Episode 75: The Trouble with 'Florida Man'
\u201cNaked Florida man revealed on video sneaking into restaurant and munching on ramen.\u201d \u201cFlorida man broke into jewelry store, cut himself on glass and bled all over everything, police say.\u201d \u201cFlorida man arrested at Olive Garden after eating spaghetti with his hands.\u201d
We\u2019ve seen this supposedly hilarious stories for years on our social media feeds and wacky listicle. Florida-themed crime stories, we are told, are uniquely bizarre and worthy of derision. But what are we really mocking when we mock \u201cFlorida Man\u201d?
On this total buzzkill episode, we dissect the anti-poor, mental health-shaming subtext that animates the Florida Man meme and how it too often serves as little more than a socially acceptable way to mock the marginalized and indigent.
We are joined by Florida organizer Michelle Bruder.