I present to you, The People of Walmart - Page 3

Looking_for_911 · 08-28-2009, 09:39 AM

Many, many moons ago when we lived in a bit less PC time, I wrote a column for a paper in Asheville, NC. It was an "alternative" paper, not the main fish wrapper there.
I had been experiencing some strange feelings while in "Mart" stores and stepped outside of myself to look around to see what was causing this.
What I found was that nearly every young woman I saw come out of the store(s) was pregnant, black or both.
I went on to quote teen pregnancy rates and talk about the sorry state of affairs of planned parenting, etc. The gist of the column was meant to bring attention to the situation of unwed mothers in my area. A local high school had just installed a pregnancy clinic in the school, etc.

I wrote this column stating the opinion that there must be something in the water in my town that caused this phenomena as unsafe sex surely wasn't the answer, was it?
My editor ran it as she recognized the humor yet appreciated the message I was trying to convey.

I'm sure you can see where this all lead.

We were praised by many for the message I was conveying, yet lambasted by legions for "saying all women who go to Walmart come out 'pregnant, black or both.'"

One of the last times I tried to use any humor to make a point with "Mart" store people.

Oh, if you want to really shake them up, try walking around in front of the store with a camera... they're really paranoid for some reason!?!

And I once had an uncle thrown out of WM for making notes in the electronics section. He was looking to buy a big screen tv and was jotting down specs, prices, etc. He was approached by "security" who told him that he couldn't "write stuff down" inside the store. He then said he'd just use his cell phone to call the info to my aunt who like most wives was part of the purchase, too. He was told that wasn't allowed either and that he'd have to leave. He told them where to jump and that K-Mart down the road would be where he'd buy the tv! He didn't. He found a better deal at a locally owned electronics joint.

Looking_for_911 · 08-28-2009, 09:46 AM

Oh, one more thing....

Most of you commentators would be happy to know that you have followed the New AP Style in writing the name of our favorite "Mart" store.

Now, when we refer to an individual store we write it as "Walmart." However, if one refers to the corporation in Bentonville, Arkansas you should write it as "Wal-Mart."

Happy to pass this along.

URY914 · URY914's Garage

I just went to WM at lunch time to buy some oil for my truck (best prices in town). Two black women in line in front my me. I really only uderstood about 1/3 of what they were saying. It seemed to be in some strange code that angry white men can't understand. They both bought about $20 worth of crap (gum, shoes, pefume,etc) that they could have done without. Overall it wan't two bad. I was looking for someone to snap a picture of and submit to that website, but didn't see anyone worthy. Maybe next time...

WilsonTC · 08-28-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by URY914

I was looking for someone to snap a picture of and submit to that website, but didn't see anyone worthy.

Did you notice anyone snapping pics of you?

onewhippedpuppy · 08-28-2009, 10:33 AM

Funny that so many share my opinion of that cesspool. I do my best to avoid it, but there's simply some stuff you can't get at any other one place. From the moment I step in the door my blood pressure doubles. I simply cannot wait to get out. If that store is a microcosm of American society, we're all doomed. The only time it's tolerable is when I visit at 6 am, normally to pick up oil for a weekend project.

One observation though, it's amazing the differences between the stores. We have a Wal-Mart within one block of our home. We live in a very nice neighborhood, with even nicer adjacent neighborhoods ($1M+). Unfortunately, it's still the closest WM to what passes for the Wichita ghetto. At times our store is an odd mixture of South Central LA and Tennessee trailer park. However, other stores that are safely located in the midst of middle class neighborhoods are oddly pleasant. No children being beaten, everyone's pants are safely secured above their asses, and no groups blocking entire aisles while speaking spanish. On the upside, with Wal-Mart attracting the "interesting" folks like moths to a flame, our Target is quite nice.

Looking_for_911 · 08-28-2009, 10:38 AM

Not a mention yet of the goober that writes the check for the $3.99 item they just bought and has to run to the car to get the driver's license? With 10 people in line behind him? Wow!

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

This one is just downright scary..

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Looking_for_911

Not a mention yet of the goober that writes the check for the $3.99 item they just bought and has to run to the car to get the driver's license? With 10 people in line behind him? Wow!

I hate ANYONE who writes a check at a store. It should not be accepted. If you don't have cash, a debit card or a credit card, you can't afford it. Floating checks while making everyone on line behind you wait is just ridiculous.

BTW, anyone see that new commerical for Wal-Mart's check-cashing service? What kind of people pay a fee to cash their checks? Can't they get direct deposit or go to the bank from which the check was written? I know there are stupid people out there, but are there enough of them to make it worthwhile to run tv commercials on $3.99 check-cashing? My bank is on the east coast with no branches outside the DC area and I've still never thought about paying to cash a check. I don't get this.

cl8ton · 08-28-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigster59

This one is just downright scary..

She's actually the door greeter associate!

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Looking_for_911

You, Sir, are my new Hero!
I admire Anyone who can stay out of that place.
Long live the King!

you can admire me too , i've never even seen a Walmart in real life!

URY914 · URY914's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilsonTC

Did you notice anyone snapping pics of you?

Maybe that's what that flash was...someone took my picture. If I'd have known that I'd would have worn a shirt andf both shoes.

Burnin' oil · 08-28-2009, 11:44 AM

I LIKE the folks at Wal-Mart, every white-trash, ethnic, dirty, slovenly one of them. These are my peeps! I hate the store, though. Our local store smells like farts

crustychief · crustychief's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I hate ANYONE who writes a check at a store. It should not be accepted. If you don't have cash, a debit card or a credit card, you can't afford it. Floating checks while making everyone on line behind you wait is just ridiculous.

BTW, anyone see that new commerical for Wal-Mart's check-cashing service? What kind of people pay a fee to cash their checks? Can't they get direct deposit or go to the bank from which the check was written? I know there are stupid people out there, but are there enough of them to make it worthwhile to run tv commercials on $3.99 check-cashing? My bank is on the east coast with no branches outside the DC area and I've still never thought about paying to cash a check. I don't get this.

There are more people that do this than you can imagine, I notice a lot of the young military personnel using the payday advance places and such to borrow against their next paycheck, to pay to pay utility bills and pay to cash checks. before I retired I had counseled many young sailors and Marines on monetary issues. Most of those counseled didn't see anything wrong with what they were doing untill I added up all the money they were paying the places just to borrow their own money. I had to take one young mans checkbook from him and treat him like a kid. I had him sign a page thirteen ( counseling) that would put him in front of the Captain if he wrote another check to advance places, paid his advances and had him make a direct deposit to pay me back. There are many resources available to the junior military, not many people use them until it gets away from them.

widgeon13 · 08-28-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnin' oil

I LIKE the folks at Wal-Mart, every white-trash, ethnic, dirty, slovenly one of them. These are my peeps! I hate the store, though. Our local store smells like farts

They pump that fart smell in on purpose so the customers will feel at home! Must be working, they keep coming back.

Heel n Toe · 08-28-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Looking_for_911

We were praised by many for the message I was conveying, yet lambasted by legions for "saying all women who go to Walmart come out 'pregnant, black or both.'"

It would've been even funnier if you just written it about the pregnancy thing, but included several photos of pregnant women coming out... with their faces blurred out, of course... with a couple of photos of guys with a huge beer gut interspersed... likewise with the face blurred.

And have people guess which were guys and which were women.

VincentVega · 08-28-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

What kind of people pay a fee to cash their checks?

You might be surprised how many people dont have a bank account. Some try to keep their $$ off the books, other arent smart enough. I'm sure there are other reasons.