Comments on: Wal-Mart Worker Dies in ‘Black Friday’ Trampling

By: odograph

odograph — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:30:19 +0000

As I said above, "'tried to hold the crowd back' is just one fragment of whatever happened." More of the story is out:

A police statement said shortly after the store's 5am opening time, shoppers "physically broke down the doors, knocking (the worker) to the ground". A metal portion of the door was crumpled like an accordion.

By: Black Friday Madness Madness

Black Friday Madness Madness — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:18:34 +0000

[...] people were killed by gunplay at a California Toys R Us yesterday, joining the trampled Wal-Mart worker in New York. Naturally, this is bringing out condemnations of America’s crazy appetite [...]

By: Anderson

Anderson — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:22:33 +0000

“I’m guessing no future Nobel Prize recipients were involved in this incident.”

Well, definitely not the dead guy. Sharp eye there, JJ.

By: Insane Shoppers, Irresponsible Store Management | Comments from Left Field

Insane Shoppers, Irresponsible Store Management | Comments from Left Field — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 23:02:09 +0000

[...] James Joyner notes, this madness seems to be an annual occurrence at this time of year. Joyner also correctly faults the management [...]

By: Insane Shoppers, Irresponsible Store Management « Liberty Street

Insane Shoppers, Irresponsible Store Management « Liberty Street — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:55:05 +0000

[...] a comment » As James Joyner notes, this madness seems to be an annual occurrence at this time of year. Joyner also correctly faults the management [...]

By: The Reason why I shop online and hardly ever venture out…. | Political Byline

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:53:44 +0000

[...] Women, Scared Monkeys, Gothamist, Macsmind, Alas, a blog, The Mahablog, The Art of the Possible, Outside The Beltway, New York Post, Wake up America, The Impolitic, Dr. Helen, Gawker, Vox Popoli, La Shawn [...]

By: odograph

odograph — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:43:06 +0000

BTW, "tried to hold the crowd back" is just one fragment of whatever happened. Too little IMO to decide the evident risk, or the guy's choices.

I can imagine someone just unlocking the door and having no way out.

By: odograph

odograph — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:24:13 +0000

For some reason, maybe lower consumer demand, I thought this year would be more mellow.

By: Triumph

Triumph — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:49:46 +0000

But, sure, if your task is to try to contain an unruly mob, you've got to be aware that it's potentially dangerous.

Obviously we don't know *precisely* what happened. But I don't really see how the employee has much capacity for free choice in this scenario.

As the story indicates, the guy was temporary maintenance worker--not a security guard or someone who (theoretically) is trained in managing crowds.

Given what we know about Wal-Mart personnel management, likely the worker was probably ordered by a manager to deal with the crowd as she/he saw throngs of people lining up and the store had no reasonable plan for crowd management. What is the maintenance guy supposed to do? Refuse directions from a boss?

Sure, the customers who trampled this poor guy should be criminally responsible. But, Wal-Mart bears civil liability for the death given--as you say--the predictable scenario.

It would be as if a police department sent its custodial staff to negotiate a hostage situation.

The Daily News had a pretty scary photo from the scene: http://www.nydailynews.com/money/galleries/walmart_stampede_captured_in_pictures/walmart_stampede_captured_in_pictures.html

By: Happy Black Friday To All — Including Those Wal-Mart Employees Who’ve Survived Without Losing Life Or Limb | THE GUN TOTING LIBERAL™

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:46:59 +0000

[...] personal blogger reaction roundup (READ): The Mahablog; Outside The Beltway; Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey (Right, but right this time); Michelle Malkin (Right, but also right [...]

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:28:27 +0000

Are you saying that the murdered worker bears some responsibility for his death?

I was thinking more of the yahoos in the crowds who wind up getting hurt. But, sure, if your task is to try to contain an unruly mob, you've got to be aware that it's potentially dangerous.

By: Triumph

Triumph — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:52:44 +0000

While people ultimately take the risk of such obvious possibilities into their own hands, store management has some obligation for such predictable results.

Are you saying that the murdered worker bears some responsibility for his death?