fear gear

February 20, 2003 6:18 PM

anyone been to safer america to stock up on tin foil hats or mustard gas spit shields? is it strange to capitalize on paranoia like this, or to open flag shops after sept. 11th? joking aside, any reports from the store from new yawkers?
posted by asparagus_berlin (13 comments total)

I passed an instance of Fox television news several days ago. It was a pundit talk group, the volume was muted. Upper left corner, on the backdrop of a breezy American flag, was the word LIVE. Bottom right, in larger font, Terror Alert: HIGH. Bottom center of the screen, a much larger font, was this phrase: EMBRACING FEAR. Indeed.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 7:33 PM on February 20, 2003

...and we all know where that leads.
posted by muckster at 8:07 PM on February 20, 2003

A need (real or perceived) exists. Producers supply goods. People purchase goods, get what they want and/or need. No problem.

Remember - this is exactly the type of thing that makes America great.

No, I'm not kidding.
posted by davidmsc at 8:15 PM on February 20, 2003

I'm getting all misty here.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 8:45 PM on February 20, 2003

remember all those quips about going on with your life because otherwise the terrorists will have won? anyways.
posted by mcsweetie at 8:55 PM on February 20, 2003

It would make a cool halloween costume. Look at me, I'm a sucker for government induced paranoia. Give me some candy, but it better not have Anthrax in it. Oh, but I can't get candy, because I can't leave the house because I am so gripped in this government induced paranoia.
posted by benjh at 9:02 PM on February 20, 2003

I work part-time for a bookstore, and four customers in the past two weeks have asked me for books on how to build bomb shelters.
posted by Alylex at 10:13 PM on February 20, 2003

Downtown New Yawker Me walked by that store a coupla times this week -- no customers; it's so going out of business.

Sadly, that doesn't make it so special hereabouts.
posted by hackly_fracture at 10:18 PM on February 20, 2003

that is disgusting.
posted by Satapher at 11:27 PM on February 20, 2003

Screw this poop, pal - shop where the pros shop.
posted by y2karl at 1:08 AM on February 21, 2003

"is it strange to capitalize on paranoia like this"

not strange at all, happens all the time. How about the government advising us to have duct tape and plastic sheeting last week?

". . . or to open flag shops after sept. 11th?""

Apples / Oranges no one is telling you that you need a flag, well I suppose there is that 'peer pressure' aspect.
posted by DBAPaul at 4:01 AM on February 21, 2003

One word: Busine$$. How American, indeed.
posted by betobeto at 6:45 AM on February 21, 2003

You mean this isn't a hoax site? I guess I'll stop laughing. Is it legal to sell somebody a parachute that is intended for office use? Fuckin' should be. Is it legal to sell a gas mask in NY? In many large American cities gas masks are illegal.
posted by elwoodwiles at 4:18 PM on February 21, 2003