Attacked by a rebuttal in defense of Wal-Mart

So I posted something the other day bashing Wal-Mart. Some people agreed with me, some didn’t. Actually, MOST did, one didn’t. Not that I’m keeping track. And then there was a response, in the form of a post on a different blog, in which the writer was so blatantly obviously referring to my post (while, oddly enough, taking part of it out of context- go figure), and then apparently doesn’t allow comments on their site, so I couldn’t defend myself. Therefore, allow me to do that here. And since that blogger made a half-hearted attempt at “protecting my anonymity” (although it was quite obvious as to whom they were referring), I shall do the same. If people figure out who said other blogger is, that ain’t my fault. There are intelligent readers out there, even those that read my ramblings.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

“Bashing Walmart is fashionable these days … and I supposes it’s amusing to make fun of people and make yourself feel superior in the process. You know what? I’m sick of hearing it.”

Tough titties. Nobody forced you to read the post, yet you did anyway. Secondly, let’s get something straight- I never once proclaimed myself superior to anyone in that post. If you want to infer that, then that’s on you. And don’t sit there and make yourself superior to me by trying to imply that you don’t make fun of and never have made fun of people. It’s human nature. Sometimes it happens without the fun-maker-of-er even realizing they’re making fun of someone. It’s not necessarily proper, or “politically corrupt correct”, but it is human nature. Comedians and actors make millions making fun of other people. Including themselves. And if you were a regular reader, you’d know that I am quite self-defamatory here. I’m not trying to justify it in the least, but even so, drop the “how dare you make fun of people” shtick and lighten up.

You want to bash Walmart on the fact that it drives mom and pop businesses out of town? That’s fine. Wanna talk about union busting? That’s fine too. There are probably a hundred reasons to refuse to go to Walmart. Believing you’re better than other people who shop there is a pretty piss poor choice.

Again, I never claimed I was better than Wal-Mart shoppers. It seems to me that you think I think I’m better than Wal-Mart shoppers. All I did was relate my experiences of people I have seen at Wal-Mart the very small handful of times I’ve ever been there. Pigeon-holing? Possibly. Profiling? Possibly. Generalizing? Possibly. Am I the only one that does that, whether in reference to Wal-Mart, or on the Springfield Blogger blogroll, or just in general? Not in the least. Does it make it right? No, but get off my ass. As far as the union thing goes, I could care less about that. Unions care about their members about as much as Wal-Mart cares about their employees- and that I CAN speak on with experience.

Next, our Defender of Wal-Mart Freedom finally starts their own snap generalizations and summations of… people… (okay, me):

I suspect though … that maybe … just maybe some of those “haters” visit the big box store on the down low. I bet they sneak down to their basements, slip on their very own “Who Farted” tee, don a wig and the darkest sunglasses they can find, and take that drive of shame to Wally World.

First of all, Mrs. Johann made me get rid of my “Who Farted” t-shirt when we got married. Second, I’ll take your bet.

Oh yeah, they like being seen buying their groceries at Schnucks. But when they need something … I mean really need something … I bet they go slumming.

That’s the thing: I don’t give two flying shits if someone “sees” me buying my groceries at Schnucks or not. If you want to make me out to be that superficial, based only on my bashing of your precious hillbilly haven known as Wal-Mart, knock yourself out. But I have news for you- whether it’s Schnucks or Aldi doesn’t matter. You won’t see me in a Wal-Mart. And again, I’ll take that bet.

Is that 47″ Phillips HDTV in their den from Best Buy? Is it really? Well then congratulations are in order. They just paid $100 extra for the same television in the desperate hope that one of their co-workers or neighbors will see them walking out of a west-end electronics store with a flat screen. Meanwhile, others walked out of Walmart with the same television and saved $100.

I don’t have a 47″ Philips HDTV. I don’t even have a den. The biggest TV I own is either a 29″ or a 32″; I can’t remember which. Basically because it’s not a big deal. But there again, you’re assuming I give a shit about what other people think of my TV or my purchase history. Honestly, I’d be equally ashamed walking out of ANY store with a TV that big. If people are that judgmental that something like that matters, screw ‘em. At any rate, if “others” saved $100, Mazel Tov to them.

What happened to this culture? Years ago, we laughed at people who put on airs and willingly paid more for the same item you could get for less. Now, it’s the complete opposite and Walmart shoppers are supposed to feel ashamed because they pay less for their toothpaste and soap.

Again, I never said you or anyone else is “supposed to feel ashamed because they pay less for their toothpaste or soap”. Don’t attempt to justify your inadequacies by jumping to conclusions that aren’t there. Did I say anywhere in my post that people that shop at Wal-Mart are inferior to me and should feel ashamed? No. I merely said I don’t understand how people buy in to the whole Wal-Mart scam. So you save some money there. Whoop-de-doo. It’s the principle of it for me. My principles, while you disagree with them, are no less valid than are yours.

Am I just being naive? Maybe everyone is like this. Maybe everyone likes making someone else feel bad. Maybe there are Walmart loving bloggers out there saying, “Damn, have you seen Aldi’s? That place is filthy! And the people that go there? They’re all dirty and nasty … and they all wear t-shirts that say, “I Farted.”

First off, Aldi’s IS filthy. But I’ll still shop there before I will shop at Wal-Mart. Again, it’s the principle.

And yes, you are being extremely naive. Everybody makes fun of someone else, sometimes whether they “mean” to or not. Anyone that says they don’t is lying. Again, it’s human nature. I’m not saying it’s “right”, but it just happens. It’s just that some things and people make themselves easier targets than others- Wal-Mart would be one of those things. Again, I remember a time when K-Mart was considered to be “where the losers shop”. Wal-Mart, in my opinion, makes K-Mart look like Saks.

But that’s just it- why do you give a rat’s ass what my opinion is? If I don’t like Wal-Mart, I don’t have to go, right? What’s the difference between my not going to Wal-Mart and someone else’s choice not to go to… I dunno… Schnucks? That’s their choice, just as it’s my choice not to go to Wal-Mart. You just don’t like why I choose not to go to Wal-Mart. And if you don’t, that’s fine and dandy. Just don’t call me out for, in your mind, making fun of (and/or judging) people by turning around and doing the same thing to me. That really makes you look like you’re saying “Oh yeah? Well, same to you, you lintlicker!”. I mean, seriously, if you’re going to punk someone out for something, doing the exact same thing for which you’re punking them out makes you look pretty stupid.

Kinda like people who shout “discrimination” and then follow it up with a discriminatory statement or action of their own. But that’s a whole other 55-gallon drum of whoop-ass.

Bottom line, lighten the hell up. As I said, Wal-Mart is an easy target. Secondly, as I had to explain (or more accurately, had it explained TO me) in an earlier post about which someone got all pissed, I apparently use hyperbole a lot (it’s some literary device or something) in my posts. Whatever that means, I can say that the grand majority of my posts are full of shit and should be taken that way. I wasn’t aware I had to be 100% sincere on the interwebs and wear my true feelings on my sleeve. Y’all believe everything you read on the interwebs? If so, I weep for you. My disgust of Wal-Mart, however, happens to be genuine. Are you pissed because I generalized about Wal-Mart shoppers? Everyone knows that all generalizations are true. (Go ahead, I’ll wait.) If that offends you, then don’t read the post. Again, I am hardly the first (nor will I be the last) to have ever said anything disparaging about someone else, whether genuine or not. And no, I’m not trying to justify it, but don’t act so shocked and appalled. Besides, if you got THAT bent over it, maybe, just MAYBE, there is something ringing true in my post… and like a certain other blogger likes to throw at me all the time- those who want to be offended badly enough will find a way.

Do you have any idea how many comments I’d leave all over the blogosphere (likely including your blog, if you allowed comments, that is) if I complained to the author every time I didn’t agree with his or her post? Especially all the bleeding heart “everything is everyone else’s fault but mine” sites that litter both the local and national blogscape. That’s part of the reason I don’t comment much at SJ-R.com anymore- there are way too many people there with whom to disagree, and almost none of them can form a coherent sentence, let alone sustain an intelligent argument. Anyhooze, at least I allow people the opportunity to argue my bullshit there on my blog. There’s one guy that “comes here often” that makes me look stupid on a regular basis. And I accept it and embrace it. And you’re more than welcome to do the same here.

Just don’t sit there in your little ivory tower that is your blog and degrade me (whether by name or not) and then not allow me the opportunity to defend myself.

Bottom line, don’t take things so freakin’ seriously. Yeah, I go overboard in many of my posts, but I purposely go so far to the opposite extreme of what I’m bitching about that anyone with a 4th grade education should be able to recognize that I’m basically just blowing some shit. If you want an apology, fine. I’m sorry I offended you or any other Wal-Mart shopper by generalizing about them.

Lighten the hell up. If you don’t like me for not liking Wal-Mart, that’s fine. But get over it.

One more thing- does Wal-Mart sell “I Farted” t-shirts?