Who killed the Walmart worker on Black Friday?
On “Black Friday,” word spread quickly via media outlets and the Internet that a Walmart worker in a New York Store was trampled to death by the crowd rushing through the doors for bargains.
People expressed shock, disbelief, anger and sadness.
For the record, the man’s name is Jdimytai Damour. He was among the Walmart employees inside the Valley Stream, NY store forming a human chain to slow down the crowd of some 2,000 people outside the store who were chanting “break down the doors.” At 34 years of age, Damour was 6′5″ tall and weighed 270 pounds, large enough one might think to hold his own against incoming shoppers. Even so, he died of asphyxiation; the EMTs trying to save him were also stepped on by the crowd. Everyone who came into the store–and they did continue to come in–could not have missed the man lying on the floor. They either passed him by or they, too, stepped on him.
People who know about the logistics of such things are saying that there are good ways and bad ways to prepare for the prospective chaos during store openings on Black Friday when extraordinary deals have been well publicized to lure in shoppers. In this case, experts are suggesting that security should have been outside the store rather than inside, and positioned to organize the crowd into orderly lines. Others are noting that those in the human chain had had no experience in crowd control.
There will probably be a wrongful death suit against Walmart as Damour’s family works with police using security tapes to ascertain whether it’s even possible to see who–specifically–tramped him and whether they acted out of negligence or were pushed over him by the people behind them. The store’s ineffective use of barricades and security personnel placement will be discussed. So, too, the crowd control techniques of other stores across the nation that advertised tempting bargains but experienced little or no chaos.
Perhaps justice will ultimately be served, the victim’s family compensated, closure of one kind or another will be found, and retailers and shoppers will learn more about safety and crowd control prior to Black Friday 2009.
I’m wondering, though, what your take is on the frenzy itself. What is it in a person’s mindset that makes Black Friday bargains, deals and prizes so compelling that s/he is willing to become part of a mob in order to get his/her item in a “me first” rush?
What does this event say about the shoppers outside that Walmart? What does it say about all of us, the thousands of people who get up at 3 a.m. to get their places in line (or near the front of a crowd or a mob) for the 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. Black Friday store openings?
Why are the deals important enough for this?
Copyright (c) 2008 by Malcolm R. Campbell
__________________________
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Submitted by Trick Falls on Wed, 12/03/2008 - 23:04.
- Trick Falls's blog
- Login or register to post comments
- 184 reads
I've thought a lot about
I've thought a lot about this, and I know everyone is quick to blame Walmart because that's where the money is...but the problem really rests with individuals. I think the actions of the crowd highlight the self-centeredness that permeates our society today. Shoppers acted like starving concentration camp victims scrambling for a crumb of live-giving bread. Only it wasn't anything so necessary. And when such a large man falls--even if you are pushed beyond him, I can't believe people didn't get into the store and step to the side to see if there was anything they could do to help.
__________________________It's a sad commentary that Walmart needs crowd control. Maybe shoppers could be equipped with a zap collar before entering the store and if they get out of hand they can receive a jolt--but I guess that would lead to suing the store too.
Donna
Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse, Windwalker and Beyond the Fifth Gate
I'm not convinced...
...Walmart was negligible in this instance because, with giant sales happening all over the country on Black Friday every year, I don't think one can presume the crowd is going to turn into an out-of-control mob.
I'm more bothered by the apparent desperation of those in the crowd to get into the store first; some say, they actually broke the doors in the process.
TF
You cant just blame...
the company, the customers were involved too -- out of control!
__________________________Kiwi Riverman
Black Friday itself seems problematic
We've blown the "need" to get out their and shop on the day after Thanksgiving out of proportion. TF
We've blown the whole
We've blown the whole concept of Christmas out of proportion. People act as if we MUST HAVE gifts. I remember my father telling me that they all received one gift on Christmas. That was in the 1930s. By the time I was growing up in the 1950s we had a slew of gifts under the tree. And now, many people focus only on the gifts.
__________________________My family decided to give up gift buying about ten years ago. It's eliminated stress, helped me stay on my budget, and when we get together for dinner the focus is on family, not what we found under the tree.
Donna
Donna Sundblad
Author of Pumping Your Muse, Windwalker and Beyond the Fifth Gate
I grew up in a family who had a modest Christmas
Not that our parents didn't surprise us. Not that we didn't always have a wishlist. But we knew better than to expect $1000+ worth of loot beneath the tree. We were taught better than that. And I hope we still have things in perspective. From an adult's viewpoint, the buying does create a lot of stress...keeping up with who wants what...mailing stuff on time...the whole thing.
TF
A man dying so that shoppers
A man dying so that shoppers could get a discount on a plasma TV is so pathetic and I think it makes a very sad statement about some people and where they place value. With people losing their homes and struggling to make ends meet - I'm sorry but getting a fancy TV is just not a priority and not worth a human life. Expecting a huge bounty of gifts really has replaced any religious or spiritual meaning of Christmas for many people.
__________________________I read an article the other day about parents begging toy companies not to promote toys to their kids. So, here's my question - should parents be brutally honest about the family finances and the state of this country's economy with their children. When I was growing up my parents didn't hesitate to tell me that the family had limited money and I even went with them to do cleaning jobs on weekends and evenings to make ends meet. I remember very few gifts during my childhood and I knew that gifts and even new clothes for school weren't in the budget. I turned out all right -- well, that could depend on who you ask
On the other hand, my parents sheltered my brother and made sure he got what he wanted even if they had to do without - now he is very in debt and doesn't appreciate the vast array of "things" that he has. He thinks its necessary to have 6 vehicles - some for business and a BMW sport coupe and a Lexus SUV. To say we see money and "needs" in different ways is a big understatement - but I'm happy with much less than my brother and while I took a lot of ribbing from kids in school, I wouldn't want the mentality he has about money and possessions.
Nikki
Nikki Leigh - www.nikkileigh.com
Book Promo 101 - NOW AVAILABLE
Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours
http://www.virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/
I'd prefer having honest parents
Not that parents need to create a feeling on insecurity with their kids. But Christmas isn't a contest to see which families can buy the most, regardless of incomes and circumstances.
Kids are going to want stuff, but hopefully they've been brought up to see there's more to life than that, and then to understand that every family can't compete with the richest family in town. Maxing out credit cards for a December splurge has consequences.
TF
Learning Lessons at a Young Age
Seems that it would be better for children to learn these lessons while they are still young instead of growing into "entitled" adults with a wallet of maxed credit cards.
__________________________Nikki
Nikki Leigh - www.nikkileigh.com
Book Promo 101 - NOW AVAILABLE
Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours
http://www.virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/
I think so, too
Must be too many parents trying to be pals to their kids instead of parents.
TF