WTF Stories of the Week

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

IMO, the chances of being able to identify any one or two people is thin. This tragedy is born strictly out of the mob mentality. The person who may have actually knocked the victim over was probably being pushed from behind. More than one person contributed to the trampling; even people who did not come in direct contact with the victim are responsible for his death.

I know. And, that's why I'm not opposed to rounding 'em all up. As harsh as that sounds... if you're gonna play with the mob... be prepared to take the consequences with the mob.

When the chanting started to break down the doors, people had a choice to not play a part, and could leave. But, that would have meant giving up the chance for a "deal" on a TV.

I'm not going to hurt anyone or watch anyone get hurt over a stupid item. If I'm surrounded by any kind of hostile crowd situation, I'm going to remove myself from it. Nothing in life is worth that.

[Betty]

If you look up walmart trampling or stampede (I forget which - but saw it last night) on youtube you'll see another video of a different event.
It's true about the push of people. They all just start walking and when someone falls the people in the back just keep going causing the front people to fall on the person already on the ground.

What's disturbing is knowing that this has happened before and they haven't fixed it. Makes you sick to watch it.


They could pass out numbers and let people in 10 at a time until there was no longer a line out front. Of course, they may not make the same amount of money - but what price does WalMart place on a life?

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Betty

If you look up walmart trampling or stampede (I forget which - but saw it last night) on youtube you'll see another video of a different event.

Just curious: is the video you are referring to an actual different event? There was a Wal Mart trampling incident last year as well (but no one was killed in that one).

Originally Posted by Betty

They could pass out numbers and let people in 10 at a time until there was no longer a line out front. Of course, they may not make the same amount of money - but what price does WalMart place on a life?

Actual, a system like this probably wouldn't affect their bottom line as the loss leader items are limited in number anyways and they would still sell out. People would still come in the same numbers expecting to be able to get them and would still go in the store and purchase the same amount.

At least, I think that is what would happen.

[Betty]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Just curious: is the video you are referring to an actual different event? There was a Wal Mart trampling incident last year as well (but no one was killed in that one).

I'm not sure when it happened - but more then one person fell and those behind them just kept coming.

There's a cell phone video from this year that I chose not to watch. It was after the event and they were giving him CPR and I shut it off. Don't need to see that.

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by Betty

IThere's a cell phone video from this year that I chose not to watch. It was after the event and they were giving him CPR and I shut it off. Don't need to see that.

The real gem in the video was when someone blocked the cell phone's view and the guy holding the cellphone said, "This guy is in my ****ing view. Dammit." And, this was towards the end after they'd been trying endlessly to revive the victim, long after the severity of the issue was "portrayed". How much more did he need to see?

So, the guy with the cellphone doesn't exactly have my respect either.

It's a shame that the cops weren't immediately available when the crowd was chanting about pushing the doors down. In situations like that, I'm all for the beanbag guns, and the store refusing to open until people behave themselves. But, most stores probably wouldn't do that, because the money is more important.

It's just sad all around. How many lives have to end until people get a clue?

My heart is with the victims and their families. I have zero compassion towards the shoppers.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

It's a shame that the cops weren't immediately available when the crowd was chanting about pushing the doors down. In situations like that, I'm all for the beanbag guns, and the store refusing to open until people behave themselves. But, most stores probably wouldn't do that, because the money is more important.

The decisions were probably being made by lower level persons. I can't place too much blame on the people working the store that day. They were probably scared shytless looking at the lynch mob just on the other side of the door and honestly didn't know what to do. There was probably an element of "they are going to break down the door and kill us."

[alphabassettgrrl]

It's my (limited) understanding that the crowd at the WalMart actually broke down the doors.

Talking to a BF shopper last night, he said EB Games didn't let anybody into their store. Everybody waited in line, you told them what you wanted, they brought it to you, and you paid for it. Easy, nothing got stolen, nobody got trampled, and everybody got as much as they were going to get (considering some things were out of stock).

I'm all for limited access when things get that nuts.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by alphabassettgrrl

It's my (limited) understanding that the crowd at the WalMart actually broke down the doors.

They broke the door off the hinges after the store was opened, they did not break it down in opposition to WalMart trying to keep it closed.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Ah. Thank you for the clarification.

[CoasterMatt]