Articles RSSJust stop it already, you Black Friday idiots
Two years ago, on a lark, I did the Black Friday thing, as sort of a sociological experiment more than anything else. I consider myself above the fray on this whole issue; even as I was doing it I was lamenting the stupidity of having lowered myself to participating in the increasingly hyped event that is the Biggest Shopping Day of the Year.
So, yes, I did it. I will never do it again. You stand out in the cold for hours to face a mindset of madness, and for what? To save a hundred bucks on a laptop computer? It's stupid. Last night on my way to dinner I drove by Best Buy at 6 p.m. — 6 p.m.! — and the fools were already lined up with tents, lawn chairs, etc. Apparently they were already there at noon. Allegedly some even Wednesday night.
Now, I know I went off on this last year, and I originally hadn't planned on repeating myself. But then I came into work and saw this on the news wire:
NEW YORK — A worker died after being trampled by a throng of unruly shoppers when a suburban Wal-Mart opened for the holiday sales rush Friday, authorities said. At least three other people were injured.
Nassau County police said the 34-year-old worker was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at about 6 a.m., an hour after the store opened. The cause of death was not immediately known.
A police statement said shortly after 5 a.m., a throng of shoppers "physically broke down the doors, knocking (the worker) to the ground." Police also said a 28-year-old pregnant woman was taken to a hospital for observation and three other shoppers suffered minor injuries and were also taken to hospitals.
– Associated Press
I'm speechless. Someone actually lost his life because shoppers are freaking batshit crazy. Lost. His. Life.
Get a grip, people.
I've done the BF thing a few times for electronics and computer stuff, but I live in a small town. I can get to Staples 30 minutes before the doors open and get what I want. Just 20 minutes away is another Staples (and WM, and Best Buy, etc) in a small city, where they will line up hours ahead of time. It baffles me. That people could, in the spirit of giving, break open the doors and trampled a man to death is baffling to me, and I hope it remains so.
I found a new way to shop and avoid crowds. What you need is a computer and you can connect to this thing called the internet. There are shops in there and you can order stuff and have it delivered. Simply amazing.
I live in NY, where its been a farily big story...not only did those animals trample the guy, shoppers continued to SHOP, streaming past him without a care as he lay on the ground dying, not even stopping to look as the EMT's administered CPR. It almost reminds me of that time this guy got killed in a hit and run, and people just walked past without stopping or helping, and drivers just drove around his body without stopping or calling 911. All over some damned sales....unbelieveable.
I have extended family members who go full speed ahead for Black Friday each and every year. Every dang year. I have never understood this impulse - but then again, I am not what I'd call an avid shopper. I would much rather shell out a few extra dollars and get what I need to get another time in order to spare myself the migraine.
This incident reported by The New York Times is madness.
Black friday to me is the opposite. I don't buy anything on that day. Not money is exchanged for anything else unless absolutely necessary.
A-f'ing-men. Preach it.
I had to wonder off into Black Friday without really wanting to go. The morons that filled my paintball co2 bottles on Tuesday did a lowsy job. We were playing Thurs and on the weekend and I didn't want to go into a store on BF and try to get my bottles filled, but I had to because the bottle ran ourt early.
Because of BF traffic, crowds and what all else it took me four hours just to get in a stupid store, find someone who could fill bottles and go home.
If I can find anyway to stay home next year I will.
It's a big hoax anyway. A digital camera was on sale for $188 in the best buy website on Wednesday. The price on Black Friday, as per the ad in the paper...
$199
The same went for many of the items I looked up.
O... M... G. Did they catch those who did it? Cuz if they didn't I bet they don't even care that they brutally ended a man's life all to satisfy their OWN personal greed.