There's something fitting that I talked about to sociopathic nature of teenagers in a world where no one thinks. Yesterday was Black Friday and, while I happily avoided any retail outlet (minus the grocery store), I was certainly in the minority. Now there is video coming out of riots in Walmart. People have been trampled, stabbed -- some speculate that there might've been a fatality or two yesterday. And all to get a Samsung TV at 30% off.
I don't blame society for this behavior. I just blame human nature. The triggers that made human beings fight their way to the top of the food chain are the same triggers that cause shoppers to punch each other out over Tickle Me Elmo. It's the same trigger that makes us agitated when stuck in rush hour traffic, or if we're in line for a certain item and we notice that said item is quickly dwindling in numbers.
It's just human nature. There have been countless post-apocalyptic books that showcase how everyday people will behave when resources are scarce or they perceive a threat to what they have. It is far too easy for us to switch into a more animalistic mode and see other people as threats to what we want (instead of, gee, people at a Walmart). Is it ridiculous that people get that way over a watch and some slippers? Obviously. But it comes from a very primal place.
My prediction? We won't see an end to Black Friday insanity. The same way we won't see an end to honking cars in gridlocked highways and we won't see an end to people punching each other out when a water main breaks and the tap water is contaminated. There's a chance people might get sick of this crap and just forgo shopping on Black Friday altogether, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
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