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I thought about posting something on Black Friday again yesterday; by now I'm sure you've heard of the person who was crushed under a stampede of shoppers. It's an issue that I'm somewhat torn about. On one hand, caught in the crush, you've almost got no choice but to move with it and it's almost impossible to tell, from inside the crowd, where the impulse started.
On the other, there's no way to get around the fact that a number of people who would never stab, punch, or otherwise cause another person bodily harm have crushed someone to death in the name of low, low prices. These sales are good enough to die for, folks!
This type of thing certainly isn't new, and usually we're 'just' hearing about people being mugged or stabbed or whatever to get at these things. By and large, the people waiting in line are civil people who are fired up at getting something for cheap that they normally wouldn't be able to afford. In this climate, it can be a real boon. There, that is my caveat, because I feel obligated to give one. The people that started that stampede, I hope it haunts them. Likely it won't, but I want them to think about it. We, as a collective people, should act like adults and not children to whom the repercussions of our actions are hidden and mysterious forces. Somebody died because they felt they needed to get that cheap TV before they ran out. So, was it worth it?
In other news, I'm 25 today. I suppose celebration is in order by virtue of me neglecting to die again. I'm fairly pleased with the results thus far, and I expect to have a very pleasant day indeed, but I am a little troubled by some research that I've been doing. It turns out that while I've made it this far, every year, my chances of survival seem to get a little lower. Projections seem to indicate that eventually, at some undefined point, they become 0%. The only thing to do in the face of that data is to have a really great time and follow through on my resolutions.
Edit: So, I talk about dying and someone trampled to death - my icon is 'cheerful'. Well, you know, can't let it get you down all the time.
On the other, there's no way to get around the fact that a number of people who would never stab, punch, or otherwise cause another person bodily harm have crushed someone to death in the name of low, low prices. These sales are good enough to die for, folks!
This type of thing certainly isn't new, and usually we're 'just' hearing about people being mugged or stabbed or whatever to get at these things. By and large, the people waiting in line are civil people who are fired up at getting something for cheap that they normally wouldn't be able to afford. In this climate, it can be a real boon. There, that is my caveat, because I feel obligated to give one. The people that started that stampede, I hope it haunts them. Likely it won't, but I want them to think about it. We, as a collective people, should act like adults and not children to whom the repercussions of our actions are hidden and mysterious forces. Somebody died because they felt they needed to get that cheap TV before they ran out. So, was it worth it?
In other news, I'm 25 today. I suppose celebration is in order by virtue of me neglecting to die again. I'm fairly pleased with the results thus far, and I expect to have a very pleasant day indeed, but I am a little troubled by some research that I've been doing. It turns out that while I've made it this far, every year, my chances of survival seem to get a little lower. Projections seem to indicate that eventually, at some undefined point, they become 0%. The only thing to do in the face of that data is to have a really great time and follow through on my resolutions.
Edit: So, I talk about dying and someone trampled to death - my icon is 'cheerful'. Well, you know, can't let it get you down all the time.
