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Just 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.
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10 comments on this post
misterd
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.
Brian
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.
aRX
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.
Random Man
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.
Brendan
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.
Concerned
A-f’ing-men. Preach it.
Jeremy
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.
Jason
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.
Elliot Wilson
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.
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