Grim Crew Presents: Dead Future

They’ve finally given me a reason to talk about this. I’ve been avoiding it. I don’t like taking political points of view on this website, and I want to avoid looking like I’m taking a stand one way or another. So when this subject comes up I must state that anything said in this blog no way reflects the views of Raven Warren Studios, Grim Crew, affiliated companies, or any of it’s artist, writers, or personnel. Any views relayed in this blog are the sole owner of the writer (me). So if you don’t like what is said, please email me at penguinprince@grimcrew.com and no one else. My boss shouldn’t have to put up with the shit I start. This being said, I’m going to be as objective as possible, but you never know what one person will take the wrong way.

We all have heard of the madness that was Black Friday. People pepper spraying each other, shots being fired in the air, but one thing that was not mentioned, at least on my local news, was the zombie attack in Harrisburg PA last Friday. I had to go all the way to CBS21 Newsto get this story. Don’t go hitting the panic button and grabbing your bug out bags yet, this zombie attack was organized by those wacky people of the Occupy Harrisburg Movement, an offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street Movement. According to the news report, 15 protesters from the movement dressed up as zombies (ha, irony) and entered the local mall in a protest against big consumer spending. The point was, according to the protesters, to educate people that big unnecessary spending for the holidays was whack, and instead people should only spend what they can afford, and shop at local stores instead of nationwide chain stores.Now the outrage on some people’s part wasn’t that zombies had interrupted their Black Friday shopping, but that one woman was arrested from the protest for trespassing. According to the reports, the protesters were asked to either remove their zombie make up or leave. According to the malls rules no masks or make up could be worn that may obscure the identity of the wearer. When the woman questioned the policy, citing the fact that other women were wearing makeup, the police were called in and they gave her the holiday gift of a pair of wrist warmers and a morning with Big Bertha.

I for one would have been highly amused and probably cheered the protesters on without knowing what they were protesting. Let’s face it I see zombies in a mall and I go ape shit. It’s just cool. Knowing what they were protesting however I have mixed feelings. I’m all about buying locally. It’s just nice to support your neighbors. And I don’t spend money on the holidays that I don’t have. If I want to go a little overboard, I pick up some extra cash by selling stuff, or doing some yard work for some friends. However if I want to shop at a big retail store, that’s my right. The pottery place down the road doesn’t usually have that gift that my friends 11 year old daughter is going to go gaga over. Know what I mean? So I hit the Hot Topic, or the JC Penny’s. It’s not a crime, and I don’t care if they are part of the 1%, I care that I can get that hoody she wanted for $20, in my price range. And I’m sorry I’m not going to stop buying where I can afford to buy just because someone says that big business is bad for the little people. I’m not going to rant about this. If you want to know what I really feel about this you can follow me on my Google + because I will be saying something there.

What I will say about this particular protest is, what do they think they were trying to accomplish? Did they think that because they marched into the mall like zombies that Ms. Black Friday Shopper was going to drop that sweater vest at Old Navy she was getting for 75% off? Did they actually think that people were going have a change of heart and join them to march out of the mall all indignant that people were buying from national chain stores when Sears had their One Day Sale? No they didn’t. And if they did they are more insane than I am. They did it because it was another way to push the envelope as to what is acceptable and tolerated of a legal protest. They did it to make a bold statement and to be seen and to get on TV because they knew that by disrupting other people’s shopping and other people’s jobs they would get seen an heard. They may have done it expecting to disrupt the shopping of other people and be given a podium to which they could spout their call for change. But they can not be shocked by the requests to leave or the subsequent arrest after not following that request directly.

I am in support of dressing like zombies for an organized zombie walk, or for a convention. I encourage people to embrace their love for zombies 3 times a week here on the blog. If you find a place that wants and allows you to dress as a zombie for a good time, please do so. But please for your safety and to keep everyone happy and to not give zombie fans a bad name do not disturb people who do not want to be disturbed by your fandom. It is not ok to hide your face behind makeup as a zombie and go into the local bank or mall when they have policies against it. It is not ok to obscure your identity under the name of zombies, or Anonymous, or any other organization to act like a dick just because you think no one knows who you are. Just like it’s not ok to mace other shoppers to get your XBox game, it is not ok to disturb the peace because you can hide in a crowd of people and deny responsibility for your actions.

If you have anything you want to add, or have any questions please feel free to comment below. But I do have to ask again if you just want to complain about what I have said, please just email me at penguinprince@grimcrew.com. Again, my boss should not have to answer for the shit storm I’m causing. Also, any points of view expressed in this blog belong to the writer (me), and do not reflect the views or opinions of Raven Warren Studios, or Grim Crew, or affiliated companies nor their artists, writers, or employees. Want to know how I really feel? Join me on my Twitter or on Google +. Just want more zombie goodness? Check out the Dead Future Facebook page.

-Till Fate brings our Future…

Penguin Prince.