In most cities across America, Walmart has replaced Main Street as the place people go to do their shopping and mingle with each other. But what is it about Walmart that brings out the—how do I say this delicately?—fashion-challenged freaks. I am talking about people who cover themselves in cheetah-print garb or worse, Easter eggs and bunnies. They are a tiny sliver of the people who go Walmart, but they are fascinating in a human train wreck kind of way. You want to avert your eyes, but you can’t stop looking.
A satirical site called People of Walmart now lets you stare to your heart’s content without actually stepping inside a Walmart store. People can submit photos of the strangest people they encounter in Walmart. As the site’s About section explains:
Let’s face it; we all have seen the people who obviously don’t have mirrors and/or family and friends to lock them in a basement, and they all seem to congregate at Walmart.
Below are a few choice pictures from the site. Sometimes the cars are even better (yes, that is a spoiler on that clunker). People of Walmart, don’t ever change. Except for the woman wearing the swastika sweatshirt. She should definitely change.
Why is TC reporting yesterday’s news? I don’t get it … is not even funny !
Well… it is funny… Unfortunately.
I’m going to have to second that.
Hahaha.
Oops, this was supposed to be posted to TechChan.
hahaha.
What makes it yesterdays news? The people of Wal Mart site has gone viral so it’s yesterday news and todays news and tomorrows news. It will probably die down later on though.
oh the people of Wal Mart don’t look to nice, glad we dont have any of those in Poland
watch out, I was in China and there was a Wal Mart
i cant wait for someone to sue the site sh*tless
Why? If anyone can sue them, it is just Walmart. I assume we are talking about “reasonable expectation of privacy” if the individuals were suing …
Yup, this is an old news story and TC should have been the first one reporting it, but too late too bad.
But i like that site though, we were going through it and we were just cracking up.
Is it relevant that TC wasn’t first to report? I, and it appears many other folks posting here, had not seen it before and are glad Erik brought it to our attention.
Some people are just plain crazy, lol
“They are a tiny sliver of the people who go Walmart, but they are fascinating in a human train wreck kind of way.”
Funny. After reading Sarah Lacy’s ugly rant about Brazil, I couldn’t help but think that TechCrunch is fascinating…in a human train wreck kind of way.
I think it’s messed up that they are taking pictures of these people secretly without notifying them and posting it on the internet. Most of the pictures aren’t even that funny.
There’s no invasion of privacy as it is implied that once you step out from your own residency, you are subject to any independent individual to snap a photo. However, if you’re on commercial property, the company must inform you that they are photographing or videotaping you. However, that does not apply as it is just another individual taking the shots.
But if you’re talking about whether it’s ethically okay to snap photos, that’s debatable. But personally, I think anyone wearing a swastika is just asking to have their picture taken.
Branding at it’s best. Weird yes, but this is what makes it interesting. We could do without the swastika sweatshirt, I agree.
how long before walmart takes down that site for trademark infringement?
So now TC is making fun of poor people?
Are you saying that people who dress “funny” must be poor? Or that everyone who shops at Wal-Mart is poor?
How do you know these are poor people? They look like eccentric millionaires to me.
You really think so?
I guess fashion-conscious millionaires corrupt the Democratic party to water down to nothing a health bill by responding to astro-turf outrage as if it was real.
Though the woman with the swastika looks scary, she’s not the real reason we won’t be brought up to the developed world health care standards.
What makes you think they’re poor people?
As a guy who was born & raised poor as all hell (and still broke since nobody was able to help me once I was forced to be on my own), I feel I have to explain something about these people:
FFS, those dumbfucks you see at Walmart are NOT just any sort of poor people; They’re idiotic poor people. The lowest common denominator. Those are the people who actually laugh at Larry the Cable Guy (hence the Git-R-Done pic).
In short, these aren’t people who are simply short on money; They’re trailer trash.
I wish Techcrunch staff staid more up to date on what is happening on the Internet and didn’t report on sites, and events like they are something new! For example google store and peopleofwalmart.com
When Michael was the main poster, he seem to manage staying more current to the Internet.
You guys should try tools like http://twitturly.com/ to keep up.
oh please, this isn’t “breaking news.” It’s just a fun site, and not everyone has heard of it yet.
I didn’t say it was “breackign news” or that it was presented as “breaking news”. TechCrunch isn’t a “breaking news” site!! TechCrunch reviews and reports on events, businesses, services and sites.
It would be nice, though, to not see things that are stupid and OLD, posted on TC. Especialy about sites like peopleofwalmart.com, unless it has something to do with a grand plan, technology behind it or finances. When Michael posted about icanhascheezburger.com it was about the actual company and specualtiosn about their revenue - you know - things of substance.
I wouldn’t have a problem with this post if I saw it on CrunchGear. I am use to seeing ones like this one published there!
Bag.
Agreed. You lose.
you’ve said enough already
maybe it’s a paid review?
what’s this guy’s problem. I am glad I red about it here. And I think it has news value. It was just a brilliant website idea and it worked.
Ya Erick and I heard you rock Botany 500 double pleated khakis and braided belt tied in a million knots.
It’s true.
I knew I could get you to respond ha!
Great job. LOL @ poor people. Classy.
(and this has been everywhere. This is a low point for techcrunch, and that’s saying a lot.)
Just because you’re poor doesn’t mean you have to weigh 400 lbs and go shopping without any pants on.
> this has been everywhere.
First time I’ve seen it.
Techcrunch the Perez Hilton of tech!
how can you say a homemade wooden spoiler is not funny? get a sense of humor people. please.
Another site making waves is http://vexboard.com
Why is techcrunch stealing news from CNN? this is shameful. CNN Tech Blog already grabbed this story….its not their fault TechCrunch is too busy focusing on Twitter to see anything else….
You should see some of the people who frequent our Walmart in Gun Barrel City, Texas.
Oh yes, and what about those ugly and poor people who frequent the local Safeway? Why don’t they just shoot themselves and save us all the trouble of having to look at them…silly.
Hahaha americans
Just wait until they get the photos in from WalMart China as well as the other country’s. But as soon as that will happen people will cry you are not fair to other countrys.
Just wait they already are debating if they should put some photos up from WalMarts abroad …
Geek blog laughs at mainstream fashion. Mainstream fashion shocked, checks into rehab.
I don’t think making fun of people who shop at Walmart is where we should be spending our time. More and more I believe we really are a “silly” people. I am ashamed of myself for participating in this. Come on people! You have to think to yourself…”What would Obama do” and let this guide your life
I don’t see why any person that respects themselves would want to shop at Wal-Mart, the stores are filled with low-lifes.
If you’re such an outstanding citizen you should shop at Walmart and give away all the money you save to charity. Instead you mingle at the local Whole Foods where you can feel yourself elevated…sad. I think I’ll make an extra trip to Walmart this weekend just to remind myself of how the majority of people live. refreshing.
Woah, a little cultural myopathy there? People who shop @ wal-mart aren’t low lifes - they’re normal America outside of our Silicon Valley enclave. Just did a 20 day road trip and saw who I’d be targeting at these Wal Marts.
(Funny site, btw. Made me laugh.)
This is one of the best new sites on the web … and really really funny, although I’ve heard there are legal concerns.
I wonder how long it is until these “entrepreneurs” are slapped with suits from many states regarding personality and likeness rights.
This is clearly a commercial venture (the ads), and I’m guessing a lot of these people have not consented to have their pictures used in this commercial venture (and in some cases even to having their pictures taken).
So the people who post and the site itself stand to be sued. Could be expensive to defend given the number of potential jurisdictions.
Only in America!
First of all, for the “Oh my gosh, this isn’t new! The world is coming to an end!” people: get over it. New doesn’t always mean funny, interesting, or good, just as old doesn’t always mean bad, boring, or lame. Nowhere in the title of this article does it say “New” “Breaking News!” or anything else that would mislead anyone with more than 2 brain cells to think that this is brand spanking new news. Judge it on its content. It’s not milk; it doesn’t expire.
Secondly, where in this are poor people being made fun of? It doesn’t matter if any of the pictured people are rich, poor, or middle class. Trashy is trashy. There’s a big difference between being poor and not being able to afford high class things, and looking like total crap. Sometimes even rich people dress like morons.
Agreed! It’s nice to see them all in one place. I could go into the local WalMart and get pix easily as good but I can now get them on my desktop. it’s not a class issue, just a lack of . . . caring-what-you-look-like-when-you-go-in-public-lest-the-masses-mock-you kind of thing.
Here’s an idea for a new Crunch blog: take pictures of all of the geeks around Silicon Valley that you see and post them so people can laugh at them like this. It would be all Segways and people wearing sandals with socks.
we trade photos of apple tech drones tweeting on their iphones. its amazing how silly these apple/twitter/google fools are. you are all welcome to join the group, just drop me an email.
Not only in America…have seen it in Germany, Netherlands, etc. too. Plus, this is what you always see when you are at the airport during holiday season.
That is just so hysterical. My husband and I say that all the time. In fact…I told him we should contribute mirrors to most of those people!!!!!!!! That made me smile when I read that!! Thanks for brightening up my day and giving me a giggle!!
OH jeez, the swastika sweatshirt lmao!
People: It’s a satirical site. Plain and simple this is observation humor no different than what stand up comedians do. I shop Walmart and honestly, characters like that abound. Cultural semantics people, that’s all it is.
Reality is funnier than satire, and this site proves it.
awww bless their hearts…..
Oh good, you read BoingBoing …
the fluorescent 60hz glare of the walmart lighting system is connected to a computer system that is used by the U.S. govt to program the people who shop there. Soon the people loose a lot of self-awareness because of the intensive programming and they stop showering or bathing and all they do with their entire life is go to work and go to walmart and change their car’s oil in the parking lot. The U.S. intelligence services have a special code that can be used to activate these drones. The code is in the form of a video that they will play over a national TV program to activate the drones. It’s a video of a bunch of chiuauas whose barking has been fed through Auto-Tune so it comes out sounding like Sarah Palin singing Jingle Bells. If Sarah Palin ever goes on SNL you better buy extra gas and ammo and lock your doors because that will be the end…
The pic of the lady in the red sweatshirt must have been taken in Santee!
I love that such a simple and fun site gets some press.
Laugh, laugh! How much of that is due to the dope you’re smoking?
Making fun of people who are trying to make the best of this shitty, rotten, corrupted economy, is lower than the swastika in that one photo.
You hyenas should be ashamed of yourselves. Where is the compassion and humility of the righteous soul who will ultimately inherit the earth? Not among you ass-fuckers apparently.
I give us maybe 2-3 years before Wal Mart takes the place of Sears, Macy, Penney, Nordstrom, Whatever stupid crap you morons may come up with to ridicule Wal Mart and those who shop there, at least they still run an honest operation, and endeavor to provide solid value to their customers.
Get a life, and find something more worthy of your critical attention, like the COMMIE RATS taking over in Washington DC!
An honest operation? Ask the walmart employees at store level if they are being treated honestly. Ask them about the obscenely low wages they pay and the sparce or nonexistant benefits they are offered. Ask them why they and thier families must depend on goverment health and food and housing programs more than any other companies employees.
Walmart running an honest operation… What a load of troll crap.
Some of the people in the pics need to be restrained.
So, is that lady in the red a Nazi, or a Hindu?
Since it’s going counterclockwise, is ‘balanced’ on a corner, on a white circle which is itself on a red background, let’s just say she’s not into eastern mysticism….
(And she’d probably get arrested in modern Germany.)
And the funniest part of all of this, is that the rest of the world laughs at you nerds.
When you dress up in star trek/star wars/battlestar galactica/ lotr or any other fucked up costumes.
For every one of them that you laugh at and feel superior to, there are 10000 of them laughing at you for being dickwads.
Thanks TC for posting it. This, and the other news this week about a Walmart shopper punching a 2 year old 4 times in the face [in front of their Mom], further proves why I don’t shop there.
People say it’s a judge of character as far as those that you associate with. I’d assume where one shops falls into that category to some degree too. Sometimes the truth hurts.
Who cares, there are slobs and idiots in all walks of life.
Off the topic, has anyone noticed aside from me that WalMart pricing no longer varies much from it’s competitors?
Wow. I think these people are awesome. Not the swastika per se… but the balls these people have to wear whatever they want. i think the people who made this website are secretly jealous… they wouldn’t have the courage to dress the way they really want to. Wow. almost beautiful. Im checking this site out regularly. Americans are awesome.
Hey Erick Schonfeld, can we have a photo of you? Just a casual photo snapped by your friends or your significant other? Seriously, if you sit and point your finger and laugh at others…if they deserve it or not…then you should be willing to throw a picture of yourself up there too.
No matter what picture Erick Schonfeld throws up there, we can rip it apart and lay him in a crying mess in the corner. Anyone can do it…come on Erick…let’s go. Show us that you can take it along with dishing it out.
Yeah…I won’t hold my breath…
You people complain about the hickish attire of these Walmart people, but the alternative is far, far more sinister … METROSEXUALITY! I’m a member of the “Toronto Real Men”, the world’s only anti-metrosexual organization, run by “Dimitri The Lover”, aka “The Prophet”. In the same way that John Connor fights the machines for survival of humanity in “The Terminator”, The Prophet has dedicated his life to fight “Metrosexuality” for the survival of masculinity. He is a modern-day Rasputin … a real-life Tyler Durden.
Here is the web site for the “Toronto Real Men”: http://torontorealmen.com … if you go to the section in the menu on the left titled “Meeting Announcements”, then click on “August”, you will understand everything he is trying to do. Also, if you click on the link on the left titled “Media Centre”, there’s both a radio interview and an appearance in a documentary so you can hear The Prophet speak.
Also, everyone knows that women in Toronto are stuck up and play games. Here is how The Prophet deals with a single woman that likes him but still refuses to cough up her number … he hands her this flyer: http://pics.livejournal.com/su.....c/00001pse
Here is a link to some animations that have been banned by YouTube but give you a great indication of The Prophet’s philosophy: http://dimitrithelover.com/animation.html … the “Crucifixion of Dimitri” represents how he has suffered for all men.
Finally, here is The Prophet’s main web site: http://dimitrithelover.com
We heard at the last meeting that his Hollywood film (the one that the producers of Borat and Bruno created) is completed and should be released in the next few months. Then the world will know the truth about what The Prophet is doing to rid the world of feminism once and for all.
WORSHIP THE COCK !!!
J.
Walmart is the temple of American shame. There once was a time when even poor, unemployed immigrants wore suits and ties, people tipped their hats to one another, and left their private lives at home. Well no more! Let’s completely disregard decency, good judgment, and respect for one another (and ourselves) then scratch our heads as to why society is unraveling.
she is nice. wearing the bagher chamrha dress.