James Jani's documentary about the cult of Bed Bath & Beyond stock was easily the single greatest thing I watched in 2024 and in some ways one of the most terrifying things I've ever seen. Human beings obviously have a deeply ingrained drive to develop irrational beliefs when placed together in groups - not quite #Thanatos but also not unrelated.

(Part one, about the cult of Gamestop, is also pretty great, but not nearly as disturbing.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5Bd6YxifCo

WNYC had a whole call-in segment for people to share their Bed Bath and Beyond memories. Why exactly did it rub me the wrong way? Maybe because it’s another example of the way we perceive ourselves as customers rather than souls? But, like, there are probably giant corporate stores I have emotional attachment to myself. #BedBathAndBeyond #wnyc #ConsumerCulture