We trample people to death for a bargain!

First time I can ever remember, here in Canada we had major sales on your Black Friday. Noramally they take place on Boxing Day here.
I stood in line at a store and can tell you have I saved a hell of a lot of money. Only difference, people went into the store without the pushing etc.

 

Disappointed but not surprised.

Angry that while I know there are people who possess true compassion, every American is being painted with the guilt by association brush. It's an indicator of how far we've sunk as a culture and how urgently needed a total economic collapse is in order to thin the herd so to speak.

 

That's the last thing any country needs.

 

Maybe not the country- I'll concede that... but the potion of the citizenry that would trample a person to death for a retail "bargain"? absolutely. They need to live out in the cold and not know where their next meal is coming from. They need to know first hand exactly how much that bargain isn't worth and appreciate exactly how little value their own actions placed on a human life. They need to profoundly suffer.

 

We could make them watch "Made of Honor." shit, they'd probably like that. We could make them read Proust?

 

Still, if they don't bring that suffering in connection with their bargainhorny behaviour would that suffering has any use at all?
On the other side this event is not solely a cultural thing, but also just something that's easily possible in any large group. Lemmings come in mind.
Few years ago people got pushed to death at Roskilde festival because the crowd was so big that the people in the back couldn't hear the music and tried to get more in front. I guess if a group's too big and the people's mind is on something the control is just lost. Perhaps it's at least as natural than cultural. It's very horrible for sure, but yeah, do humans (especially in large groups) still suprise you in that department?

 

Maybe that's why I hate being part of large groups. Nothing is worth taking another life, not entertainment, not goods, nothing.

 

Lifes were not taken as I see it, they were lost in a very weird and sad accident. But yeah, obviously large groups can be dangerous.

 

I don't know what's more disturbing, that a group of people could behave so uncivilized in the name of consumerism, or that so many people would show up so early on a day off to shop at fucking Wall Mart!

What a statement of The American Condition, the symbolism is disgusting! It's at the root of all our problems. Hordes of people out to get as much crap as they can for as little as they can for goods made elsewhere and sold by a corporation whose best interest is to destroy the fabric of our culture (whatever that is, 'anyone remember?).

As cruel as it sounds, you may be on to something, a sort of economic Darwinism if you will.

Lots of great Christmas gifts waiting at your local mom 'n pop owned stores, short lines, good stuff made locally. Sure it may cost a little more, but it could save your life...

 

did you just think of this Idea?..
you really should spread this information..

 

And during these economic times, a majority of people can't afford that "little extra".
I know I'd prefer to shop at the smaller, locally owned stores, but the price difference I find is quite a gap from the box stores.
Don't get me wrong, I do check out smaller stores first, but generally find myself buying stuff at Wal-Mart, Zellers etc.

 

When I say it's the last thing any country needs, I meant it in the sence of prices of food, hydro, gas (for heating) and everyday needs will rise.
Not so much on a bargin basis.

 

I don't think you quite get my point. I don't see where people will acquire a true appreciation of how little those trinkets are worth if they don't have to absolutely STRUGGLE to provide for themselves the bare minimum to survive. We can certainly try and isolate in our minds the responsibility of what happened but I'm convinced that it's a litmus test of where humankind is because almost NOBODY really knows what it's like to have to struggle- and to see little hope of getting ahead because there is literally nothing out there except for crowds of other people with NOTHING.

We take the basics for granted because there have been no real external threats to them so we spend so much time and resources pursuing the very frivolous... angrily competing for something that has negligible effect on life long term- seeking acquisition of something that accomplishes nothing more than a quest for a manner of excess- and valuing it more than a human life.

When weakness of character is culturally coddled and allowed to propagate to where it begins to define a people then the culture richly needs to be shaken down and its herd thinned in a sort of economic Darwinism as Mellow Yellow put it. Let a loaf of bread cost $45 and a gallon of gas $100... it'll force people to pool resources to survive and to cooperate. Re-socializing people into closer knit communities is an excellent first step. Being mindful of what their disintegration brings and finding a way to educate future generations will help to delay its repeat.

What happened at Wal-Mart is more than an isolated news story- it's education for people who care to take in the message. It's a wake-up call.

 

Well said, Stinkfoot.

Do we need that "little extra"?

Look, I can appreciate the fact that not everyone can afford to buy American 100% of the time (and I don't even think you can get shoes made in America these days), but there is something fundamentally wrong with this picture. Helloo, you're gonna risk your life getting a deal at a store whos business is selling us out? Given that at the root of our current economic crisis is over-consumption, the very behavior that led to that tragedy? Are we a bunch of Lemmings?

I thought the holidays were supposed to be about family and regard for your fellow man, not some gluttonous perversion.

Pretty short sighted too, there's a much greater cost associated with shopping at Wall Mart than the "savings" you see on the price tags, but hey, it doesn't come out of your pocket, right? Think again.

A lot of folks out there need to re-evaluate their priorities.

And along the lines of Stinkfoot's comment, maybe we have too much, maybe we won't get a clue until it's too late, we have nothing, and even our basic needs can't be met, after we've squandered all the resources the earth, our mother, has to offer on shit we don't need.

Bah, humbug, no wonder I get so depressed this time of year...

 

That is so, so true. And very well-put.

 

I agree

 

well, and let's not forget the mentality of a mob. it's not JUST acquisitiveness, it's that weird thing people do when they're en masse.

 

No one took anyones life. Stop sulking, were animals, get over it, mankind is nothing more than a group of animals, me included. Except I can see where my pack is going and I know how to plan ahead for my packs ignorance. So if that makes me a human, so be it, I believe Im a fucking pack animal that knows that the feelings of following the pack are pack full of shit - pack full of pain, for the most part.