Attention Wal-Mart Shoppers

[rowyn]

What bothers me most about this story is the section at the end. Where the police talk about pressing charges against Wal-Mart for not hiring more security, and Wal-Mart faults the police for not having more patrols out.

...

Shouldn't someone be blaming the people that actually trampled this poor man to death? The ones who tore the doors of the hinges? The ones who stomped on him, ignored him, didn't try to help him up, shoved the people in front of them so that they would have no choice but to rush forward heedlessly as well?

American need to learn how to queue. :(

Comments

[genkitty.livejournal.com]

Criminally, the shoppers are at fault, but prosecuting it will be a nightmare. Civilly, it's easier: Walmart, imo, is negligent on the basis of their crowd control measures/lack thereof. verminiusrex is right about taking control early and holding it. People fall into herd mentality if there's people there to encourage it. Proper line-markers and staff showing customers the line do wonders. I've handled crowds of 200-600 furries by myself when I was running FC reg. They're not quite as rabid as black friday shoppers, but it's no picnic either :)

[verminiusrex.livejournal.com]

I'm imagining a stampede of furries. It would be strange and funny at the same time.