26 November 2012 Madness takes its toll

“It's astounding, time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
But listen closely, not for very much longer
I've got to keep control.”

          The official commercial madness is now underway.  The license to join a mob and to leave civilized behavior in abeyance has been granted by dozens of television clips showing how thin the veneer of civilization truly is. 

          Seeming  sane people have camped out in parking lots in inclement weather in order to be first, or near the beginning, of a line for admission into some chain store that promises to sell “item X” at the greatly reduced price of $ Y.00.  The caveat is always, “while supplies last.”  There is never a guarantee that the promised item will be available.

          Once the doors are opened, mob rule takes over.  In recent years past people have been knocked to the ground, kicked, pummeled, and trampled by that portion of the mob that is further back in the line, and thus, less likely to be able to grab item X from a shelf or from the hands of another person. 

          Such behavior at other seasons would result in the police being summoned and in arrests for assault.  Indeed, there have been stabbings and shootings at some stores.  Somehow, becoming a thug and injuring others, has become acceptable behavior if done in celebration of a mythical birth. 

          In the past, I worked at an analog to Wal-Mart that treated its employees about as Wal-Mart treats its employees.  The owners chose to open at the regular time on Thanksgiving Day.  No employee could afford to refuse to work that schedule.  There was no reward or bonus to employees for their loss of a family oriented holiday. This was my first exposure to holiday work requirements that did not stem from a medical or public safety reason. 

          Later, I came to prefer working the Thanksgiving weekend in order to escape being dragged into a mall or big box store, or in some manner held hostage to “shopping.” 

          The calendar shows me that it is time to avoid all stores other than grocery stores until 1 January 2013 rolls around and the muzak shifts from canned Christmas back to bad soft pop.   I can happily comply.  I can avoid and boycott Wal-mart and its analogs without feeling deprived or going into something akin to withdrawal.  Most of all, I can avoid the mall madness that warps the minds of men (and women) for the time.