What the FUCK is so important that you have to go plowing into a store

[madinmaryland]

at 5:00am running over your fellow human beings to buy the latest crap the corporations are feeding you?

For the latest video game and saving 60 cents, even though you spent the entire night up, to get there "first".

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Mass hysteria created by WalMart to sell the most crap they can.

I wonder if WalMart can be charged with inciting a riot?

[JeanGrey]

13. Why Walmart? The last time I looked just about EVERY

store had early bird specials, Penny's, Sears, Target, K mart, all of them. Why is Walmart singled out?

[Ms. Toad]

28. That's pretty much my reaction.

Kohls was open at 4:00 am this morning. The trampling happened at WalMart - but could have happened at any of the others just as easily.

[Dis Pater]

44. Isn't the goal of every business to sell the most "crap" they can?

Isn't that how jobs are created, by selling things, services, etc?

[elleng]

50. Yes, thats what they're taught, and what they do,

and they appeal to kids, who appeal to their parents, who want to provide for their kids even if doing so is difficult.

[Forkboy]

2. Why do you hate America?

[madinmaryland]

7. Well, from what I understand,

I bag my own groceries, use the self check-out thingie, return my cart to the cart carriage, and own a Nissan car.

:shrug:

I'm apparently a real live traitor, and not a real amurkan!

[RC]

37. Using the self check-out thingie is not a good thing.

It puts people out of work.

[alarimer]

39. Bullshit.

Someone is still there watching over it. Not to mention it's faster.

[JeanGrey]

85. It does. One person can look over 10 of those self checkers.

Every one puts a person out of work.

[Bill McBlueState]

42. is that conclusion

based on evidence or speculation?

[madinmaryland]

45. Bill, what are your thoughts on the self-checkout thingie? There were several

threads yesterday about that and I would like to here your thoughts on them.

[RC]

91. Evidence. See post #85.

Whenever one of these self-checkers is used by a customer, that customer is doing for free a job that the store was paying a person to do.
Each one of those self-checkers eliminates at least one and sometimes two jobs - each.
Between automation, minimum wage jobs and out-sourcing, in a few years, who is going to be left with a job good enough to be able to buy anything beyond basic necessity survival shopping?
Those holding down two or three minimum wage jobs? Which in itself keeps other people unemployed. See the downward spiral yet? I didn't think so.

[JeanGrey]

96. Exactly. Why do people think we have those horrendous

caged phone responses every time we call customer service? Give us answer yes or no and on and on and on. Then once you DO get a human you have to repeat yourself. They only do it because the recorded voice REPLACES a human to answer the phone.

[Ishoutandscream2]

3. It's sickness. This country is ill.

My God, the "consumerism" is just so sick.

[Kire]

4. good question

rec

[TahitiNut]

5. The imperative of the credit card brigade: "Charge!"

:shrug:

[shanti]

6. it is disgusting

personally, i won't be stepping into ANY stores this xmas and haven't for a LONG time now. this is why i detest the holidays...:( the greed, the materialism sickens me.

[madinmaryland]

12. It has ruined EVERY holiday. There was at one time a meaning

to all holidays, now it is just buy, buy, buy.

:sad: And my wife wonders why I hate every holiday.

[JeanGrey]

15. Well I DO buy for the holidays, but no "materialism" can ruin

Christmas. It's meaning is much greater and deeper.

[madinmaryland]

22. The problem I have is that it is all about selling and not about the meaning

of Christmas. I'm glad for you that the materialism has not ruined the holidays for you.
I just wish the rest of the country could come to the realization of what the meaning of Christmas is.

[JeanGrey]

83. Don't worry about the "rest" of the country. You can only

ruin it if you let it. I don't lose sight of what Christmas is all about. How others treat it is their problem.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

Take my hand

I'm stocking up on everything I might need to exist without having to venture out between now and December 26. I gave up a long time ago on this time of year, and the worst part is that, out there, it seems to get worse every year.

I don't think we're alone, shanti.............

[madinmaryland]

24. Actually, if you wait a few days, things will settle down.

So you stock up before Thanksgiving and what do you stock up on?

A little confused here.

:hi:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

26. Staples

All the things we might need in terms of grocery shopping, pharmacy refills, books, music, and DVDs. There will be runs to the store for things like milk, eggs, but if we didn't need those things, we're pretty self-sufficient up here until the turn of the year.

It'll never settle down, that's my belief.
:toast:

[madinmaryland]

33. I see. That wasn't exactly what I was talking about.

Grocery shopping will still be done on a weekly basis for us with our "list". But that's the way we do it year round.

Anyway, I'll have another beer too!

Now there's one place that is easy to get to! :beer:

[Jennicut]

8. Sickening. I don't Christmas shop anymore for adults.

Just my two little girls because they are just kids and its fun for them. But I shop online mostly. And we make ornaments for the adults in our family. Fun for the kids and saves us money too.

[JeanGrey]

17. I've been shopping more online since my health failed and

I find I get great bargains!

[Ishoutandscream2]

19. My wife is a shopaholic. She was up at 4 this morning

And she keeps asking me, "What do you want?" I keep saying "Nothing!" You're right - buy for the kids. But I don't need, or want, anything. Well, maybe peace on earth, goodwill toward man. You know, those commie, liberal ideas.

[madinmaryland]

23. "Well, maybe peace on earth, goodwill toward man." Thank you!

I couldn't say it any better!

:hi:

[flygal]

78. kids only here too

We donate to the food pantry for me and my husband and the inlaws. My mother doesn't have much and works full time so I usually give her a gift certificate for something she wouldn't normally spend money on. We buy three gifts each for our kids plus pj's for the night before and sweets for the stocking - anymore and they would be over loaded.

[MichiganVote]

9. Deplorable.

[dweller]

10. the MSMcon told them to

instead of reporting real news.


dp

[JeanGrey]

11. Humans are inherently flawed. Mobs can turn into violence.

I try to avoid crowds whenever possible.

[madinmaryland]

16. I know we all have our flaws, but for what?

I don't understand why having something is so important.

[JeanGrey]

18. We're human. To some of us, it is. Plus there is something

about crowds of people that to me is inherently dangerous.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

21. Yes, indeed

I'm with you. I just posted above about stocking up so that I don't have to venture out for the next month, if at all possible. It's not, really, but I can get pretty close. The people out there, in herds, they scare me.

They're so easily swayed, such sheep. Such mad sheep.

[JeanGrey]

84. Yes that is true. Once a crowd of teens (about 40 of them) were

walking through my husband's apartment lot and all of sudden they started running, smashing car windows and kicking over stuff and throwing rocks into apartment for no apparent reason at all! Hubby and I were in the pool at night and we hid until the cops started coming. They did thousands and thousands of dollars of damage and it turned out that they did it because "one" person started to.

Sheep, indeed.

[madinmaryland]

25. But what is so important that you need to have it?

Yes, I seriously hate crowds, too.

[NOW tense]

14. People that spend their entire lives trying to fill up the empty hole in their hearts.

[hendo]

20. Don't you know, they only have 5 $15 DVD players in stock

Gotta run to get one!!!

[rucky]

27. It's not the kill. It's the thrill of the chase.

We're still hunter/gatherers at heart.

[madinmaryland]

29. The last time I checked an ipod is not required for survival...

Ooops. Sorry to offend the many DU'ers that can't live without them (losers!)

[rucky]

32. that's because your music sucks.

[Blue Diadem]

30. Stores have made it a competition. Get the best deal, be the first,

run fast, get it before it's gone. You may never have another chance to get it at this price. Lowest price of the season, best sale of the year, one time only offer, there are only a few, limited quantities, they won't last long, don't hesitate, act fast, it's on everyone's list, must have blah blah blah.

There is nothing that I want that badly that I'd camp outside a store for 2 days or run, push and shove other people so I could buy it. I saw on the news that around here people had set up small tents on Wednesday at some of the stores.

RIP: Jdimytai Damour
Walmart worker killed by stampede of 2000 people.


http://www.newsday.com/news/local/nassau/ny-limart1129,0,167903.story

[madinmaryland]

35. But why are people suckers for that crap?

I just don't understand why people are that way. I guess it is just me.

[Blue Diadem]

38. I don't understand why some people fall for it and others don't.

It's not just you.

[madinmaryland]

43. I guess maybe I should understand..

Look at how the states raise money through their lotteries and who plays them.

:sad:

[hendo]

31. They just said on the local news that cops are looking

at the security footage of this. They are goign to press charges against the people who trampled him.

[madinmaryland]

36. That is a good start. Not that I want the people sent away for life,

but even just a little public humiliation by showing the video for what they have done, would send a message.

[hendo]

94. until next year

that is.

edit: I would hope the DA feels the need to make an example of them.

[Dis Pater]

46. Tough to do, the people up front are getting pushed by the people way behind

the people behind can't see what's in front of them until they are on top of it, and there are more people coming behind them. Crowds can be dangerous.

[ThoughtCriminal]

54. I've been in that situation once

And it was pretty much as you describe it. Fortunately, I do not think anybody was hurt.

It was at an Auburn-Alabama football game in Birmingham. For some reason, many of the gates on one side of the stadium were locked and it was getting close to kick-off. As the fans crowded towards on of the open gates, it became a solid crush and it became impossible to control you own direction. There are tons of people pushing from behind. You can't get out, you can't stop, and unless you are taller, you can't see. Once crowd density gets beyond a certain level, control is lost.


'The avalanche has already begun. It is too late for the pebbles to vote' - Kosh

[salguine]

34. These people have it figured out...

"post-consumerists":

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=4086092&page=1

[RagAss]

40. The American animal and his "Reason for the Season !"....Merry Christmas, Assholes !

[Obamanaut]

99. I tell all my fundie acquaintances (and relatives) the 'reason for

the season' has more to do with the tilt of the earth on its axis and the orbit around the sun than for any other reason they might conjure up. Some of them don't like me.

[flvegan]

41. Some people are stupid.

I think we can all agree on that.

[madinmaryland]

47. Yes, but this it DU, where we beat the argument to death and then

do it all over again!!

[LeftyMom]

48. STUFF!!!

If Americans have a common religion or ethic, it's the love of stuff. WE LOVE STUFF. WE NEED STUFF. WE CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH STUFF.

[madinmaryland]

49. Sadly, yes.

and why the fuck is that stuff (fucking shit) so goddamn important.

Sorry for the #$@%^#$%^'ing, but someone died for that shit.

[flvegan]

51. Ummm...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090094/

[LeftyMom]

53. That sounds horrible.

BTW, I bought you a car today.

[flvegan]

55. Intriguing.

You know, I have a car that I really like. Oh, and if you had F430 money, I could have advised you another way to spend it.

[LeftyMom]

59. It cost me a buck twenty nine at Walgreens.

You'll love it.

[DainBramaged]

61. I would wallow in stuff if I could afford more stuff

[DainBramaged]

52. I went to Staples at 6:30 PM, and they was empty

I saved $117 total on a monitor and mouse. And I didn't need a plow.:hi:

[madinmaryland]

56. Not to belabor a point (yes i am belaboring a point), but

were the monitor and mouse made in America by Union employees?

Smack me please for belaboring.

[DainBramaged]

57. I was assured by store personal they were made where the sun doesn't shine

:mad:


And you know better than to even ask that question. The LAST electronics manufacturing plant for TVs and monitors closed in America was the Sony plant in San Diego in the late 1990s, so you've answered your own question.

Thanks for zinging me once more. :mad:

[madinmaryland]

62. Can I make this one suggestion to you...

Return that monitor and mouse

RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!!



:hi:

[DainBramaged]

65. So should I give my beautiful Daughter a picture of a monitor and mouse

and tell her if manufacturing of electronics ever returns to the US I'll get her them??:eyes:

[Dogmudgeon]

67. No matter what you do, someone will scold you for it

There's only one defense against prigs like these: the middle finger.

--p!

[DainBramaged]

69. I know, but I usually just 'click' the red x and make them go away

We have become a community of old ladies with binoculars, you can't do that but you can't infringe on my right to do that or tell you you can't do that.


Sad. We are all trolls.:shrug:

[madinmaryland]

73. If someone is going to pontificate about something, then they

ought to back it up.

The middle finger back at yah!

[madinmaryland]

71. Yes, sir.

[DainBramaged]

74. For you with love

[madinmaryland]

75. Shouldn't you be teaching your daughter ethics and integrity as you see it?

BTW, hon, I'll be up to be in a few minutes, after I finish yakking away on teh internets!!

[DainBramaged]

76. My Daughter is an adult, what's your excuse?

[madinmaryland]

77. So you are going to buy here the monitor and mouse. How will you explain the

contradiction in your principals to her, since she is of legal age.

[DainBramaged]

79. i AM GOING TO BED. Please dangle your stoopid in front of someone else

we will continue to play later today.


:hug:

[madinmaryland]

81. See ya!

[Dis Pater]

58. And did you put your cart back when done?

[DainBramaged]

60. I carried a plastic basket made in Bolivia

weird, it didn't come from China, I was shocked I tell ya shocked.

[madinmaryland]

63. There you go again. Plastics are harmful to our enviroment!

[DainBramaged]

64. So is Olive Garden

[madinmaryland]

66. So is breast feeding while on the cell-phone and smoking cigarettes

and letting the children run wild in teh Olive Garden!

[DainBramaged]

68. Breast feeding while drinking and smoking cigarettes on the phone

at the Olive Garden while handling Mars dog food in a shopping cart.

[madinmaryland]

70. Only if it is bottled water.

[elshiva]

72. This sums it up:

[madinmaryland]

80. Nice post, El Romo!!1!!

:hi:

[elshiva]

82. Who is El Romo.

:hi: :hug:

[madinmaryland]

87. Oops! Sorry, thought you were turtleandsue. :ugh: I need to go to bed!

:hi:

Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys!

[elshiva]

89. Yes, I am Tony Romo.

:silly: :hug:

[Waiting For Everyman]

86. They kill for a discount, then multiply the cost paying with credit cards.

What's the point looking for cheap prices? By the time years' of interest is added to it, the sale price is irrelevant.

A credit card economy has no business giving two hoots about sale prices. This is basic math comprehension failure.

[Hanse]

88. Because it's "fun."

At least the people who do this shit do it for "fun."

Personally, I think a person would have to be fucking psycho to step out the door on the day after Thanksgiving.

But this kind of thing happens all the time at sporting events and rock concerts; nobody bats an eye. It happens when you have a bunch of excited people and poor crowd control.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

90. Beats me...why anyone would endure that much waiting to save a few bucks.

If I were going to wait for ten hours in the cold and deal with shopper stampedes, I had better expect to save at least several hundred dollars on stuff that I definitely was planning to buy ANYWAY. (several hundred in savings, not in total expenditure!)

In other words, I would have to be planning a very big purchase, certainly not a couple hundred bucks in clothes and a small electronic device or two.

===

(I happen to notice that this is my 666th post on DU!)

[Swamp Rat]

92. THINGS!

Buy THINGS... consume... sleep. :boring:

[GrpCaptMandrake]

98. Always a perfect sense for the situation!

Another one outta the park!

[Edweird]

93. "I gotta get MINE, fuck everybody else"

[Vinca]

95. I just read the local paper (small town Vermont) and the picture

on the front page was hundreds of people lined up early in the morning in front of a nearby New Hampshire town's Walmart. Some of the morons had been there since 1 a.m. and had chairs and blankets. What the hell kind of people do this? It's not like they're giving away gold bricks to the first 50 people through the door. For the most part, it's crap. Cheaply made electronics that will last less than a year and goods often made by children, prisoners and slave labor. It makes you embarrassed to be a member of the human race.

[xenu loves you]

97. It turns my stomach over and over and over...

The mentality of people who value wide-screen tvs over human life.

[Dukkha]

100. They need their "Tyler Durden" to blow all their shit up

"The liberator who destroyed my property has realigned my perceptions. Reject the basic assumptions of civilization, especially the importance of material possessions!"