WalMart Worker Trampled to Death by Black Friday shoppers

[kleinluka]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5099819/walmart-work ... y-shoppers

OK, Black Friday has officially gotten out of hand. A 34-year-old WalMart employee was trying to hold back the crowds at a Long Island store this morning at 5am, when they took the doors off their hinges and stormed the store. The man fell down and was trampled by over 200 people as he gasped for air. It's sad and despicable, and it's equally the fault of the dehumanized shoppers and the WalMart store it happened at.

Why was there no line set up? Why didn't they let in a reasonable amount of people at a time? What kind of method is it to just allow hundreds of people to cram up against the doors, waiting for them to open? They may have wanted some photo op of people surging through the doors, but they willfully created a very dangerous situation.

Can you imagine if, say, the Apple store did this when the iPhone was launched? Or when the Wii was launched? When a large amount of people are expected for a retail event, organization is needed, otherwise it creates a dangerous situation. This man's death is on WalMart's hands.

As for the people who did the trampling, well, I hope their cheap crap was worth it. They'll have to live with the human costs of their deals for the rest of their lives. [NY Daily News]

wtf?

[Minos]

consumerism

[Freak]

poor young guy... walmart sux anyway btw

[-HP-]

holy fuck!

Can you imagine if, say, the Apple store did this when the iPhone was launched? Or when the Wii was launched? When a large amount of people are expected for a retail event, organization is needed, otherwise it creates a dangerous situation. This man's death is on WalMart's hands.

this was really well put!

[Thrik]

Wow, that is really horrible. The fact there's a picture is really unsettling.

And I agree with the third paragraph: this blood is on Wal-Mart's hands.

[⌐■_■]

As for the people who did the trampling, well, I hope their cheap crap was worth it. They'll have to live with the human costs of their deals for the rest of their lives. [NY Daily News]

also really well put. fucking animals.

[D3ads]

What the fuck? Is there some kind of food and supplies shortage in that part of NY or something?!!

[Steppenwolf]

That's fucking insane. What i don't get is: If people are so poor that they kill someone over a 100$ saving on a shitty ass chinese HD Ready TV at 5am shouldn't they be more bothered about important things? Getting food on the table or a shelter at night for example?

[kleinluka]

A 28-year-old pregnant woman was also trampled in the mad rush and hospitalized for observation

[Dodger]

i don't know what to say about this, is this a crime?

[Erratic]

That's actually a good point, someone should be charged in these cases but I don't think anyone ends up being held accountable. Part of it seems to be difficulty in identifying anyone in particular. Wal-Mart at least should be charged for encouraging this kind of shit, or at least not trying to prevent it in any significant way.

[Sindwiller]

Wal-Mart at least should be charged for encouraging this kind of shit, or at least not trying to prevent it in any significant way.

That should actually be enforceable if the US has a reasonable bunch of laws for labour conditions and stuff I'd reckon. Or at least I'd think if an employee here in Switzerland had been injured by idleness of the employer to potential dangers (eg. no safety precautions, etc.), the employee would be able to sue their asses.

[Warby]

i read those words "black friday sales" in kotaku multiple times this week someone care to enlighten me?

is this a religious holiday or something ?! and why is it synonymous with shopping ?!

/edit i see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping) there is another story there about two guys shooting each other over something from toysrus

[Sindwiller]

edit i see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping) there is another story there about two guys shooting each other over something from toysrus

I'd be proud of 'our' laws for possession of firearms if I were a US citizen.

[kleinluka]

clearly if the other guy had had a gun he could have protected himself :roll: