My new "black friday" tradition.
I'm sure everybody by now has heard the news about the Wal-Mart employee in New Jersey that was trampled to death when he opened the door on Black Friday to let shoppers in. People that know me know that I'm one of the biggest supporters of capitalism around, but what happened to this gentleman gave me pause. Jdimytai Damour was a temporary employee hired by Walmart for the Christmas season. Who would have ever thought that something like this could have ever happen? I can understand people wanting to get a good bargain on their gifts, but what happened Friday goes way beyond an explanation, rationality or reason. They're was reports that co workers tried to reach Mr. Damour and they were almost trampled as well. Shoppers were still running into the store as the paramedics were trying to revive him.
Part of me couldn't believe that people would be so shallow and ignorant that they would break down a door and trample a man to death just to get bargains on some made in China stuff. I know people were shopping for Christmas, but this isn't what Christmas is suppose to be about! People have indeed lost their minds. I remember when I was 11 years old. Back then the must have toy was the Cabbage Patch Kid dolls. I remember the news stories of parents beating each other up trying to get a doll.
People need to grasp reality and realize that "Jesus is the reason for the season of Christmas not Black Friday sales. For some reason I can't let go of this story. I said a few weeks ago that I seen the ugly side of our citizens in the way Obama loyalists treated Sarah Palin. The Black Friday incident is right up there as well. From every tragedy a lesson should be learned. I hope people realize that there is nothing wrong with materialism, but they should also realize that it should not consume them. Just like people that see Obama as some sort of God. When people take leave of their sense and focus on something so intensely without reason, this kind of mindlessness will always follow. As I said before, I believe something good must come from this senseless death. I always give an online donation to the Salvation Army every year around Christmas time. Well from now on I will make it a tradition to always donate on every Black Friday instead. It will be my small part in showing that Christmas should be more about helping people not just just helping ourselves to stuff.
posted by Alpha Conservative Male at 11:06 PM
15 Comments:
As much as I love the idea of saving money on black friday I don't think I could be happy with myself if my self interest caused someone to be trampled under my shopping cart.
I feel bad for that shopper who got trampled I wonder if any of the people who shopped there had any concern for the person who got crushed under the anxious mob.
I was too young to remember that fiasco over the Cabbage Patch Kid dolls. Though I did get one for Christmas a very long time ago and I loved that doll and I took her to school with me when I was in the second and third grade.
I'm so glad that there are online stores because at least you won't run the risk of duking it out over prized merchandise.
Insanity...
There's enough blame to go around here. Gullible idiots wasting 12 to 15 hours on line to basically GIVE AWAY their money, big market greed, and target advertising specifically designed to create this sort of frenzy.
It's highly likely that whatever item (or items) these folks were seeking, was no more than a "bait and roost" sale to get the shopper through the door.
Store's such as Walmart design these so-called "holiday sales" to generate business by offering a popular item below it's store cost. The "idea" (aka, the bait) is that they will only order and stock so many of the item to absorb any loss. The "catch" (aka, the roost) is, now that you're in the store why not try one of our other "every day low-price" deal items!
Many years ago I worked as a commissioned retail electronic salesman. We used to refer to those "sale item bargain hunter seekers" as "suckers!" Every time you sold one of them an item other than the sale item the came in for, we referred to it as "hitting-a-lick"!
p allen "There's enough blame to go around here. Gullible idiots wasting 12 to 15 hours on line to basically GIVE AWAY their money, big market greed, and target advertising specifically designed to create this sort of frenzy."
I agree with the gullible idiots part allen. I'm not sure about that target advertising part though. I saw the black friday ads and thought to myself that those were some nice deals but I still wasn't going to stand in line for 12 hours for that junk though. At the end of the day, the individual shoulders the blame. I watch my fair share of television and no ad has ever made me act mental like black Friday shoppers. At the end of the day, people need to take sole responsibility for their actions. Blaming the advertisers is like a person blaming a McDonalds commercial for make him or her going to McDonalds every day and then eventually becoming obsess. Person responsibility has to take a major role at some point allen.
P Allen "Many years ago I worked as a commissioned retail electronic salesman. We used to refer to those "sale item bargain hunter seekers" as "suckers!" Every time you sold one of them an item other than the sale item the came in for, we referred to it as "hitting-a-lick"!"
Best Buy was selling a laptop for $399 a few weeks ago as their pre black friday sale, I knew something sounded fishy about the deal The deal sounded too good to be true, so I did some research online just to find out that the laptop that was being offered was a piece of junk. Of course Best Buy sold a ton of them though. I bet those people that bought those $399 laptops left with a $200 extended warranty, $30 surge protector and other "necessity's"
Chilerkle "As much as I love the idea of saving money on black friday I don't think I could be happy with myself if my self interest caused someone to be trampled under my shopping cart."
I don't think I will ever be able to look at another black friday in the same light as I use too Chilerkle because of what happened to that guy. If I had something to do with it, I would probably be mentally scared for life. I never took part in a black friday sale, but I use to love turning on the television just to watch the reporters interview people that came from the stores.
Chilerkle "I feel bad for that shopper who got trampled I wonder if any of the people who shopped there had any concern for the person who got crushed under the anxious mob."
The shoppers had to have seen what happened as they were exiting the store because the Walmarts are set up with the exit and entrance are right next too each other. As they exited the store, I hope they had heavy hearts on what the saw chilerkle.
Chilerkle "I was too young to remember that fiasco over the Cabbage Patch Kid dolls. Though I did get one for Christmas a very long time ago and I loved that doll and I took her to school with me when I was in the second and third grade.
I'm so glad that there are online stores because at least you won't run the risk of duking it out over prized merchandise."
I remember it a little Chilerkle. I was only 11 at the time, but people are acting CRAZY over that doll!!!!I don't know if you ever saw the movie "Jingle all the way" with Sinbad and Arnold Schartnegger, the frenzy over the Cabbage Patch Kid dollars was exactly like in the movie over the "turbo man" doll. I'm with you, I buy about 90% of my stuff online. I rather wait for "cyber monday", it's 100% safe, and I don't have to freeze in a line for 12 hours lol.
CB;"Blaming the advertisers is like a person blaming a McDonalds commercial for make him or her going to McDonalds every day and then eventually becoming obsess. Person responsibility has to take a major role at some point allen."
I do agree that personal responsibility should take a major role. Yet, I'll take it a step further and say at "all points."
I don't blame McDonalds for customer obesity. What I'm saying is that Madison Avenue advertisers aren't worth billions of dollars because their product and methods don't work...
CB;"Best Buy was selling a laptop for $399...I did some research online just to find out that the laptop that was being offered was a piece of junk...$200 extended warranty, $30 surge protector and other "necessity's""
That's a perfect example. Selling junk is what some Ad companies do best. Take a popular idea, item or piece, advertise it by wrapping it in a visual image's, add on the extra's, and the suckers buy it...
Speaking of selling and "junk advertising", did you know the Joe the Plumber has a book out? Will it be on your Christmas shopping gift list or a purchase for your personal library Tyrone?
All that to save a couple of bucks! What happens when WalMart becomes unionized?
The recession that we're in right now will allow even better sales opportunities if you are patient. I'm a sef-described "audiophile" and own a 57" LCD TV. I want a 32" LCD for my bedroom. I have been pricing them. I will wait until after Christmas, the bargains will be better.
Conservative black man"All that to save a couple of bucks! What happens when WalMart becomes unionized?"
Easy conservative black man, they'll close up shop and go out of business.
conservative black man"The recession that we're in right now will allow even better sales opportunities if you are patient. I'm a sef-described "audiophile" and own a 57" LCD TV. I want a 32" LCD for my bedroom. I have been pricing them. I will wait until after Christmas, the bargains will be better."
Hey conservative black man, didn't you hear that we are in the second great depression according to Obama and the media? You have 57 LCD TV?!!!You should be wearing rags and carrying around a sandwich board sign saying "Will work for food"lol lol
P Allen "
Speaking of selling and "junk advertising", did you know the Joe the Plumber has a book out? Will it be on your Christmas shopping gift list or a purchase for your personal library Tyrone?"
No, but I could send you a copy for Christmas Allen. You know deep down you want to read it. Just say that word and Santa will get it for you lol
Jdimytai Damour's family has filed a lawsuit. this article just posted.
This is absolutely dreadful.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,460924,00.html
I wonder if the Dallas commisioner who complained that "black hole" is a racist word said the same thing about "black Friday"?
Tyrone,
Sure the economy has tightened. I have a decent salary where I can get pretty much everything I need or want (on a cash basis only). I wanted more, so I started an eBay business last year and it's been very lucrative. It's definitely helped me save more and knock out debt.
CB;"No, but I could send you a copy for Christmas Allen."
Thanks Tyrone, that's quite thoughtful of you! I needed something to kindle the old logs in the fireplace...
P Allen " Thanks Tyrone, that's quite thoughtful of you! I needed something to kindle the old logs in the fireplace..."
I'll get you copy of Ann Coulter's new book "Guilty" instead lol
Pamela "Jdimytai Damour's family has filed a lawsuit. this article just posted.T"his is absolutely dreadful."
The only thing that wasn't named in the lawsuit was the kitchen sink Pamela. I believe when the lawyers found out about the tragedy , they couldn't wait to contract the family in regards to a law suit. It hasn't even been a week yet and a lawsuit has already been filed?!! I would think that the family would have wanted to first find out the people that trampled Mr. Damour's. Dare I say this sounds more like a money grab due to Wal Mart being involved then actually seeking justice pamela? I looked at the charges. Is Hecht joking?
Jordon Hecht "It alleges that Damour's death resulted from "the carelessness, recklessness, wanton disregard for public safety and gross negligence of the defendants ... in the staging, conducting and advertising for sales events.""
What was the disregard for public safety? It wasn't anyone in the public that was killed. Nobody told the crowd to act like a bunch of animals. If I didn't know better, I think Walmart is being sued just because they had items on sale!! Him trying to compare the the way the sale of Iphones were organized compared to a black Friday sale is totally incompatible and is like comparing apples and oranges. I almost feel compelled to support Wal Mart in all of this.
Conservative Brother:
You are not being fair with this story.
You are blaming the shoppers for their materialism.
What you have failed to do is to blame GEORGE W BUSH!
He has put these working class people into a state of desperate frenzy. Having stolen their jobs, foreclosed upon their houses and their 401K funds stripped from them the sight of the doors on the local Wal-Mart opening was like the food handouts at a refugee camp.
Why can't you place the responsibility upon where the fault really resides man? BUSH!
You know as well as I do that in 2009 - well at least February - that this is never going to happen again. People will have HOPE once again. They will care for their fellow man
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