'Florida Man' chilling in gator pond is out to prove sunshine state 'isn't all crazy.’ Honestly, we love it

Some places are known for their magnificent natural beauty, yet the inherent charm of their rich biodiversity, including its inhabitants, often gets stereotyped. Similarly, a popular cultural phenomenon about Floridians emerged in the news, as per American University, in which bizarre incidents were associated with a “Florida man.” Due to the way in which headlines were framed at the time, a meme became all the rage on the internet, showing the ordinary folks of the Sunshine State as brash, flamboyant and over the top. Debunking this myth, a sunny senior attempted to show the other side of the “Florida man” that most people don’t talk about. The nature lover and content creator Uncle Pappy—who goes by @unc.pappy on Instagram—took a dip in a dangerous-looking pond, embracing the region’s untamed biodiversity.

In a widely circulating video, the senior was seen relaxing in the water body without showing any signs of fear. Known to his one million followers for pulling off daredevil acts, he seemed calm inside the pond, which is considered dangerous due to alligators, bacteria and parasites. Instead of panicking, Uncle Pappy made a call to embrace nature and not shy away from its magical presence around us. “People talk about Florida Man—there's always something bad, man. But what about the Florida Man who relaxes in the pond?” he asked, breaking away from the typical representation of the “Florida man.”

Donning a typical beach hat and retro-style sunglasses, Uncle Pappy was spotted taking a swimming session, surrounded by large heart-shaped leaves. The environmentalist was attempting to highlight a different side of Florida residents—those who appreciate nature and have fun. At the same time, he effortlessly embodied his nature-loving daredevil persona, for which he’s widely regarded. The nature enthusiast continued with his antics while making claims about living in “harmony with the alligators.” He spoke about water moccasins dancing to the music and the hum of the bugs. “What about the 'Florida Man' that lives in peace with the mosquitoes, baby? Relaxes in the pond like Ponce De Leon.”

“That’s the Florida man I like to see. We ain’t all going crazy, man. We ain’t all (crazy). Maybe we’re all a little crazy, but we ain’t all bad crazy, brother,” he was heard saying during a soothing swimming session. In the description, Uncle Pappy reminded people that there’s a whole other “Florida man” who isn’t often talked about. “What about the nature-lovin’ goofball? There’s plenty here in the Sunshine State, brother,” the old man wrote. His nearly 30-second clip managed to draw widespread attention on social media, garnering 968,885 likes.

Among the countless reactions it received, @the.devils.corner lauded, “You remind me of the firefly from Princess and the Frog, but in the best way possible.” “You're my favorite Florida man as far as I know! I think we need a representative like you for every state. I'll take Nevada—Lord knows we're kind of the second Florida when it comes to people's perception of our population,” @theinevitabledanielle echoed similar sentiments. This was not the first time Uncle Pappy spread the message of embracing nature instead of fearing it. Earlier, the environmentalist posed with a giant banana spider with grace.

You can watch the video here. 

You can follow Uncle Pappy (@unc.pappy) on Instagram for more lifestyle content.