Guest Post: Insights Into Cultural Shifts From A Visit To A Hardware Store

Zero Hedge ^ | January 11, 2013 | By Tyler Durden/Submitted by Pete Kofod

[JACKRUSSELL]

"So this is what it looks like when a society is starting to collapse," the man standing behind the counter at the hardware store said matter-of-factly. The remark had been directed at no one in particular, but generally at anyone standing nearby. As I was among that audience, I looked at him inquisitively, eliciting in return a look indicating that his observation should be intuitively obvious to even the casual observer.

"We should not be this busy," he continued. "People are normally out Christmas shopping for the latest tech gadgets for their kids, but instead they are spending their hard-earned money here." I had to agree with his observation, because the place was packed, and it was obvious that his inventory was disappearing from the glass showcases and from the wall behind the counter quicker than the store could replenish it.

"We have manufacturers that aren't taking any more orders. We even have a manufacturer that has shut down production and furloughed the entire workforce. I guess when we run out, we run out." He excused himself and joined his staff to help restock the shelves as well as operate the register.

As I surveyed the store, I noticed no discernible demographic pattern among the customers. They included elderly ladies, young couples, construction workers, police officers and hipster techies as well as people from virtually every ethnic and socio-economic background. They would have made the perfect tapestry for a politician's campaign stop.

"So this is what it looks like when a society starts to collapse," I reflected on what the man behind the counter had said. As melodramatic as his words were, they would be understood by any student of human history......

[jmacusa]

“Hardware store’’!?! I haven’t heard that term in almost thirty years. That went the way of ‘’factory’’ and ‘’phone booth’’. Yeah, America is vanishing alright.

[thackney]

Thirty years? Really?

I do miss the family owned hardware store in Eagle River, Alaska. But then we left, not them.

[MrB]

I read the article to see what on earth would give a hardware store owner this impression. Turns out the hardware store was a gun shop

[Last Dakotan]

You see, the hardware store I was in was a gun store.

POS author fooled us didn't he? No more reading guest post threads.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Actually I see a run on hardware stores in perspective as a *good* thing.

Let me make an analogy. Not too long ago there was a lot of talk about a very real threat, the H5N1 Avian flu (which is still a threat, btw). This got the public attention, so that when flu shots arrived, for a *different* flu, mind you, something very interesting happened.

Crowded drug stores and anywhere else where flu shots were being given. The public turned out in force to get flu shots. Was this a bad thing, a sign of despair and surrender? Certainly not. These were people who saw a threat, and even though their response was not perfect, it was a response. They acted.

Now compare this to the hardware store scenario. The author bemoaned that people were not spending their money on frivolity or silly luxuries.

But what were they spending it on? Hardware. Hardware that is used to replace, repair, or maintain things that matter in life. This reflects concern, even some degree of fear.

But the response is not to cower or run away, but to protect themselves and their families. And that is *not* how societies end.

It might be how governments end, though. At least in their current form.

[JACKRUSSELL]

Reading a little further into the article will allow one to see that this is the kind of "hardware" the author is talking about:

[jmacusa]

I meant the hardware store of yesteryear. I’ll bet there’s a whole generation of twenty somethings who never heard the word ‘’factory’’or’’ phone boot’’ either.