58 Comments

1. Chrismas Sale Online » Blog Archive » Pajamas Media » Christmas Shopping in a Time of Recession:

[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onPajamas Media » Christmas Shopping in a Time of RecessionHere’s a quick excerptEveryone knows the real meaning of the holidays, but we are all aware of what holiday season — and Christmas in particular — has become. It’s a weeks-long. [...]

Nov 28, 2008 - 2:52 am 2. Beth Donovan:

Lovely post, Michele. I find that as I grow older, material things are far less important. Since we moved to our farm, pretty figurines my collection of porcelain horses, and all the other stuff I once thought I needed are just junk. I’m gonna sell all that stuff on ebay or just give it away. This Christmas, my family and friends will probably get handmade or baked gifts. There is no point in using the credit cards now to only fret about how to pay them for the next 2 or 3 years it might take to pay them off.

Nov 28, 2008 - 4:24 am 3. Sock it to ‘em! « Mark’s Manifesto & Musings:

[...] opportunity to share the Gospel, but many of us “spike” the socks we distribute with cash for the holidays. Now I realize this may be far outside some people’s comfort zone, but there are other more [...]

Nov 28, 2008 - 4:56 am 4. Sock it to ‘em! « ULTIMATE TRUTH:

[...] opportunity to share the Gospel, but many of us “spike” the socks we distribute with cash for the holidays. Now I realize this may be far outside some people’s comfort zone, but there are other more [...]

Nov 28, 2008 - 5:03 am 5. Lisa Paul:

Lovely, thoughtful post Michele.

I’m a fan of giving things you own as gifts. I don’t mean just mindless regifting. But say someone gave you a pasta maker that you have never used and will never use. Yet, you know a young person with their first apartment who loves cooking and can’t afford fancy appliances. There’s a great gift. And suddenly useless junk has become a thoughtful gift that someone will treasure.

For the rest, what about being mindful about buying locally and locally made or at least American made?

Nov 28, 2008 - 9:55 am 6. Instapundit » Blog Archive » MICHELE CATALANO on Christmas shopping in a time of recession….:

[...] MICHELE CATALANO on Christmas shopping in a time of recession. [...]

Nov 28, 2008 - 10:38 am 7. Tennwriter:

This is a conservative, free market message. The WSJ won’t like it, but they are merely extrusions on the outside of conservatism, instead of its beating heart as they imagine. Freedom includes the right NOT to, as well as the right to DO.

Nov 28, 2008 - 11:13 am 8. fear Obama:

A Wal-Mart worker died after being trampled when hundreds of shoppers smashed through the doors of a Long Island store Friday morning, police and witnesses said. The 34-year-old employee, a temporary maintenance worker, tried to hold back the unruly crowds just after the Valley Stream store opened at 5 a.m.

This is an absurdity-
Its not early shoppers,

These people are animals.

I look forward to his family suing Wal Mart for a freaking billion dollars,

so this Shiite never happens again.

Nov 28, 2008 - 11:47 am 9. Christmas Stampede « Grand Rants:

[...] Michelle Catalano and the Anchoress have written about how best to Christmas shop during a recession, and what [...]

Nov 28, 2008 - 1:13 pm 10. Kathy L.:

Our kids don’t watch any TV (just limited videos, which don’t have commercials) and are accustomed to relatively modest Christmases. But ours are much more lavish than mine were as a child, and I know others who scale down even more than we do. So no, that “Norman Rockwall” image isn’t a myth. There are fewer families doing that now, but they still exist.

Nov 28, 2008 - 2:20 pm 11. Mike:

A good article and I can’t believe the Walmart story. Not that I don’t believe it but it is so unbelievable that Americans could do that. But it is such a reflection of the “me generation”. I really don’t think that such a thing would have happened even 30 years ago.

The best way to observe Christmas is to remember why we have the season to begin with and that is Jesus.

Nov 28, 2008 - 8:42 pm 12. Donna B.:

I suppose because my youngest child was born in 1981 that I missed the worst of this, yet I remember hearing the same complaints about consumerism then.

What I do NOT remember is anyone getting trampled to death by a mob of shoppers. That’s beyond the pale and if it’s that much worse now (I admit to being out of touch) then drastic measures are needed.

The bile was rising in my throat as I read of the “frugal teenagers in the NYT link. Oh my! How can you call yourself a good parent if you completely shield your child from reality? Your job is to teach them how to deal with it.

Nov 29, 2008 - 12:11 am 13. cultural perspective:

As I have read the many post on this subject on various sites I am amazed at the cultural shift we have seen in this nation. Donna B.’s words are quite to the point. In going back more than 50 years this behavior was unthinkable as I grew up. Today however I can’t believe the many post that kept focusing on Wal-Mart as the perpetrator of this action and that somehow they should be punished merely for the fact that they offered prices on consumer goods that caused this barbaric behavior. To me this is the key issue of what is different today. Few of us recognize that we are responsible for our behavior. We chose to either behave in a civilized manner or to hide our barbarism inside a mob riot. The people who are responsible for the death of that poor man are those who chose to act like barbarians and with total callousness and disregard for others charged off to find their own bargains. I’m suprised that they didn’t simply ignore the check-outs and just take what they wanted and then burned the store to the ground all to satisfy their own individual needs.

I suspect that not one of these barbarians will every be held to account for their actions and that indeed someone will sue Wal-Mart for causing these barbarians to act in the manner that they did. And as we continue to excuse the behaviors of individuals by placing the blame for their behaviors on others (especially those with deep pockets) we will continue to see the erosion of civilized society.

Nov 29, 2008 - 4:08 am 14. Tom H:

Several posts, only one(!) that even mentions Jesus. Why can you not just have a birthday cake, then you all go out and give the homeless a hot dinner, or the old folks in the rest homes a new wide screen, or be bold enough to sing songs about Jesus on the street corner and let all that be your Christmas??? Takes an inner spirit that I suspect most people do not possess…

Nov 29, 2008 - 4:29 am 15. John O'Neill:

IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THIS BARBARIC MOB THAT TRAMPLED A MAN TO DEATH IN ORDER TO GET AT THE GOODIES IS THE SAME MOB THAT ELECTED THE NEW AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. IT IS THE CULTURAL ETHOS OF THE NEW AMERICAN STATE; EVERYTHING IS ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND MY MONEY. NOTHING IS ABOUT DECENCY AND MORALITY.

CATO

Nov 29, 2008 - 5:20 am 16. MarkD:

At first, I was inclined to say that his was just an aberration, but it really is not. I happened to go to the local Staples, and the guy in line behind me wanted me to buy a “one item per customer” special for him. I refused, but it made me realize that there are a lot of people out there for whom it is all about me. Obviously he didn’t care at all that someone else would be deprived.

A nation that has tolerated uncivil behavior from its leaders is seeing where that leads. Do the words Hitler and miserable failure ring any bells? It is no longer enough to oppose policies for rational reasons. The opposition must be destroyed. Lose an election? Hire a lawyer.

I wish all these people long lives. They will punish themselves every day.

Nov 29, 2008 - 6:37 am 17. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Michele Catalano
RE: Are You….

What does Christmas mean to you? — Michele Catalano

….a REAL Christian? Or do you just like to talk about it? Because it makes you feel good about yourself?

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[Christianity might actually work, if people tried it.]

P.S. Problem is that people like Catalano think The One is the Second Coming…..

Nov 29, 2008 - 6:51 am 18. Chuck Pelto:

P.S. And for those people who think they’re ‘Christians’, but actually aren’t….

….I’m reminded of a bumper sticker during the recent election…..

She’s not a woman.
She’s a Republican.
Vote Obama

This sticker sited next to the Christian fish symbol.

Some kinda ‘Christian’ that, dehumanizing a part of God’s creation over political differences.

Nov 29, 2008 - 6:58 am 19. DaveinPhoenix:

I’m one of the “chumps” in life who works hard every day, tries to excel in everything I do, and takes responsibility for my actions. Unfortunately, I live in a world like this:

From the NY Daily News (reader comments on this story)
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/28/2008-11-28_worker_dies_at_long_island_walmart_after.html

“That dead guy was probably a loser anyway. Now somebody else has a chance to get an XBox and Guitar Hero video game. Legalise gay marriage!!
Posted by USGay on Nov 28, 2008 12:02 PM”

“Its because the eonomy is so bad under BUSH that this happened!!! Folks been held down so long that they got no money to spend to by their Christmas presence be cause of BUSH!!! He need to resign NOW and let Barack take over so this tragady don’t happen again!!
Posted by funksoul6 on Nov 28, 2008 12:57 PM”

There were very few comments on this story which hit the nail on the head, but the best was this:

“His body was a stepping bag with so much disregard for human life,” Ernst Damour, 37, said. “There has to be some accountability”

Ernst nailed it. Disregard for human life mixed with an equal portion of zero accountability = anarchy. This is the new America. We let our country get destroyed from within. The greatest ideal real Conservatives should preach endlessly is one of the things that this nation was founded upon: Freedoms balanced by an equal amounts of personal responsibilities.

Nov 29, 2008 - 7:00 am 20. michele:

Really, John? Care to elaborate on that? Not quite sure what you mean by “the same mob” so why don’t you stop being vague and just come out and say it?

Nov 29, 2008 - 7:09 am 21. bill:

John O’Neill,

You nailed it, sir. The same people who claim that unborn children are ripe for slaughter are the same people who have so little regard for the Wal-Mart employee beneath their feet. Decency and morality still matter.

Nov 29, 2008 - 8:18 am 22. Chrismas Sale Online » Blog Archive » Pajamas Media » Killing for a Bargain:

[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onPajamas Media » Killing for a BargainHere’s a quick excerptKilling for a Bargain. How do we teach our kids “the real meaning of Christmas” in a world where Wal-Mart shoppers can trample a man to death? November 27, 2008 – by Michele Catalano. Support Pajamas Media; Visit Our Advertisers … [...]

Nov 29, 2008 - 9:00 am 23. nobozons:

There is a lot of blame to go around to all of those who hype black Friday. The main stream media for reporting a non-news event encouraging people to assemble at the stores door before the light of day, the stores for having sales to kill for the first day of shopping, and finally lack of crown control by the police. Once the people at the back of the crown began to push then the people at the front had no option but to go forward. No longer human beings but herd animals in panic over their own safety. Why theses stores are allowed to have crowds who number in the hundreds at their door at four o’clock without supervision is mind boggling to me? It’s like having an Orange parade through the Catholic parts of Belfast without adult supervision or sending a bunch of queers to a motorcycle gangs bar.

Nov 29, 2008 - 9:21 am 24. Ann:

How do we teach our kids the real meaning of Christmas when people are being trampled at Walmart.

Well, first of all, don’t be at Walmart at 4:00 am on Black Friday. Model different behavior.

Secondly, every Christmas Eve read Luke 2 out loud as a family (then throw in Romans 8:1 and II Corinthians 5:19-21 for frosting).

I’m fully aware that the question is not being posed seriously, i.e., the writer is probably wondering how to convey to the kids the squishy, romantic, “giving-feeling” that will “make them feel good” for 3 weeks every year. I’m too simple minded, I guess.

The “meaning of Christmas” for me is not hindered at all by the frequency of murders, stupid deaths at Walmart or other people being materialistic because it was never dependent on the absence of those things in the first place.

I have the greatest “disgusted compassion” for the family of the man who was killed. I hope they sue Walmart for hundreds of millions and wins. Until the retailers start paying the price for the idiotically risky circumstances they are creating, this kind of crap is going to continue.

Nov 29, 2008 - 10:40 am 25. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Ann, et al.
RE: And….

Secondly, every Christmas Eve read Luke 2 out loud as a family (then throw in Romans 8:1 and II Corinthians 5:19-21 for frosting). — Ann

And watch Zeffirelli’s classic Jesus of Nazarth on Christmas Day.

Extra credit, watch The Passion on Good Friday. But I wouldn’t recommend it for children under the age of 14.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
P.S. Additionally, it REALLY helps to be a REAL christian. Not one like the one with the odd bumper-sticker of hate next to their fish emblem.

That was REALLY ‘fishy’…..

Nov 29, 2008 - 11:14 am 26. michele:

“the writer is probably wondering how to convey to the kids the squishy, romantic, “giving-feeling” that will “make them feel good” for 3 weeks every year. I’m too simple minded, I guess.”

It’s the simple minded people that usually make the biggest assumptions about people they don’t know.

See, also “The same people who claim that unborn children are ripe for slaughter are the same people who have so little regard for the Wal-Mart employee beneath their feet.:”

Care to explain how you know who all those people voted for?

Nov 29, 2008 - 12:04 pm 27. Tanna:

My sister was in the Whotrample.
From her experience, she spoke of a ‘wave’.
People from the far back pushed, and everyone rocked forward, in retaliation, the people in front, who were shoved against the doors, pushed back. This action picked up in momentum until the front row was basically pushed through the door. A family friend was against the glass of the door, and was killed. The people in the back of the line, when pushed, had some space to back up in, the people in front have no where to go but into the door.
My sister is 4′11″, ninety pounds. When she was caught in the wave going into the Coliseum, her feet left the ground.
Some big fat guy grabbed her and rushed off to the side, over tables set up to control the lines, and away from the tidal wave of people. The glass doors opened in, and he had to clear the doors to do this. She remembered the great crush against the glass as she and the big fat guy tried to circumnavigate the jam at the door.

My sister knew nothing of the deaths. The family we knew didn’t hold her accountable because she was in the wave. Deciding who’s guilty in the crowd is going to be difficult. Some of those people were just caught in a wave.

Nov 29, 2008 - 12:20 pm 28. Jessica Gottlieb:

I’ve always felt conflicted about shopping at WalMart but they didn’t even close the store.

A baby died and a 34 year old man died. He was busting his hump for the American Dream and was killed by gluttony.

Buy yourself one nice thing and enjoy it, or knit a scarf, this is just embarrassing and everyone piling the crap under the tree should be more than a little ashamed.

Nov 29, 2008 - 12:34 pm 29. Chuck Pelto:

TO: michele
RE: Understanding Other People

It’s the simple minded people that usually make the biggest assumptions about people they don’t know. — michele

Whereas you have failed to answer MY question, asked of you at item #17-18 (above), and based on your blatant support and defense of The One during the run-up to the election, I think I’ve got a pretty good idea of your political-sociological-moral background.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
P.S. If you think me ’simple-minded’, click on my name….

Nov 29, 2008 - 1:10 pm 30. RW:

Too bad on this whole thing was allowed to develop. That poor man and his family. But this is a reflection of the low “culture” that has taken over. Bling is king and that’s all that matters. Get it.

Now the pregnant woman did not have a miscarriage and the police are looking at the video. They should have done so with the entrances closed. And then arrest those responsible.

This was not akin to the Who concert in Ohio btw. I was at Shea Stadium after that event and near the stage for the warmup acts, David Johansen and The Clash. The crowd was being pushed in the open field seating from three sides on us, middle, right and left. Barely got out of that and lost my friend for a good hour in the crush. Up front security was grabbing and throwing women over the barrier between the crowd and the stage. Some of those women were dragged to the front by guys who insisted on pushing their way to the front.

There is a difference in these scenarios. The latter at Walmart however, shows a crush on one pressure point. And people that trampled this poor man had a choice IMHO. If they didn’t, the police would not be looking at the tapes for the evidence to identify them.

Nov 29, 2008 - 1:27 pm 31. FreedomLover:

What we can do is honor God in our own families every day. It feels good to express outrage over the sub-humans who killed the WalMart worker; but finally, it comes down to what I do with my family. We will celebrate Jesus’ birth, which is Christmas. In nonviolent resistance, we will not celebrate the cultural god of consumerism. This is both the most and least we can do.

Nov 29, 2008 - 2:14 pm 32. Tanna:

Shea and the Coliseum were set up differently.
There was only one door open for entry at the Coliseum.
You were at Shea, my sister was at the Coliseum.
She akins this Walmart accident to the accident she witnessed and was an unwilling participant.
There were things changed after the Coliseum Who concert. One of the things they noted as part of the accident was that there was only one door of entry.
I don’t know if Shea always used a three door opening, or if it was changed for prevention measures.
The Walmart door was broken off it’s hinges, and I suspect it would take some pressure to take it down.
I’m not disagreeing with you, or starting an argument, I’ve never been to Shea to make a comparison, you have. I remember the events you describe being on the Cincinnati news, for obvious reasons, how women were crushed against the barriers, but you were the first person I’ve come across to actually have to sit through it.

Nov 29, 2008 - 2:54 pm 33. Ann:

Michele, I was not making any assumptions. I was responding to Michele Catalono’s written expression of concern and frustration over the lost message of Christmas and her repeated use of rhetorical questions underscoring her apparent lack of answers for her own questions.

Secondly, it’s interesting that you make the assumption that “it’s the simple minded who make the biggest assumptions about people they don’t know”. Once again, I (unlike you) didn’t make any assumptions at all.

Nov 29, 2008 - 3:00 pm 34. michele:

“I was responding to Michele Catalono’s written expression of concern and frustration over the lost message of Christmas and her repeated use of rhetorical questions underscoring her apparent lack of answers for her own questions.”

Yes, Ann, you were responding to ME. And yes, you were making assumptions about me.

“I’m fully aware that the question is not being posed seriously, i.e., the writer is probably wondering how to convey to the kids the squishy, romantic, “giving-feeling” that will “make them feel good” for 3 weeks every year.”

Yep, that’s an assumption.

Nov 29, 2008 - 5:26 pm 35. Killed For Christmas Toys « The Xenohistorian Weblog:

[...] at Pajamas Media, a blogger named Michele Catalano suggested that an appropriate holiday prayer for our time should go like this:  “Dear Jesus, We [...]

Nov 29, 2008 - 7:32 pm 36. LisaP:

Ok, Michele, I’ll bite regarding your curious query as to assumptions about who voted for whom
in the recent presidential election. The crowd shown in pre-stampede photographs in the parking lot of the Long Island Walmart is essentially, virtually,
completely, absolutely African-American. Do you or do you not accept the fact that 95% of AAs voted for Obama? It’s oh so simple, dear. Not to worry, though. When The One disappoints, we’ll be hearing cries of “Oreo!” on cue.

Nov 29, 2008 - 7:40 pm 37. ChrisPer:

Nice article from a moral reappraisal point of view, but the headline sentiment is DRIVEL. None of the shoppers were intending harm to anyone; its a crowd situation and frenzy created by commercial manipulation led to a tragedy. The people in the crowd were not managed by the store that advertised to bring them, the media helped create expectations to add excitement to the story. No culpable intentions or reckless disregard. This tragedy results not from the shoppers heedlessness of the person trampled, but from the media and the stores that created the crowd situation and did not see this risk and prevent the harm.

Nov 29, 2008 - 7:50 pm 38. Someone75:

Chuck Pelto (aka “Gramps”):
Re: The Christian spirit

Thanks for demonstrating your Christian superiority. Clearly, one of our main jobs as Christians is to judge others and point out their inadequacies. Shall I do it for you?

I find your baseless attacks on people who identify themselves as Christians to be most distasteful. You owe them an apology.

Regards,

Someone(75)
[Matthew 7:1 - Judge not, that ye be not judged.]

Nov 29, 2008 - 8:14 pm 39. BT:

Have the kids adopt a family less fortunate than yourselves. Gift them food, clothing, a payment on a utility bill.

Give the kids the laptop on their birthday.

Nov 29, 2008 - 8:21 pm 40. Chuck Pelto:

TO: All
RE: Someone75 & [Mis]Judgment

Matthew 7:1 – Judge not, that ye be not judged. — Someone75

I love it when people throw that one out. It only proves them to be one or both of two bad thinks: (1) they are ignorant and/or (2) they are something much, much worse.

How can I prove the latter? Well. Let me put it this way….

….if Someone75 condemns ‘judgment’ of others as being bad, it must be that Someone75 condones rape, drunk driving, pedophilia, human sacrifice and other ‘blessings’ of modern society. Why? Because to ‘judge’ such actions as being ‘bad’ is obviously ‘wrong’.

So. I wonder what Someone75’s problem is? Item #1? Item #2? Or both? I suspect the last, because he/she/it, in all the engagements in this venue, has not demonstrated the intelligence, let alone the personal veracity, to indicate otherwise.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[Tolerance is the virtue of those who have no convictions.]

P.S. I guess that Someone75 wouldn’t ‘judge’ the people who trampled that Wal-Mart worker to death as behaving badly, either…..

Nov 30, 2008 - 12:36 am 41. michele:

Chris, I did not write the headline. Also, that is a different headline that originally appeared on my article.

LisaP: Regardless of who they voted for, I just can’t figure out what that has to do with what happened. Leave it to this crowd to turn everything political, and leave it to this crowd to question the sentiments of someone who is trying to figure out how to make Christmas meaningful again.

Nov 30, 2008 - 2:55 am 42. Mike:

31. FreedomLover:

“What we can do is honor God in our own families every day. It feels good to express outrage over the sub-humans who killed the WalMart worker; but finally, it comes down to what I do with my family. We will celebrate Jesus’ birth, which is Christmas. In nonviolent resistance, we will not celebrate the cultural god of consumerism. This is both the most and least we can do.”

You hit the nail on the head and I agree. Thanks for the comment.

Nov 30, 2008 - 4:08 am 43. Someone75:

Chuck Pelto:
Re: Reductionism

I didn’t realize I was dealing with a five-year old who had no understanding of nuance, subtly, or complexity of argument. Matthew 7:1 deals with people like you, precisely. It’s not a blanket statement that says we shouldn’t construct a judicial system to regular society. Only a idiot would think that. Are you an idiot? Maybe you are.

If you knew ANYTHING at all about Christianity, you would understand Matthew 7:1. You’ve obviously decided it’s this lone verse outside of any context that is meant to cover everything in the world. Do you really think God wants us to judge other Christian’s faith? No. We can judge a criminal act or something of that nature (judging is not always bad).

Chuck, I just keep throwing out ideas and you keep erecting straw men to throw me off course. And boy, you sure don’t like it when you’re wrong and made to look foolish. The best thing you could do for yourself is to graciously concede when you’re so clearly in the wrong. But then again, being the bigger man isn’t something you’re used to, is it gramps?

Regards,

Someone(75)
[Seriously, grandpa - take a look at your own life before you start telling other Christians that they're fakers]

Nov 30, 2008 - 2:05 pm 44. Chuck Pelto:

TO: All
RE: [OT] Someone75

It’s pretty obvious that Soemone75 supports pedophilia, rape, human sacrifice.

He had the opportunity to refute the allegation made in item #40 (above), but he/she/it doesn’t do anything of the sort. Instead, he/she/it changes their angle of attack in order to divert attention from the obvious….

….that despite Someone75’s efforts to proclaim ‘judgment’ as ‘evil’, they have absolutely no idea what the heck they’re talking about.

This ‘diversion’ on their part is nothing more, nor anything less, than abject surrender of the field of discussion.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[You know your getting close to the target, because the start throwing more flak at you. -- USAF axiom for bombing missions]

Nov 30, 2008 - 3:57 pm 45. Chuck Pelto:

P.S. TO: Someone75….

…you’re going to see this again and again and again….

Nov 30, 2008 - 4:00 pm 46. Chuck Pelto:

P.S. Heh….

Seriously, grandpa – take a look at your own life before you start telling other Christians that they’re fakers — Someone75

I examine my own life every day. And, each week at 0630 hrs, on Friday morning, I examine it with several other gentlemen in our weekly Mens’ Friday Morning Bible Study Group.

What’s your point here?

Nov 30, 2008 - 4:07 pm 47. Someone75:

To: Chuck Pelto
Re: Um . . .

Chuck, do you actually think I support pedophilia, rape, and human sacrifice? I’m sorry, but I have better things to do than defend myself from stupid, juvenile attacks and similar idiocy. I’m not even going to address it because any reasonable person would A) not make these allegations and B) take said allegations seriously. I assumed you were just spouting off, as you often do, but apparently, you’re so delusional that you believe your own garbage.

By your logic, I can deduce that you are an idiot. You did not refute my claim that you are an idiot. By your illogical “reasoning”, you sir, are an idiot. (this is too easy I believe I accused you of positing straw men arguments, but you didn’t deny it. I’m sure that I’ve called you a philistine, but you didn’t deny it. Right now, I’m calling you a troll. Care to deny it? If you don’t, I’ll assume it’s true.

If you had bothered to try to understand my last post, you’d see where I said judgement is not “evil” in all cases. Once again, you prove that you are unable to understand anything that isn’t a simplistic, binary opposition.

Look – I know my arguments are complex – I know I use big words sometimes – I know my logic makes your head spin. But please, stop embarrassing yourself. Maybe you can find a tutor to help explain my posts.

Besides, I’ve got your number. Five minutes worth of google investigation reveals that you are nothing but a petty attack dog. You post irrationally contrarian views on many many message boards. The topic is irrelevant – you’ll pick fights with anyone who will pay attention. In five minutes of googling, I found many bizarre, angry, irrational posts from you attempting to argue *anything* at all. You are the definition of a troll, and I that’s probably why you’ve been banned from so many blogs.

Therefore, you have negated all your positions and opinions. Anything you say is likely a pathetic attempt to get attention by disagreeing with anyone. Please, just leave me and my cogent ideas alone. I’ll continue to subtly mock you in ways that you aren’t even aware of, and you can continue to post rage-filled, poorly reasoned posts on all your message boards. It’s just that life is too short to suffer fools.

Did I forget anything? Did you accuse me of being a murderer and I failed to refute it?

Regards,

Someone(75)
["You know your getting close to the target, because the start throwing more flak at you." - Yeah, like sending three separate replies to my message, as you slowly think of comebacks. I'll continue to dodge your flak though, so keep it coming, if you must.]

Nov 30, 2008 - 5:23 pm 48. Joshua:

Re 15, 21, etc.

Because we all know that the majority of people who shop at Wal-Mart are not only registered Democrats, but rabid leftist Obamaniacs.

Yes folks, it’s true: the mega-chain that busts unions and censors movies and music to further the narrow moral agenda of its religious fundamentalist owners — all the while supporting a neo-Stalinist totalitarian keptocracy in China — is a favorite among the latte-slurping urban liberals that formed Obama’s voting base earlier this year.

Well-spotted. You guys are geniuses.

Nov 30, 2008 - 5:51 pm 49. Tom H:

Just a thought to those in the Believer category – you do realize that there is plenty of evidence to indicate that Jesus was born on Oct 1, 7BC – oct 1 was Pentecost (Jesus would have been born on a significant day), and 7BC was a Jubilee year. How come we can’t just forget the pagan holiday of Dec 25, and celebrate Jesus’ birth on the date it most likely occurred? If you are worried about the love, peace, hope part of the holiday, that should be happening every day, right?

Nov 30, 2008 - 7:06 pm 50. Tom H:

Sorry, my error – Oct 1 was the day of Atonement, not Pentecost in 7BC

Nov 30, 2008 - 7:26 pm 51. FancastFan:

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Cheers,
Jim (for Fancast)

Nov 30, 2008 - 11:38 pm 52. Shopper:

No wonder why lots of people are now opting for on-line shopping, even for last minute Christmas gifts. This is really a time that we are all being tested.

Dec 1, 2008 - 3:50 am 53. Your personal finance recession survival guide… at SmartHippo Blog:

[...] about Christmas shopping in a recession? Sadly this year it already cost a Wal-Mart employee his life, maybe it’s time to re-think [...]

Dec 1, 2008 - 1:04 pm 54. MARIAN:

OH MY GOD! ARE SOME OF YOU PEOPLE KIDDING ME? THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS, COMMERCIALISM, OR EVEN “CHRISTMAS,” THIS IS ABOUT HUMAN DECENCY! THE FACT THAT A BUNCH OF people, (more like wild animals) DON’T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING, NOR ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES! IF THOSE PEOPLE BEHAVED IN A NORMAL MANNER, NOT THE IGNORANT, AND ARROGANT ANIMALS THAT THEY WERE, THIS WOULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED!!! WHY ON GOD’S EARTH WOULD YOU SUE THE STORE? THEY’RE TO BLAME FOR PEOPLE BEHAVING LIKE BARBARIANS??? GET REAL! SO EASY TO TRY TO PROFIT ANY WHICH WAY YOU CAN! TYPICAL!!!!! AND ANOTHER THING, IF YOU THINK THEY WOULD WAIT IN LINE FOR UMPTEEN HOURS, (OR SHOVE THIER WAY THROUGH A CLOSED DOOR) TO GET A “DEAL” ON A TV TO GIVE AS A GIFT, YOU’RE CRAZY. THAT TV IS SET UP IN THEIR OWN LIVING ROOM RIGHT NOW! PEOPLE DON’T TRAMPLE ON A MAN TO BE KIND AND GIVE GIFTS TO OTHERS! I HOPE THE POLICE DO LOOK AT THE SECURITY FOOTAGE AND HOLD THOSE ANIMALS ACCOUNTABLE!

Dec 1, 2008 - 1:45 pm 55. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Someone75
RE: Do You?

Chuck, do you actually think I support pedophilia, rape, and human sacrifice? — Someone75

In the first place, as I’ve pointed out, you say that it’s wrong to ‘judge’ people for their actions.

In the second place, you haven’t ‘judged’ any of those actions as being ‘bad’.

Ergo….

….you support them by not ‘judging’ them as ‘bad’.

You, apparently, even support the homicide of the Wal-Mart worker…because to say it was ‘bad’ of people to do that, would be ‘judging’ them.

Or are you going to retract your previous statement about ‘judging’ people?

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[The Truth will out....]

P.S. And as to your last question…

Did I fail to refute it? — Someone75

…in a word….

….Yes.

P.P.S. You do a pretty good soft shoe for a self-professed ‘idiot’. But I understand the autistic can be very impressive in one area or another. [Note: I'm referring to definition #2 of the Macintosh Dashboard dictionary.]

Dec 2, 2008 - 4:13 am 56. jpconard:

Why is Wal-Mart not responsible? They advertise these sales to draw the big crowd. Those in front were probably forced into the store or they themselves be trampled. What event at other locations would not hire crowd control?

Maybe Wal-Mart shouldn’t have a bait and switch sale in which they sale 2-3 items and that is all there is left. And to boot they hide those items in areas of the store they don’t belong in, like it is some sort of Easter Egg hunt.

Remember in the old days when the teacher said not to bring it if you didn’t bring enough for everyone? Maybe corporate America should be following the old-time rules and we wouldn’t be in the state it is today. And as a reminder corporate America is run by the Republicans.

Dec 3, 2008 - 5:09 pm 57. Rob Kendrick:

(Referring to Post #54) Remember, Marian, that a single person can be intelligent, kind, and wonderful. People in large groups tend to submit to the mentality of a frenzied herd, and even those in the herd who might not want to frenzy have to do so and keep moving to avoid being trampled themselves.

My suggestion for the next Black Friday:

– Post a warning on the door that if you break into the store before it opens, you will be shocked or shot.

– Have a team of Wal-Mart employees at the ready just beyond the greeting area (before the store opens up before the masses) with cattle prods and/or tazers.

– Because the line of pikemen will eventually fall, it is strategically important to have a ranged militia beyond them. Pepper spray, paintball guns, or other painful-but-nonlethal ranged weapons are ideal.

– After the expenditure of their ammo, the ranged troops should rush aside for the….okay, I figure that’s enough. I was partially joking with the whole strategy thing, but I truly believe that if you’re going to be that assinine, you deserve to be punished for breaking into a store and KILLING another human being who was doing nothing wrong.

What happened was awful. I certainly hope Wal-Mart has enough decency to put a barrier in front of the doors (and I do NOT mean shopping carts) to prevent this from happening again. Unfortunately, I don’t really think Wal-Mart cares enough to do that.

I guess we’ll see…

Dec 4, 2008 - 6:52 am 58. The Irascible Chef » Blah, blahbity blah bla bla:

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Dec 9, 2008 - 10:38 pm