Res ipsa loquitur

It would be hard for Walmart to do that at the busiest times. I recall during COVIDs worst times here in the Villages you had to get to Walmart very early to get a chance of nabbing some toilet paper and various other times, I got up around 6 AM a few times. I do not remember the exact times but it was quite early,

My Mom was a Special Education teacher in Reno, NV and also helped a Villages area Catholic Church with their program aiding Special Needs adults.

Doubt if these people would want to go at very busy times.

BINGO ! Can it be any more obvious that a very high percentage certainly do not understand the subtext of this, and many other posts, and yes, that does indicate we are in serious trouble !

I have no known sensory sensitivities, but I'd certainly take advantage of ANY store that offered music free shopping. Maybe it adds something to sooth the anxieties of strangers packed like sardines in an elevator, but for me I just don't enjoy someone else's music choices constantly bombarding me. Can't even sit Starbucks in LSL and enjoy a coffee on the front patio, constant assault of Villages radio, just like at the pools, every side walk, wonder if the residents of the new, more peaceful, natural setting villages have to put up with never being able to escape it unless you stay inside your home ?

Hah, how did I know who the OP was before opening the thread? :shrug:

Why would you care? It doesn’t hurt anyone and it may be helpful to someone. Only a wuss would pick this battle!

Don't shop from 8-10 am. Quit whining. People with autism or epilepsy have real issues.

If you were told to shop online because you had an issue you would be screaming about the Constitution. Why should my autistic son be FUTHER isolated?

:BigApplause:

C'mon now you can't use common sense. That isn't allowed anymore.

Groan!

Laughing. I look forward to a time when all news programs turn down the sound and fake intensity so that they are more like CBS Sunday Morning. I look forward to a time when TV advertisements are played at a volume several decibels quieter than the programs they interrupt. I look forward to a day when football and basketball announcers stop shouting and instead speak quietly, as in golf programming. While we are at it, I’d welcome quiet restaurants where parties of eight don’t shout at each other.

Actually, if people read SUBSEQUENT posts instead of just glancing at the first one, they'd have half a chance of knowing what they are talking about rather than just banging out blither-blather on their keyboards. Or is that too much to ask?

Anytime ANY change is made like this at Walmart there are some people who may like the change, some people who won't like THAT particular change, and some people who resist ANY kind of change (no matter what). I need to think about this Walmart change more to have my opinion on it. In the meantime, I will applaud Walmart for trying something that people MAY like. At many stores, the music IS too loud or music meant only for the youngest segment of their shoppers.

Wow! You off your meds, again!

They've been doing it since July...on Saturdays. From Supermarket News:
In July, Walmart tested out the sensory-friendly hours concept from 8-10 a.m. only on Saturdays. Walls with TVs were turned into a static image, the in-store radio was shut off, and lights were dimmed where possible to create an environment more enjoyable for shoppers with autism or other disabilities.

So Golfing Eagles....this affects you 0%! maybe you want to tell us why you hate people with Autism so much???

Yeah, except for the fact that crazy people use those maladies as excuses. Autism is genetic condition, not environmental as the kooks would have you believe—vaccines, etc. They use it as a catch all for bad behavior in children. Parents who don’t want to parent. Pandering to learned/bad behaviors is NOT where our society should be headed.

At 1st it seemed to be like you described, but after thinking about it, this idea makes sense. They are not telling us what we can do or not do. They are giving their shoppers a choice. Dimming the lights might be a good idea in the long run. Personally, I like lower light. Might be a good business decision. Might get more customers in the stores at this time of the day. Time will tell.

And this business practice is for 2 hours a day, it will or might satisfy the 1-4% and everybody has a choice. Walmart is not telling us how and when to shop. As much as I do not like Walmart I could care less that they are trying this.

Good thoughtful response to other peoples thoughts regarding this situation.

Personally, I feel that this is/was a $ business decision made by Walmart and only applies for 2 hours a day. We need to stop trying to read other peoples minds. Look at how many posts are on this decision alone?

So, the OP changed his mind once he realized the point of Walmart's decision. However...
We got to see inside the mindset that led the OP to his opinion in the first place.

"Woke mentality" is bad, in his mind. He has a real problem with it. You could say, it hurts him in his feelings place. We should be more sensitive to his feelings place. Except - if we were to do that, we'd be "woke."

So nah - not giving him a pass on this. It was vile, vicious, and mean-spirited of him to even think that "wussification" was a good adjective to use for people who actually give a crap about their fellow human being. There. I'm being "unwoke." Feel better now OP? You're welcome.

Most businesses in town adapted well to the large autism programs, some families moved from all over the US so their children (age 2 to 18) could enter one of their programs.

Our son worked at a restaurant, that every college employee had to be in the Behavior program.

Every holiday the restaurant closed to the public, and only families of autistic children could dine. Each table had a behavior student, at the table so parents could have a wonderful meal and that special employee devoted to their child, keeping them occupied and helping with their meal. Mothers day was a major event because most Moms were alone due to high divorce rate.

Entire meal was free, all employees and owner, gave their time and previous tips to make those holidays special. Each year there was a big party for those who graduated, moving on to practice in other parts of the country. Asking a business to practice safe shopping.

When we visited, with our son, parents would come up to us and hug us, Thanking us for having such a wonderful, caring son, that has changed not only the life of their child and but their families.

It’s a hard road for young children, but even harder for autistic young adults, sadly many low functioning young adults go to a facility to live, because it’s just to hard for their parents to keep them safe.

So it’s good to see that something Walmart adapted for special needs in early 2000, has now moved on to other parts of the country.

Been longer than 20,000 years, but close enough…

It’s not about “cow farts” and whatever…it’s a land grab. Think about it…

By water. A land grab by water melting near the poles. We could have some seashore property by 2400 here in the Villages.

No problem, just remember, all we need to worry about is how fast we can learn Chinese.

I wanted to write a post about how people who wake up every morning — looking for something to be angry about — perhaps need to seek less sensory stimulation.

The choice to tune into sources where the goal of the programmers is to provide their devoted audience with a constant barrage of reasons to be furious about something, anything, whatever fires ‘em up — should maybe be reevaluated.


All around us, we are seeing the symptom of the calculated, insidious training, via screens, that has resulted in the need to thrive on anger and the need for validation of that anger. In many cases, that need can become insatiable, resulting in behavior that takes over the personality. This behavior, throughout our country, is affecting relationships on every level.

It is interesting to read about amygdala-hijacking which attributes some of this behavior to basic neuroscience. The emotional part of the brain can become highly susceptible to negative emotions and reactions — if hammered long enough and hard enough.

Maybe people need to step away from their screens of choice for a while and see if they feel better and are not flying-off-the-handle all the time. Give up those marching orders spewed every day about who to bash — and most often it is a bashing of those who are doing no harm, just trying to live their lives but viciously used as easy targets by talking heads with a big following. (‘Following’ is the operative word there.)

Actually, my first thought when I saw this thread was for people who suffer from autism, which can exhibit a wide variety of symptoms. I think it is just fine to try to help this part of our population. Nobody is harmed by this WM plan. But obviously, it must have been the “mean news of the day” on a screen somewhere.


(And, yes, I saw the back-pedaling post. Not enough to erase the pattern though. Maybe it is time to heal thyself.)

Boomer

I agree with you except that most people who choose gluten free diets are not celiac which my mother in law was and is uncommon. It’s a health/dietary choice because some feel wheat and other grains cause problems.

Before scoffing at this idea, you may want to do some research on Sensory Processing Disorder. I have this disorder, and, believe me, it's no fun to be assailed by bright lights, loud music, and flashing images. In some people it triggers anxiety attacks and migraines, which are debilitating. It would be nice if more people were aware of this disorder, which often masks itself as shyness or unsociability. Unfortunately, there's no cure, except for sufferers to avoid loud concerts, strobe lights, and other multi-sensory activities. Even being in a room where multiple conversations are going on, especially with music in the background, produces anxiety attacks and other physical symptoms that can be unbearable. A little understanding would be nice. Just be glad you're not one of the people who have sensory problems.

Several of my friends are diagnosed with Celiac disease, it is often hereditary. I believe it is more common than you think but then again why does it matter?

So who do you think owns Walmart?

Walmart knows how to make a profit. It seems like there is a little bit of altruism and thoughtfulness on their part in this situation ( which actually surprises me). I am curious to know ALL the facts concerning this change. It seems almost too good (of a corporate citizen) to be true.

One way it would NOT be a problem is that younger people (wanting MORE stimulation) could wear headphones at those hours and have their OWN music and jack up the volume.

I shop before 8
 

It is quiet 8-10 anyway. BUT how about the speeding food wagons and operators filling orders? Pull your basket over and let them pass!

As they say in the sport of fencing..........TOUCHE !

My disease is kleptomania. When do they turn off surveillance and send store detectives on break. Also would like to know if they forbid screaming kids during sensory friendly hours.

I am VERY surprised that Walmart would be at the FOREFRONT of corporate progressive action. They may feel that it will generate invaluable public GOODWILL. And it looks like a situation where there is some upside and LITTLE downside. Those who like more stimulation when they shop can just put on their headphones for those 2 early hours.
P.S. Just heard a report on the radio about the year ending in October being the hottest recorded by scientists. And the temperature increase averaged 1.43 degrees C GREATER than the pre-industrial average. The year ending Dec 2023 is certain to be the warmest on record.

The rest of the world DOES care .....especially the coastal cities.

Walmart has chosen to do this. Why anyone would spend one second being concerned about it beyond my comprehension.