Clarifying Twitter Thread Explains the Real Reason "Florida Man" Is a Thing

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Eric Lund
Aug 24, 2019 5:00 PM EDT

Writer and editor Jessica Misener explained the details behind the Sunshine Law and why the reason we see so many crazy stories out of Florida is pretty much because it's just easier to get stories out of Florida. If the laws were different, we'd probably see more Montana Man or Nebraska Woman stories. 

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  • 01
    Text - Jessica Misener Follow @jessmisener This tweet is going around and as someone who grew up in Florida, I feel compelled to explain why it seems like there's so many *~crazy news stories* coming out of there 24/7 swervin merv @g_pratimaaa EVERYBODY google "florida man" followed by your birthday (florida man august 22) and tell me what you get. mine is Florida Man tries to attack neighbor with tractor Show this thread
    via jessmisener
  • 02
    Text - Jessica Misener Follow @jessmisener Florida has something called the Sunshine Law that gives the public very* open access to public records. (It's actually very progressive!) This includes government meetings minutes, documents, an... arrest reports from sheriff's offices and police departments.
    via jessmisener
  • 03
    Text - Jessica Misener Follow @jessmisener On my county's website, for example, you can see everyone who was arrested in the past 24 hours with a click of a button. Mug shots, full names, charges, everything.
    via jessmisener
  • 04
    Text - Jessica Misener Follow @jessmisener So if a local newspaper needs content, Florida Man stories are a gimme. A reporter can call the police department and ask for a full arrest report for any of those arrests, and almost always the police legally have to provide it. (Journalists in other states have it much harder!)
    via jessmisener
  • 05
    Text - Jessica Misener Follow ejessmisener I'm sure scouring arrest records for "Florida Man" stories has been more than one Florida newspaper intern's full time job
    via jessmisener
  • 06
    Text - Jessica Misener Follow @jessmisener So that's why you see so many stories about crazy stuff going down in FL which start as local stories then get picked up by like, the Daily Mail
    via jessmisener
  • 07
    Text - Jessica Misener Follow @jessmisener (also, i mean... the humidity and meth don't help)
    via jessmisener

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twitter interesting florida man crime florida Memes tweets funny law police
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