Panic ensues in rush for cheap laptops

**fish_doc** · 08-16-2005, 08:23 PM

RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) -- A rush to purchase $50 used laptops turned into a violent stampede Tuesday, with people getting thrown to the pavement, beaten with a folding chair and nearly driven over. One woman went so far to wet herself rather than surrender her place in line.

"This is total, total chaos," said Latoya Jones, 19, who lost one of her flip-flops in the ordeal and later limped around on the sizzling blacktop with one foot bare.

More than 1,000 people turned out at the Richmond International Raceway in hopes of getting their hands on one of the 4-year-old Apple iBooks, which retail for between $999 and $1,299. The Henrico County school system was selling 1,000 of the computers to county residents.

Officials opened the gates at 7 a.m., but some already had been waiting for hours in line. When the gates opened, it became a terrifying mob scene.

People threw themselves forward, screaming and pushing each other. A little girl's stroller was crushed in the stampede. Witnesses said an elderly man was thrown to the pavement, and someone in a car tried to drive his way through the crowd.

Police would not immediately comment on the number of or extent of injuries, though witnesses said they mostly had scrapes and bruises.

"It's rather strange that we would have such a tremendous response for the purchase of a laptop computer -- and laptop computers that probably have less-than- desirable attributes," said Paul Proto, director of general services for Henrico County. "But I think that people tend to get caught up in the excitement of the event -- it almost has an entertainment value."

Blandine Alexander, 33, said one woman standing in front of her was so desperate to retain her place in line that she urinated on herself.

"I've never been in something like that before, and I never again will," said Alexander, who brought her 14-year-old twin boys to the complex at 4:30 a.m. to wait in line. "No matter what the kids want, I already told them I'm not doing that again."

Jesse Sandler said he was one of the people pushing forward, using a folding chair he had brought with him to beat back people who tried to cut in front of him.

"I took my chair here and I threw it over my shoulder and I went, 'Bam,"' the 20-year-old said nonchalantly, his eyes glued to the screen of his new iBook, as he tapped away on the keyboard at a testing station.

"They were getting in front of me and I was there a lot earlier than them, so I thought that it was just," he said.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/16/com....ap/index.html

Scuba Kid · 08-16-2005, 08:30 PM

wow....thats probably the most ridiculous things ive ever heard. people really amaze me sometimes.

**Baby_Baby** · 08-16-2005, 08:43 PM

I saw that on the news. ha ha ha it was so dumb

**TheOldSalt** · 08-16-2005, 08:48 PM

All that for an ibook? Good grief, what would have happened if they were selling actual computers?

fishfreaks · 08-16-2005, 09:23 PM

haha wow, i guess this helps prove that people will do some stupidly insane things

maxpayne_lhp · 08-16-2005, 10:50 PM

Quote:

i guess this helps prove that people will do some stupidly insane things

In fact, it's proven all the time...lol

euRasian32 · 08-17-2005, 08:56 AM

speaking of tools

I heard on the news this week that a British man was in the hospital for surgery, and all three of his wives visited at the same time.

Then there was that kid that stole a penguin. I'm looking for the article but can't find it.

**Baby_Baby** · 08-17-2005, 10:55 AM

ha ha ha. stole a penguin? thats psychoticly cute

thecatdidit · 08-17-2005, 12:26 PM

Now these people know what it's like to live in a poor country, except instead of used computers, it's food or some other essential need.

euRasian32 · 08-17-2005, 12:49 PM

or crackheads at a free crack givaway

thecatdidit · 08-17-2005, 01:27 PM

When was the last time you heard of someone giving away crack? People fighting over food is a serious problem, not funny at all.

euRasian32 · 08-17-2005, 02:21 PM

it was a dave chapelle reference, so back up

Lydia · 08-17-2005, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by euRasian32

or crackheads at a free crack givaway

LMAO!!!

thecatdidit · 08-17-2005, 04:13 PM

Doesn't matter who said it, it is just stupid. I find no humor in it all. So back up.

euRasian32 · 08-17-2005, 04:34 PM

anyhoo

My apologies fishdoc: for straying off topic

08-16-2005, 08:23 PM	#1
fish_doc Advisor to Neptune (Mod) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 3,881 Blog Entries: 14	Panic ensues in rush for cheap laptops RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) -- A rush to purchase $50 used laptops turned into a violent stampede Tuesday, with people getting thrown to the pavement, beaten with a folding chair and nearly driven over. One woman went so far to wet herself rather than surrender her place in line. "This is total, total chaos," said Latoya Jones, 19, who lost one of her flip-flops in the ordeal and later limped around on the sizzling blacktop with one foot bare. More than 1,000 people turned out at the Richmond International Raceway in hopes of getting their hands on one of the 4-year-old Apple iBooks, which retail for between $999 and $1,299. The Henrico County school system was selling 1,000 of the computers to county residents. Officials opened the gates at 7 a.m., but some already had been waiting for hours in line. When the gates opened, it became a terrifying mob scene. People threw themselves forward, screaming and pushing each other. A little girl's stroller was crushed in the stampede. Witnesses said an elderly man was thrown to the pavement, and someone in a car tried to drive his way through the crowd. Police would not immediately comment on the number of or extent of injuries, though witnesses said they mostly had scrapes and bruises. "It's rather strange that we would have such a tremendous response for the purchase of a laptop computer -- and laptop computers that probably have less-than- desirable attributes," said Paul Proto, director of general services for Henrico County. "But I think that people tend to get caught up in the excitement of the event -- it almost has an entertainment value." Blandine Alexander, 33, said one woman standing in front of her was so desperate to retain her place in line that she urinated on herself. "I've never been in something like that before, and I never again will," said Alexander, who brought her 14-year-old twin boys to the complex at 4:30 a.m. to wait in line. "No matter what the kids want, I already told them I'm not doing that again." Jesse Sandler said he was one of the people pushing forward, using a folding chair he had brought with him to beat back people who tried to cut in front of him. "I took my chair here and I threw it over my shoulder and I went, 'Bam,"' the 20-year-old said nonchalantly, his eyes glued to the screen of his new iBook, as he tapped away on the keyboard at a testing station. "They were getting in front of me and I was there a lot earlier than them, so I thought that it was just," he said. http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/16/com....ap/index.html __________________ Dave (fish_doc) A World of fish

08-16-2005, 08:30 PM	#2
Scuba Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 18 Posts: 4,225	wow....thats probably the most ridiculous things ive ever heard. people really amaze me sometimes. __________________ Current setups: 1800 gallon koi pond, 10 gallon planted, 150 gallon reef, other FOWLR tanks

08-16-2005, 08:43 PM	#3
Baby_Baby Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,806 Blog Entries: 1	I saw that on the news. ha ha ha it was so dumb __________________ "By avoiding the very thing you despise the most, by trying to be "different" by striving to be so "unique", you've become the sole and center of all that you held so high on the pedestal of disgusting mortality deemed society."

08-16-2005, 09:23 PM	#5
fishfreaks M&F Couple Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: PA Age: 21 Posts: 4,276	haha wow, i guess this helps prove that people will do some stupidly insane things __________________ VOTE FOR FISH FORUMS

08-17-2005, 08:56 AM	#7
euRasian32 Why So Serious? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Age: 33 Posts: 771	speaking of tools I heard on the news this week that a British man was in the hospital for surgery, and all three of his wives visited at the same time. Then there was that kid that stole a penguin. I'm looking for the article but can't find it. __________________ “Corporations pay people just enough money so they won’t quit. People work just enough so they don’t get fired. What's that about?” – Christopher Walken, Pool Hall Junkies

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08-16-2005, 08:48 PM	#4
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,471	All that for an ibook? Good grief, what would have happened if they were selling actual computers?

08-17-2005, 10:55 AM	#8
Baby_Baby Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,806 Blog Entries: 1	ha ha ha. stole a penguin? thats psychoticly cute __________________ "By avoiding the very thing you despise the most, by trying to be "different" by striving to be so "unique", you've become the sole and center of all that you held so high on the pedestal of disgusting mortality deemed society."

08-17-2005, 12:26 PM	#9
thecatdidit Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: USA Posts: 43	Now these people know what it's like to live in a poor country, except instead of used computers, it's food or some other essential need.

08-17-2005, 12:49 PM	#10
euRasian32 Why So Serious? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Age: 33 Posts: 771	or crackheads at a free crack givaway __________________ “Corporations pay people just enough money so they won’t quit. People work just enough so they don’t get fired. What's that about?” – Christopher Walken, Pool Hall Junkies

08-17-2005, 01:27 PM	#11
thecatdidit Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: USA Posts: 43	When was the last time you heard of someone giving away crack? People fighting over food is a serious problem, not funny at all.

08-17-2005, 02:21 PM	#12
euRasian32 Why So Serious? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Age: 33 Posts: 771	it was a dave chapelle reference, so back up __________________ “Corporations pay people just enough money so they won’t quit. People work just enough so they don’t get fired. What's that about?” – Christopher Walken, Pool Hall Junkies

08-17-2005, 04:13 PM	#14
thecatdidit Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: USA Posts: 43	Doesn't matter who said it, it is just stupid. I find no humor in it all. So back up.

08-17-2005, 04:34 PM	#15
euRasian32 Why So Serious? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Age: 33 Posts: 771	anyhoo My apologies fishdoc: for straying off topic __________________ “Corporations pay people just enough money so they won’t quit. People work just enough so they don’t get fired. What's that about?” – Christopher Walken, Pool Hall Junkies Last edited by euRasian32; 08-17-2005 at 07:52 PM.

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