Just A Warmup

Ever seen a video of a Black Friday brawl? It happens every year as shoppers stampede, argue, and physically assault each other over items in stores just because they are on sale. Just do a web search for “Black Friday fights,” and you’ll find tons of them.

Now imagine that what is at stake isn’t just a great deal on a flat-screen TV, but whether or not their kids get to eat today? What if what is at stake is medicine which could save the life of a family member? How do you think these people would behave if it were a matter of life or death for themselves or someone they loved? What do you think they would be willing to do to you then? If it came to that, then the violence in the video above is just a warmup.

Before you say, “if someone needs my food/water/medicine” that badly, they can have it.” you should understand that there are those out there who…in their minds…will always need what you have worse than you do. This is because they do not care how badly you might need it yourself. In their view, their need is always worse than someone else’s…which is why they can justify beating someone over the head for a sale item on Black Friday. If they come for your stuff, they are not going to ask nicely. They need it worse than you do, and when they fear that survival is at stake, all bets are off.

For what it is worth, I do not believe we are to that point yet, and my suspicion is that we will not get to the point where we need to start deploying “roof Koreans.” Probably. But fear is a powerful thing, and it does not have to be based in reality to cause people to do things today which they would not have considered yesterday. Whether the danger is real or not, if people believe it is real they will act accordingly.

Despite the relatively low number of deaths from the COVID-19 virus to date, there are still many who (stoked by the media) fear that it brings the apocalypse with it…and right now the fear itself is the true danger. There have already been fights in stores over supplies. This is just one example:

I’d also like to caution that if you have any feelings that the scuffle was justified because the woman with the cart load of toilet paper shouldn’t have been buying that much, you are part of the problem. If you think that any violence is justified towards her because she is panic buying “too much” toilet paper, then you are beginning to embrace the mindset I alluded to in the third paragraph. You are judging someone else’s need, and at least considering violence as a solution. If you see someone loading up a cart full of supplies and begin to think, “that idiot needs his ass kicked,” then you might want to check yourself. It’s an easy trap to fall into.

And understand that people will fall into it. Be prepared to protect yourself and your family. Carry your gun and spare ammo, and be armed at home. Carry pepper spray and first aid supplies. If you see signs of panic buying and escalating tempers, leave. Extra awareness and avoidance is the order of the day.

Do not take a safe and orderly society for granted, and do not take it for granted that someone else will intervene and rescue you if we proceed beyond the warmup.