General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: How many people have actually considered that Zimmerman is not guilty? [View all]Igel
(35,296 posts)I don't see why it's either/or, at least at the beginning.
If you are defending yourself against a stalker, you might decide to punch and tackle the guy. TM's self-defense. After all, he knows he's fighting against a creep that might cause him serious harm. Remember the child molesters? And let's not forget the guy that some racist fool tied up and dragged behind it through town!
However, if you think the guy's going overboard and means to do lethal harm when you just wanted to make sure he didn't commit a burglary, you get to fight back. GZ's self-defense. After all, he knows he's fighting against a possible burglar that might cause him serious harm. You've seen on the news what these kids do!
Many of kids just don't get frame of reference. They just can't manage it on demand. They have their truth and can't let go, even to entertain other viewpoints.
But we are so good at adopting the POV of the person we empathize with. We take his position, see his angle, minimize what he does wrong (if anything) and justify what's left over make it as innocent as possible. Our guy, we understand him. He's the person we're interested in. The flip side is that we reject the other view as false or impossible, make what he does wrong as reprehensible as possible, and reject any justification for his actions. He's past understanding, so any motive that's bad works.
We're humans. That's just what we do. My side--including me--is all wonderful and right (except as modesty requires); the other side is all nasty and evil (unless a point has to be conceded to make it seem plausible and not a parody).
This does not lead to lead to truth.
I think it'll go manslaughter. Somebody's little baby was killed and so somebody needs to pay for it. But the evidence doesn't overcome reasonable doubt. So is manslaughter a good compromise or what? It's not, but I suspect that, after some wrangling, emotion will carry the day.