matters when being a lawyer. In that sense it does have commonalities with stand up. A mere boring rehashing of the basic principles of a jury trial doesn't have quite the same impact.
And I already answered why he said "Nothing? That's funny". It's in my previous comment.
"He is emphasising no one laughed. They didn't laugh because it stung. They didn't laugh because they got the message. Because the joke he claimed to be "perfect for that audience" was never a joke."
MN- ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 14:11:25 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I will have to have my cringe-meter re-adjusted. I must not get it.
[deleted] ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 14:22:34 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He was highlighting that an independent jury is necessary for a fair trial, and that media's influence (which had been enormous) can be disruptive.
This is UK law, but the basic idea regarding this problematic is the same: https://www.contactlaw.co.uk/what-is-the-law-regarding-media-influence-in-criminal-trials.html
MN- ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 15:17:28 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Right, I understand that part. I guess my question is whether or not a knock knock joke where you tell both parts was the best way to make light of the situation.
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 15:36:31 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
It's not meant to make light of the situation. It's not meant to amuse.
TornScrote ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 16:26:34 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
And yet here we are
[deleted] ยท -24 points ยท Posted at 22:08:20 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
samit1100 ยท 19 points ยท Posted at 22:12:45 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Dude it was in the video...
justin_144 ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 05:55:54 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
It was just a funny joke, man.
ts159377 ยท 154 points ยท Posted at 16:53:45 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I would have loved to hear one guy in the back start laughing obnoxiously
[deleted] ยท 56 points ยท Posted at 05:41:34 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
j-rocc ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 21:55:25 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
ah hahahahahahhao
Mynamereallyisntpage ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 18:35:09 on December 8, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
You're fucking beautiful!
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 07:48:52 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
[deleted] ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 08:53:08 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmTGGpb5_Cw&t=0m14s
[deleted] ยท 12 points ยท Posted at 00:03:02 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6HxD6sZ-I0#t=42s
Muffikins ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 12:06:03 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
That would be me, I laugh way too hard at all the wrong places. Human beings are funny
matty25 ยท 206 points ยท Posted at 21:07:48 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
For what it's worth I'm an attorney and I think this was brilliant.
Even though the joke fell flat he was able to have some interaction with the jury which is very very difficult to do in the courtroom since you can only speak directly to them twice - once in opening and once in closing.
It is a bit cringey though but cringe is all about empathy right? The jury probably cringed like we did and they now have felt some empathy for that attorney. He also framed the failed joke by using it to tell the jury how much he thinks they have been through.
So it was a shitty joke but a good strategy anyway.
Silverlight42 ยท 65 points ยท Posted at 22:40:42 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Excellent psychological manipulation, yep.
PLAAND ยท 23 points ยท Posted at 03:29:48 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
The "Nothing!?" is what makes it art because he gets the laugh anyway and now he has the Jury empathizing with what he's up against, he's made them feel like he's on their side AND he got a laugh. He ramped up the tension and then got the laugh so they've relaxed a little bit and might be more receptive to what he has to say.
Bay1Bri ยท 8 points ยท Posted at 13:59:56 on December 14, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I choose to believe the lawyer didn't care about the legal tactic, he just always wanted to be a stand up, and decided it was time to give it one last shot. He had the audience, and if he could make those jurors on a murder trial laugh, then maybe he could make anyone laugh! He knew he had one shot, and if they laughed, he would drop the proverbial mic, leave the court room, and start working on his stand up. But alas, the dream died that day.
blitzkrieg35 ยท -4 points ยท Posted at 05:39:25 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Do you think Zimmerman was guilty?
matty25 ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 08:19:43 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Given the facts that I've read no I don't think he was. That doesn't mean I like him or think a not guilty verdict should be celebrated.
Rytlockfox ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 10:20:18 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Zimmerman is definitely a racist asshole though.
creamwolf1 ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 02:43:16 on December 8, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Pretty sure he became so after the case. Considering the media portrayal of him and the slanted portrayal of Treyvon. Also the NBC doctored tapes which was pretty much blatant slander.
dmt267 ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 13:23:06 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
zimmermandidnothingwrong2013
TheNightWind ยท 315 points ยท Posted at 12:42:17 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
But it wasn't really a joke, he was explaining how he selected the jury.
[deleted] ยท 53 points ยท Posted at 16:57:59 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
adrift98 ยท 28 points ยท Posted at 18:50:25 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Pretty sure that's exactly what it was, and I don't think he intended it to be funny so much as to prove that point.
Jscoff ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 01:22:44 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He did intend it to be funny. That's why he said 'that's funny'
adrift98 ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 02:52:13 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I disagree. He said "that's funny" to the "nothing" bit to further drive home the point that everyone had heard of Zimmerman.
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 18:13:57 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
not everyone. He can specifically select people for the jury who do not know or have minimal knowledge or bias on the case.
๐๏ธ wryguy89 ยท 129 points ยท Posted at 12:50:33 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Yea that's what he was trying to do, but he tried to use a knock knock joke to deliver that explanation and it fell so flat.
[deleted] ยท 96 points ยท Posted at 13:47:08 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
The way he was so offended that they didn't laugh is what really drives the cringe home.
Khanstant ยท 27 points ยท Posted at 19:02:04 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
After explaining exactly why he shouldn't get any laughs. His reaction makes it seem like he wasn't using it for rhetoric, since he was so eager for the laughs. I just don't get this guy, if you go into something saying "this is a bad idea," just don't.
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 07:52:22 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Maybe its just some next level empathy gaining or misdirection tactic like a modern chewbacca defense.
Khanstant ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 08:05:58 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Modern Chewbacca defense?
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 09:33:02 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewbacca_defense
Khanstant ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 10:43:56 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Hahaha that's great
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 05:46:48 on December 16, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
It was. He knew what he was doing.
Fonzoon ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 18:50:36 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I see nothing wrong. I frequently demand that my well-intentioned jokes are laughed at.
James_Locke ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 21:36:51 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Its not supposed to be hilarious. Its supposed to show impartiality.
dandaman0345 ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 04:04:44 on December 10, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Yes, it's supposed to show that he is empathetic to the jury and that he understands how absurd of a situation they find themselves in. Not a hilarious joke, but a sombre one.
But he's also defending someone who shot an unarmed teenager, so he isn't exactly the best person to make light of the situation. That's why it's so cringeworthy.
James_Locke ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 05:23:06 on December 10, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Meh, to this day I agree with the jury ruling. He is a scumbag, but he unquestionably was not proven guilty of even manslaughter. His self defense argument was tight.
ASK_IF_IM_SINGLE ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 20:30:50 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
It was supposed to be funny. He wasn't proving a point. People never post this and they seem to get that.
[deleted] ยท -20 points ยท Posted at 17:07:33 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
It wasn't supposed to be funny. He was proving a point. People always post this and they don't seem to get that.
[deleted] ยท 14 points ยท Posted at 18:08:42 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
There's a difference between making a joke and "trying to be funny". He's a lawyer, not a comedian. He was trying to make a point, not get a laugh.
NauticalDisasta ยท 16 points ยท Posted at 18:46:05 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Then why would he say "Nothing? That's funny."?
adrift98 ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 18:49:22 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Its just how people talk. I didn't take that to mean "hey, you guys didn't think the joke was funny?" I just took it as the type of banter one would normally use to help deliver the point behind the joke.
noodlesfordaddy ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 03:06:44 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Lol
[deleted] ยท -26 points ยท Posted at 16:56:03 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
It wasn't supposed to be funny. He was proving a point. People always post this and they don't seem to get that.
[deleted] ยท 23 points ยท Posted at 16:58:23 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Then why does he introduce it as a joke and then says "that's funny" when no one laughs?
[deleted] ยท -31 points ยท Posted at 16:29:01 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
It wasn't supposed to be funny. He was proving a point. People always post this and they don't seem to get that.
[deleted] ยท -35 points ยท Posted at 16:29:01 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)*
[deleted]
[deleted] ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 20:27:17 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Do you really need to post the same comment numerous times in the hope it will convince people?
[deleted] ยท -13 points ยท Posted at 20:28:12 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Apparently, considering people here are too stupid to understand.
ThereIsBearCum ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 21:38:03 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Are you (and your multiple other accounts) actually that lawyer?
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 06:30:05 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Lol, wtf? I'm not the only one saying it because many people have seen this reposted a hundred times, and each time it's proven that it's not supposed to be funny. Everyone here loves the idea that they are smarter than the lawyer, without realizing how stupid they actually are.
ThereIsBearCum ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 06:33:47 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
You're really trying to argue that you're not using multiple accounts? There are 4 identical comments all posted at the same time. You can't be serious.
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 06:37:28 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)*
I'm not using different accounts. Maybe that's something you do, but I think that's pathetic. Again, the reason is because this has been posted a hundred times, and each time it's explained why it's not supposed to be funny. Keep pretending like you're superior to the high power lawyer, if you want. Hey, how about you quote me that comments you think I posted with a separate account. I'm genuinely curious.
ThereIsBearCum ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 10:46:15 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
So there are 3 posts identical to yours (not just similar, not just very close, literally identical) all posted within an hour of each other and you didn't have anything to do with it?
I couldn't give a shit about the joke the lawyer made really, I'm just intrigued as to how far you will go to deny that you're obviously using alternate accounts. Kinda temped to report this and watch you get banned tbh.
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 14:57:31 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Please, go ahead and link them. I'm genuinely curious.
I did not.
Because I'm not. If that's something you do, great, but I would never do that. It's pathetic.
Seriously, please do. They won't find anything. Again, go ahead and link those comments. I'm waiting...
ThereIsBearCum ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 16:30:58 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Lol, holy shit dude, you deleted them. This just gets sadder and sadder.
Glad we agree it's pathetic! Gotta wonder why you keep doing it if that's the case.
drunk_dean_martin ยท 11 points ยท Posted at 22:50:02 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I went to a CLE where he explained this opening; he said that the State's opening was so serious and emotionally charged, that he improvised this part off the cuff (after getting the okay from Zim), and did it to kind of reset the room and then deliver their side. It came off bad to us watching, made sense from his angle, and ultimately aided in getting an NG for his client. The attorney was really nice and open to talking about stuff later at the hotel bar.
_TheRooseIsLoose_ ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 23:45:33 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
CLE?
disperz ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 23:58:32 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Continuing Legal Education
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 07:54:48 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
NG?
TKitty ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 15:50:29 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
My guess is Not Guilty
[deleted] ยท 11 points ยท Posted at 16:59:40 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Then why does he introduce it as a joke and then says "that's funny" when no one laughs?
Nordic_Hoplite ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 00:26:12 on December 9, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Probably struggling to fix a very awkward situation;!certainly wasn't effective, and he probably shouldn't have made the joke in the first place, but I think many of us would have had a difficult time trying to get ourselves out of that situation (assuming we made the joke in the first place). Bad idea, bad following comments but understandable.
adrift98 ยท -10 points ยท Posted at 18:51:07 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
As I say above, that's just how people talk. Its banter to move along the point. There's no need to read much more into it than that.
taylorlabassiste ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 02:02:11 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I thought it was kinda clever at least. Tasteless as fuck for a murder trial, but clever.
CheatedOnOnce ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 00:24:09 on December 8, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Only on reddit would you find someone defending this garbage....
TheNightWind ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 04:43:28 on December 8, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
There's something you should know...
You've been cheated on more than once.
Barry_Scotts_Cat ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 19:02:12 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Isn't that how a jury is formed anyway?
SouthrnComfort ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 22:22:12 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I think it was a joke referring to the fact that juries are not allowed to discuss cases they're working on while this case was particularly high-profile. So when it came up in their everyday discussion, the jury theoretically should not be discussing it at all.
SmellsLikeBread ยท 200 points ยท Posted at 15:40:27 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
"Nothing?! That's funny!"
Pure, uncut cringe. The best.
intisun ยท 30 points ยท Posted at 19:42:28 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
How I like it. Raw, fresh from the mill.
[deleted] ยท 15 points ยท Posted at 20:12:54 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Free-range, GMO and pesticide free cringe.
intisun ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 23:29:46 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
So, pretentious cringe?
MindSecurity ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 19:44:10 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Straight from the crack.
g33kst4r ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 22:51:34 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He's a loose cannon
[deleted] ยท 216 points ยท Posted at 14:27:51 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Knock knock
Who's there
My client killed a man.
...
Nothin'?!
wardrich ยท 112 points ยท Posted at 17:08:11 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Knock knock.
Who's there?
George Zimmerman.
George Zimmerman Wh-
BANG
[deleted] ยท 25 points ยท Posted at 22:03:35 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
That's how I thought it would go
psuedopseudo ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 00:21:36 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Just trying to get you an appeal George!
[deleted] ยท -4 points ยท Posted at 17:11:59 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
Wubbledaddy ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 20:27:03 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I'm very disappointed that this isn't a real sub.
Takeme2yourleader ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 16:57:05 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He held his ground though.
fffan9391 ยท -13 points ยท Posted at 17:32:33 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)*
*Stood
EDIT: The term is "stand your ground," not "hold your ground" is what I'm trying to say.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand-your-ground_law
rct3fan24 ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 21:52:05 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Both work.
GoonieBasterd ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 23:23:00 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Shit. I told it wrong. Let me try again.
Knock knock
Who's there
My client killed a child.
...
Still nothin'?!
Ur_bio_dad ยท 17 points ยท Posted at 17:11:02 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Still got that dub tho
Lucite23 ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 23:17:22 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I thought the joke was funny...
ndt ยท 89 points ยท Posted at 17:55:55 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)*
Not real cringe, because it was supposed to be a bit cringy.
He's a lawyer, who accomplished what he sat out to do, GZ did walk after all, and it started right here.
He turned what would have been a direct criticism of the jury, that they had already been tampered with (not good), into a moment where he seems like the pathetic one instead of them, but still managed to plant the seed he was trying to.
In one seemingly (but intentionally) awkward moment, he sat the mental stage for the jury, whether they realized it or not, that they had already been tampered with, by exposure to heresy and character assassination outside of the court room. That poor mr. Z couldn't possibly get a fair trial because he had already been convicted in the street.
It was done in a way that that he didn't need to directly accuse anyone of being manipulated by the media and popular public opinion, because despite the fact that everyone is subject to that kind of group think, nobody wants to think they are, and he managed to do it in a way that prevented them from getting defensive about it (<--- that's the key).
The fact that this is viewed as cringe (as it was intended to be by the lawer) rather than a shrewd if risky move is the real cringe and just goes to show easy it is to manipulate people, he got you too.
....
Do you see how that last bit made you feel instinctively defensive and make you want to downvote me? That's what he was trying to and successfully avoided.
g0kartmozart ยท 12 points ยท Posted at 19:47:10 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
And this is why good lawyers are paid so well.
KrazyKukumber ยท 10 points ยท Posted at 21:14:17 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
What does criticism of orthodox religion have to do with this?
It's hearsay. ;)
CintasTheRoxtar ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 22:26:43 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
you ain't manipulating me with that last sentence, I've seen this before! Downvoted!
[deleted] ยท 24 points ยท Posted at 18:10:23 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
superseriousbusiness ยท 34 points ยท Posted at 18:13:37 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He used intentional cringe to make the jury pity him. It was a good play to garner affection from the start.
dbbk ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 18:06:18 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Now that is smart.
obadetona ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 23:45:33 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
This is complete conjecture.
ndt ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 00:01:25 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I object, badgering the witness!
barooboodoo ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 23:54:41 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
God damn we're so easily manipulated!
ygorookie ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 20:13:37 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
yes yes, very good deconstruction.
Idontlikecock ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 19:31:57 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
The guy is a great lawyer with a great track record. This may have been cringy, but damn this is good at what he does.
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 23:39:29 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I think you mean hearsay, not heresy.
4-8-15-16_23_42 ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 18:12:26 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
What the fuck are you talking about?
ndt ยท 41 points ยท Posted at 18:21:04 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Alright, good. You're on the jury.
[deleted] ยท -21 points ยท Posted at 21:58:54 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Wow you wasted that much of your time typing that out. Man I wish I was you and didn't have friends so I could browse reddit all day.
ndt ยท 11 points ยท Posted at 22:02:05 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
What are you talking about? I live in Seattle, nobody here has friends and it's raining, WTF else am I gonna do?
YourJokeMisinterpret ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 08:35:22 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Hey everyone, look at this loser, sitting here reading and typing on reddit. How lame, glad the rest of us don't do that...
ObliviousIrrelevance ยท 16 points ยท Posted at 17:02:08 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I would have burst out laughing and not stopped until they held me in contempt of court.
Eldaia ยท 28 points ยท Posted at 14:44:45 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Why does he starts a joke by telling beforehand how innapropiate, unprofessional and innadecuate it is to tell it at that right moment? Way to throw yourself to the wolves before you even give yourself a chance to run.
Escopy ยท 14 points ยท Posted at 16:03:30 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
*inadequate
Eldaia ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 16:51:08 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Thank you. Also it's "inappropiate" not "innapropiate". I should look for words when I'm unsure of the spelling.
[deleted] ยท 7 points ยท Posted at 18:29:15 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
No, it's inappropriate.
Eldaia ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 19:41:08 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Fuck, english is difficult.
[deleted] ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 20:31:35 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
That's inappropriate.
KrazyKukumber ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 21:16:19 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
*innapropiate
Thrashlock ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 23:34:43 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
inaqueduct
EBDoo ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 01:31:14 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Bless you
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 20:50:32 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
Eldaia ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 21:40:49 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Good catch. Man, I really thought my english was decent. Thank you all for taking your time with the corrections.
heyyoufartfart ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 19:33:51 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Jokes are way more funny if you spend a solid minute explaining it before you tell it.
589547521563 ยท 10 points ยท Posted at 17:40:08 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Zimmerman's lawyers were the best lawyers. 10/10 would hire.
CatamountAndDoMe ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 19:35:16 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Mark O'Mara destroys whoever they put him up against on CNN.
not_the_hamburglar ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 17:56:35 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I wouldn't hire him to do a comedy roast though.
defaultconstructor ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 18:44:05 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
c'mon, that's funny!
mydogbuddha ยท 14 points ยท Posted at 13:55:14 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
At what point was he thinking this would be a good idea?
[deleted] ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 18:05:16 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
[deleted] ยท 15 points ยท Posted at 19:08:48 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)*
[deleted]
kyllingefilet ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 20:51:33 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He's a lawyer, who accomplished what he sat out to do, GZ did walk after all, and it started right here. He turned what would have been a direct criticism of the jury, that they had already been tampered with (not good), into a moment where he seems like the pathetic one instead of them, but still managed to plant the seed he was trying to.
In one seemingly (but intentionally) awkward moment, he sat the mental stage for the jury, whether they realized it or not, that they had already been tampered with, by exposure to heresy and character assassination outside of the court room. That poor mr. Z couldn't possibly get a fair trial because he had already been convicted in the street. It was done in a way that that he didn't need to directly accuse anyone of being manipulated by the media and popular public opinion, because despite the fact that everyone is subject to that kind of group think, nobody wants to think they are, and he managed to do it in a way that prevented them from getting defensive about it (<--- that's the key).
The fact that this is viewed as cringe (as it was intended to be by the lawer) rather than a shrewd if risky move is the real cringe and just goes to show easy it is to manipulate people, he got you too.
[deleted] ยท -17 points ยท Posted at 16:29:44 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He's not making a joke, he's proving a point. It wasn't supposed to be funny...
[deleted] ยท -1 points ยท Posted at 17:47:06 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Erm, he even tells them it's a joke and it's meant to be funny (if you find ot funny or not.. etc)
Saskyle ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 20:53:15 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Yeah and lawyers NEVER lie!
[deleted] ยท -17 points ยท Posted at 16:56:35 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He's not making a joke, he's proving a point. It wasn't supposed to be funny...
[deleted] ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 17:57:37 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
guyyyy ยท 7 points ยท Posted at 18:12:22 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I think it's not the same guy, it's a meme. See here for a similar circlejerk
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 18:28:05 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
guyyyy ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 18:36:58 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Eh, all it really takes is 1 person copy/pasting another guy's comment for the jerk to take off
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 18:32:12 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I don't have multiple accounts. I just copy pasted the other guy cause he was saying it a lot
Dont_Ban_Me_Br0 ยท -13 points ยท Posted at 18:42:50 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He's not making a joke, he's proving a point. It wasn't supposed to be funny...
manfly ยท 11 points ยท Posted at 18:54:26 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Weird, I wonder why he said "Here's a joke" at the beginning and then followed it up with a "that's funny" afterward
Dont_Ban_Me_Br0 ยท -7 points ยท Posted at 18:55:23 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He's not making a joke, he's proving a point. It wasn't supposed to be funny...
Saskyle ยท -3 points ยท Posted at 20:55:05 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He's making a joke, he's not proving a point? It's supposed to be funny?
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 18:25:08 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I can never really finish these things. the whole /cringe thing has to be the most honest advertising on Reddit today. shudder So vicariously ashamed and embarrassed.
soapgoat ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 08:09:02 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
i miss that trial, the threads were delicious, there was so much cringe, that one lady was spouting racial slurs, there was the old grizzled detective, zimzams black friend cracking jokes with zimzam himself, then jaffa called and they could not figure out how to use skype on live tv
AmbientHostile ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 05:15:21 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Let's not forget Precious' testimony.
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 15:50:25 on December 9, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
That was actually genius. He pointed out that the jury could not possibly be impartial without directly saying so.
Soul_Purpose ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 00:44:14 on December 10, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
...
JDBMDENS ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 01:03:30 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
That's kinda smart.
Barry_Scotts_Cat ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 19:01:05 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Knock knock
Whos there?
Black kid
BANG BANG BANG
RenegadeEagle ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 19:30:21 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
YOU CANT FLIM FLAM THE ZIM ZAM
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 19:39:45 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
You can't simmer the Zimmerman.
ray_kats ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 21:18:58 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
This is a variation of the Chewbacca Defense.
https://youtu.be/xwdba9C2G14
wile3166 ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 02:11:56 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
"And what do you call the act?" "'The Aristocrats'".
blitzkrieg35 ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 05:33:34 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
"Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, I have one final thing I want you to consider. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Chewbacca. Chewbacca is a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk. But Chewbacca lives on the planet Endor. Now think about it; that does not make sense! That was a joke!"
stillphat ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 06:02:45 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I just got it. Not really funny, but bad either
jord0hh ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 07:33:58 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Holy fuckkkkkkk LOL
redhatGizmo ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 20:12:30 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Unparalleled Cringe.
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 16:43:49 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
dude got fat while waiting for his trial
devonnegunt ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 16:51:35 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Love the guy with the moustache shaking his head.
chinese4breakfast ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 20:30:37 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
"Knock knock" "Who's there?" "Justice"
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 01:43:39 on December 12, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
"George Zimmerman who?" "George Zimmerman BOOM"
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 04:25:43 on December 14, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He delivered it in such a somber tone. If I was only the jury, I would be confused if I was even expected to laugh.
Sultansof ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 21:43:38 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
how the fuck did he get away with murdering that child?
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 22:21:48 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)*
[deleted]
GoonieBasterd ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 23:41:15 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
A 17-year-old is a child.
samcrow ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 05:27:08 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
until he punches you in the face
GoonieBasterd ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 06:11:58 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Nope. Throwing a punch doesn't change someone's age.
And if I'm armed with a gun and stalking a random child through the night, please do punch me in the face, because I've clearly lost my mind and have become a danger to society.
samcrow ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 07:05:35 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
i'll call the cops and run away . if you are armed why would i give you a reason to shoot me by attacking you physically? that would probably get me shot. i'd get as far away from you as possible and call the police. i'm not gonna take you on. what am i ? batman ?
GoonieBasterd ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 07:22:45 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I will call the cops while I chase after you, even after they specifically tell me not to.
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 09:05:45 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
They didn't say not to follow him, they said they didn't need him to after he asked if he should.
GoonieBasterd ยท -1 points ยท Posted at 23:29:58 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
It definitely would have been better if the operator had said "do not follow him", but there was an obvious implication that he shouldn't follow him because they didn't need him to. The police aren't exactly fond of people trying to do their job for them.
samcrow ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 14:52:16 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
ok you call the cops and i call the cops. they will show up and figure it out. at the end of the day we'll probably both go home and live to see another day
GoonieBasterd ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 23:24:07 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Just stand back and let the cops do their job? Why, oh why, didn't I think of that?
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 23:07:28 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 20:57:32 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)*
[deleted]
[deleted] ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 00:32:06 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)*
[deleted]
[deleted] ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 01:08:04 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
_nephilim_ ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 03:58:11 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Or people who think some laws suck and could be rewritten to avoid these tragic situations.
DeliveredByOP ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 16:15:23 on December 31, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Can't there be a middle ground where one realizes he did nothing legally wrong and acknowledge that, while also stating how what he did SHOULD be illegal? Or maybe we've all stopped trying to come to a consensus when we discuss things
_nephilim_ ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 17:00:01 on December 31, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I agree with you about needing a change in the overall system that will prevent racist idiot vigilantes from killing people willy-nilly. But pro-Zimmerman people simply see any deviation from the status quo as a slippery slope towards losing all gun rights. Also why are you browsing a month old cringe post? :p
DeliveredByOP ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 21:03:41 on December 31, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
That's why we need some sort of universal acceptance on a few minor tweaks, like background checks and whatnot, but that wouldn't have done anything in this case. SYG is just a bad law, imho. And I was drunk and browsing top cringe posts, wasn't thinking hahaha
_nephilim_ ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 01:25:26 on January 1, 2016 ยท (Permalink)
Lmao happy new years dude/dudette. Best not to think of such depressing matters when celebrating.
DeliveredByOP ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 19:30:13 on January 1, 2016 ยท (Permalink)
Happy new years to you too dude!
DeliveredByOP ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 19:30:24 on January 1, 2016 ยท (Permalink)
I like your username btw
[deleted] ยท -1 points ยท Posted at 09:04:54 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
So you shouldn't be allowed to defend yourself when you're being beaten to death?
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 00:43:21 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Why? Legally speaking, Zimmerman did NOTHING wrong. He should have never even been arrested under Florida law. The sheriff that arrested him resigned shortly after because it should have never happened.
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 00:08:48 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Other than stalking a minor and shooting him to death that is.
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 05:38:50 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Morally you can feel free to think otherwise. Legally you have no leg to stand on.
If you'd like to have a discussion on this you need to set aside your morals and look strictly at the law.
[deleted] ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 09:29:43 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Following somebody around with a weapon and ill intent is stalking them.
Martin was a 17 year old high school boy not yet old enough to vote or shave or join the Army. He weighed about 80 lbs less than the man who murdered him.
Zimmerman had a single scratch on the back of his head and one small red bruise on his face. Martin had a hole in his chest and died.
Florida's law is apparently being applied rather unequally, when we take other cases such as Marissa Alexander into account. Most assuredly it is being misinterpreted and misapplied, or else the outcome of both shooting incidents would have been the same. It is highly doubtful that the people who voted for SYG in Florida ever intended it to be a free ticket to murder someone by picking a fight with them and then shooting them when they fight back.
Morally your position is bankrupt and legally all you have is bad law with bad government actors interpreting and applying it badly. Florida will be a source of examples that bring about federal solutions that will, ironically considering the source of SYG, weaken the American system of federalism considerably, and will vastly increase the amount of power of the national government over the States.
ConvertsToMetric ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 09:30:52 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Mouseover or click to view the metric conversion for this comment
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 15:19:49 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
You cannot say he had Ill intent. The 911 calls prove he didn't. He was just wanting to make sure nothing suspicious was going on.
Martin was not a "boy". He was old enough to understand his actions and he was much more athletic than Zimmerman. Even with a weight disadvantage he was most likely faster and stronger.
These don't look like "a small cut" http://www.davidduke.com/images/Zimmerman-injuries1.jpg
I'm not saying Zimmerman was right. He should have backed off. As a ccw holder he should have not placed himself in the situation at all.
But he did. And Florida law states he was legally in the clear.
As for the marrisa Alexander case... You cannot "fire a warning shot".... That right there indicates you do not fully fear for your life and that the stand your ground law doesn't apply.
[deleted] ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 18:19:12 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
You mean the 911 call where Zimmerman said "these assholes they always get away" and where Zimmerman told the police dispatcher "He's got his hand in his waistband. And he's a black male" and where the dispatcher specifically told Zimmerman not to chase Martin? THAT 911 call proved no ill intent?
And I see you frequent David Duke's web site. The KKK guy. I'm not interested in further discussion with someone like you.
[deleted] ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 18:55:14 on December 7, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Yes. Please explain to me how that 911 call proves be did anything illegal?
He said "these asshole always get away" because, as I recall, the neighborhood had a string of suspicious activity and break ins in the past...
Also explain to me how him describing the person as a black male with his hands in his waist bad is literally anything other than a fucking description that the god damn 911 operator asked for?
You are not thinking clearly and letting emotions override your logic.
MentatMike ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 23:04:14 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
He's not making a joke, he's proving a point. It wasn't supposed to be funny...
MentatMike ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 23:04:44 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Then why did he say "c'mon that's funny" afterwards?
MentatMike ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 23:05:31 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Yeah that's not how yopu explain something, that's how you tell a bad joke...
DeliveredByOP ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 16:16:41 on December 31, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Dude what's your point?
neverbeendepressed ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 02:42:43 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
The fact that this has 804 upvotes and everyone really things its cringe is rage worthy.
lifeisabeach63 ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 16:08:13 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
certainly other interesting moments in this very high profile case, this is one of them tho
sirmenonot ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 07:33:27 on December 6, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
That opening line; pure Michael Scott.
Banestoothbrush ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 17:25:27 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I thought it was cute. Unfunny, but cute.
peppersprayinthebutt ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 19:08:15 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
This has definitely been posted here before.
Fuck_Your_Squirtle ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 20:21:40 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I laughed. I thought it was hilarious.
joooswa ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 22:48:19 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
I love giving a disclaimer before my jokes, "I know it's inappropriate, and it's probably a bad idea, but... knock-knock"
[deleted] ยท 0 points ยท Posted at 06:47:34 on December 9, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
What a moron.
heilspawn ยท -1 points ยท Posted at 20:03:50 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Published on Jun 26, 2013
tip_off ยท -1 points ยท Posted at 20:12:55 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Ouch!
ColonParentheses ยท -1 points ยท Posted at 21:18:54 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
Oh my god he prefaced that with so much pre-apology there's no way he didn't know it was going to fail and yet he powered through it anyway. His delivery of the joke itself was actually spot on but gosh he had the self-awareness to realize that what he was doing was really bad but carried on anyway.
[deleted] ยท -10 points ยท Posted at 17:18:26 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
MrSuperBacon ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 19:04:08 on December 5, 2015 ยท (Permalink)
First time I saw this.