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Black Friday shoppers Pepper sprayed Walmart game section photo

Time for our "It's a slow news day so here's a ludicrous story vaguely connected to videogames" moment. Today is Black Friday, a day in which shoppers confirm that they are mindless cattle to be milked by capricious corporations by shedding their dignity and acting like barbarians to get discounted goods. This year's Black Friday has already been home to pepper spray attacks

Videogame consoles bore the brunt of the madness in a Porter Ranch Walmart, where people were fighting, screaming, and ripping at the plastic wrap intended to section off the gaming goods until a set time. Eighteen-year-old Matthew Lopez was pepper sprayed in his face by a woman said to be "competitive shopping", and soon after the entire area began to cloud with eye-watering fumes. 

"People started screaming, pulling and pushing each other, and then the whole area filled up with pepper spray," said one shopper. "I guess what triggered it was people started pulling the plastic off the pallets and then shoving and bombarding the display of games. It started with people pushing and screaming because they were getting shoved onto the boxes." 

At least five people had gotten a vicious blast in the face, ending the evening with swollen visages and nasty coughs. Just ... wow. No matter how jaded I get about this nation's general population, people still manage to find a way to shock and disgust me on a whole new level. 

America, ladies and gentlemen. America.








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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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144 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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Bulkmailer's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:02
Bulkmailer
Heh.
wormguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:03
wormguy
WOW.
Ziggy played whatever's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:03
Ziggy played whatever
This is why I don't go outside.
SayWord's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:03
SayWord
Is that header from shaun of the dead? I remember that black guy in it for some reason.
Jim Wheat's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:04
Jim Wheat
You haven't been to People of Walmart in a while have you?
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:04
mix
Canada FUCK YEAH!
Nitex's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:05
Nitex
How awesome would it be to get one of those nasty shotgun tasers and just go on a rampage in a walmart. In my mind pretty damn awesome. Wonder how many people would piss themselves.
SayWord's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:06
SayWord
@mix

Don't forget about boxing day! Jooooooy.
Chongomaster's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:06
Chongomaster
Always bring a gas mask to Walmart. Always.
Dhaos's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:06
Dhaos
I dont leave the house on bf because of this kind of thing
RaginDude's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:07
RaginDude
After that they call talibans retards...
Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:08
Excel-2011
Dang, I shoulda thought of that.
OrangeArmy's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:08
OrangeArmy
Screw Black Friday,it's all about Cyber Monday for me.Shit,if that lady pepper sprayed me and told me she was "Competitive shopping" I would have punched her in the face and told her I was "Competitive Shopping" too.
Chris Carter's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:08
Chris Carter
I just walked into a deserted Target on my work break to get a few cheap TV shows on DVD. A few other things I picked up from Amazon.

Why do people do that midnight bullshit still? Do they not have computers? I can't tell you how many adults I've talked to that do Black Friday Sales because "they've always done it", and talk about how miserable it is: some people even go into work in the morning.. So sad these people have no identity.
Panzadolphin56's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:09
Panzadolphin56
Oh wow, that's depressing.
CaptainHowdy's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:09
CaptainHowdy
Every Black Friday. Also what SayWord said, that black guy was memorable for some reason.
Begaria's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:10
Begaria
In other news, PC gamers were happily saving money and buying games without leaving their homes. No one is going to be breaking into my house to spray unwanted things in MY eyes as I'm emptying my bank account into digital distribution services.
jorbams's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:10
jorbams
Malibu Stacey has a new hat.
Monetep's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:10
Monetep
North America, ladies and gentlemen. North America.
Tristrix's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:10
Tristrix
=/ How come one crazy bitch pepper spraying at Walmart is an indictment on an entire country?

Anyway, I was at a Black Friday doorbuster last night at Target. Stood in line in 30 degree weather for an hour and a half to snag a good deal on a couple of things for the gf and the daughter. The mood was downright festive. People were laughing and having fun with total strangers, no one pushed or shoved, and it was overall, except for the cold of course, a fun experience. AAAAAA+++++ would shop again.

BTW, TONS of game consoles were being sold. PS3 bundles and 360+Kinect bundles were flying off the shelves like they had wings. I smiled inside.
Fullmetalfox's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:10
Fullmetalfox
What do you mean "America", Jim? You can find crazy people everywhere. Europe is crazier than ever right now and you have a pretty good Idea how the rest of the world is.
I'd say "Humanity,ladies and gentlemen, humanity."
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:17
mix
@Sayword
It's not that bad, I go out on boxing day around 8am or so and usually buy some games/movies and I have yet to see or hear of anything like this.

Also, today is "black friday" for a lot of stores in Canada because 1 in 5 Canadians plan on shopping in the US this holiday so I guess the Canadian retailers want a piece of the pie; however, our deals are pitiful compares to the ones in the US.
Scuffles's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:18
Scuffles
Certainly not just America but yes horribly depressing.... every year people manage to make me lose a little faith in humanity. I'm just wondering how many people are going to needlessly die today....
Fearzone's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:21
Fearzone
Black Friday shopperes pepper spraying one another... sounds like a beautiful self-correcting system to me. I highly encourage this.

NOBODY tell them about Amazon.
Sir Legendhead's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:21
Sir Legendhead
Hey, this blogging thing looks fun. Where do I surrender my penis?
Benisjamino's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:22
Benisjamino
Hit my local Walmart at 10 and grabbed Arkham City and Dance Central 2 before it got too nuts. In and out in like 30-45 min. Would definitely not do it again though, lol.
zebracake's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:24
zebracake
Who sprayed all the stuff, was it the one lady? I guess I did not realize that one can of peper spray could cloud the whole area. Was it a Walmart croud control thing?
Sir Legendhead's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:24
Sir Legendhead
OH GOD DAMMIT I AM FUCKING KIDDING.

I don't actually want an answer to that question.
Gorescream's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:26
Gorescream
Doesn't this happen every year?
Mos's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:26
Mos
Target's much better about it. Lines everywhere, security, police, and letting 30 people in at a time. If they saw you sprinting or pushing you were escorted off the premises immediately.

We planned our route ahead of time and waited for about two hours. Got in, got our shit before anyone else even tried, got out. It was nice.
Overmind NL's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:27
Overmind NL
Did she actually stated that she was "shopping competitive" or did you made that up. One must be absolutly crazy to hurt another person just for the sake of reaching something earlier in a store. Glad i'm dutch. We're perfectly normal for the most part ;)
npa189's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:27
npa189
Jesus, who would pepper spray another person over a 5 year old gaming console? I think people are buying shit, just to buy it.
Laharl-KOTNW's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:35
Laharl-KOTNW
So corporations are to blame for this? I was under the impression it was the individuals fault. I'm not sure you're aware of this Jim, but most retailers aren't profiting from Black Friday. Many stand at a loss, or hope to just break even.
VolksONER's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:36
VolksONER
'merica FUCK YEA!!!
Chris Carter's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:38
Chris Carter
@npa
"I think people are buying shit, just to buy it."

A lot of people who have no personality identify with shopping.

There are plenty of normal people out there who enjoy these things, like Tristrix, but there are also a ton of people like Ms. "Competetive Shopper" - it's all they know.
arkane9's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:39
arkane9
Seems to me like Black Friday is a good time for people who like mosh pits.
delta2kbr's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:39
delta2kbr
You meant "Time for our Kotaku moment."
comicretard's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:42
comicretard
Haha, I love these kinda stories.
Rynryouko's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:42
Rynryouko
Jim, what the hell is it with you and "corporations?"
BigManF's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:43
BigManF
You know, normally I like your brand of wit Jim, but I want to be candid for a second: not all Black Friday goers are, as you so eloquently put it on Twitter, "scumbags and cunts."

Some people, like my fiancée, went out to find a television for our new place, because we're low on funds, and she was able to find it, SHOCKINGLY, without shanking someone or getting trampled!

Not only that, but she went with my mother and my sister, who just went to experience it. They didn't even buy anything, they just wanted to see it.

Again, I like your writing Jim, I do, but just like how every gamer isn't a 12-year-old loudmouth who's been sexually involved with every matriarch in the world, not all Black Friday shoppers are mindless barbarians.

Sorry for the rant. Carry on.
matty125's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:44
matty125
At least no one died this time.
Faux Furry's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:47
Faux Furry
That's odd. I walked into Wal-Mart anticipating crowds and delightful photo opportunities only to be greeted by a store no more crowded than normal.
While I was at it, I took a leisurely stroll to the electronics department where I saw the PS3 Bat-Man:Arkham City double pack which I then picked up with no struggle, turned around without bumping into anyone, then walked to the front check-out counter to buy it for $30.31. There was no having to fight through the crowds like Bat-Man beating down packs of thugs in the game at all.

After all of the hype surrounding Black Friday disasters, I'm almost disappointed.
I actually saw people kayaking, taking power walks and fishing on the way there!
It seems that this is one area that Texans are actually less foolish about than people in the rest of the states in the union for once.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:47
Jim Sterling
BigManF: Dude, I'm not sorry that you think I insulted your mother because of one indirect and deliberately generalizing Tweet.


Laharl-KOTNW: Not sure where I said it was the fault of corporations. I did, in fact, blame the individuals for *validating* the attitudes corporations have. You should re-read the post.
KtMack23's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:48
KtMack23
At least they lived through it. I bought all my black friday stuff online at bestbuy.
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:49
Wedge
And this is why I'm depressed Wal Mart was the only with a $10 sale on Yakuza 4... no way in hell am I going there in person.
Laharl-KOTNW's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:50
Laharl-KOTNW
@Jim
I know that, but you are essentially implying that that the reason the they acted the way they did was because of those damn evil corporations that everyone loves to hate.
BigManF's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:52
BigManF
@Jim You don't need to be sorry lol, just bringing it to your attention is all.
HomersGhost's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/25/2011 11:52
HomersGhost
Here's a little pro tip to avoid jumping off to conclusion island like you did at the end of your post - one asshole does not a culture make.
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