Hi everyone. After a long lay off I'm back again, hopefully on a regular basis. At this festive time of the year (Dicken's quote purely intended) I felt I just had to get my three pennies worth of comment about what to me threatens to become a Black Friday for other reasons than merely bagging a bargain.
I understand the idea originated in the States, and is now employed in the UK. Not that I have anything against my American friends, of course. I'm sure many people on the other side of the Atlantic were just as appalled as I was after seeing the shameful scenes of unrestrained avarice on the television news. Now, I know the media have a habit of over sensationalising these kinds of items, but this kind of lunacy was left open for all to see. It causes one to question what kind of society we are living in and - dare I say promoting. And yet, what is wrong with trying to save a few quid? Grabbing the deal of a lifetime?
Well, firstly, from what I saw, the objects of mad desire were never worth the single minded intent displayed by the mob mentality in question. And it makes me wonder whether this impulse had gone far beyond the simple need to obtain goods - or save money. It makes me wonder if many were there in the end because of some primal desire not to be bottom of an imagined pecking order.
A long time waiting in line, in the cold, had clearly scrambled many brains, to the point in which the anticipation was more akin to awaiting a race for life or death than the mere acquisition of goods. Most punters were held for hours behind glass barriers; transparent sliding doors which allowed the people to see the objects of their desire (strategically left in plain sight). Imagine the build of tension as time passed, as individuals played out in their minds how they would sprint toward the goal, whatever the cost.
It was obvious as soon as the restraints were pulled aside, good sense was to replaced by some half baked 'survival of the fittest' mentality. People weren't just pushed out of the way, they were trampled underfoot - almost as if the perpetrators were running from a burning building. Then, for those who managed to reach their goal, it was a brawl to see who could claim ownership of said 'treasure'.
From an outside perspective this all looked like utter madness. Leaving the circumstances of individuals aside, there could be no excuse for this behaviour, which if I were to refer to it as animal like, would put me in danger of insulting the animal kingdom. No, only we as human beings will put out fellow creatures at risk of serious injury for the sake of 'non essential items'. Flat screen television for goodness sake.
Next time back to movies and books, but I had to have a say on this one. I just hope next year will be better managed by the shops involved, before someone gets seriously hurt . . .
