Do you find it disgusting that people who wait in line...

[Freedomofspeech]

for Playstations is big news? Would they wait in line like that to vote? I doubt it. Is there something very sick about a society that finds "gaming" to be their life?

[Lost-in-FL]

1. I think its sad

[Redstone]

2. Um, lots of people DID wait in line for a long time to vote.

Redstone

[RevolutionStartsNow]

20. Yes, but they didn't camp out the night before

with little lawn chairs and tents and coolers.

I know, it's a totally different thing -- they don't run out of ballots (well...maybe in Ohio or Florida...) -- this PS3 thing is a whole different thing.

I once stood in line with my brother-in-law Dave at Toys-R-Us in Times Square, for a release of new Star Wars toys. I was just along for the thrill. People would walk by and ask what we were waiting for, and Dave would give a different answer every time: "Christina Aguilera". "Free crack."

[Redstone]

21. Agreed. I agree with the OP as well. It's disgusting.

Suffering for a VIDEO GAME?

But not suffering to protest this stupid fucking war? Misplaced priorities, indeed.

I do agree.

redstone

[Dorian Gray]

84. I suspect

that a large percentage of the people who think it's important to get a Playstation III the day that they come out don't put a premium on the importance of voting.

[mondo joe]

99. If people needed to camp out to get their vote you might have a point.

And if that's what you had to do to vote, people would.

As it stands, people are just making foolish judgments about others they know nothing about.

[Hubert H. Hubert]

31. Somehow I don't think there's a lot of overlap

between people who'd wait in line to vote and those who'd wait in line for a PS3.

Just a gut feeling.

[Red Right and BLUE]

56. I missread your title.

PETTY. Extremely PETTY.

[mondo joe]

58. Got any other gut feelings about groups of people you don't know?

After all, judging people based on a stereotype or appearance is so progressive. :eyes:

[Hubert H. Hubert]

61. Oh yes, the two are SO morally equivalent

Yeah, I know a lot of people who would knock down old ladies for a $500 game system who are also just dying to participate in our democracy.

Notice I didn't say a single word about gamers in general. It was your assumption that I was implying all gamers' priorities are that screwed up. What was that about judging people?

[mondo joe]

62. Did you see someone knocking down an old lady?

Or did you see people standing in line?

What's your judgment based on?

[Hubert H. Hubert]

65. LOL! You got me there.

I made up the old lady.

I didn't make up any of this, unfortunately.

[Dorian Gray]

85. There were ten news stories that I read yesterday

about shoot outs, robbings, muggings and violence done in the mad rush to get the stupid Playstation III. Most normal people, including most gamers, can wait for a couple of months until the mad rush dies down. Those whose priority it is to HAVE THE GAME NOW probably don't have the right priorities in life. There, I'm making a horrible generalization. I admit it.

[mondo joe]

96. Well, at least you admit it. That's a start.

God forbid someone stand in line for something they're excited about.

[antonialee839]

75. I thought knocking down old ladies only happened

while in pursuit of marble rye bread.

[fishwax]

63. I'm not sure you're right about that

I know plenty of gamers who are actively involved in politics and who are very socially aware. I suspect there are many here on DU, in fact.

That aside, though, welcome to DU :hi:

[Hubert H. Hubert]

69. Thanks for the welcome

Just to clarify, I'm not disparaging all gamers. Just the ones who are participating in this craziness. I just don't get the desperate need for people to have this thing RIGHT NOW. The PS3 isn't going away any time soon. I'll admit even I'd love to have one - just not for $500+!

[fishwax]

73. I don't get the waiting in line, but I also don't get the irritation and condemnation

expressed by many here. I'm happy with my PS2, and won't buy a PS3 until the price goes down significantly--probably not for a year or two at least. And I've no interest in waiting in line for hours--much less overnight--for something like this. But if someone has a bit of free time and wants to wait in line, I don't see what the harm is. Camping out in line can be a fun experience in and of itself.

I can accept that you weren't disparaging all gamers, but I'm not convinced that waiting in line like this makes one unlikely to participate in our democracy.

[Hubert H. Hubert]

74. OK, the comment was off base

I've got nothing to back it up, I admit. The whole comparison to voting just kind of ticked me off.

I won't begrudge anyone their right to stand in line for whatever they feel is worth the wait. But the whole thing just bugs me. I agree with most of the reasons already put forth in this thread. Ultra-hyped mass consumerism really turns me off. And the violence doesn't help, either.

[grilled onions]

3. The Waiting Game

These same people who willingly stand in line,sleep in tents to get a game grumble LOUDLY if they have to wait in line to buy a bag of chips. Some would not work out of doors because of the cold but thing nothing of standing in line for a game or season tickets. Kind of strange.

[mondo joe]

4. Not at all. I think people do the things that are worthwhile for them to do.

Some spend hours on message boards, some knit, some game.

I'm more disgusted by people getting disgusted by people who aren't hurting anyone,

[trumad]

5. Actually I feel that people that harp on people who are gamers

need a life....

[Red Right and BLUE]

44. Thank you. nt

[Canadian Socialist]

6. There were huge lineups here in Calgary

The radio station I listen to interviewed a few of the people. One said, (paraphrase)"For every 2 hours I spend in line, it's a day in Mexico." He's going to buy as many as he can, and then sell them on eBay. Now, that might seem selfish AND self-centred... unless you've spent a winter in Calgary (or Edmonton, or Winnipeg...)

[MrSlayer]

7. That it is big news. Yes. That people do it. No.

I'm real big on "do what you want as long as you aren't hurting anyone". I have no problem with people camping out for the new system. I can wait for mine but some people can't. That's their business.

[ariellyn]

45. I agree totally. If people are game fanatics--no problem. Media

over-attentitiveness OTOH is a HUGH!?! problem.

[hlthe2b]

8. There are a lot of things about our society that depress me..

This is clearly one of them....

I just can not relate...

[uncle ray]

9. if they only allowed 20 people per precint to vote

you can be damn sure i'd be one of the first in line.

[CrispyQ]

10. I find it disgusting that very few people consider the consequences of thier actions,

unless it affects them directly.

Ignorance is bliss.

:eyes:

[Warren Stupidity]

11. "Would they wait in line like that to vote?"

Well I'm not sure who 'they' are, but the good citizens of urban Ohio certainly waited for hours and hours in cold pouring rain to have their votes stolen in 2004.

Relax. Kids like game consoles. Some kids are in their 40s.

[ruiner4u]

12. along with the poor souls in Denver...

That was a huge cluster-bang...

[kestrel91316]

13. They sure do like the bread and circuses, those folks.

[bluestateguy]

14. I don't see what's so wrong with the Play Station version 2

Why must everything be upgraded, upgraded, new, new, NEW!

geez.

[shanti]

46. me neither

may teen son is clamoring for one, but i've refused to pay 600 (?) clams for one - ridiculous! i asked him what was so special about it, and he just said, "it's new technology". not good enough for me!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

49. With All Due Respect, The PS3 Blows The PS2 Out Of The Water In Both Capability And Graphics.

But no one ever said the PS2 is a bad system.

[minnesota_liberal]

15. unless they're planning to resell the Playstations at a profit,

those folks have their priorities messed up!

[fishwax]

66. What's wrong with spending their free time in a manner that isn't hurting anyone?

:shrug:

[mondo joe]

100. I hate to see DUers being judgmental assholes.

There are some real authoritarian puritans.

[lonestarnot]

16. Not only do they wait in line, they kill one another over the crap.

[chefgirl]

17. Not necessarily

What I find truly disgusting is how these companies purposely short change the market every single time they release one of these things just the drive up demand. Have they not figured out yet that they don't have to drive up demand artificially?

Who DOESN'T know there are going to be long lines and desperate scrambling when people try to get their hands on one, and conveniently, always just in time for Christmas?

As a parent, I heard "I HAVE to have the new system Mom" too often, and it always pissed me off to no end.

People know, going in, there arent going to be enough to go around, so they stand in line already stressed and pissed off, and when people get wound that tight, who knows??

One of these days someone might just get shot! :sarcasm:

-chef-

[Red Right and BLUE]

47. You don't seem to realize

that these new systems are tweaked and worked on until JUST before they're shipped. A little hype is nice, sure, but the price for the first people in line is not higher then the price everyone else pays. They aren't "short-changing" the market, believe me; they want to sell as many units as possible. That's how they make back their money, after all.

[chefgirl]

123. Sorry, but I completely disagree

Im guessing they would make their money back a lot faster if some of those people selling the systems on Ebay, for thousands of dollars, were working for them. And thats only the first thought that popped into my head. Im quite sure I could come up with more if I really spent a few moments considering it, you know, the way they do.

If you honestly think they are not manipulating consumers, then you dont realize half of what you think YOU do....sorry.

Ask yourself, whats the reason for all the millions they dump into advertising BEFORE these systems, that they dont have enough of, hit the market?

Additionally, if its SO important to 'tweak' these systems till right before they go on the market, then dont send them to market until you can be reasonably sure you can meet the demand. Unless, of course, you're trying to artificially drive up demand.

-chef-

[parasim]

18. hmmm... You're either a) a non-gamer...

or b) a jealous gamer...

As for it being "big news", well, I honestly hardly even knew about it until I read it in threads like this... the places where I typically get my news for the day from didn't talk about it much.

As for the voting analogy... apples and oranges. First, as noted elsewhere, people DO wait in line to vote, secondly, if the first, say, hundred votes cast determined an election, you bet there'd be a line.

[in_cog_ni_to]

19. What's REALLY been grating on my nerves the last few days is Sanjay Gupta's "Laughing Clubs"

they've been showing on CNN...over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. OK...we get it! Laughter IS the best medicine, but SHEEEEEEEESH....do they they have to repeat it 136,987,985 times a freakin' day???:grr: That doesn't make ME very happy to have to listen to that crap CONSTANTLY.

I wonder how many "laughing clubs" are in Darfur? :grr: I wish they'd spend their time on worthy things, but obviously, that's waaay too much to ask. I just had to turn the TV OFF today.

[smtpgirl]

22. THEY NEED TO GET A LIFE

you can buy a "gaming" PC for the price of the playstation after the trolls purchased them.

A Dell for that matter. All you need is a 256 or 512 MB video card.

I'm not a gamer, but I know someone who is, and he has all the bells & whistles on his PC & laptop for this.

Better yet, the PC games are cheaper and you can use the computer for other things.

PS3, just another thing that will collect dust for most.

[Red Right and BLUE]

52. Yeah, just like the PS2 and PS1 and PSP that we use EVERY DAY.

GET A LIFE? Seriously, who is anyone to judge someone else for their hobbies? And by the way, some people don't LIKE PC games as much as consoles. I'm one of those people.

Do you know how many people are told to get a life and not spend so much time on DU? Why be so judgmental? I don't understand that.

[blue sky at night]

23. not to bush your chops...

but worrying about pro-football seems equally absurd. Just think of all the lines involved in being a Fan of the local football team.

[blue sky at night]

26. I cant believe I said.....

bush your chops....man, I am sorry, I meant Bust!

[Ariana Celeste]

24. Not at all.

I'm sure some people would find it disgusting how much time some of us spend on DU. We all have our hobbies and our interests. Just because that isn't one of your interests doesn't make it disgusting. Such judgmental threads today over such a fucking trivial subject. (And they say gamers need to get lives.)

[Nicole]

25. Yes & no

Yes, it's disgusting that it is big news.

No, it's not disgusting or sick for a society to enjoy gaming. Just because they want the newest thing to enjoy gaming with doesn't mean it is their life. I haven't heard anyone say they will kill themselves if they don't get it.

I'm sure I do things that gamers find stupid. I can spend hours in antique stores which bores the hell out of most of my friends. I bet they would rather spend that time waiting in line for something they wanted.

[Jeroen]

27. .

[DawgHouse]

28. No, I don't find it disgusting.

[txindy]

29. Spending time gaming is better than spending time complaining about it.

Is it news? Not particularly. Is it disgusting that they waited in line? No. Are all of the threads b*tching about how people choose to spend their money and personal time irritating and redundant? Yes.

And, no, I neither want a PS3 nor have any plans to acquire one.

[fishwax]

68. seems like a solid answer

:thumbsup:

[MoseyWalker]

30. I find it sad

that people would spend so much money on a game system.

[novalib]

32. BUY! BUY! CONSUME!! CONSUME!! YOU GOTTA HAVE!!!

What else do you expect?!?!?!?!

People, from the time they are aware until they die,

and from the time they get up in the morning until they go to sleep at night, hear NOTHING BUT

BUY!! BUY!!! BUY!!!

CONSUME!!!! CONSUME!!! CONSUME!!!

YOU GOTTA HAVE THIS!!! YOU GOTTA HAVE THAT!!!! YOU GOTTA HAVE THIS AND THAT!!!

YOUR LIFE IS NOT COMPLETE UNLESS YOU HAVE THIS!!!

YOU ARE NOT A PERSON UNLESS YOU BUY THIS!!!!

WHAT ELSE DO YOU EXPECT!!!!?????

[Telly Savalas]

80. Maybe they just enjoy playing the motherfucking game.

I'm not into gaming enough to want to buy a system, but rather I like making music. Am I a consumerist "sheeple" deserving of being lambasted in a caps-lock heavy rant if I want to buy a tenor sax? What are the criteria which distinguish between the desire to obtain products which enrich one's life and senseless obedience to your perceived notion of a capitalist consumerist machine?

[novalib]

88. "Sheeple"???!!!!

Just WHO is calling you a "sheeple"????!!!!

NOT ME!!!

I'm QUITE SURE that there ARE LOTS and LOTS of people who REALLY, TRULY feel that having a PS3 is having a product that enriches their lives.

And I'm also VERY SURE that there are LOTS and LOTS of people who REALLY, TRULY feel that they "NEED" one or maybe TWO SUV's. Somehow, owning an SUV or two enriches their lives.

Those are most likely the same people whose existences are so devoid of meaning that they SIMPLY MUST KNOW ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT TOM CRUISE AND KATIE HOLMES' MARRIAGE!!!!

But, since you play a tenor sax, I'm sure your life is meaningful, fulfilled, sensitive, self-aware, and creative.

Therefore, you do not need to worry about being a senseless obedient slave to the capitalist consumerist machine.

You, obviously, make purchases based upon the GREATER SOCIAL GOOD.

[Red Right and BLUE]

102. And I'm quite sure

that if they're DU'ers they most likely are not the waste-of-space types you imagine them to be. Get real.

[Patsy Stone]

33. Disgusting? No.

This is the holiday season, and there's always a Tickle Me Elmo or Cabbage Patch Kid which garners this kind of attention. It's a celebration of capitalism, not gaming. Also, if a lot of people in a town are sleeping on the street for any object, that's news.

What I do find disgusting, however, is crime based on greed to get the object of desire. When people are shot over an object, any object, there's a reason to question the underlying cause of that.

[walldude]

34. Well considering the PS3's are selling for around

$3000 on e-bay I can't really fault someone for sitting out all night waiting to make $2400 profit per unit..
I notice many self-righteous people on here who apparently spend their lives 24/7 protesting the war, saving Darfur, and volunteering to help the homeless, while in their spare time posting on DU to berate all the people who don't follow their example. :eyes:

[stepnw1f]

35. Have We Seen the Same in Food Lines for People Starving?

That I could somewhat understand, but for entertainment?!?!?!?!

[Red Right and BLUE]

53. You have a band name for a moniker

... so you've never waited in line for a concert? Interesting.

[stepnw1f]

78. Have I Waited in Line for a Band.....?

Yes, but I didn't get violent when I did. That was the point I was making.

Also, that name is from a Book named, Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse.

Referring to this:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15764297/

PS - I went to school for game designing, so although I am a game advocate I consider this shit to be stupid.

[Red Right and BLUE]

101. But what is "this shit"?

There are stupid, violent people in many situations. That is ALWAYS stupid. It's really not a gaming thing, is it?

[stepnw1f]

116. Sorry If I Struck a Nerve

...but I would have said the same thing about any other "product". I already explained to you what I was saying."This shit" is in referrence to the violence some expressed for a product that people do not NEED but desire for entertaining purposes. To die for a product that just entertains is truly sad.... Yes, that is stupid when we know full well that people are dying out of hardship/war rather than for the purchase of a fucking game.

BTW - "This shit" is not a slam on gamming. I play games all the time, but you won't find me knocking down grandma or shooting another kid, just so I can buy one or steal one.

[Red Right and BLUE]

117. Okay, I understand you're railing against that,

but you make it sound like a common occurrence. That's what's irritating.

I'm done, though. Cheers.

[ChiciB1]

36. Honey, Hang One... Mondo Joe Is Here & Trumad Too!

Perhaps a few others too, didn't look to closely... but I actually asked the same question yesterday and got the BIGGEST feed back on this since I joined DU!!

I even got some flack this AM about my post today and my post yesterday. I'm signing off for tonight... but I understand precisely what you are saying!!!

[mondo joe]

39. And I'm not even a gamer. Don't know a Gameboy from an X Box to a whatever.

But I do know when people are making stupid assumptions about other people.

[ChiciB1]

41. You Really Don't Me To Reply To This Honestly... But There IS A

game going on and I'm also Pro Choice, and we probably could agree on a lot of things... OR NOT!

[mondo joe]

43. I don't care if you reply honestly or not. n/t

[praeclarus]

79. self deleted, see my post #81.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

51. Not Very Nice To Call Out Other DU'ers Ya Know. Pretty Childish In My Opinion.

Just because they disagree with you on something, even if passionately, doesn't mean you are in the right to personally undermine them, chastise them, speak condescendingly of them or demonize them.

[kentuck]

37. It's a withdrawn society...

much like the people that cling to their cellphones like a lifeline and some that find pleasure in communicating on the Internet... :)

[Odin2005]

38. I hate consoles, I'd rather play games on my PC.

I'm a strategy and RPG buff, and those games are much easier to play on a PC. I also use an emulator program to play old, cartrige-based console (NES, SENES, Sega Genesis, etc.) games on my PC.

[treestar]

40. Yes, and what is the difference between 3 and 2 that is so

compelling? They're just games, for God's sake.
:wtf:

[Red Right and BLUE]

54. Well some of us, whose livelihood IS the gaming industry,

would appreciate it if you'd find out for yourself before acting like there is no difference. You just might like it. :hi:

If you even have to ask this question, then you probably haven't seen how fun it can be first-hand.

[treestar]

77. A 2 would probably entertain me

What's the big difference?

My nephews have a 2, and I've seen them play it. I can hardly imagine what a 3 can do that a 2 can't.

I'll ask them.

[Red Right and BLUE]

98. K.

You do that. :)

[Little Wing]

42. It's a hobby

live and let live

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

48. I Wouldn't Do It, But It's None Of My Business If Others Choose To. That's Their Perogative.

If the new technology is exciting enough to them that they want to be one of the first to have it, more power to em. Isn't my place to judge them or think them a lesser being because they are passionate about something.

For the record, I saw the new PS3 at target tonight. The graphics were friggin jaw dropping.

[mondo joe]

57. It's sad that we can be so adamantly pro-choice on abortion, but so judgemental

about petty things like hobbies.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

60. I Fear That Some Merely Need To Fill Their Voids Of Emptiness With False Feelings Of Superiority.

Too many people have the inclination to always look around them and find the things flawed in others that they can use against them in order to make themselves as a whole feel superior in some way in order to compensate for their own other personal areas in which they feel flawed. I consider it to be one of the greatest things wrong with human nature: The "Hey, I might do this but THIS GUY does that!" mentality. I think this entire world would be a better place if we just generally left everyone the fuck alone to be their own person, as long as it doesn't directly cause harm to others.

[Ksec]

50. Its free advertising

Sony gets Millions of dollars worth of free ads.

Overhyped overpriced CRAP.

[Red Right and BLUE]

55. No, I don't.

And gaming IS my life. Thanks.

[MiniMandaRuth]

59. Well, I'm so sorry if we find technology interesting.

[mondo joe]

64. Just think, if they were waiting in line for abortions no one would dream of

judging them.

I'm pro-choice about abortion and a lot more.

[MiniMandaRuth]

87. Yep.

I'm sorry if I find technology interesting enough to pay attention to. It's not like it could be the rest of my life (Looking to become a video game developer)

[judaspriestess]

67. further proof of the dumbing down of America n/t

[mondo joe]

70. Because....what? Dumb people buy games?

[Red Right and BLUE]

72. Wow. nt

[Red Right and BLUE]

71. You can say fucking anything

if you put a question mark after it.

"I'M JUST ASKING!"

:rofl:

[TexasLawyer]

76. $$$$$

I think a bunch of the people in line are there to make a buck. They can turn around and easily sell a PS3 unit for two or three times (or more!) what they paid for it.

It is like standing in line to receive a free packet of hundred dollar bills. Shoot, if I didn't have a job I would be out there too.

I do wish people showed the same determination for elections and noble causes, though.

But it was ever thus.

[praeclarus]

81. what i don't understand...

... is the desire to have it right now.

Another example is standing in huge lines to see some
big new movie on the opening weekend when one could
wait a few weeks and breeze right in.

Personally I won't stand in line for anything unless
I am forced to and that only happens at places like DMV
but even DMV is getting with the 21st century and most
of my DMV interactions can now be done online and via mail
(thank goodness for that, I hate DMV).

This is not anti-gaming in any sense but why do you
gamers have to have the thing on the very first day it
comes out? Also, you gamers are savvy enough to know
that these things are going to be a lot cheaper in a year
from now.

I can understand the motivation of the profiteers.

[Marie26]

83. The coolness factor

If you get it right now, you can brag about it too all your friends, and feel very cool & cutting-edge.

[Marie26]

82. I agree

It is big news - huge lines of people all over the country is big news. But it's really sad that people place such an importance on a stupid video game. Will these people camp out for peace, or voting rights, or anything that matters? No. It's all about getting more bright shiny objects that we can't really afford.

[smirkymonkey]

86. Extreme Materialism.

A sign of a society with it priorities severly out of whack.

[RiverStone]

109. Agreed!

Not too mention how it scrambles the brains of kids. Way too much time pressing buttons....

[Marie26]

124. It's a consumer culture

We're constantly brainwashed to BUY BUY BUY, even if we can't afford it, even if there's more important things that need to be paid for. Which means the consumer culture is really a debt culture, and the debt is slowly & steadily destroying the middle class. I wonder how many people put these new Playstations on their credit cards?

[MUSTANG_2004]

89. No, it can be fun

I remember about 20 years or so ago getting up early to wait in line at 6AM for concert tickets. It was actually kind of fun. Several of us went together and had a good time. Lots of camaraderie with the other people as well.

I wouldn't do it now, but am not going to knock someone who does.

I'm not sure what the point is in complaining or ridiculing harmless hobbies (Perhaps complaining about harmless hobbies is your hobby?). To me, you're in the same category as the ignorant people who call internet forums a big waste of time and a symptom of a sick, anti-social society. Much ado about nothing....

[Beelzebud]

90. What I find disgusting are judgmental assholes that can't live and let live.

[spanone]

91. People love diversions from reality......some puff, some drink, some game.....some do all.

[Balbus]

92. No. I find people who like to bitch about other peole who wait

in line far more ridiculous.

[951-Riverside]

93. YES, YES AND YES!

:puke:

Quite frankly when I hear of one being robbed or killed in line I'm actually kind of happy.

[Balbus]

95. Yeah, that's so cool!

Hearing about people getting killed gets me off, also! :eyes:


You have problems far, far deeper than someone waiting in line for a video game...

[mondo joe]

97. Maybe some kids waiting in line for the next Harry Potter book will get killed

so everyone can rejoice about that too!

[951-Riverside]

103. No its just the morons camping in line to pay retail for a stupid PS3....

That gets me pissed off. A PS3 isnt going to help anyone OTOH a book can.

[Red Right and BLUE]

104. Lots of things don't "help" people

in any other way than bringing them some pleasure and enjoyment in life. As a liberal, if it ain't hurtin' anyone, I say let people do what they want.

Jeez, this is just incredibly sad to see here.

[Retired AF Dem]

106. The bitch of it is

these same morons put their PS3 on Ebay and sell them for 10.000+ to even bigger morons.

[mondo joe]

108. So if they spend a day on making a profit they're morons?

Man.

[Retired AF Dem]

110. If they made a profit my guess is that they are not

morons. :)

[mondo joe]

111. Didn't you just say they are? "The same morons" sell them on Ebay for

a profit?

[mondo joe]

107. It pisses you off so much that they spend their free time on something they

enjoy that you're happy they got shot?

Dude...

[LeftishBrit]

115. You don't mean that seriously???

You mean that if someone has an obsession that you (and I) don't share, then they deserve to be killed????

[Retired AF Dem]

94. I think it is silly

because I wouldnt do it. I don't find it disgusting, since this is America and we are supposed to be free.

[Red Right and BLUE]

105. And that's fair. Thank you. nt

[MadHound]

112. If people wish to camp out overnight, risk bodily injury, robbery and

illness all to lay out $500-$600 dollars for a piece of entertainment hardware, hey they're free to do so.

However I do find it a sad commentary on our society and lifestyle that this sort of thing occurrs every year, generarlly around the Christmas season. Time and again, from Cabbage Patch kids to TickleMe Elmo, Americans are consumed with a materialistic appetite to have the latest, greatest gizmo, otherwise their holiday season isn't complete.

This is just another symptom of how much of a materialistic, consumerist culture we've become, trying to fill empty lives with material goods. Sure, sure, the lucky few will be able to swagger their gizmo purchase for a view weeks, delighting in the envious comment of their fellow citizens who are equally consumed by the material. But in the end, much like junk food, while such goods will temporarily quiet their soul's hunger for true sustenece, such material goods provide no real nutrition to grow the soul. Thus these people will again feel empty and unfulfilled in a few weeks or months, and thus will again turn to the material to fill their void. And sadly few seem to figure out that consuming more, more, more isn't the answer, only happiness with one's self and one's life will fulfill them and sate their hunger.

But hey, if people want to continue to stuff themselves on this spriitual junk food, it is their right. But it is equally my right to stand by, shake my head in sorrow and disgust, and perhaps point out the error of their ways.

[LeftishBrit]

113. No; it's not something I would bother to do myself

But if they're not harming anyone, it's not disgusting.

[ldf]

114. what is that saying?

americans are becoming the most entertained and least educated people on the planet...

sounds about right.

[Red Right and BLUE]

118. ...

Not everyone can afford these things, thus, I'd bet that many of them are indeed quite educated.

[Raine]

119. I find the MEDIA that covers that at the top of the hour

disgusting. While I wouldn't wait in line for something like that if someone else wants to it's not my place to prioritize their lives. I don't know what those people are dealing with maybe their life is crap and that's a diversion for them.

[high density]

120. I'd like to know where people get all of this disposable income

I was over at the mall today and I didn't even bother to go in. There was hardly an empty parking spot around the place.

I don't get the game console thing at all... I had some old Atari thing (7800?) and then a Super Nintendo, but after that I went to the PC.

[mondo joe]

121. They might work for it.

They might charge it.

They might ask their parents for it.

[Red Right and BLUE]

122. Why? That's really no one's business but their own. nt