Blame everybody -- especially people with money

Let's get one thing out of the way and understood.

I have nothing but sympathy for the family of Jdimytai Damour, the security worker who died in the crush of a Black Friday rush at Wal-Mart last week. And nothing but contempt for whomever's job it was to provide adequate security for the crowd.

That said, to blame the marketing and advertising as his family has, according to Ad Age Daily, claimed in their lawsuit is ridiculous. Wal-Mart, they say, "engaged in specific marketing and advertising techniques to specifically attract a large crowd and create an environment of frenzy and mayhem". I seriously doubt that Wal-Mart engaged in specific marketing and advertising to create frenzy and mayhem (mayhem?), but I do understand that the point of advertising for a Black Friday is precisely to attract a large crowd. Right? I mean, well Duh? as people younger than me used to say.

There is plenty of blame to go around on this one, but for crying out loud, don't blame the advertising. That's just stupid.