iRage over iBooks (more on the Great Richmond Laptop Riot)

Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | 17 August 2005 | Mark Holmberg

[Moose4]

"The cheaters won," a hot and bothered Linda Dunn of Henrico County said as she stalked away from yesterday's iBook melee at Richmond International Raceway.

She and her son, Colt Reynolds, had been among the hopefuls who came before dawn, seeking a $50 ticket to the Information Age.

But they and many others found themselves thrust back into the Stone Age by late-coming bullies who ran them over in a rush to lap up the laptops used and abused by Henrico County high schoolers since 2001.

"The one thing it shows you is human nature," Colt said. "There are people out here who don't give a damn about anyone else."

[Moose4]

So it appears the Great iBook Riot was largely caused by some of our local trashy and thuggy types who just decided to brute-force their way past the people who'd been on line since 4:00 am. Charming.

Considering that Henrico County is probably going to get sued by some of the people who got screwed over or injured in this, I'm not expecting my taxes to go down anytime soon. I wouldn't mind seeing some people's heads roll over this, though, the lack of planning was totally inexcusable. They have no claim that they couldn't see this coming, as mentioned in the article, over a hundred people showed up on the original sale date (last Tuesday) after they delayed it a week.

Maybe I'll just start telling people I still live in South Carolina. I'm embarassed to admit I live in Richmond right now.

}:-)4

[Izzy Dunne]

I wonder if they would have done this for a Dell...

[Moose4]

"Dude, you're getting aAAAAGHMYARM..." *trampletrampletrample*

}:-)4

[Chi-townChief]

Sounds like a regular Woodstock.

[OXENinFLA]

Did the word RAFFLE not enter these people's mind?

Heck you could put the tickets at $20 and still make more than $50 per. laptop.

[gr8eman]

She and her son, Colt Reynolds...

I thought old Colt was a stuntman!

[mtbopfuyn]

No, the tax payers lost. They'll have their taxes raised to buy new laptops when the 4 year old ones were perfectly good. The students at other schools who couldn't afford laptops also lost as they could have benefited from them.

[Centurion2000]

A most impressive display of human charity and good will towards their fellow men.

[csvset]

Sounds like a regular Woodstock.

I was of the SLA's People In Need food give away riots.

Paging Ludlow Kramer!

[csvset]

Did the word RAFFLE not enter these people's mind?

Yep, a raffle or an auction would have generated higher revenue and would have gone without a hitch.

[MissMagnolia]

I'm guessing they'll use a lottery or other such system next time. The Raceway owners are quickly disavowing anything to do with this (trying to stay out of any lawsuits, I'm sure) and are telling folks to contact the county school admin. As reported on the news this a.m., one participant said it "looked like the last helicopter out of Saigon". Yup, it did!

(I live in Henrico, but I'm not telling anybody :-)

[Lewite]

I noticed the article did not mention the race of the folks that powered their way to the front. On the video you could see the trash that was in front. they were running over women and little children. If we ever have a food shortage in this country you can expect these same trashy scum to be even more criminal.

[DB]

The state morons should have sold them all on eBay. Less hassle and more money.

[AbeKrieger]

I noticed the article did not mention the race of the folks that powered their way to the front.

How dare you. These are historically underprivileged folks only trying not to be disenfranchised, therefore their actions are to be overlooked, if not accepted. Why it's racists like you that continue to promote these negative stereotypes based on racial appearance. Crimes and thuggery committed based on need are protected by jury nullification !!!! (end dripping sarcasm)

[geezerwheezer]

I think I understand what you just wrote, but man, your use of the English language is way cool, but due to a uncertainity, I cannot, with any degree of veracity, assume to assert, therefore I hesitate to respond. :0)

[Polyxene]

"If we ever have a food shortage in this country you can expect these same trashy scum to be even more criminal."

So true! Good thing they weren't giving away free cheese or soylent green!

[America's Resolve]

"Man, whatchoo doin'?" responded the younger buyer. "$175!"

Uh huh

[AbeKrieger]

man, your use of the English language is way cool

concise and erudite. all of those things.

[geezerwheezer]

I'll bet you a dollar to a doughnut that your statement...."all of those things"...would be said at the "computer fair" by the locals..."all of them thangs!" To tell you the truth, I am sorry I missed the sale-not!!!

[FreedomPoster]