When my parents came up to Humodlt to visit me after I graduated from college (I skipped the ceremony, as I do any ceremony I possibly can, with the exception of weddings with open bars), it was about a week after The Phantom Menace came out and my father and I got to talking about all the Star Wars geeks he'd seen around L.A., waiting in line weeks in advance to the opening of the film. His only comment was "all I can say is, God bless America."
In some ways, he had a point. We really are blessed, at least for the moment, to live in a place where thousands and thousands of people can dump their jobs, their families, their responsibilities and reality in general in antipation of something as trivial and unimportant as a movie. However, I really feel like, somewhere down the line, our culture is going to pay a very dear price for the kind of indulgence witnessed here. In anticipation of the newest version of Playstation:
Some gamers have been queuing for days outside shops, but others have been more enterprising."There are people that are very interested in a PlayStation and could not be here, so I'm representing them," Shelle Bloom, who is getting paid to queue for someone else outside a shop in New York, told the Associated Press.
In New York gamer, Sean Marshall said: "I took three days off work, so if my boss finds out, I get fired, but PlayStation 3 is worth it."
Idiot. I hope at some point during those three days your boss Googles your name. At least you'll have your Playstation 3 to comfort you when your stomach is grumbling as you are being handed an eviction notice.
I can honestly think of absolutely nothing for which I would stand in line for three days, absent perhaps, another worldwide depression.
Morons.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at November 16, 2006 12:45 PMI'm hardpressed to think of something for which I would stand in line for three hours.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at November 16, 2006 12:46 PMIn the mile long strip mall I work next to, there are 4 stores selling those today. All 4 have campout lines.
My money is currently tied up being owed, so I'll have to wait a couple years before I snag one. Just like I did with all previous varieties.
Posted by: marc at November 16, 2006 12:55 PMIn Cuba, they stand in line every day for a small loaf of bread or a handful of beans. Here in the States folks stand in line for video games.
Posted by: Val Prieto at November 16, 2006 12:57 PMLike my Dad said, Val...God Bless America.
Though I think a few weeks in Cuba could do some of the brattier Americans some good. It would help for some people to get some friggin' perspective.
Posted by: Emily at November 16, 2006 01:05 PMThe Fred Meyer by where I work has four of them to sell. (Two of each configuration).
They don't want people camping out, so they're just going to sell them by lottery. Very sensible, if you ask me.
Posted by: Sigivald at November 16, 2006 01:57 PMThe first PS3 line injury has happened.
Posted by: marc at November 16, 2006 02:13 PMLET THE BODY COUNT BEGIN!
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at November 16, 2006 03:21 PMI can't get over the idiot that gave the quote, "If my boss finds out, I get fired..." here's a hint jackass, don't get your name (and I'll bet dollars to donuts picture) in the goddamn newspaper.
As for standing in line, eh, it's over rated. They'll have plenty there in a couple of days. Besides, they'll be on sale next weekend after Thanksgiving.
Posted by: KG at November 16, 2006 03:32 PMThat was stupid enough, KG, but the part I had a hard time getting over was the "Playstation 3 is worth getting fired." You mean you couldn't wait a day or two, maybe even a week or so, to get a fucking gaming consol, you fucking moron? Even worse, you'd risk your job for it?
Posted by: Emily at November 16, 2006 03:35 PMConsidering that there a people who will take a day or week off when the new edition of Madden comes out every year, I'm not all that surprised. Hard core gamers are, well, weirder than Ken.
Posted by: KG at November 16, 2006 03:47 PMI know. That's why they frighten me so much.
Posted by: Emily at November 16, 2006 03:49 PMI'm sorry, but Val's post INSTANTLY made me think that poor Cuban was going to take his "handful of beans" and grow a gigantic beanstalk.
Death to Castro.
Really.
Posted by: Lisa at November 16, 2006 04:01 PMWeirder than I? I take that as a challenge...
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at November 16, 2006 04:21 PMBut that "If my boss finds out, I get fired..." part reminds me of a story a few years ago. Guy dodged work to go to a ballgame, caught a foul ball - and his boss was watching the game on TV.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at November 16, 2006 04:23 PMYou sure you weren't just watching Ferris Buelher's Day Off, Ken?
Posted by: KG at November 16, 2006 04:39 PMNah, but it sure sounds like that.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at November 16, 2006 04:45 PMThese people who camp out days, and risk losing their jobs, for a video game console...I'll bet their parents didn't read them nursery rhymes!
Posted by: Shannon C. at November 16, 2006 05:32 PMShannon,
I'll bet they did, except they promised them they were true!
Though I think a few weeks in Cuba could do some of the brattier Americans some good.
I proposed an exchange - The ugly capitalist Gringos can send one of their brattiest to Cuba in exchange for two starving Cubans.
We'll even sweeten the deal by telling Castro that the brats will be accepted back if they can survive the journey back on a flimsy raft. (Of course, we'll hang onto the Cubans)
Ya know, if it's someone who's self-employed, or can take vacation days, or whatever, I say, eh, let 'em do it if that's how they want to spend their time.
But I sure as hell better not have any of the students who are supposed to take an exam in my class today call in "sick" with background noise that sounds suspiciously like the wait-line at Best Buy.
I'd also be really pissed if I worked in a business where having one person out for a couple days meant everyone else had to shoulder his load - and then I were to find out that the "3-day flu" guy was waiting to buy a Playstation.
I remember seeing the lines at Soviet groceries on the tv; people waiting six hours for a small loaf of bread and (maybe) some very fatty pork. I'm really thankful to live in a country where I don't have to wait in line for hours for the things I need to keep alive. And that I can choose not to purchase other fripperies that would require me to wait in long lines for them.
Posted by: ricki at November 17, 2006 05:15 AMAnd I remember hearing the same news story (guy at baseball park, guy shown on tv, guy's boss sees him, guy gets fired) as Ken.
And no, it wasn't Ferris Bueller.
Posted by: ricki at November 17, 2006 05:18 AMRicki,
In a way, I'd agree. People are free to spend their time however they like. I'd just like to think we haven't entered an era of some kind of disastrous cultural vacuum where an enormous number of people who can spare the time chose to spend it in such a fruitless way.
I tend to agree, Emily. But one thing: people locked in their rooms playing Playstations at least aren't out randomly roaming the aisles of the local grocery store being stupid when I have to be shopping there. And they aren't out on the highways being dangerous idiots driving 75 mph while yammering on their cellphones.
I tend to think that anything that takes potentially annoying people out of my stream of consciousness has some merits to it.
And I have my share of weird/pointless hobbies...
Posted by: ricki at November 17, 2006 09:33 AM