# I pit people who riot over a pair of sneakers. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 24, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280 "2011-12-24T14:34:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/1 "2011-12-24T14:34:30Z")
Yea, I know people don’t call them “sneakers” anymore, but that’s what they are (and get off my lawn). Anyway: “Babies Left In Cars, Shots Fired, Doors Broken Down: Just Another Air Jordan Release Date In America” > **[Deadspin | Babies Left In Cars, Shots Fired, Doors Broken Down: Just Another...](https://deadspin.com/babies-left-in-cars-shots-fired-doors-broken-down-ju-5870837/)** > > Deadspin | Babies Left In Cars, Shots Fired, Doors Broken Down: Just Another Air Jordan Release Date In America > [@](#): > > • In Atlanta, Ga.: “Police had to smash the windows of a car to get two toddlers out after a woman had left them there to go buy the shoes. She was taken into custody when she returned, according to the AP.” > [@](#): > > • In Lithonia, Ga.: “…at least four people were arrested early Friday at a mall after a crowd of customers broke down a door at a store selling the Air Jordans before it opened. DeKalb County police told Fox 5 Atlanta that up to 20 squad cars responded. Officers said they escorted most of the people outside but took four into custody.” > [@](#): > > • In Indianapolis, Ind.: “Impatient shoppers tore a door off its hinges at Lafayette Square… ‘The door broke and was hanging by a hinge and people were squeezing in anyway,’ Asia Coates said. ‘People were falling down.’” > [@](#): > > • In Louisville, Ky.: “The rush to get the latest re-release of Air Jordan sneakers ended in a huge brawl at this Kentucky mall early this morning. Local news station W-D-R-B reports up to 100 people were involved in the fight at this Louisville mall.” What the hell is wrong with people? Who the hell pays $180 for a freakin pair of sneakers? Who the hell riots for a pair of shoes? ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/2 "2011-12-24T16:41:05Z")
Damn good question. I wonder when people will start calling this out as the trend that it is. A general malfeasant attitude of the masses…I want to call them “massholes”. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/3 "2011-12-24T16:46:50Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > What the hell is wrong with people? Who the hell pays $180 for a freakin pair of sneakers? Who the hell riots for a pair of shoes? For most people, shopping is about their only expression of self as a social subject. All the rest of their free time is passive, watching TV. So rioting for shoes is like an extreme sport, for them. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/4 "2011-12-24T16:58:33Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > What the hell is wrong with people? Who the hell pays $180 for a freakin pair of sneakers? Who the hell riots for a pair of shoes? $180 is a good deal for these. They’re selling them on Amazon for $329. The riot was apparently over the deep discount for these on opening day. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/5 "2011-12-24T16:59:55Z")
They still sell Air Jordans? Huh. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/6 "2011-12-24T17:24:27Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > $180 is a good deal for these. They’re selling them on Amazon for $329. The riot was apparently over the deep discount for these on opening day. Neither $180 nor $329 is a good deal for a pair of sneakers. $180 is ridiculously overpriced, and $329 is super-ridiculously overpriced. Neither price justifies a riot. Free shoes wouldn’t justify a riot. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/7 "2011-12-24T17:29:13Z")
I seem to recall that people have occasionally _killed_ to get a pair of these, although admittedly it was an outright theft rather than at a store. No cite provided, 'cause it was long ago and my memory is fuzzy. But yeah. How in hell did having a particular brand of sneakers (or sunglasses, or jackets, or … ) become so damned important to someone’s self-image that they are willing to riot or commit murder to have them? How does this even begin to make sense? These days I just chalk it up to “People can be damned stupid”. ---
**Author:** ![Bloodless\_Turnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/8 "2011-12-24T17:39:59Z")
Okay, they guy interviewed (Mr. Santos) in the video on [this page](http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/air-jordan-stampede-hits-local-mall-122311) - has he got fangs??? ---
**Author:** ![Bloodless\_Turnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/9 "2011-12-24T17:41:05Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > I seem to recall that people have occasionally _killed_ to get a pair of these, although admittedly it was an outright theft rather than at a store. No cite provided, 'cause it was long ago and my memory is fuzzy. > > But yeah. How in hell did having a particular brand of sneakers (or sunglasses, or jackets, or … ) become so damned important to someone’s self-image that they are willing to riot or commit murder to have them? How does this even begin to make sense? > > These days I just chalk it up to “People can be damned stupid”. They’re reselling them on ebay. > [@](#): > > More than 700 pairs of Air Jordan 11 shoes have appeared on eBay, with bids reaching $500 a pair as of Friday morning. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/10 "2011-12-24T18:21:40Z")
> [@Bloodless\_Turnip](#): > > They’re reselling them on ebay. Exactly. Re-imagine the sale as not $180 sneakers but “free $100 bills” and I think the behavior starts to make more sense. Not that it’s admirable, mind you, but it’s less inexplicable. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/11 "2011-12-24T18:27:52Z")
Well, the behaviour has explanations, it’s just that none of them are particularly positive. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/12 "2011-12-24T19:21:37Z")
I agree with this pitting. Low class trashy assholes. This guy was [STABBED](http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/12/shopper_stabbed_in_jersey_city.html). wtf?! Sorry, folks, if you want free or low cost Nikes, you’ll have to wait for the next hurricane. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/13 "2011-12-24T19:33:34Z")
When I heard about this my first thought was of the novel Jennifer Government. It’s practically taken right from the pages. ---
**Author:** ![Haredye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/22d042/32.png) [@Haredye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haredye)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/14 "2011-12-24T20:13:48Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Yea, I know people don’t call them “sneakers” anymore, but that’s what they are (and get off my lawn). > > Anyway: > “Babies Left In Cars, Shots Fired, Doors Broken Down: Just Another Air Jordan Release Date In America” > [http://deadspin.com/5870837](http://deadspin.com/5870837) > > What the hell is wrong with people? Who the hell pays $180 for a freakin pair of sneakers? Who the hell riots for a pair of shoes? Why the fuck did the cops have to smash a cars windows simply because two kids were in the car? And the mother was arrested? Was it 110 fucking degrees in Atlanta or 50 below zero? Someone leaves their kid alone for a few minutes, the world is going to end.:dubious: Talk about fucking overreaction. and of course Child Protection Services will get involved and the mother will be declared unfit and the kids will be sent off to a series of horrific foster homes and end up as drug addicted whores on the street. Fucking repulsive, and I’m talking about the cops who smashed the windows and arrested the mother. I hope they got shot while on duty. ---
**Author:** ![Haredye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/22d042/32.png) [@Haredye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haredye)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/15 "2011-12-24T20:17:59Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > They still sell Air Jordans? > > Huh. Don’t know if you are trying to be funny, smarmily ironic or just really are that ignorant and stupid. Whatever it is you come across as a [jerk.](http://www.nike.com/jumpman23/index.html#/footwear) ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/16 "2011-12-24T20:42:35Z")
> [@Haredye](#): > > Don’t know if you are trying to be funny, smarmily ironic or just really are that ignorant and stupid. Whatever it is you come across as a [jerk.](http://www.nike.com/jumpman23/index.html#/footwear) I know, can you believe it? I met this guy once that thought Target stopped selling those t-shirts that don’t have a tag, what a complete jerk that guy was. I could barely stand to be around him. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/17 "2011-12-24T20:56:53Z")
Not this particular shoe, but I once had a co-worker call me asking to work his shift because he had something important to attend to. I agreed, then saw his Facebook update a couple hours later that he’d got the shoes after standing in line for X hours. WTF? You gave up a day’s pay to get SHOES?!?! He doesn’t even wear them either. He’s always taking home those little desiccant packets that come in our shipments because apparently he has an entire closet just filled with pristine sneakers. WHY??? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/18 "2011-12-24T21:04:26Z")
> [@Haredye](#): > > Why the fuck did the cops have to smash a cars windows simply because two kids were in the car? And the mother was arrested? Was it 110 fucking degrees in Atlanta or 50 below zero? > > Someone leaves their kid alone for a few minutes, the world is going to end.:dubious: > Talk about fucking overreaction. and of course Child Protection Services will get involved and the mother will be declared unfit and the kids will be sent off to a series of horrific foster homes and end up as drug addicted whores on the street. > > Fucking repulsive, and I’m talking about the cops who smashed the windows and arrested the mother. I hope they got shot while on duty. We can’t say “Fuck you” in the Pit anymore, can we? Too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/19 "2011-12-24T21:05:37Z")
Some news show interviewed a teenage girl who was part of an mindless mob melee that had been busting at the seams to get inside the doors of a business and had trampled and injured a few people once the doors opened. This girl, in reference to one particularly badly injured customer, said, “Ya, I saw dat dude and I just stepped over him and kept going.” :dubious: People suck. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280/20 "2011-12-24T21:07:31Z")
> [@Haredye](#): > > Don’t know if you are trying to be funny, smarmily ironic or just really are that ignorant and stupid. Whatever it is you come across as a [jerk.](http://www.nike.com/jumpman23/index.html#/footwear) A “jerk”? Wha? This seems like a post simply manufactured because it is in the Pit. Weak. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-riot-over-a-pair-of-sneakers/607280.md?page=2)