[chessplayer]

Zimmerman got out of his SUV to follow Trayvon on foot.

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This troubles me. Sorry, it just does. jmo.

Until a full inquiry and its results are released, this will be bubbling away for awhile.

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Yes, that part does look bad. If a white person was walking in a black neighborhood, and a black guy started following him and demanding to know what he was doing there, would that be ok with FReepers? I doubt it.

[Cboldt]

-- If a white person was walking in a black neighborhood, and a black guy started following him and demanding to know what he was doing there, would that be ok with FReepers? I doubt it. --

It would probably depend on what, if anything, was being said by the follower. If whitey is being taunted, then I suspect all reasonable people would find the following to be objectionable. OTOH, if the person following was providing a form of protection (e.g., against known thugs who roamed the vicinity), or if the whitey was peeking in windows (not saying Trayvon was doing this, BTW, just describing conduct), then I think the following is prudent, unobjectionable, etc.

If the follower demanded to know, and got a reasonable answer, and quit following, likewise, I see no issue - certainly not one that gives whitey the right to hit the person who made the verbal demand.

[fr_freak]

If a white person was walking in a black neighborhood, and a black guy started following him and demanding to know what he was doing there, would that be ok with FReepers? I doubt it.

If the black guy was part of a neighborhood watch program instituted because there had been a rash of burglaries in the area committed by white guys, then yeah, I'd be totally cool with it.