Why I Hate The Mall Essay -- essays research papers

Why I Hate the Mall     I hate shop snappers. No, you dont understand. I really hate shoppingmalls. I think sitting at the Food Court near the Burger King for one hour hasserved single to heighten my displeasure with these gaudy monstrosities. The onlyreason Im here is because nothing else in the town of Poughkeepsie, NY. frontmsto catch my interest long enough for me to take notice.     I got here noon-ish I think. I had to take a taxi since none of my non-pedestrian friends were willing to roll out of bed to give me a ride. "Youreargus-eyed me up why? The Mall? You insane?" *click*. If there is anything inPoughkeepsie worse than the mall, it would be Poughkeepsie taxi cabs. I neverunderstood why it is that individually and every one of them have air freshners whichare so putrid smelling, they make one long for the odor of a New York Citycabbies " natural cologne". After enduring ten minutes of the cabbies "lemmetell y a whats wrong with this country", I finally get to my destination.     As soon as I got there, I began to think about how sad it is that themall has very much become a part of American life. The Chinese have their rice,we have our malls. Does anyone else see a problem with having over one-thousandof these gaudy monstrosities across the country? Despite the fact that the eraof eighties-decadence has passed, the malls keep coming, and they keep gettingbigger. Its bid something out of an Ed Wood flick.     I remember reading an article about how bad its gotten. The largestmall in America has 425 retail shops, 4.2 million square feet of space, over 13thousand free parking spaces, 44 escalators, and cost $625 million dollars tobuild. Oh, did I mention that there is a full blown amusement park in the centerof it all. Its just sick. When I was in Freeport, I remember hearing a radioshow which was running a contest. The prize? A turn on to the l argest mall inAmerica Pretty soon, youll have family vacations to the mall. I can see it now.A room at the Hilton (which will be inside the mall of course). Dad goesHermans. Mom goes to Ann Taylor. The pincers romp at the amusement park. A pieceout of Norman Rockwells Americana.     When I went inside, I became dizzy at the sight ... ... anything. It seemslike such a tease. The kid is going to want to buy something, whether its a newSega game or a Matchbox car. Eventually, the woman relents and buys the soughtafter item. For the moment, the kid is satiated.     Three boys, no more than fifteen years of age, walk into the food court.Their pants are sagging, caps turned backwards. They approach the counter at theBurger King and think over what theyre having. While ordering, they find time tohit on the cashier. Shes older, and most likely out of their league, but thatdoesnt deter their efforts. She gives them an annoyed smile and requests thec ash. They oblige and impel in a last ditch effort to woo her. She smilespolitely. The boys walk away, joshing each other about their valiant attempts.     As they walk away, Ive feel as though Ive absorbed enough culture forone afternoon. I feel relieved to be able to go home. Once back on the safer confine of Vassar campus, I breathe a sigh of relief. Its premature though,because deep down I know. Somehow, some way, no matter how much I dont want to,Ill pluck up at the Poughkeepsie Galleria soon enough.