Black Friday trampling death at Walmart store is the result of Idiot Consumerism

Walmart, one of the most well known and most often mismanaged brands, has once again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and shown how they really feel about the American consumer.

The Black Friday trampling death of a temporary worker at a Walmart store in New York is a bleak reminder of how insane one aspect of branding has become. I've chosen to call it "idiot consumerism." In normal consumerism, the smart consumer looks for good deals on the goods they want to buy - for themselves or for gift giving. Manufacturers turn up the volume and supply distributors and retailers with all this stuff. Retailers lure customers with low prices. So far, so good. The smart consumer shops around, checks the circulars and makes the purchase.

Now here's where it all goes horribly, horribly wrong:
For the past several years now, the American consumer has been conditioned to begin the holiday shopping season on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. The idiot consumer believes the retailers, in an effort to "get back into the black" after a lackluster year, will offer once in a lifetime deals on all the stuff he wants to buy. And by the way, it's perfectly normal to go out to a shopping center at midnight, in your pajamas. It's the idiotic side of consumerism, and retailers are more than willing to pander to this dark side of human nature.

Here's what happened this weekend at the Mecca of idiot consumerism, Walmart:
According to the NY Times account of the incident, a crowd of more than 2,000 had gotten out of control, and banged and pressed against the doors. Six to 10 workers inside tried to push back, but the doors shattered, and the shrieking mob surged through in a blind rush for holiday bargains. One worker, Jdimytai Damour, 34, was thrown back and trampled in the stampede that streamed over and around him. Others who had stood alongside Mr. Damour trying to hold the doors were also hurled back and run over.

In idiot consumerism, the consumer apparently loses control and any sense of common decency. Forget about being polite, these Black Friday buffoons will literally trample you to death for standing between them and a good deal on an X-Box or Tickle Me Elmo. I could see the scene somewhere in the vicinity of that Walmart this Christmas morning as the Long Island soccer mom says - "Merry Christmas, Billy. Looks like Santa got you just the video game you wanted. Unfortunately, some poor bastard was trampled to death so this year we're going to church so we can feel a little better about ourselves. Come on, get dressed!"

Right about now you might be wondering - what was Walmart's response to this tragedy? Predictably, it was a typically inadequate boilerplate corporate statement -

“The safety and security of our customers and associates is our top priority. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families at this tragic time.”

Your top priority? Really? Then why was this man killed? I'll tell you why. Again, according to the NY Times story, the Nassau County police said the store lacked adequate security, called the scene “utter chaos” and said the “crowd was out of control.” The police said criminal charges are possible against those who were responsible for physically crashing through the doors and trampling the man, but I think it would be much easier to indict Walmart in this matter. They are the ones who are criminally responsible for this man's death.

And the Black Friday idiot consumers? Let's hope they shop online next year.