The Bible has a rule against coveting what your neighbor has. Be it his wife, slaves, a farm animal, whatever. The point is, don't lie around wishing you had something that you did not because it will cause trouble for you and your community. Unfortunately, I can't find any statistics that report if the crime rate declined YTD after the Ten Commandments were brought down from the mountain but I'll take a guess and say probably not. It doesn't matter if laws are written on paper or etched in stone by God, nothing can prevent the unchecked desire to have and to hold.
This morning a man was trampled to death by consumers racing to buy items priced considerably lower than their normal cost. The same mob ran over a pregnant woman who then lost her unborn child to the violent frenzy. Frugal shoppers—people who are commonly referred to as being smart and wise with their money—killed a human being in their lust to obtain lifeless items priced to entice the highest to the lowest income. Two hundred people, ran past and on top of a fellow human beings who could not move, who could not breathe, who lost their lives. They killed two humans in their pursuit to obtain something that they otherwise would likely not be able to afford.
Executives from Wall Street, financial institutions, and the federal government have all been assigned varied degrees of responsibility for the failure in the American economy but somehow one very red-handed and dangerous culprit has been left out: Consumers. The same people who would knock down a pregnant women to the curb for a few hundred bucks. The same people who will trample the life out of fellow human being so they can have something previously unavailable to them are just as responsible for the condition of our economy.
It's convenient to point to the people who sit at the top and place all the blame on them but it's the face in the mirror that will ensure this FUBAR situation will happen again and again and again because laws and rules, no matter from how high they are handed down, can never hold back that level of kill-to-own kind of greed.
I hope those who are responsible, all two-hundred of them, are charged with double homicide and sentenced accordingly. This event is so sick and it is so, so wrong, but I doubt nothing will happen. My guess is that this story will focus on how the store owners allowed this to happen rather than why these people were so infatuated with obtaining a flat panel television that they could not notice a dying man or a pregnant woman in peril. We'll feel bad for them and go on as if nothing happened and go back to buying things no one really needs or wants.
Also: Avoid death, shop online.
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It is a pathetic and tragic story. What more can be said?
We all need to learn to do more with less. Not doing so is a large part of the problems our economyis facing.
How pathetic.
I always find these types of situations ironic in a way. I've been to some of the most 'violent' of death metal shows, but everyone there always looks out for each other. The moment someone falls, people immediately clear the area and pick the person back up before patting them on the back and sending them along. Once I even had my glasses knocked off, and while I bent over to pick them up I had multiple people rush to pull me back above the fray before I could retrieve them.
Yet, at the traditionally wholesome task of shopping for your family and friends, this happens. All sense of care about your fellow human goes out the window. Not a single person stopped to think to help anyone up. If you've ever run over a person, it's pretty obvious they're down there, so this can't be attributed to ignorance, just greed.
Consumers, and our culture, are surely responsible for part of the home mortgage crisis, but the subsequent problems that came from the unregulated credit default swaps, are what brought this economy to its knees.
Just as a quick note, most news sources say the woman did NOT lose her baby; she was just taken to hospital for observation.
These sorts of things have happened before. I have to observe that I have not seen it happen in Canada. Is there something about America that provokes people into thinking that deals > human life? ... the idea that you're on your own, a Rugged Individual, and that you have to Get Yours (or Them) before they Get You?
well said.
I agree, Greg... The focus does need to be placed towards the consumer. There can't be blame placed on a few 'bad apples' on wall street alone. It's an entire system error – Something we all contribute to. The fact is, no one asked these people to rip the doors off of a Wal-Mart and trample through... They did it of their own desire, to possess things they didn't even need. It's a sort of evil really. I'm glad there are people out there who can recognize that WE are the problem, not a few rich guys who, by proportion, only cause more problems. No, we're the people who fuel this economy, and by our actions, very much dictate its stability, direction, real value, or otherwise. This story hit me harder than a lot have lately, and it was really uplifting to read this opinion.
God bless America.
FWIW, the pregnant woman did not lose her unborn child. She was taken to the hospital for observation, but both her and the child turned out to be OK (more info here). So that's some good news to come out of this tragic event.
Check out some of the photos from right before the stampede. Notice a trend?
(Not making conclusions, just observations.)
This is hardly the first time it's happened in a Wal-mart. Back in 2003, a woman in Orange City, Florida was trampled because of $29 DVD players. She had to be airlifted and they managed to save her.
In England back in 1989, 95 people were crushed to death and 400 injured at an overcrowded soccer match. Back in 2000, five people were crushed at a Pearl Jam concert in Denmark.
Don't be surprised about what happens when you drive people into a frenzy. Crowds of people are stupid and dangerous, regardless (and I'm speaking directly to you Lanny) of race, creed or religion.
A majority of the financial crisis can be attributed to consumers. I watched friends and co-workers buying ridiculously-overpriced homes that they could not afford, racking up credit card debt, and neglecting their savings and investments. Deregulation and corporate greed unlocked the doors, but people were the ones walking through them (with no guns pointed at their heads). I'm very surprised that the housing bubble didn't burst sooner.
Blaming Washington and the "big, bad corporations" are just additional signs of the non-accountability and ignorance that have eroded our culture.
@huxley
I agree completely. I honestly was not making any implications of a "[demographic]; therefore [event]" nature.
My thinking was more along the lines of "[%demographic]; therefore likely [socio-economic status]; therefore desperation; therefore [event]".
That's just sad!
I was driving to my families house for Thanksgiving dinner and saw a line of tents outside of a Best Buy, and was really disturbed by just the site of that, and now hearing this makes it all the more disturbing.
"Also: Avoid death, shop online."
+ 1. Looking in the right places one can find just as good deals - and not receive injury.
> FWIW, the pregnant woman did not lose her unborn child.
I was elated to hear that news.
> Don't be surprised about what happens when you drive people into a frenzy. Crowds of people are stupid and dangerous, regardless (and I'm speaking directly to you Lanny) of race, creed or religion.
People dying at a soccer match riot or a packed concert is sad. Someone being trampled to death by people who are trying to buy gifts (an object to symbolize their love and care for another) seems a hundred times more tragic and absurd.
> Blaming Washington and the "big, bad corporations" are just additional signs of the non-accountability and ignorance that have eroded our culture.
Exactly.
> Someone being trampled to death by people who are trying to buy gifts (an object to symbolize their love and care for another) seems a hundred times more tragic and absurd.
In the category of beating a dead horse, this is the culture Americans have chosen. The individual comes before the community, the ME culture, F you I'm getting mine and screw the rest of you, consumerism that is ABSURD, you're absolutely right on that point.
I know right?! I mean, Canadians are perfect little angles who snub their noses at participating in such disgusting events like Black Friday. Puh-lease.
It's a global phenomena - because it's a human trait.
The US didn't invent sales greed (although it could be argued it was perfected by) - the reality is consumers act like a barbarian horde when excited by 'the hunt' - and big retail chains know exactly how to press those buttons.
It's pretty simple really. One person can be smart, loving and gentle. One person might see another in peril, and at least *think* about doing something. A seething mass of people are dumb, slow to react, entirely blind and prone to mindless violence.
The desire to 'win' is a primal thing that we all have. Retailers use that to cause large numbers to 'compete' for resources - just like we did 10,000 odd years ago when Bo and Urk had it out to see who had the Lesser Hairy Yak thigh.
And anyone caught in a such rush is entirely screwed.
Whilst the 'mob' responsible should be slapped upside the head with 'accessory to murder' it's worth noting that the retailer will continue to feign ignorance of risk. "Not our fault.." they'll cry "We can't help it if our prices are so insanely cheap, for a limited only, come one, come all, rush in for a bargain!".
I'd love to see the retailer up on the same accessory charge. But it'll never happen. Viva la sale!
You are so right and once more your writing style emphasizes the absurdity in this story. It seems that people just behave like animals, narrowed to their basisc instincts. But this not a new observation. I am not blaming the woman to be irresponsible, but she should have known that she resorted into a shark pool.
> I know right?! I mean, Canadians are perfect little angles who snub their noses at participating in such disgusting events like Black Friday. Puh-lease.
Heh, nice try. Of course Canadians shop and line up for deals, but I've never once in my life seen anything up here in Canuckville like the stampede of crowds in the US. I've been in huge shopping crowds, I've camped overnight for concert tickets, I've been to packed rock shows, and while there's always a jerk here and there in the crowd, I've never seen anything even approaching the kind of behaviour that would lead to someone being trampled to death.
I suspect the cultural difference does come into play. American culture stems in large part from the concept of individual liberty, the individual comes first. It's not that mob behaviour can't happen in Canada, I'm sure that it can, and I'm sure that it has. My point is that it's more likely to happen in a culture like the US, and far more likely to trend toward the worst case scenario in a culture that puts the individual ahead of the community.
>I've been in huge shopping crowds, I've camped overnight for concert tickets, I've been to packed rock shows, and while there's always a jerk here and there in the crowd, I've never seen anything even approaching the kind of behaviour that would lead to someone being trampled to death.
To be fair, I could say the exact same thing, and I've lived in America my whole life. This isn't exactly a commonplace occurrence, but it is indicative of a prevailing attitude that is commonplace (namely greed and disregard for others), which I am guessing transcends culture and country.
A recent NPR story quoted various persons who'd experienced the fallout of the Great Depression who stated that current generation folks would fare even worse in a depression simply because the current population is accustomed to blaming government for financial woes, when in their time, citizens blamed themselves "we shouldn't have purchased that second-hand radio…" "we shouldn't have spent money on a used car…", etc.
Rings rather true, to say the least.
Sad days, an even sadder general psyche. For shame.
Canucks are not so innocent shoppers. I once had to break up a ight between a Woman and A MAn who were fight for the lats crazy-priced big TV that was part of the Boxing day madness sale at the former A&B Records. The crazy shoopers had stood inlien throught the night and went FOR IT in a big way at the opening of the store at 9AM. I wandered by in the late afternoon to see what was left when a few big items were brought out from the back. One of these was a 42inch TV marked down by over 1000K.. well the folks arounfd me went wild. i was pushed and shoved as about 6-8 people rushed the Clerk. Two shoppers had teh item in hand and neither would budge. Then the punching began. I had to shout at them to stop, which startled them briefly and then I grabbed the box. I wrote a number on the back of the box.. and said i would give it to the one who guessed closest to the number.The woman won, the man could have killed me. Me? I picked up a 300 car stereo for 79$ that no one wanted. and so it goes.
While I feel the responsibility definitely lies with those greedy people, Walmart has to share some of the blame. I mean we've had thousands of years to perfect the art of crowd control! I can't help but think something could have been done to prevent , or at least lessen, that huge push on the doors.
@Greg Paulhus - just quit with the Canadian superiority complex you've been cluttering Greg's comment areas with lately. You're making us look bad.
> I suspect the cultural difference does come into play. American culture stems in large part from the concept of individual liberty, the individual comes first.
I think that your concept of individualism is extremely limited, and I think you're holding it up as a straw man. Individualism in America is about self-reliance, pulling your own and living up to your responsibilities. The people rushing into that wal-mart forgot that last part, and that is a tragedy.
> I've never seen anything even approaching the kind of behaviour that would lead to someone being trampled to death.
If a tree falls, you do not see it, gravity doesn't just say "tree didn't fall, psych!" - that tree? it falls the hell down.
I've never been trampled to death by 10,000 elk, run over by a 90 year old driving a Hummer or even struck by lightening (we'll ignore the three high-voltage shocks I've received, for arguments sake) - but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen.
We're all capable of rolling over people in pursuit of "stuff" even if we refuse to admit it - we all have our price. The neat trick is *realising* that and being mindful of it.
It's not hard to stop and think "you know, do I really need to trample three pregnant women and 'chuckles the clown' to get that prized ticket to a Celine Dion concert?".
> just quit with the Canadian superiority complex you've been cluttering Greg's comment areas with lately. You're making us look bad.
That's not what I've done at all, if you care to read my comments. I've simply made some observations about the US, and I think you'd have a pretty tough time arguing that anything I've said is wrong. The fact that a lot of it isn't particularly flattering to America isn't relevant. The fact that I'm Canadian isn't relevant either. The same things would be true no matter where I lived.
You've simply interpreted my comments in the way you want to. Instead why don't you debate my comments, have a discussion, rather than wrongly assume I think Canada is superior. I do think America can learn a lot from Canada, and from other countries. Just as Canada can learn from other countries.
> Individualism in America is about self-reliance, pulling your own and living up to your responsibilities
Ah, of course, so that's why there are so many guns and so much violence, because of all the people living up to their responsibilities.
Meh, I'm done bangin' my head against this brick wall.
@Hugh G: Maybe they could coordinate the appropriate training for WalMart employees across the country, but I'd hate to be in charge of that effort. Even then, it would be a crash course to a bunch of amateurs (of the art of crowd control). You're right, of course, but practicality has some hand in this, too.
In other news...
7-10 years ago, debt consolidation services started buying up a *lot* of TV ad time. At the same time, I was about to graduate and start college, so the perils of credit card debt were being pounded into my head. I must say I did not like those TV ads, and I especially disliked how prevalent they were becoming.
It's sad that it was all right there in front of us that long ago, and here we are today. Of course, it doesn't help when the companies say you can pay less and eliminate your debt (we, of course, are meant to hear we can still buy stuff we shouldn't while reducing our debt). Maybe if those services told us we needed to wise-up, instead of coddling us in our lap and saying everything's alright, things would be different, but they'd probably just make people angry with the services, rather than make things better. Good times!
JA