Why do we flood supermarkets when it snows?

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | Wednesday, December 17, 2003 | Jim Tynen

[cjshapi]

Well, they gotta get eggs, bread, milk and toilet paper.

[martin_fierro]

I just fill up some old jugs.

[freedomcrusader]

LOL! In anticipation of being socked in for days, Pittsburghers go for perishables.

[Willie Green]

I haven't seen anything except white for several years. Maybe a regional thing?

I'm not sure.
I've always used traditional white TP anyway. But I think you can still get pastel pink and blue to match your decor. But maybe some states have banned the stuff because the enviro-nuts don't like the dye. (I'm just speculating, I don't know for sure.)

[SaucyCranberry]

Growing up in the Rockies, I was very amused for 7 years in Washington DC to see this phenomenon at the first flake of snow. I nicknamed them "The White Talismans" toilet paper, milk and bread. As if hoarding them would somehow lessen the storm, and help them get through it. (It also reaffirmed I want to settle somewhere outside a big metro area, where I can be more self-reliant.)

[lilylangtree]

Constructive "panic" shopping.

[scan59]

That's a scary thought. Things could get bad in NYC fast if the supply chain every breaks down.

[Sacajaweau]

It's a sign of bravery here in the "Lake Effect" area. And we like to see who else is stupid enough to be out when we all have cupboards full of food, 10 year old flashlights, candles, running water, etc.. WE LOVE IT!!

[freedox]

LOL!! Being from a relatively small southern town, I must say that the annual "It's Gonna Snow Shopfest" was one of the biggest social events in town! Everyone (and I do mean everyone) was there, and there was always lots of laughter and excitement in the air. Hell, I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

[razorback-bert]

When it snows in West Texas, I put the car on the roof, to stop people from hitting it.

Can buy tire chains out here either.

[uncbob]

For the same reason Gore won the popular vote

They are boobs

[familyofman]

Lemmings rushing to the cliff edge, panic, not having a well-stocked bomb shelter, the feminization of the country which leads to over use of TP, and it's always fun to complain about the crowd you're part of. When I was in Pittsburgh growing up - we didn't do the mad TP rush - bunch of wimps must of moved in since I left. How are 'yuns all doing in the 'Burgh?

[bassmaner]

Philadelphia-area bump!

We on the other side of PA are just as guilty of this insanity. I was a checkout clerk at the Shop-Rite in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia in my college days, and believe me, some customers acted like the world was coming to an end when a few snowflakes were in the forecast.

[MadelineZapeezda]

is gonna have a bitzley dupa

Willie.....LOL at dupa, but what's bitzley??????

[FlyVet]

When I worked in a big-box store as a kid, we always got crowded during bad weather, rain or snow. "There's nothing else to do. Let's go shopping."

[MadelineZapeezda]

This writer is guilty of doing the same thing. Shopping during a storm. Jag off!

I don't need to. I got that stashed fruit cellar full of everythang!!!!!

[Ol' Sox]

It's a sign of bravery here in the "Lake Effect" area

The same thing's true here in CT. Milk and bread are just an excuse to go out driving in the snow. The only other folks out are hearty individuals, and there is a festive mood about it all. Of course this only holds true until around the middle of February when everybody is sick of the weather and only go out in the snow if they really do need milk and bread.

[spectre]

Here in Arkansas, just the "mention" of possible snow and we head for the grocery store to buy all kinds of comfort food. It isn't the thought of running out of food, it's the idea we can eat like kids again, because we feel like kids when it snows.

But then, I was born near Pittsburgh, so maybe it's in the genes.

sw

[CyberCowboy777]

I have seen this in Cali, Washington and Oregon.

Only the folks that live on the east side of the later two or up in the hills of any of the three have any clue how to drive or live through a 1/2" of snow.

I hate to drive down in the metro area during snow - I can drive just fine (I get a lot more snow at 1500ft) but I witness utter chaos when I am down in the valley.

You can always tell who lives up in the sticks when the snow falls - they are the one making their way through the carnage.

[pittsburgh gop guy]

Yeah - this drives me nuts!

Two weeks ago - before the first big snow storm of the year - I went to Wal-mart (I know...) to buy a snow shovel. They were all out - and the place was jam-packed with people looking for the same thing. I went to Home Depot - and they had tons of shovels, and scads of people buying them. I bought my shovel there.

Now - I just bought a house and can say that I never owned a snow shovel before (well - I think I was given one as a Christmas present when I was 10 years old, I should have had the Dept. of Labor launch a Child-labor law violoation of my parent's - but that's a different story). But I can't believe that all the people out buying up all the shovels had just bought homes for the first time. SO WHAT THE HECK DID THEY DO WITH THEIR OLD SNOW SHOVELS? Were they too lazy to dig it out of the garage?

And the best thing in the world during a sn*w storm: A friendly neighbor with a snow-blower!

And, by the way: WOLVERINES!!!!