America's Black Friday Frenzy As Seen From Abroad

[dkf]

Almost without exception, the situation gets worse every year. People get bruised and bloodied as crowds battle each other for deep discounts. Last year several people died… and in response, most of the major retailers adjusted their specials and staggered their stores’ opening times to reduce the crowd levels.

It didn’t help much, as this year’s barrage of Black Friday incidents underscores yet again how hopeless the mindless culture of consumerism has become. People still trample each other, fight each other, etc. Now they are pepper-spraying each other… or even waiting in the parking lots to mug each other as shoppers exit the stores.

(A friend even told me one unconfirmed story of a group of Wal Mart parking lot muggers who themselves got mugged by a rival group of Wal Mart parking lot muggers.)

Then there’s this video showing the utter chaos and calamity that ensued when shoppers were fighting over towels put on sale at $1.28 each. Towels.

If this is how people act when towels are on sale, it certainly makes one wonder how well society will function when there’s actual chaos– like supply disruptions for food, fuel, or electricity.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/americas-black-friday-frenzy-seen-abroad

[Demeter]

1. Maybe-But this is Corporate-generated Rioting

Billions of dollars go into creating this frenzy.

Actual want due to breakdown...that's what the Occupy movement is preparing for. To gracefully manage revolution.

[Auggie]

2. "Actual chaos" with automatic weapons

:hide:

[TheWraith]

3. Where did automatic weapons come into this? nt

[ArcticFox]

4. It seems kind of similar to jail guards getting inmates to fight each other

Like the retailers are intentionally inciting violence by promising "deals" worth as little as $5.00 or so.

I have a feeling that "black friday" retail numbers are up because more people are thinking the only way they'll afford presents is by taking advantage of the "deals." I.e., they feel they can't shop otherwise. It could be a symptom of bad economic conditions, rather than a sign of improvement.

[DJ13]

5. This is what happens when people can only afford products at a steep discount

Desperation leading to near riots didnt happen back 10 years ago when people still thought of themselves as fairly well off.

[lbrtbell]

6. This sounds like a Monty Python sketch

"...one unconfirmed story of a group of Wal Mart parking lot muggers who themselves got mugged by a rival group of Wal Mart parking lot muggers."

WTH?!?!?

[FirstLight]

7. ...or Kids in the Hall...

that would be hilarious...only in sketch form, not the real thing...

[WinkyDink]

8. Really? From Chile? Has this person seen the deaths from trampling at non-US soccer games?

[dkf]

10. I guess rioting over sports is more respectable than over towels and stuff.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. the towel chaos - wow. And I bet its those thin cheap towels