The Making of a Florida Man
Breaking news… “Florida man arrested for attempting to steal a power pole by strapping it on top of his SUV.”
This just in… “Florida man tries to evade arrest by cartwheeling away from cops.”
In tonight’s headlines… “Florida Man Charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon After Throwing Alligator through Wendy’s Drive-Thru Window”
The title of “Flordia Man” encapsulates allure, entertainment, and a dash of concern. A term representing a wide range of individuals whose bizarre acts have become fuel for internet memes. Media audiences are captivated by the unbelievable police reports earning the Florida flare label. This enigma of an identity has us all amused and intrigued. Who is he? What influences his odd acts? Is there merit in the label of crazy Florida men or has this meme elevated the stereotype?
The heat is an obvious culprit to the eccentric behavior found within the state of Florida. A research team in Poland has revealed, “... cortisol, which is the stress hormone, is lower in winter and tends to rise when the temperatures begin to soar.” As the hottest state in the United States, Florida’s citizens experience the greatest effects from the potentially boiling climate. This signifies that there is a direct correlation with the rise of temperature and the rise of stress levels. With greater heat comes greater anxiety, desperation, and disillusionment in the error of decisions made. While this is not a justification to clear any names, there is definitely a negative influence of heat that flames the fire of ill conceived notions. A damaging impact that has the possibility of turning ill conceived notions to actions that end in a mug shot plastered across twitter.
The population alone is a large factor in our Florida man weariness. A shocking twenty one million residents call Florida home with twenty one percent of citizens who are retired elderly folk which is the largest percentage in the nation. With beautiful and captivating scenery there is a nationwide attraction to settle down in the sunshine state. While the more the merrier is a pleasant concept, there are apparent drawbacks to the excessive population held within the state. A large variety of people from all sections of the country residing in a singular state is bound to bring varying opinions, upbringings, and demeanors. While diversity is a standard we should strive for and celebrate, it is impossible to halt all discourse that spurs from a huge population. Another elevating factor within the population is the increase of individuals suffering from mental health illnesses. Why are so many Florida residents acting out in socially unexpected ways? Well, it can be argued that all states house individuals that are mentally unwell, yet Florida’s excessive populations highlight the acts of these struggling individuals simply because the state is home to a greater number of them. And in response to this mental health epidemic found in the area, national headlines are choosing to label these individuals as “crazy” instead of pointing out the true governmental error found in Mental Health America ranking Florida 49th in access to mental health care.
The sunshine law is the final and most relevant topic to analyze the reality behind the Florida man meme. This law, instated in 1967, can be defined as an allowance to acquire the majority of governmental proceedings. Often accompanied by the 1909 public records law, which gives free reign to most reports and documents. In a simpler sense, a journalist can make a call to obtain a “Florida man” arrest report and have no problem gaining access and publishing the report online to add to the pot of headlines that have captivated audiences as of late. The state of Florida is extremely proud of these laws as they bring an aura of transparency and trust between citizens and the criminal justice system. All other states within the United States do not have as much of a comfortability in releasing such a wide range of public records, consequently setting the state of Florida apart. The sunshine and public records laws set up an argumentative stance that the Florida man meme is doused in the media’s ignorance of this particular difference between state laws. Who is to say that all states do not contain citizens that are far more worthy of the “crazy” stereotype. Their craziness could simply be better hidden by the state's laws in regard to public records.
The mystery that is the Florida man has granted the digital world laughs and fun conversations. Although memes are usually labeled as “harmless,” are we crossing a moral line in finding entertainment at the expense of others misfortunes? In the midst of whatever heat conditions, population statistics, or transparency laws present, are we failing to view these bizarre men as humans? These arrest reports that bring enjoyment at the dinner table are most likely the same stories that are bringing that individual in the mugshot great pain, anxiety, and regret. Who are we to poke fun at a person that could possibly be fighting a mental health condition or the disorienting heat around them that is leading them to make these deviant decisions. Internet memes have proven to gain great traction and fast, and the meme of “Florida man” has proven just how quickly a stereotype can travel through the digital world. A stereotype that we as individuals need to ensure is not tearing down the struggling people around us that deserve our help rather than our retweets on twitter.
Written by Logan Hansen, Photography: Parker Elkins , Social Media: Lauren Ercolani