Careful, they bite

 Returning from my excursion into hell, or Black Friday as mortals call it, I checked Digg and read up on an article that described the Bulgarian space program as being in constant contact with aliens using crop circles as cosmic "texts". The idea is that aliens are watching us all the time, but they know we're too crazy to actually make real contact with. If they watch what goes on during a typical Black Friday, then I can see why they're choosing to stay the hell out of sight. I hate to turn holiday shopping into some profound moral lesson, but we're absolutely nuts as a species.

 After a trampling death was reported last year, you'd think that people would sort of "get it", but they don't. During the "3....2....1..." countdown, some dipshit 20 some year old chick was giggling as she broke through the line and jogged her way to the electronics, despite constant reminders not to run, mainly because that would encourage other people to run to catch up to her. It would have been more poetic had they run, trampled her, then continued with no second thoughts. Sorry, but a girl who thinks she's being cute because she broke the line deserved a clothesline along the way at least.

 If it wasn't for the smug look, it might not have bothered me. At least she could have look confused like she didn't know what was going on, or faking a female emergency would have worked, too.

 Regardless, I managed to do some covert actions and snagged me the one piece of loot I was hoping to get, and quickly realized that the hounds were descending quickly. I escaped, but not before seeing people's common sense and dignity switches get turned to "off". Shoving happened a lot, and I hate to say it, but there was a clear gender gap when it came to cruelty. Women were so much more likely to shove, steal, and push their way through everything, where men were just trying to survive. One mother in particular was barking orders to her children like they were going to war and threatening to take away Christmas presents if they did not meet a success quota.

 Is it all worth it? You know, it's hard to say. All I know is that there's something to be said for random people who have never met before from all walks of life being at a crazy event and just cracking jokes, having fun, and helping each other find the best toys. Not once have I ever gone to a Black Friday opening without taking a few moments to see if I can get my hands on something for a person I've never met before, and it's nice to know that the favor was returned. I always bump into someone that makes me smile, and that part is worth it even if 20 others are probably plotting my doom before the ropes even go down. Digg It Stumble it ! Reddit