Massive lines and individuals pitching tents are part of the landscape outside corporate shopping centers. This behavior has become normalized the past couple of years.

People are willing to do nearly anything to take advantage of Black Friday sales — and they no longer are labeled as “crazy” for doing so. It is a thrill for some to pull an all-nighter and camp out in an effort to secure the best bargain.

I awoke at 5 a.m. on Black Friday, but not because I was choosing to participate in the madness. I was stirred from my slumber by the sounds of my sister mustering Black Friday reinforcements in the form of a two-liter of Coke and extra blankets.

She had left her fiancé camped out at ABC Warehouse, so they wouldn’t lose their place in line. The endeavour was successful and they arrived home a few hours later.

Was it worth it? Personally, I cannot rationalize stalking down deals in the dark when I consider all that is involved.

While my own family members cloak themselves in head-to-toe black garb they refer to as “ninja” outfits for their shopping mission, other American shoppers literally are arming themselves for Black Friday shopping.

It is sad that one actually has to consider personal safety when choosing to set foot in a shopping mall the Friday after Thanksgiving.

This year, a Wisconsin woman made an attempt to jump ahead in line. She was subsequently confronted by angry shoppers and retaliated by threatening to retrieve a gun and shoot her fellow customers.

‘Tis the season.

Another man was arrested for showing a pistol in his waistband. It also is worth mentioning he had a 30-round magazine, two concealed knives and a pepper grenade on his person. It was only two years ago two people were shot and killed in a dispute at a California Toys R Us.

Stories like these cannot help but make me question whether a deal on a flat-screen TV is worth the possibility of bodily harm.

There always are a few “crazies” out there who are responsible for these particular horror stories. It is the behavior of the average American shopper that really startles me.

Black Friday has become the time of year for shoppers to participate in a Hobbesian war of “all against all,” where herd mentality takes over and the worst attributes of human nature suddenly are on display.

I am sure most people remember the 2008 Walmart tragedy where a store employee was trampled to death as the store opened. This year, a New York man was trampled when the doors opened at a Target store.

While the situation could have been far worse, it is sickening to watch video footage of people shoving past him. Few stop to offer aid, opting to instead climb over the “obstacle” and rush into the store.

The victim told reporters, “At that moment I was thinking, ‘I don’t want to die here on the ground.’”

People pushing past others, inciting verbal arguments and literally fighting over trivial merchandise is no longer shocking behavior. These are the people who do not fall into the category of “crazy.” If this is now average behavior, it is unacceptable.

What is it about a bargain that makes people forget their humanity and resort to animalistic tendencies?

It is disheartening to think that some item could be placed at a higher importance than the value of behaving respectably. Have we become so obsessed with materialism that nothing and no one else matters in the moment?

It is ironic the Christmas season commences with people acting in stark contrast to its ideals of giving, kindness and compassion.

If you cannot muster a few of those sentiments yourself, at least aim for some common sense. Or please stick to online shopping.

Kristen Kitti is a State News guest columnist. Reach her at kittikri@msu.edu.