# Wal-Mart Greeter Killed in Black Friday Stampede **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 28, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811 "2008-11-28T16:39:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/181 "2008-11-29T16:46:11Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Did you catch this half-assed statement from Wal-Mart Corporate? > > No “We’re absolutely horrified?” No “We are investigating this incident to see how to prevent it in the future?” All we get is an “oops” and “we did our best.” > > It sounds like someone had a nice long chat with the corporate lawyers before releasing the statement. :rolleyes: You should go run WalMart because you are perfect and clearly know the best things to say and do in every situation. Maybe you could be President of the World because you are perfect and know the right course of action in every situation. God, if only we had you to lead us the right way through wrong times. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/182 "2008-11-29T16:49:49Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > This thing happened. It is reasonable to assume such a thing has darn-near happened many times in the last couple of years somewhere in WalMart’s vast corporate empire. They are in the business of running freakishly large stores. Society expects them to know how to do their business safely. I think it’s the shoppers responsibility to not kill other shoppers. Unless WalMart is going to equip shoppers with remote controls so they can guide their every move through the store I don’t think there is much else they can do to prevent this. And what’s with all the people saying cops should have been at the store to crowd control? Do you have any idea how many stores have mobs outside them every BF? Should the entire police force work every BF to provide cost free security for every store on the planet? Then all you clowns would bitch because our tax dollars are going to provide free security for huge corporations, who the fuck do they think they are etc… The only responsible parties here are the fucking shoppers. No one else. ---
**Author:** ![Riddle\_doodle\_do](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Riddle\_doodle\_do](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riddle_doodle_do)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/183 "2008-11-29T16:52:23Z")
There was a theme in the photos of the people who did it, if you know what I mean. (And I spelt it all perfect) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/184 "2008-11-29T16:54:33Z")
> [@Riddle\_doodle\_do](#): > > There was a theme in the photos of the people who did it, if you know what I mean. No. Do tell. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/185 "2008-11-29T16:58:58Z")
> [@Riddle\_doodle\_do](#): > > There was a theme in the photos of the people who did it, if you know what I mean. It is customary here at the Straight Dope Message Board to read a thread before replying. If you had, you would know that it has already been noted that the vast majority of shoppers were black. It would be appreciated if you could be a little more creative in your next trolling attempt. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/186 "2008-11-29T17:02:36Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Did you catch this half-assed statement from Wal-Mart Corporate? > [@](#): > > “Despite all of our precautions, this unfortunate event occurred,” senior Vice President Hank Mullany said in a statement. “Somehow, despite all our elaborate crowd control precautions of having doors on our buildings…” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/187 "2008-11-29T17:02:40Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I think it’s the shoppers responsibility to not kill other shoppers. Unless WalMart is going to equip shoppers with remote controls so they can guide their every move through the store I don’t think there is much else they can do to prevent this. > > And what’s with all the people saying cops should have been at the store to crowd control? Do you have any idea how many stores have mobs outside them every BF? Should the entire police force work every BF to provide cost free security for every store on the planet? Then all you clowns would bitch because our tax dollars are going to provide free security for huge corporations, who the fuck do they think they are etc… > > The only responsible parties here are the fucking shoppers. No one else. So in other words if you yell fire in a crowded theater and people die in the ensuing panic you don’t bear any responsibility? If you create a situation where a stampede is likely, you bear at least partial responsibility for the stampede. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/188 "2008-11-29T17:04:28Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > And what’s with all the people saying cops should have been at the store to crowd control? Do you have any idea how many stores have mobs outside them every BF? Should the entire police force work every BF to provide cost free security for every store on the planet? Then all you clowns would bitch because our tax dollars are going to provide free security for huge corporations, who the fuck do they think they are etc… As someone who has hired police officers for crowd control, I can guarantee you that in no way whatsoever to tax dollars come in to play. It is certainly not a “free” service provided by the PD. lt is called hiring a “pay duty officer”. Currently, I beleive the going rate in this city is $60 per hour for each officers for a minimum of three hours each. If four or more officers are needed, we have to hire a sergeant at $68 per hour (min. 3 hrs.) If we need more officers, Staff Sergeants must be fired $75 /hr 3hr min. If any police equipment is required we are invoiced at the end of the month. It is not unusual to see 4-6 officers in front of a _nightclub_ on a Friday night, so I don’t doubt they can get some for select “high risk” stores. ---
**Author:** ![Riddle\_doodle\_do](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Riddle\_doodle\_do](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riddle_doodle_do)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/189 "2008-11-29T17:04:45Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > It is customary here at the Straight Dope Message Board to read a thread before replying. If you had, you would know that it has already been noted that the vast majority of shoppers were black. > > It would be appreciated if you could be a little more creative in your next trolling attempt. Thank you. lol ur such a racist! Look at the animal looks in their eyes like gorillas chasing down a target, is what I meant. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/190 "2008-11-29T17:06:30Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > You should go run WalMart because you are perfect and clearly know the best things to say and do in every situation. Maybe you could be President of the World because you are perfect and know the right course of action in every situation. God, if only we had you to lead us the right way through wrong times. Sorry, I can’t get to Bentonville, Arkansas right this second. IOW, you’re being an ass and you know it. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/191 "2008-11-29T17:11:04Z")
> [@BJMoose](#): > > In general, the retailers are to be blamed for situations like this - their super-special-sale-savings hype is roughly equivalent to the old saw about yelling “Fire!” in a crowded theater. But in this the retailers themselves have been swept up in a sort of mob mentaility involving all large retailers. Everyone is competing tooth and claw for that First Customer of Black Friday. Og knows why. Because they run studies that show the average American will only spend $687 or something on Christmas this year, and that’s down from last year. If you get them to spend $500 of that in your store on Friday morning, you might last another year in retail. And the trick is believed to be getting them into your store - once in they will fill their carts with not only the $100 DVD player, but all sorts on impulse purchases. The Average American ALWAYS overspends on Christmas. The busiest day is the Saturday before Christmas. So I don’t think retailers would really HAVE to do this, but they all think they need to. I really dislike Black Friday - and from everyone I hear in the retail industry (I know people who work for Kohl’s, Target and Best Buy), they don’t like it either. But there is an arms race going on between the retails, being fed by the customers. I hang on another board that is budget oriented. And people were saying things like “well, I’m not going to give Best Buy any of my Christmas dollars, they didn’t have anything worth shopping for on Black Friday.” “Target’s ad was lousy, Wal-Mart is getting all my money this year.” It isn’t going to stop - you can’t blame retailers for giving customers what they demand - if they don’t, they don’t stay in business. You can’t blame customers for trying to maximize their dollar - few of us can really afford the life we want, and if we can save $30 here and there we can get closer. The only way it will stop is if it becomes unprofitable (i.e. lots of post holiday PTSD lawsuits and injury lawsuits against the stores and/or there is a lot of media outcry about this - including starting next Halloween when the media starts to say 'what are retail giants doing to keep their employees from getting trampled and their customers from shooting each other"), or if it gets legislated - and I don’t think that will happen. ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/192 "2008-11-29T17:17:37Z")
> [@Riddle\_doodle\_do](#): > > lol ur such a racist! > > Look at the animal looks in their eyes like gorillas chasing down a target, is what I meant. O, u got us gud! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/193 "2008-11-29T17:19:15Z")
> [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > As someone who has hired police officers for crowd control, I can guarantee you that in no way whatsoever to tax dollars come in to play. It is certainly not a “free” service provided by the PD. lt is called hiring a “pay duty officer”. Currently, I beleive the going rate in this city is $60 per hour for each officers for a minimum of three hours each. If four or more officers are needed, we have to hire a sergeant at $68 per hour (min. 3 hrs.) If we need more officers, Staff Sergeants must be fired $75 /hr 3hr min. > > If any police equipment is required we are invoiced at the end of the month. > > It is not unusual to see 4-6 officers in front of a _nightclub_ on a Friday night, so I don’t doubt they can get some for select “high risk” stores. It’s a shame because it really wouldn’t have cost that much money for Walmart to have hired a few off duty police officers for the “high risk” stores. I wonder if part of the problem is that individual executives and managers are reluctant to spell out what exactly the criteria are for determining whether a store is (relatively) “high risk.” ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/194 "2008-11-29T17:32:26Z")
> [@Riddle\_doodle\_do](#): > > lol ur such a racist! > > Look at the animal looks in their eyes like gorillas chasing down a target, is what I meant. Wait. The guy was trampled by _gorillas_? These Black Friday promotions are really getting out of hand. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/195 "2008-11-29T17:35:32Z")
> [@Riddle\_doodle\_do](#): > > lol ur such a racist! > > Look at the animal looks in their eyes like gorillas chasing down a target, is what I meant. lol ur such a troll omg! Go away. I haven’t seen a single post of yours that wasn’t incomprehensible and stupid, and quite a few have been pretty trollish. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/196 "2008-11-29T17:35:46Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > I think **EJs Girl** was referring to **Brain Glutton’s** post. Nope, I was answering **Hirka T’Bawa** ’s post. No, we are not currently in the worst depression since the Great Depression. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/197 "2008-11-29T17:38:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Wait. > > The guy was trampled by _gorillas_? > > These Black Friday promotions are really getting out of hand. No, that would be Gorilla Friday. Which, as previously noted, only occurs at Target. As famously depicted in the Cary Grant film **His Gorilla Friday**. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/198 "2008-11-29T17:40:48Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Nope, I was answering **Hirka T’Bawa** ’s post. No, we are not currently in the worst depression since the Great Depression. > > :rolleyes: my mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/199 "2008-11-29T17:51:54Z")
> [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > As someone who has hired police officers for crowd control, I can guarantee you that in no way whatsoever to tax dollars come in to play. It is certainly not a “free” service provided by the PD. lt is called hiring a “pay duty officer”. Currently, I beleive the going rate in this city is $60 per hour for each officers for a minimum of three hours each. If four or more officers are needed, we have to hire a sergeant at $68 per hour (min. 3 hrs.) If we need more officers, Staff Sergeants must be fired $75 /hr 3hr min. > > If any police equipment is required we are invoiced at the end of the month. > > It is not unusual to see 4-6 officers in front of a _nightclub_ on a Friday night, so I don’t doubt they can get some for select “high risk” stores. Fair enough. I was under the impression that folks thought that WM should have had cops on scene for crowd control. Still doesn’t change the fact that shoppers shouldn’t kill other shoppers to get a good deal. WM should stop offering tantalizing sales IMMEDIATELY!! ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811/200 "2008-11-29T18:15:37Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Um, yeah, okay, but if they were gang bangers or other criminal types, I really doubt that they would disarm to go shopping, or to a funeral, or to church, or the movies… No offence, but I don’t think they have the same thoughts on this matter as you do… I know. I’m just mad as hell and sickened by the whole thing and I don’t care if they’re gangbangers–is the world their video game or something? God knows they have no problem being Baby Daddies\*, you’d think they’d stop and think–hey, we’re in a TOY store… \*I am not about to become PC about Baby Daddies or gang bangers for that matter. RE the topic of this thread: I hope WallyWorld does get sued and suffers some financially. It seems to be the only way Corporate America pays attention to people. I don’t think WM is completely to blame–I wish we could have some kind of walk of shame for all the morons who chanted and rushed in. Group Think scares me. No wonder I dislike crowds. I see they released the name of the victim. And I again appalled at the comments from the shoppers after the death. Kudos to those brave souls who tried to do CPR. And for those who want to make the reluctance to perform CPR a racial issue, it’s not. The AHA (American Heart Association) has noticed a reluctance on the part of health care personnel and others to perform mouth to mouth. [layresistancetorescuebreathing](http://www.circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/95/8/2174) Here is the salient passage: > [@](#): > > There are many possible obstacles to layperson CPR training, the reasons for which are multifactorial. It has been noted by some investigators that the psychomotor skills required to perform CPR are relatively difficult for the lay public. Moreover, even when they are taught to professionals, their retention by people who do not use them regularly has been disappointing.6 7 8 In addition, in some communities there is a reluctance to perform rescue breathing on a stranger due to a concern over disease transmission, for example, a fear of contracting HIV.9 _10_ > > There is scientific uncertainty within the literature regarding how “good” CPR has to be in order to save a life.11 Do victims who receive perfectly performed compressions and rescue breathing (so called “good CPR”) fare better than victims who get less effective CPR? A definitive answer is still awaited, but the clear conclusion from many studies is that the lowest survival rates occur when there is no attempt at CPR.12 Any CPR is better than no CPR. \*I cannot access the relevant abstracts, but here they are, FYI: 1. Brenner BE, Kauffman J. Reluctance of internists and medical nurses to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Arch Intern Med. 1993;153:1763-1769.[Abstract] 2. Ornato JP, Hallagan LF, McMahan SB, Peeples EH, Rostafinski AG. Attitudes of BCLS instructors about mouth-to-mouth resuscitation during the AIDS epidemic. Ann Emerg Med. 1990;19:151-156.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve] Just sayin’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-greeter-killed-in-black-friday-stampede/474811.md?page=11)