My reasoning:
- “While not applicable in all cases, mental health problems often played a role [in Florida Man stories]. Mental health is a huge issue in Florida, which ranks at the bottom of all states for mental health funding, according to the Florida Policy Institute. Lou and Orjoux, CNN 2019
- Florida has a known track record of intimidating and suppressing voters, particularly voters of color.
- ”It’s a democracy, we are just making fun of the voters who made it that way.” Except it isn’t. The will of the Floridian people is not represented in the actions of their leaders. One of many examples: 68% of Floridians want the state to do more on climate change, meanwhile “The Florida Legislature not only bypassed proposals to address climate change during the most recent legislative session, but lawmakers also passed a measure (HB 1645) that would strip the term “climate change” from much of state law.” Does that sound like democracy to you?
Instead of addressing these—and other—root problems, Florida Man posts trivialize the hardships of marginalized individuals, perpetuating societal inequities.
Florida man here. Definitely a bear.
There are grades of Florida man, and the ones you’re going to randomly come across in the middle of the woods are likely the scary ones. Don’t think I’m talking about people with guns either. With all the guns in this state I’m much more worried about the ones who no longer have the presence of mind to grab their gun before they leave their house. Think meth heads fighting with pots and pans in the front yard, or people on that drug that made the one guy eat the other guy’s face.
Meanwhile, we only have black bears. Easy decision.
Black bears are basically raccoons.