A pastor friend of mine said this simple, convicting statement regarding that:
<quote>Not surprising when we live in a culture that loves things and uses people instead of loving people and using things. Very sad and tragic.</quote>
Crowds are crowds, it's human nature. We know how to control those things so people don't get hurt, but walmart didn't do so.
For example, those things happen on pilgrimages, including back in the day when Christians were into that sort of thing. Or the Who concert, as mentioned up-thread. Were those people all valuing things over people?