PS3 Line Insanity; Pregnant Woman Tries Not To Give Birth While Waiting

from the you-did-what-now? dept

Fri, Nov 17th 2006 12:22am — Mike Masnick

While there are still plenty of questions about how successful Sony's PS3 device will really be, don't tell that to the die hard fans who are taking lining up and waiting to an entirely new level. There have been plenty of reports of fights breaking out at various stores among those waiting in line, with at least one drive-by shooting (though, using BBs, not a real gun) and even reports of people getting robbed while waiting. However, those don't top the list of most bizarre. Apparently, one woman who is nine months pregnant, has been trying to ignore her contractions in order to stay in line, while another woman who isn't even interested in gaming decided to line up just for the hell of it. Still, for some people, it appears waiting in line is too much work. Engadget reports that a dentist in Georgia wanted to buy a bunch of PS3s for his family, and hired 60 "temps" to wait in line at various stores for him. Meanwhile, if waiting in line or paying people to wait for you is too much, you could just go rob the store of all their available PS3s instead. Update: Well that was weird. For some reason Newsday changed their article and got rid of the section about the pregnant woman. It's still showing up in other versions of the article however, and other blogs have written about it too.

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54 Comments

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SimplyGimp, 17 Nov 2006 @ 12:42am

Yep
Only In America!

Damn drones... hold those babies in until we have your money!
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simplycrazy, 17 Nov 2006 @ 12:53am

Someone needs to arrest that pregnant lady after she has her baby.
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zeroJJ, 17 Nov 2006 @ 1:03am

Take a look on craigslist. It has exceeded the point of true insanity.

A clear example of technology controlling people, instead of the other way around.
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Daniel, 17 Nov 2006 @ 1:43am

Re:
Someone needs to arrest that pregnant lady after she has her baby.

i hope that was said in jest?
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Guy, 17 Nov 2006 @ 1:58am

The pregnaut lady
I really think she should be arrested shes putter her baby's life in danger for a damn peice of computer hardware i mean come on is putting your kids life in danger to get a PS3 really what we are allabout anymore damn im kind of ashamed to be an american right now
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dorpus, 17 Nov 2006 @ 2:32am

And now come the problems
PS3 has an extensive list of technical problems, as detailed on web sites that get blocked on here. It'll be fun to watch Americans discover the same problems, and how they will react to it.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Nov 2006 @ 2:39am

Re: And now come the problems
If you despise Americans so much, why do *YOU* bother living in America? Move out to a country that you dont hate as much as you post about hating America.

in other words, GO AWAY.
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dorpus, 17 Nov 2006 @ 2:45am

Re: Re: And now come the problems
I hate America? News to me.

I expect people here will be more assertive, and courts will impose expensive fines. Sony will also make itself look bad by using their lawyers to go after people who post blogs of how to fix the problems.
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Jim, 17 Nov 2006 @ 3:03am

Idiots.
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EdB, 17 Nov 2006 @ 3:10am

A BB gun is not a "real" gun? At what point does a device designed to propel a small piece of metal at high velocity become a "real" gun to techdirt? Is my 22 a real gun? How about my 12 gauge? I'm pretty sure my 357 is very damned real, but what about my 9mm? Or my 'old fashioned' 45?
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Marcos, 17 Nov 2006 @ 3:19am

Re:
"At what point does a device designed to propel a small piece of metal at high velocity become a "real" gun to techdirt?"

Uhmm, obviously the law considers a difference between a "real gun" and a "bb gun". I'm too lazy to go look up whatever that distinction is but its simple logic that there is a difference and that difference is defined.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Nov 2006 @ 3:37am

Re: Re: And now come the problems
If you despise Americans so much, why do *YOU* bother living in America? Move out to a country that you dont hate as much as you post about hating America. in other words, GO AWAY.
Tough words. And in no way applicable to the dorpus' comments. Perhaps you should go blow off some steam, I suggest drivebying a bunch PS3Liners with an airgun. Let the Roflcopter take off.
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Louis, 17 Nov 2006 @ 3:40am

Re:
A BB gun is not a "real" gun? At what point does a device designed to propel a small piece of metal at high velocity become a "real" gun to techdirt? Is my 22 a real gun? How about my 12 gauge? I'm pretty sure my 357 is very damned real, but what about my 9mm? Or my 'old fashioned' 45?
Yes I think when one requires a license to carry it, or its a criminal offense to conceal it.
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lulz, 17 Nov 2006 @ 4:41am

This problem wouldn't happen if sony had made enough stocks of the ps3.
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nunya_bidness, 17 Nov 2006 @ 4:59am

Re: Real Gun
The way the Police in my town explained it was that any handgun that had a bullet SMALLER than .65 in. required a permit. So effectively a BB gun or Airsoft for that matter was considered real, but paintball guns, or "markers" were OK. So the kids can play paintball in the wood by me, yeah.
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Adam, 17 Nov 2006 @ 5:40am

Re: The pregnaut lady
I'm not sure whether she should be arrested (may be to extreme), but certainly a police warning, or something on file so if there's ever a case of abuse or SIDS or something, they can look back at this. Pretty stupid any way you look at it. Adam
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Adam, 17 Nov 2006 @ 5:45am

Spolied Rotten Rich Kids
I've heard reports of people paying up to $10k for a stupid PS3. It truly doesn't matter if the parents have money or not. I do hope though that as their spoiled little rich kids grow up, the parents may think back to times like this where they contbuting to the demise of thier little spoiled apples who don't know the value of a dime or the real worth of something. $10k for a PS3. How stupid... although koodos if someone can actually sell it for that much, and end up with a fully stocked XBOX 360, a Nintendo Wii, lots of games for both, laugh about it over a dinner with all their friends on them, and still have plenty left over to buy the PS3 in 3 months when post holiday shipments are stocked in stores. Adam
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Mark, 17 Nov 2006 @ 5:48am

Re: Re: The pregnaut lady
Researchers have just found that SIDS is caused by a gene defect.
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Damain, 17 Nov 2006 @ 6:02am

And in just a few short months, I'll be able to walk into ANY Walmart or Best Buy and grab one off the shelf. No waiting, no pushing, no shoving.
Idiots.
I hope to GOD all of the first versions of this console are riddled with bugs so every one of those idiots that waited in line for days has to send theirs in for repair and WAIT for it to be sent back.
HA! That would be awsome.
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G Man, 17 Nov 2006 @ 6:06am

They just want to buy a bunch of them and sell them for a profit on EBay. That happened with
X box 360. The tougher it is to get one the higher the price the market will demand. It is like buying up those concert tickets and scalping them
The guy with 60 temps is going to sell those bay boys. Do the math 60 X the price no body has that many family members they are going to give a gift with that price range. THat is like $30K before tax he will make $100K on the resale
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yardape6, 17 Nov 2006 @ 6:36am

What pregnant woman
I clicked on the link and read the story. I was unable to find any mention of a pregnant lady. Am I missing something?
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Ben Bishop (profile), 17 Nov 2006 @ 6:42am

?Pregnant Line Waiting?
I find it interesting that there was no mention in the Newsday Link of a woman having contractions or being pregnant while in line. Did they edit that out of their story or was the headline for this piece just a sensationalistic attempt by TechDirt at gathering readers?
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PinguinMonkey, 17 Nov 2006 @ 6:54am

People these days!:(
funny but stupid, no wonder there's so many stupid people in the world
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Nichole, 17 Nov 2006 @ 7:05am

Re: Spolied Rotten Rich Kids
see ebay's ps3 sales and click on completed listings...14,500.00. Thats insane
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ElCuervo, 17 Nov 2006 @ 7:12am

Stupid people
shouldn't breed, and hopefully these dorks will be too busy standing in line and playing stupid games to ever get around to doing the nasty - you know, natural selection.

I saw one kid on the news last night being asked why he was in line, and he said, "Uh, because it's like the newest thing, like, uh, the coolest stuff!" I think it will be REALLY cool when he gets it home and finds out that a lot of his old favorite games won't work on it! :~)
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JAYTEE, 17 Nov 2006 @ 7:18am

Re: Stupid people
"Trying to ignore her contractions"....

Yeah, that'll work. Just ignore them. Hate to tell the dumb a$$, but "ignoring" contractions won't make them go away.
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Kilroy, 17 Nov 2006 @ 7:50am

What pregnant woman?
#22

I also read the article and found NO mention of the pregnant woman. Either it was removed or everyone who posted about it likes to spout off without doing the most basic of research, like, reading the article that the comment was based on.

Maybe it was an experiment by TechDirt to see if people even bothered to read the article before posting. Or, perhaps everyone read the article before they editted it. Either way, any further posts about it will be proof that people dont read the articles.
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Amos, 17 Nov 2006 @ 8:05am

Ignorance
As if I didnt think the people standing outside in the cold waiting for these things were rediculous enough Now I find out women are putting there babys at risk just to get a PS3 Thats rediculous women like that should be arrested I mean and over what A slowed down computer please next time oyu people feel the need for a new game system go to your nearest computer store and buy a real computer instead of waiting in line for 3 days and killing your baby just to get your hands on a POS anyways
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USGrant, 17 Nov 2006 @ 8:29am

Doesn't anyone know how to spell...
ridiculous anymore?
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CEN, 17 Nov 2006 @ 8:37am

Re: The pregnaut lady
"Pregnant" Medically speaking, there is no harm in ignoring contractions. The wonderful thing about childbirth is the baby will come, regardless if the mother wants it to or not. She's not endagering the baby by ignoring contractions. Now if she delivered while in line...that's another story.
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CEN, 17 Nov 2006 @ 8:39am

Re: Re: And now come the problems
Wow, that sure was a leap.
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ElCuervo, 17 Nov 2006 @ 8:53am

a touch of reason
From a recent report: "A Best Buy in Boston, aware that it only had 140 of the consoles... gave out tickets to the first 140 people in line so they could go home until the store opened."

Duh! i guess that would defuse the hype if they all did that...
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Ed, 17 Nov 2006 @ 8:54am

I don't know why these are so noise !!!
Ok... Ok...

I'm thinking on all these questions and... I've DECIDED!

I'll go to the line. But to wait for th PS4, since now!!!!

SUPER !!!! I'm the best !!!!!

Hehehehehehehehe!!!!
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Mike (profile), 17 Nov 2006 @ 9:57am

Re: ?Pregnant Line Waiting?
I find it interesting that there was no mention in the Newsday Link of a woman having contractions or being pregnant while in line. Did they edit that out of their story or was the headline for this piece just a sensationalistic attempt by TechDirt at gathering readers?

They edited it out. I've added more links to other coverage.

Very odd though. Not sure why they edited it out.
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anonymous coward, 17 Nov 2006 @ 10:05am

greedy materialistic people fighting over an electronic game system.

add it to the every growing list of things that make me sad to be an American.
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ryan, 17 Nov 2006 @ 12:25pm

RE: don't tell that to the die hard fans who are taking lining up and waiting to an entirely new level ... They aren't die hard fans. They're lemmings looking to make a killing on Ebay. I'm disgusted by the whole spectical!
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kweeket, 17 Nov 2006 @ 12:55pm

Re: Re: Re: The pregnaut lady
SIDS isn't CAUSED by a gene defect, researchers just found a correlation between SIDS and infants with a faulty gene designed to monitor oxygen levels in the blood. Babies can have the defect and live, if they never are in an oxygen-critical state. This is why the "Place babies to sleep on their backs" campaign reduced the number of SIDS-related deaths dramatically.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Nov 2006 @ 1:25pm

To everyone suggesting the woman be punished because you think shes putting her baby in some kind of danger, go educate yourself at least a little bit before making such asses of yourselves.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Nov 2006 @ 1:38pm

Re: Re:
I hope not. If her kid is born on the street she's not fit to be a mother.

Take A Long Look At Your Fucking Priorities Sheeple. Christ.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Nov 2006 @ 1:42pm

Re:
Technology has done nothing of the sort. People are just fucking stupid. Don't be another jackass that blames technology for behavior ... oh, wait, are you practicing for your new job working as Jack Thompson bitch?
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Cat, 17 Nov 2006 @ 1:44pm

Pregnant Lady and all these idiots
It's just a system people, in another 5 or 6 years (if even that long) the PS4 will be out. I'm a huge gamer but I know the difference between being a fan and just plain OBSESSED!!! Can we say OTAKU!!!!
I agree with arresting that woman, that is endangering her child. Come on lady, if you lose that baby your going to want to blame everyone else but yourself! I'm not saying I don't have one because infact I do, but I wasnt crazy enough to do what a good precentage of America did. These people give gamers a bad image and name. You people are a DISGRACE to America and gamers across the globe. Act civilized for crying out loud!!!
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Nov 2006 @ 1:45pm

Re: Re: And now come the problems
Not sure what you read dude but I read nothing in Dorpus' post that would make me think he 'hates' America. Sounds to me like it's that time of the month for you - freak.
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Dan, 17 Nov 2006 @ 1:46pm

Re: Re: Re:
"Take A Long Look At Your Fucking Priorities "

Why should we when all of these people here are doing such a good job at it for us already?
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TheGiganticMetalPenis, 17 Nov 2006 @ 1:59pm

Dude..Multiple stuff..
Ok look don't you think that this was just some type of hype to big up that old ps3. How ever it is really stupid. Holding your contractions and prolonging birth can cause some complications for both the mother and the child. Some one should look up and search. any way the only thing that sony has left are die hard fan boys..cough (not me) and the insane stunts people pull thast all over every tech site.. publicity that they are gettting is really good. Even if it is "Im not buying a PS3" We know sooner or later that same guy will have 6 conviently placed around his house for ease of access O_o. and he probably pre ordered em too..Don't trust people that say they aint gettin one because of the price. and besides sony planned to take this loss already ......theyll make it up very late in the endgame when the prices fall and peole start to buy when the good games start rolling in. and they need to catch uip fast because the games they ave now aint kickin it.. you kno you guys waiting on killzone :-P
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pig, 17 Nov 2006 @ 2:32pm

i'd hit dat
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Nov 2006 @ 2:40pm

Re:
Me too! Preggo booty is HOT
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whatever, 17 Nov 2006 @ 3:40pm

while its insanity that a woman would do that I dont think she should be arrested, I mean....women have given birth in the oddest locations since the beginning of mankind. Definantley an act that calls for numerous insults, but not legal action and "Only In America"....I doubt it. Americans can be as stupid and ****ed as any other humans on the face of the earth. Long live the neon lights...
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not even interested, 18 Nov 2006 @ 6:05am

Re:
It's call supply and demand - so in otherwords; Sony was quite smart. And if they were smarter; they would have charged more and produced less; because they seem to be going for thousands on Ebay
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Gordito, 18 Nov 2006 @ 11:35pm

This is crime
A woman who wants a PS3 more than a baby

will never be my wife.
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Daniel Bjorndahl, 23 Nov 2006 @ 9:28pm

Dear Gordito,
I agree.

Sincerely,
Daniel Bjorndahl
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Liz, 7 Dec 2006 @ 10:10am

Re: This is crime
A man who makes such a close-minded statement will never deserve a wife. Seriously. Most women would probably choose that PS3 over you, let only having your baby or even marrying you. Get over yourself, you self-centered, close-minded embarassment to humanity. Or better yet? Redeem yourself by being chemically castrated.
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tom, 19 Dec 2006 @ 5:21pm

Oh shut up you snaggle toothed hill biatch! Who would want a wife that would risk their childs life to make a couple hundred bucks off a game console. You must be 14 or just plain stupid as shiat like the other fu@kers that bought twenty ps3's and now can't sell them. ROFLMAO
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anthony ainoo, 29 Aug 2007 @ 3:56am

hi
i want to learn more about how women give birth
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Evans, 15 Oct 2007 @ 8:50am

giving a woman pregnant
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