So it’s Black Friday, which I avoid like the plague. This morning, at about 1:30 AM, I went down to the Speedway to get a large cup of the coffee they have that I like, and while waiting for it to brew, fell into conversation with a couple of county Sheriffs, and they mentioned that there was already a line at the Best Buy store, down the street.
Now, I hate most of the big box stores, and I think that Best Buy is among the worst of the entire sleazy lot of them. So it came as somewhat of a surprise, when I decided to go gawk at the lunatic fringe who would wait all night in twenty-degree weather, to see a line extending the entire length of the strip mall, waiting for a 5 AM opening, all for a chance to save a few dollars, and play into the hands of the marketeers who engineered their desires.
It’s clear that we, as a nation, are insane. There were several hundred people camped out, and, clearly, massive amounts of logistical planning went into being able to keep a place in line over the 12 or so hours from closing to opening. All to save a few dollars.
I was put into mind of zombies, mindlessly seeking a goal, without coherent thought behind it or awareness of their manipulation. It was chilling… and I am not talking about the temperature.