US: Wal-Mart employee killed by stampeding bargain hunters

[Johnny Canuck3]

i find that hard to believe as the native indian reservations are quite expansive....

Not them: I mean your peeps.

 

[Detroit City]

Not them: I mean your peeps.

human life is almost worthless over there so it doesn't really matter, innit? people die in the streets all the time and people just carry on

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

human life is almost worthless over there so it doesn't really matter, innit? people die in the streets all the time and people just carry on

I've got a feeling that when someone's brother or sister gets trampled, the family doesn't think that life is almost worthless.

 

[Detroit City]

I've got a feeling that when someone's brother or sister gets trampled, the family doesn't think that life is almost worthless.

maybe, maybe not...this is a place where people sell their children into slavery. in general they are less emotional and more pragmatic...

 

[_float_]

human life is almost worthless over there so it doesn't really matter, innit?

Hindus cremate their dead, believing that the burning of a dead body signifies the release of the spirit and that the flames represent Brahma, the creator. Family members will pray around the body as soon as possible after death. People will try to avoid touching the corpse as it is considered polluting. The corpse is usually bathed and dressed in white, traditional Indian clothes. If a wife dies before her husband she is dressed in red bridal clothes. If a woman is a widow she will be dressed in white or pale colours. The funeral procession may pass places of significance to the deceased, such as a building or street. Prayers are said here and at the entrance to the crematorium. The body is decorated with sandalwood, flowers and garlands. Scriptures are read from the Vedas or Bhagavad Gita. The chief mourner, usually the eldest son or male, will light some kindling and circle the body, praying for the wellbeing of the departing soul. After the cremation, the family may have a meal and offer prayers in their home. Mourners wash and change completely before entering the house after the funeral. A priest will visit and purify the house with spices and incense. This is the beginning of the 13-day mourning period when friends will visit and offer their condolences. Often, a garland of dried or fake flowers is placed around a photograph of the deceased to show respect for their memory. 'Shradh' is practiced one year after the death of the person. This can either be an annual event or a large one-off event. This is the Hindu practice of giving food to the poor in memory of the deceased. A priest will say prayers for the deceased and during this time, usually lasting one month, the family will not buy any new clothes or attend any parties. Sons are responsible for carrying out Shradh.

Human life is worthless in India? People drop dead in the street and people couldn't care less? People there are 'less emotional' (than europeans I presume)?

Maybe you are getting confused between a country being poor, having massive inequality and a dysfunctional government with people not caring, life not having value or people being emotionless.

There were plenty of europeans lying dead in the streets at various times in the 20th century. Maybe you know a lot more about Indian culture and people than I do? Are you Indian yourself?

 

[narcodollars]

This is not uncommon for Wal-Mart Stores, given their unethical business pratices:

Wal-Mart has been criticized by some community groups, women's rights groups, grassroots organizations, and labor unions, specifically for its extensive foreign product sourcing, low rates of employee health insurance enrollment, resistance to union representation, and alleged sexism.

As far as this large retailer is concerned, it's just business as usual.

 

[editor]

Ha! This one stays cos ed started it.

Or maybe it's because this thread followed the posting rules and was given a meaningful title that properly explained the topic and was posted in the correct forum to ensure that people could find it?

*threads now merged as promised

 

[david dissadent]

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Two men pulled guns and shot each other to death in a crowded toy store Friday after the women with them erupted into a bloody brawl, witnesses said. Scared shoppers fled but no one else was hurt.

The violence erupted on Black Friday, the traditional post-Thanksgiving start of the holiday shopping surge,

but authorities indicated the shooting wasn't related to a shopping frenzy.

Witnesses Scott and Joan Barrick said they were checking out of the store when the fight began between two women, each with a man. The women were near the checkout area, but the Barricks did not think the women had purchases.

One woman suddenly started punching the other woman, who fought back as blood flowed from her nose, Scott Barrick, 41, said.

The man who was with the woman being punched pulled a gun halfway out of his pocket, then shoved it back in, he said.

The other man pulled a gun and pointed it at the first man but forgot to cock it, Scott Barrick said. The first man tried to run but was blocked by the line of people, then ran back toward the store's electronics section as the other man fired his gun, he said.

The first man reached a dead-end in electronics, turned around and ran toward an exit, pulling his gun and firing back, he said.

link

Mind you there was a riot at a recent Ikea opening in London.

 

[Geri]

Mind you there was a riot at a recent Ikea opening in London.

Edmonton, wasn't it? I did hear recently that police had to be called to the opening of a new Asda in Edmonton - a pregnant woman got knocked over and an old woman taken to hospital. What the hell is wrong with these people? I've only ever queued for a sale once, when th House of Fraser in Bristol was closing down, and it was very orderly and well organised.

 

[david dissadent]

Ive just been told that it is called "black friday" because it is the day, in the states, when many shops go into the black for the first time in a year.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

maybe, maybe not...this is a place where people sell their children into slavery. in general they are less emotional and more pragmatic...

I'm not sure how common that is. I don't think you can generalize about all one billion people on the Indian Subcontinent.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Are you Indian yourself?

He actually is.

 

[Treacle Toes]

Let's not forget what happened at the opening of the Edmonton IKEA though eh?

Five people are in hospital today after hundreds were crushed as the opening of England's biggest Ikea store turned into a riot.

Nine ambulances were sent to the outlet in north London after reports that up to 20 people had suffered heat exhaustion when the opening at midnight descended into chaos. Staff closed the doors after half an hour amid fears the stampede could become a Hillsborough-style crush.

Security guards said they were put "under siege" by customers who attacked them, leaving one guard with a dislocated jaw. The store remains closed and a cleanup operation is under way. Ikea apologised for the chaos and admitted the store was understaffed - but added that some customers "behaved like animals".

Up to 7,000 flocked to the Edmonton store lured by adverts promising huge discounts, including £45 sofas and £30 bed frames, to those who bought before 3am. When the main doors opened 40 security guards were overwhelmed and crowds pushed through, leaving people pinned to the wall or trampled on the ground.

No deaths but scary as hell!
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-16511541-details/Chaos+at+Ikea+opening/article.do

 

[_angel_]

Does anyone know if walmart will compensate the poor guys family, or duck out of it because he was an agency worker?

I think the responsibility lies with them to ensure their sales don't become dangerous rugby scrums and ensure the safety of their staff, and shoppers.

 

[spring-peeper]

Ive just been told that it is called "black friday" because it is the day, in the states, when many shops go into the black for the first time in a year.

That makes sense.

They are trying to bring it up here. Montreal had a couple of stores try this marketing approach. For some reason, they are calling it "red friday" - I'm assuming coz the Canadian flag has red on it and we like to be different from the States.

Your explaination of how and why the term came to be makes our "red friday" name seem stupid. I find this amusing - the first day our stores run in the red - lol!!!

 

[hipipol]

human life is almost worthless over there so it doesn't really matter, innit? people die in the streets all the time and people just carry on

How would you have people react?
If a street family - by which I mean the WHOLE family is living on the street - have a death in the family, they grieve, but they must also go on. They have no savings, they have nothing to fall back on, there are still mouths to feed, they have to go on
As it seems it is you who place no values on their lives, they certainly do

 

[hipipol]

maybe, maybe not...this is a place where people sell their children into slavery. in general they are less emotional and more pragmatic...

Have you ever been to India you dolt?
The odd article you see, with some weeping withered woman saying shes going to have to sell her kids its actually to ensure that they EAT
Bihari farmers love their children, the desperate tribals of Orissa love their children - I have seen it
I suggest compassion is not something felt only by the rich of this world

 

[Detroit City]

Have you ever been to India you dolt?

i am indian and yes, i have lived there

have you ever seen sick and naked poor beggars all coverd in filth just laying all about? i have...it'll change your perspective on life

oh yeah and the homeless orphans going around asking for a bite to eat??

 

[Augie March]

Does anyone know if walmart will compensate the poor guys family, or duck out of it because he was an agency worker?

I think the responsibility lies with them to ensure their sales don't become dangerous rugby scrums and ensure the safety of their staff, and shoppers.

As I've said on the 'Buy Nothing Day' thread, yes, the retailers do have a responsibility to ensue this things run safely and yes, it's their fault for whipping consumers into such a frenzy on Black Friday. But ultimately, the people who trod all over this poor guys face, just so they could get their hands on a bargain, need to take some responsibilty for acting like crazed idiots.

 

[Idris2002]

Here's what some USAnians have to say:

http://wonkette.com/404632/crazed-mob-stomps-wal-mart-worker-to-death#comments

What was it Thomas Jefferson said? 'I tremble for my country when I reflect that g-d is just'.

(In fairness, America's not the only country you could say that about).

 

[camouflage]

cunts, frenzied enough to trample a man to death and for fucking what? a bargain

Frankly, I find it more ridiculous when people are trampled to death at religious events. Crowds can be dangerous whether the motive is religious, shopping, football or a fire.

 

[david dissadent]

Frankly, I find it more ridiculous when people are trampled to death at religious events. Crowds can be dangerous whether the motive is religious, shopping, football or a fire.

And music, The Who concert and Roskilled come to mind.
List of stampedes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stampede

 

[camouflage]

A large stampede will frequently eliminate anything in its path. In farmed animals, herd managers, sometimes called cowboys, attempt to turn the moving herd into itself, so that it runs in circles rather than self-destructing by running over a cliff or into a river, or from damaging human life or property by overrunning human settlements.

Specific animals associated with stampede behaviour are cattle, elephants, Blue Wildebeests, wild horses and humans.

Charming. One of the most amusing paragraphs on wiki in my opinion.

 

[Treacle Toes]

Here's what some USAnians have to say:

http://wonkette.com/404632/crazed-mob-stomps-wal-mart-worker-to-death#comments

What was it Thomas Jefferson said? 'I tremble for my country when I reflect that g-d is just'.

(In fairness, America's not the only country you could say that about).

Oh dear!

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Monkey says at 2:58 pm, November 28th, 2008
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Knowing walmart, they pulled the wounded off to the side so the shopping could continue
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CivicHoliday says at 3:17 pm, November 28th, 2008
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I read that one woman miscarried, too, after being trampled. So, umm…brightside? Bristol, you know where to go next time you have an accident…
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maven says at 3:17 pm, November 28th, 2008
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Jagorev and PTT- Of course those are Jews in the picture, its a crucifixion scene, and they are portrayed the usual way with hooked noses, etc. The remarkable thing is that the editors yanked my original comment from the page! So much for my dreams of this blog being the last vestige of political freedom, and I didn’t even say anything incendiary, only questioned why of all images this is what’s being used for the black friday mob scene.
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saucemaster says at 3:17 pm, November 28th, 2008
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on xmans morning, every one of those shoppers should be forced to tell their children how they got their gifts.

‘honey, i trampled a man to death to get you this Wii’.

although, in this fucked up county, i’m sure kids would be stoked to hear that.
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saucemaster says at 3:18 pm, November 28th, 2008
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saucemaster: i meant ‘xmas’ and ‘country’
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nyhfrog says at 3:19 pm, November 28th, 2008
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OH MY GOD! Wesuck-wesuck-wesuck-wesuck…
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villageatrois says at 3:31 pm, November 28th, 2008
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saucemaster: “honey, i trampled a man to death to get you this Wii’.”

Oh, mom! I looooooves you sooooo much. Next Christmas, I wants a ranch in Paraguay. I wants it sooooo bad.
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Progressive4ever says at 3:41 pm, November 28th, 2008
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I wonder if they do their usual stunt with contract employees and take out life insurance policies on them so that even in their death they can make their almighty f ing dollar.
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azw88 says at 3:42 pm, November 28th, 2008
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I hope Wal-Mart gives his widow A bronze Star for bravery under fire and being the first casualty in the War on Christmas.

 

[narcodollars]

Now begins the painstaking task of who's to blame.

The impatient crowd knocked the employee...to the ground as he opened the doors, leaving a metal portion of the frame crumpled like an accordion.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

have you ever seen sick and naked poor beggars all coverd in filth just laying all about? i have...it'll change your perspective on life

oh yeah and the homeless orphans going around asking for a bite to eat??

Yeah; but it didn't make me think that they somehow valued life less.

 

[ViolentPanda]

And music, The Who concert and Roskilled come to mind.
List of stampedes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stampede

Now that misspelling of Roskilde is a Freudian slip and a half!

 

[Gingerman]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iDXtETwP7G17BQsO07DecwxuziLgD94OHVO80
Kimberly Cribbs, who witnessed the stampede, said shoppers were acting like "savages."

"When they were saying they had to leave, that an employee got killed, people were yelling `I've been on line since yesterday morning,'" she said. "They kept shopping."
Fuck sake:-(

 

[DotCommunist]

Frankly, I find it more ridiculous when people are trampled to death at religious events. Crowds can be dangerous whether the motive is religious, shopping, football or a fire.

there's been many a study on crowd psychology and the weird dynamics that go on within stressed crowds. None of them can excuse the the stampede crushes of frenzied crowds in this case. Except fear of death obv, a gunman or a fire or whatever.


in this particular case they trampled a worker to death, because they couldn't fucking queue in an orderly fashion and where determined to beat everyone else to the bargains. The desire to win and fuck everyone else as you are chasing to get one over is not an attractive one. I'm not buying _floats_ orderly queue's from shit poor times and places, this was a pure and simple trampling of a man buy a load of ham-footed twats.

 

[goldenecitrone]

in this particular case they trampled a worker to death, because they couldn't fucking queue in an orderly fashion

How terribly un-British!