Black Friday Frenzy

By now, many of us have seen the videos of people nearly stampeding over each other to try and get hold of whatever "great deal" is in front of them.   There are reports of a woman pepper spraying other shoppers who were in her way while she tried to get the items she so "desperately needed".  I say, COME ON NOW .. REALLY?   There was pandemonium at Walmarts, and other stores, all over the country.   Is it worth it to risk life and limb to get your hands on a 4 gb hard drive, or a new camera?  The videos being posted by people who were actually in these stores, shows us first-hand, that when it comes to a "great deal" people turn into animals.  I, for one, have never gone shopping on Black Friday.  Not in my younger days, and certainly not now, as a middle aged man.  I would be trampled to death before I made it through the door.  I know that money is tight and the holidays are here, but come on, where do we draw the line?  I will admit that the prices and discounts offered on Black Friday are pretty incredible -- but let's remember this:  the larger items (computers, televisions, game systems, etc.) are available only in limited numbers per store.  So when you see the line starting the day before at Best Buy - and they are all wanting the same 42" Flat Screen TV for 199.99, I can guarantee that the sets will be gone within the first 15 minutes.  So you have waited in line for 24 hours and walked away empty handed.   Was it worth it???   In my personal opinion, nothing is worth the waiting period, or the running through a store to try and get to the section where the items are, and then, if you happen to be lucky to actually get your hands on it, to then try and work your way through the crowd without having someone rip it out of your hands, to then standing in line for another 2 hours waiting to check out.   That is definitely not my idea of shopping.   And that is my Thought For Today.