Walmart addiction and the right to shop

Last night I had a chance encounter with a security guard whose firm provides services for Walmart. He was telling me about all the nice middle class people who try to break in to Walmart so they can shop and are outraged when they are arrested.   Apparently he recently had a middle aged woman trying to jimmy the lock on the front while he confronted her.  Even when he pointed out the security cameras, she continued her attack on the door ...explaining that she only needed to pick up a few things. Yes he told her the store was closed and when it would open. He explained the location of convenience store that was open.  She continued her assault on the door with her nail file.   It wasn’t until the police arrived and put her in handcuffs that she became outraged that everyone acting so  bizarrely.

The punchline is that these encounters are pretty regular for him.

The more I read about other people on the internet, the more I wonder if I wonder if I’m really the same species as them. Who breaks into Walmart of all places?

Obviously, the woman has some kind of a problem, but... she had no history of mental illness. She did not view herself as breaking into anything. It was that the doors were preventing her from doing her shopping.  What grabbed my attention is the the security guard made it clear this was a common occurrence.

Oh my word, y'all probably don't realize just how true and intentional this is!  Edward Bernays is not on the the father of propaganda, but modern advertising... and his uncle was Freud.  Shopping certainly has potential for addiction.  It appeals to the same inherited instincts as hunting, gathering and even fighing - how often have you though of going to a sale, getting the best deal, etc as almost an act of conquest?  The enjoyment of that attained goal can stimulate the same centers of the brain as sex and cocaine.  It also may give one a sense of accomplishment and praise as they show off their great deals and fancy new things to others.  It is status and a symbol of worth.  Shopping can instill the same irrationality as "gold fever" in old-time prospectors.  What is gold, or money even worth if not what it buys?  Bernays and the current Walmart, etc, etc know exactly how to make shopping there an addiction.  I was even told recently that most of the locals "go to Walmart for dates"!!!  Well, why wouldn't they?  Have you seen many quiet restaurants where people can sit and talk, or bars with live music and dancing recently... nope - they are mostly all gone due to a very intentional corporate model of moving consumers through quickly and efficiently.  So, Wlamart may fill the social need that churches and bars once did.  It is sad and pathetic, but all too obvious.

Maybe she had an undiagnosed condition or had some sort of trauma recently? From your last response, it does kinda sound like she had some sort of break with reality. I hope she gets referred to a psychologist or counsellor or someone that can help her.

It is kinda strange that the security guard says it’s a regular thing though.

Oh, and even more either bizarre or likely, depending on how you view things... there is a 24/7 Walmart down in near the center of the state.  I spoke with folks who worked there, who told me a lot of people actually LIVE there!  Some have RVs in the parking lot, others just actually live in the store.  Most have EBT cards, they use to buy food and such.  They nap in the in-store restaurants or bathroom stalls If they don't have a RV or find a place to hide, use the bathrooms, bathe in the sinks.  There is an in-store bank, medical clinic... all they could need!  

Honestly sounds like a meth addict, they seem to have no concept of time. They're awake and functioning, everything/one should be. They do develop psychosis resembling schizophrenia after a while even when they are not high. And they tend to be regular Walmart shoppers. It's sad. We've lost a good deal of family friends to it.