Black Friday kills
Free advice: Stay home today. People are insane. This is insane.
A worker died after being trampled and a woman miscarried when hundreds of shoppers smashed through the doors of a Long Island Wal-Mart Friday morning, witnesses said.
The unidentified worker, employed as an overnight stock clerk, tried to hold back the unruly crowds just after the Valley Stream store opened at 5 a.m.
Witnesses said the surging throngs of shoppers knocked the man down. He fell and was stepped on. As he gasped for air, shoppers ran over and around him.
“He was bum-rushed by 200 people,” said Jimmy Overby, 43, a co-worker. “They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too…I literally had to fight people off my back.”
…Before police shut down the store, eager shoppers streamed past emergency crews as they worked furiously to save the store clerk’s life.
“They were working on him, but you could see he was dead, said Halcyon Alexander, 29. “People were still coming through.”
Only a few stopped.
“They’re savages,” said shopper Kimberly Cribbs, 27. “It’s sad. It’s terrible.”
Reason number 99,999 to shop online.
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Trackbacks
- Left Of Center
- The Mud Pit » When Shopping Kills
- Worker Trampled To Death « The Underground Conservative
- ‘Twas the Month Before Christmas « The Constitution Club
- This ain’t Hell, but you can see it from here » Blog Archive » Unrestrained consumerism claims two
- Hot Air » Blog Archive » The Black Friday mindless stampede
- Walmart Black Friday Death « Mcnorman’s Weblog
- Happy Black Friday To All — Including Those Wal-Mart Employees Who’ve Survived Without Losing Life Or Limb | THE GUN TOTING LIBERAL™
- Black Friday Claims A Life | The American Pundit
- Fatality on Black Friday « Jane Q. Republican
- Black Friday turns dark | skewred.com
- WO’s Daily Roundup | Without Objection
- Stop The ACLU
- Black Friday In America Not Worth It « Quipster
- Mumbai: Tradgedy Unfolds « Dianej’s Weblog
- The Irascible Chef » Hardtimes? Sacrifice? Put the shovel down!
- Thought Cloud For November 29, 2008
- Thanksgiving Gratitude List « Love, Mom (Notes from the fridge)
- The Irascible Chef » Hard times? Sacrifice? Put the shovel down!
- Michelle Malkin » Michelle’s ring thing
- NOT the way to start the Christmas season! « American Elephants
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I can’t imagine why anyone would subject themselves to physical shopping when Amazon has everything, and most of it is cheaper to boot.
Yes, I know Amazon has some leftist tendencies, but they’re damn good at what they do. Business is business.
All that misery over WalMart?!?!
Costco almost always offers better values (considering quality and cost) and is a much, much better corporate citizen. Patronize them instead.
I thought since we were in the Great Depression II nobody had any money and the stores were empty?
“corporate citizen” = caved into leftist shakedowns
…brings to mind the chaos at one of the Wal-Marts here in Las Vegas, when the “Furby” first went on sale. There were fights, injuries, and the police had to be called.
Bless the poor clerk; what a senseless death.
Madness.
I had 90% of my shopping done before Thanksgiving and it was all done on line. I refuse to fight the insane crowds at stores. Everyone loses all sense of dignity when they think they can be first on line and get a bargain.
Sounds to me that there should be people charged with manslaughter! Hopefully, security cameras will help bring these criminals to justice.
Coming back a little before midnight last night, traffic was backed up for miles in both directions to the Outlet Mall exit near our home, where some stores were to open at 12. Recession?
MM is right, besides you can shop and blog at the same time
One more reason in the long list of reasons I will not voluntarily shop at Wally World.
While there is no excusing the shoppers for their insanity, the merchants are also to blame for their ridiculous hype, early hours, and creating an environment that is ripe for the kind of chaos Michelle so accurately outlined.
Yes, people are insane. That is why stadiums and designed the way they are and events in them conducted in the manner that they are. Merchants need to take note before we have more pointless loss of life and injury.
““corporate citizen” = caved into leftist shakedowns”.
Ok, fair enough. But…
Walmart was found to have used subcontracting schemes to employ illegal [slave] labor, and does engage in policies of retribution when localities vote to NOT allow new stores to be built in the area – WalMart, is quite a bit different. Since corporation have the protections of US law equivalent to a person, they too, also have the responsibility of acting like a ‘responsible citizen’.
I boycott WalMart just cuzz!
OMG. What is WRONG with people! How terrible!
Typical Wal Mart crowd.
Extremely loud air horns like the kind they use at fire stations. Have em at the doorway and if a stampede ensues, (it only takes a few people in the back to start one by shoving the person in front of them – and so on..), push the button and they’ll all stop in their tracks in fear. It might break a few eardrums but can save lives.
Alternate / augmentation – cold water troughs above the doors; enough to drench everyone there outside the door in a matter of seconds. (Not a ‘water cannon’ – just a huge volume of cold water falling on the crowd).
I hope they have video of the people who started the pushing. It’s no different than yelling fire in a crowded theater IMO.
Move along folks, nothing to see here. Typical New Yorker behavior. What do you want from a Blue State?
And we’re surprised……..why?
Prayers for the victim and the lady who miscarried.
Sad state of affair when a store might need to consider installing some of those traffic barrier dividers to form a zig zag arrangement to control the flow into the store.
I hope their purchases were worth the cost and that they can sleep a little restless tonight.
I agree..post the video and name names and ‘make them famous’.
That tragic event says volumes about the local people.
What were his last words when he left home to go to work?
My prayerful thoughts go out to his family.
Have you seen any videos of past stampedes? World’s Dumbest did a show on it last night.
All I can say is MOOOOOOOO! What a bunch of cows and bulls.
Some society we live in now. I used to love the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping. Salvation Army bells ringing(they shut those down), people happily browsing the stores, Christmas carols everywhere, people actually smailing at strangers and being polite. For the past fifteen years, you couldn’t pay me enough to join in the cynical chaos, with the pushing and shoving, mall shootings, gang-bangers hanging out.
No where is there any indication that this is the “Christmas season, but in a way, I guess that is a good thing. Why would we advertise “Christmas” over these pathetic, sad, anti-social antics of the Godless society of today?
Me and mine celebrate the season as Americans did years ago, with the “reason for the season” prominent in life and thanks to the internet, there’s no reason to join in the crass activity of today’s shopping.
During Christmas season, my trips to Wal-Mart are made after midnight on a weeknight. No way would I go there the day after Thanksgiving.
“I boycott WalMart just cuzz!”
Should you really be sharing this left wing mindless tripe in a public forum?
“better corporate citizen”
All that’s required of a corporate citizen is that they follow the law. And no, Wal-Mart does not use slave labor.
I finished all my Christmas shopping online. I bundled what I could to get free shipping.
Merry Christmas and I’ll rip your arms off if you don’t release that Cabbage Patch Doll darlin’.
May God rest this poor man’s soul, and comfort his family and co-workers. My heart weeps for him.
Everything at walnut world is on camera. Hopefully there will be prosecutions. 2nd degree murder sounds right.
I agree with “Blue State”. I have never witnessed such aggression during an election. And now we have Prop. 8 violence. Liberals are nothing but thugs, and now they have their own leader. One that bullied, cheated, and lied his way to the POTUS of the U.S.
I visited a Walmart one time while on a road trip. I had to purchase some chain and locks. The customers and employees are all from a different species of human than I am familiar with. They made me sick and I will never go into another one of these stores. I am not surprised at this outrageous behavior by these animals.
Ugh. I used to live about 5 miles from the Valley Stream area (Known as the Green Acres Mall) where this walmart is located.
You may recall that about a decade ago, there was a shooting (and death) at a movie theater located at the same mall. Gang stuff.
the story says Long Island, but this is right on the Queens/Nassau county border, ie, near “the city”. Lots of nice people living in Queens there, but also a lot of trash.
Glad I moved.
Ugh. I used to live about 5 miles from the Valley Stream area (Known as the Green Acres Mall) where this walmart is located.
You may recall that about a decade ago, there was a shooting (and death) at a movie theater located at the same mall. Gang stuff.
the story says Long Island, but this is right on the Queens/Nassau county border, ie, near “the city”. Lots of nice people living in Queens there, but also a lot of trash.
Glad I moved.
Just more proof that we are headed down the road on becoming a third world country.
My wife and I live near a mall on the south side of Indianapolis. We don’t go anywhere near it in November and December; too many wackos!
Agreed there are many better ways to shop and on-line is the way I’ve done it for years.
However what strikes me about the story is how people will act in order to “get theirs” regardless of what it might do to others. It’s all about “winning”. But then I guess our politicians have become the demonstration for us. Too bad we are stupid enough to follow.
Stubby – You sound like an elitist. Do you eat arugula too? Different kinds of people everywhere. My friends and neighbors shop at our local Wal-mart and true, a few more scruffy people too. However looks are deceiving. Look at the animals we elect as politicians.
How sad. This is why I shop before Thanksgiving and on line.
As for these animals…I hope that they get prosecuted.
What a sad commentary on our consumer culture. (I also live five miles from this particular Wal-Mart.) The saddest part is that consumer spending is considered a leading economic indicator whether or not the source of this spending is earned money in the pocket or maxed out credit cards. No wonder economists often get it wrong. We need to restore thrift as a primary national virtue and get away from these shopping orgies.
You are a jerk to give this a political touch…Atleast have soem mercy on the dead person’s family. BTW do read below comment about a red state as well -
Geez ..this is why I wait until after Christmas/Jan. 1st to do my shopping….in addition to the poor clerk being injured which is THE sad part of this story -don’t people know these Black Friday gimmicks are just that?
What a bunch of elitists here! No wonder the Republican Party (my party!) has moved to the center with the likes of you people!
Wal Mart has come under attack from the left far too much, and for socialist-type reasons. Et Tu, Brutus?
I worked for over 25 years at various retail jobs, including one for over 14 years. It sucks, and people treat you like sh!t.
Thank a retail employee today, or figure out one kind word a day for these poor employees. Now one gets killed on Black Friday, and here at MM a bunch of snobby elitists start hammering away at the retailer! You complain that the store didn’t make the entrance riot-proof! What a bunch of lawyers!
Yet another sign of the coming apocalypse. What absolute brainless morons do something like this; and what imbeciles run past a person lying on the floor being trampled?? That’s Christmas spirit for ya. I hope every single person that took part in this murder looks at themself in the mirror and feels deep shame. I think anybody who actually trampled this poor soul gets identified on security tape, (that should be released to the public to identify these people), and gets prosecuted. How disgusting.
This isn’t a WalMart issue, or a NYC/suburbs issue, it is indicative of the area that this WalMart is located. It is a crime ridden and depressed area.
Let me start with I am terribly sorry for the loss of life and the sorrow the family of this person now has to suffer needlessly.
I see a lot of misdirected anger at Walmart. I have my complaints about Walmart, not because their non-union…I have my own more realistic reasons, altho I do still buy at their stores, on occasion, know why? Quality of product for prices paid, basic capitalistic economics. Walmart provides middle class income and lower an opportunity to acquire merchandise they normally couldn’t afford.
Walmart is not the only outlet to of had injuries from these insane “black friday sales”. I was watching on t.v. last nite:
Smoking Gun presents World’s Dumbest: ‘Black Friday Shoppers.’ These stores taking part in this madness are not all Walmart, far from it…just happens someone died today at a Walmart BFS all names take part in this madness. IMH the store is not responsible for the actions of the shoppers, but they are responsible for the way the store conducts these moments of mayhem. Walmart and other stores that hold these spectacles definitely need to be more aware of safety concerns.
You are right, retailing does stink, but the retailer has a responsibility to keep the premises safe. If the management saw (and I am sure they did) the potential for the crowd being out of control (which is easy to see that there was a potential for such..anyone looking out of the front door could see this) then the manager should have at the VERY LEAST called the cops for crown control BEFORE opening the doors.
HOWEVER…I am not laying the whole o the blame on the store…the animals outside take the majority of the blame.
Have we become such a nation of greedy materialists that we resprt to this behavior? What does this say about our society? Are we that materialistic? Can we NOT say NO to our children? Can we not plan our budgets better so that we can get the things we want for our family in a timely, orderly fashion without having to resort to this mob mentality? Will our children survive NOT having an x-box?
No wonder we are going the way of the Roman Empire…the majority want our government to take care of us and the majority reelect ineffectual leaders. The Majority take no responsibility for our actions. We are materialastic and lazy.
Just don’t give in to the herd mentality; The world does not revolve around stuff; Separate out your wants and needs; Walmart and all the rest are open 360+ days a year.
Most online “stores” are offering free shipping too. I’m almost done with my shopping!
Oh, I’ve already spent more this year than last.
Slide show of the crowd at the scene of the store on Long Island
How can anyone rationalize this animalistic behavior as the fault of WalMart?
This is just another manifestation of the almost total loss of values, civility, manners and “common sense” that is the outcome of the leftist Anything-Goes philosophy.
Why would a people that condone the murder of 40 million babies in the womb be concerned about one worker trampled to death and one baby lost through miscarriage?
Their only value to the left is as pawns to be used to further political agendas – such as beating on WalMart.
No, typical NY City behavior, but the folks upstate are still civilized.
How dare Ms. Cribbs racist’ly call them “savages”; they’re to be called “first shoppers”
Was that Wrentham, BSR?
I went by earlier (8:00pm) and didn’t see any back-up then. I was sleeping off the turkey by the time you’re talking!
jbirish, I am with you. We no longer live in “Bedford Falls”, we now all live in “Potterville”.
Lock, load, and man the barricades. The country has gone to the looters.
That’s horrible. I usually love just being in the middle of the mayhem but nothing like that.
Why is there not mention of the woman who lost her baby?
This is a death also, and my prayers go out for this grieving, injured mother and her family. Can you imagine the trauma the woman has endured?!
May both of the departed souls rest in peace. And may there be justice done in this horrible event.
I can get any books or CDs that I want on amazon without having to be shoved or pushed by rude customers or by clerks who go on a coffee break when I come to the cash register. When I want to buy a used book or used CD, I can get great bargains by going to the used vendors on amazon. When I want my running or tennis clothes or casual clothes, I can just about always get what I want on Overstock.com. And when I want office equipment or toners or stuff like that, I can just go to provantage or similar sites. And I can online and get online coupons also. So why would anyone be such a turkey butt that he or she has to be at bestbuy or Walmart today? I found a fantastic GPS with all the trimmings online in about 20 minutes. But I do concede that seeing all the beautiful ladies at the Paradise Valley Mall in Socal last year was fun also!
A couple of times in my life I have found myself in a large crowd where I knew if things got out of hand, I would be helpless to do anything about it.
The most recent was at a concert last spring. We were three adults and three teenagers, caught in a large crowd that was mindlessly moving forward. When I realized that what the crowd was pushing forward to was a fenced off dead end I immediately told everyone in our group to turn around, go back. It was a struggle for all of us to “swim upstream” against the surge, but fortunately we all made it out.
Parents can use the tragedy at the Wal-Mart to educate their children (and themselves) about being situationally aware. Crowds can become very dangerous very quickly. Learn to recognize situations and avoid putting yourself in the middle of something that you are powerless to control.
Unbelievable.
Yup – and going to see how the department stores dressed up and decorated their windows.
It has now become instead a joyless time of greed-fueled inhumanity. (If you play by mob rules and avarice.)
If, by “elitist”, you mean those of us who would have the audacity of hope to live in a civilized community and are shocked by this barbaric behavior, then that’s what we are – elitists. What does that make you?
I feel safe to speak for a lot of folks on this blog that the Republican party has abandoned us conservatives. You say that it has centered, but we view it as leftist – and by self-implication, you’ve identified yourself as a leftist.
Who is being a hypocritical judgmental elitist?
Agreed.
No, leftists are Brutus. Conservatives are Popeye.
I do appreciate the retailers’ hard work, but with few exceptions they aren’t victims. They could work to better themselves to get a better job. That’s the American Dream, right?
Don’t throw all of us under the bus for some comments from a few individuals. Not everyone here is a Walmart hater. If you’re okay to shop there, then shop there; otherwise, don’t. I don’t like to shop at Neiman-Marcus. I don’t feel comfortable there. Does that make me a “redneck”? Hardly…
If you have a right to complain about our attitudes, then we have a right to complain against yours.
I bet over 90% of these storm troopers voted for the empty messiah. What were the door busters…..newest George Clooney movie for $2? Or was it The best of Tina Fey bashing Sarah free with the purchase of Jeremiah Wright’s new book, Obama!
Awful. Just awful… what a way to begin the holidays – a dead worker and a dead baby all to save a few bucks on crap.
I hold Wal-Mart responsible (and other retailers). This happens every year yet they never learn.
I know damn well that retail chains know exactly which stores are prone to these problems and if they’re going to promote a frenzy (riot?), they should have appropriate security and crowd control. They created a public “nuisance” (danger). I hope the victims’ families sue and win.
My word of wisdom to store employees is to just get out of the way. You are not paid enough to protect your employer’s property from a stampede created by the marketing department.
I manage to do all my Christmas shopping online. Too many people today are jerks and the traffic is awful. Why do people do it?
I passed by the Best Buy store in my home town of Santee, California yesterday (Thanksgiving Day) at about noontime. The store was closed, but a line had already formed in front of the entrance. About 20 people were already CAMPING out with chairs, coolers, sleeping bags, and one person even had a TENT!!! This was eighteen hours before the store was slated to open.
I must be a real square, but for the life of me I cannot understand the mentality of those people — GET A &*%$*ING life!!!!!
First, this is a tragedy. Mobs are rarely a good thing. In the future some steps should be taken to either prevent this or record the events to punish those who participate in such things.
That said, I realize Michelle’s remark was harmless, but I’d like to argue against most online shopping.
For what it’s worth: My argument against shopping online
I will shop, browse online. Rarely do I purchase that way. Sure, it’s handy to have products end up on my doorstep. On occasion I’ll go this way. Here’s my issue, though, and I think something people should keep in mind.
A store in my local area, chain or otherwise, does several things.
They pay massive taxes. This improves my local community.
They employ people from my local community. This too improves the community.
I can walk in and complain, or walk in and get answers.
If something is wrong with the product, as is often the case by mail, the return process is immediate.
If I make a purchase online the above doesn’t apply. No taxes go to my local community. No one from my local community is employed. In fact, that company has to pay a small fraction of costs for employees, as they primarily need only warehouse pickers and customer service. They save an enormous amount of costs. Good for them. That’s their job, as they want to stay in business.
What do I, the consumer, get out of it? They offer discounts of 5 or 10%. After shipping, where they get you with a huge markup, I end up in most cases having paid the same. That benefits the company but does nothing for me, including the significant loss to my local community.
All in all, I think it’s best in most cases to take the time to stop by the store. If Amazon.com wants to give me 25% off on the grand total, including shipping, then we can talk. In the meantime the significant money they save that doesn’t go into my community or my pocket goes directly to them. No thanks. I’ll hit Borders or Barnes & Noble.
katablog…Elitist I am not, however, I do subscribe to the “Birds of a feather” rule. Never tasted arugula either. I’m just your average citizen who obviously isn’t fortunate enough to have a Walmart nearby that is inviting to regular folks. My experience at a Walmart does not seem unique. I have heard the same comments from many others. I prefer to shop where I am amongst my peers, not illiterates, thugs and trash, which is what I encountered.
As for the politicians, they are what they are. I am open to suggestions!
It is surprising, Jet, especially knowing the nature of the “Black Friday” crazed mentality, the store had no prepared procedure or policy in place. If nothing else and at a minimum, a couple of security guards to tell people to back off.
Large stores in my area have procedures for when severe weather threatens; the tragedy here could very likely have been avoided with a litle forethought by the local store management.
On November 28th, 2008 at 1:41 pm, rooster said:
I bet over 90% of these storm troopers voted for the empty messiah.
Thanks for the link CommentGuy. I just saw what you posted. It was all of Obama’s typical ignorant, self serving voters who created this tragedy. Maybe the store worker was white? No big deal that one less evil white American lives and breathes in the eyes of the typical black Obama worshipping thug spending their welfare check on their new 50″ plasma.
On November 28th, 2008 at 12:00 pm, Stubby said:
I visited a Walmart one time while on a road trip. I had to purchase some chain and locks. The customers and employees are all from a different species of human than I am familiar with. They made me sick and I will never go into another one of these stores. I am not surprised at this outrageous behavior by these animals.
Agreed, I made comment above and offered my condolences to the family of the young man that died, and failed to acknowledge the loss of life the young mother and her family has suffered through also. I apologize for my ignorance and lack of showing my concern and deepest regrets for their losses.
You’re right, of course, peep. I was more focused on the guy’s judgmental attitude.
These idiots are the same people who elected our new President. Any questions on what is coming next? Can’t wait for Inauguration Day and that crowd. What will they do then? When they finish destroying their blue states they will start working on the red ones!
I once had a funny thing happen at a Walmart. I entered the store through the exit door. It was just a little more convenient and I was not blocking anyone’s path. In fact, there were no other shoppers around. This little old lady greeter read me the riot act because I used the exit instead of the entrance door. Biting my lip to keep from laughing, I apologized to her and went on my way.
Oh yeah, Jet, I caught that. I’m just surprised that when the mob starting growing that no one in management could see that it could be a problem. This gang of thugs actually took the doors of by the hinges – the situation should have been addressed long before then.
While I’m not sue-happy, I believe the families who lost lives in this tragedy would be on solid ground to do so. Little comfort for their loss, but big money payouts and bad PR gets the attention of those who should know better to begin with.
cristomer…You refer to “them” as low income earners? That’s the excuse for their behavior? I refer to them as animals and I get your accusations?
I didn’t feel out of place, rather I was disgusted by the ignorance, stupidity and foul stench of the customers. Unfortunately they are the same species, but the ones I encountered were sub-human in manners, language skills, and general appearance.
I don’t recognize the upscale brands you just rattled off. As I mentioned earlier, I am just a regular citizen who prefers to shop where it is safe and free from life’s lowest form of human.
What’s with the whips comment? Maybe your mom should take away your computer.
Regardless, this outrageous incident only supports my view. Your postulation is debunked.
Maura, according this news source the baby is “fine”.
Worker dies in Black Friday store rush
“Four others were also hurt in the crush, including a 28-year-old pregnant woman. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors determined her baby was fine.”
Wal Mart is going to have a gigantic lawsuit on its hands from the family of the poor working schmoe cruelly trampled to death and from the poor woman who lost her baby. I really feel for the stock clerk; having done the retail detail, the Christmas season is enough to make anyone a Scrooge. No bottom line is worth a man’s life.
But I will be brutally honest and say that given the location of the store, I’m not at all surprised people behaved that way.
I won’t link it but I found a cell phone video of the police giving CPR to the victim and the voices recorded by the phone were giggling and complaining about the method of CPR the police were using.
I remember a similar thing happened at a Who concert many years ago. No one’s talking about corporate citizenship there.
Stop with all the Wal-mart bashing already. Wal-mart is no. 1 because they are the best at what they do. Quality products at a great price.
You’re free to shop elsewhere, but the contempt for the employees and customers from some of the posters here is nauseating.
Actually the Who stampede caused laws to be passed that banned what was called “Festival Seating”, i.e. mass mob door rushes. Those who were supposed to be in charge were held responsible, as should be done in this case.
Maybe I’d tackle that D.C. mob if that’s where the Second Coming was going to take place, but…er, uh, oh yeah, to them, Cap’n Big Ears is the messiah (note the lower-case “m.”), but I figure the same mob mentality is going to happen there, too.
Apparently, the first protest of the Urkel Admin is scheduled for 1/20 also. All the Hispanic groups who voted for That One are coming to demand their “Amnesty Rights.” Payback’s a bee-zatch, but he’s got to pay the piper, right? Want to bet there’ll be some scuffling between the illegals who want to usurp the minority status of the typical B-O voter?
As for these nutso shoppers, there’s got to be a better way to “reward” them for coming out early than a few coveted items available for thousands of people.
Maybe mgt. could’ve handed each shopper (while outside) one of those numbered tickets (on those huge rolls) and given away stuff via loudspeaker drawing once shoppers were let inside.
I see people jumping to the crowd control thing.
I guess we have given up on civility and self control.
I saw a news report saying that not enough crowd control was present.
Nanny state you into a corner but if left unchained you should not show some self control.
Buying into that concept is half the problem that causes issues like this.
BTW, I called 1-800-Walmart last week to complain about a number of products they quit carrying. That’s it, just a phone call. Today I got a call from the mgr. of my local Walmart saying he had received my letter (!) and gave me an update on the items I was looking for. How many stores do that?
Why is this turning into a Bash Wal-Mart Thread? This has nothing to do with WalMart and everything to do with idiot people who value things more than human life!
My heart goes out to this poor man’s family. What a senseless death.
Human insanity, not Wal-Mart, is to blame for this.
Nope, we haven’t, but many others have.
I’m trying to parse that so it makes sense, CG. Is it missing words or the typos or what, there?
Absolutely disgusting and disheartening. I’m only 27, but every year the consumerism seems to have gotten worse.
I’d say it was both, Joy. While it was a savage mob that caused the tragedy, the local Walmart management allowed the savage mob to develop at it’s own doors. Doesn’t reflect on the national chain, just this store’s poor management.
I first remember things like this happening when the Cabbage Patch dolls came out. People were literally running for the shelves with eyes like saucers, as if they were programmed. Once they found the dolls, they would try to rip them out of each other’s hands like they were the Holy Grail! And these people called themselves adults?
To re parse it for clarity.
People demand the nanny state or government solution to force them into doing the right thing.
To do it on their own choice is not a likely outcome as this situation shows if left without adult supervision.
If I were to act like that , or any of the many behaviors I see too often in stores today, my father would make sure that I would have little use for a chair for the next couple of days since I likely would not feel like sitting to much.
No rules , no respect, no foul society and most of all no accountability.
We are on the bleeding edge of like Europe and their riots at soccer games and people getting crushed for all sorts of events when gates are opened.
How much longer before A ClockWork Orange is not just a book or a movie?
Yup, that era was maybe the genesis of the “psychotic shopper” we see now, Dan. Pretty common to see long round-the-block lines and fist fights break out whenever the latest must-have (worthless) electronic gadget is released.
In the case here, where a mob was obviously expected, some plans for mob “control” (i.e. management) should have been in place beforehand. Having store security out front to handle things does not pose a grave threat to American’s civil liberties by any stretch of imagination.
Let’s not put out disinformation people.
The mother and baby are both okay.
That’s true… the point is that this happens every year (usually at a big box store like Wal-Mart) and yet they continue to create situations that create mobs.
As I wrote earlier, Wal-Mart has a pretty good idea as to which stores are prone to these riots and yet does nothing.
Just so we don’t get hung up on the demographics of the mob, there is video today of a bunch of white folks (in a Wal-Mart) fighting over a freaking X-Box.
I noted that above, Craig. (I think the false story started from an early Drudge mis-report .)
Even the major news networks and the wire services got the miscarriage wrong in their first reports.
Wal-mart did not cause this mans death.
People in a society who feel it IS their right to react irresponsibly emotional to any situation are what caused this.
When a person thinks it more important for them to get 20 bucks off a gameboy or tv is more important than a fellow citizens life, society has failed.
I do not know who this man was, but I bet he got up this morning thinking more about simply helping others shop for some Christmas joy today than any of the mob that murdered him.
I pray this Wal-Mart has excellent video and the animals who did this are found out, identified, prosecuted and convicted.