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Once the average human being has been fed, watered, and clothed, they typically satisfy the next most important human need: justification for who they are. People of Walmart, the photo-barrage blog that has been a complete runaway hit, has been providing such soul-soothing justification for some time now. You might have guessed that the theme would catch on. Lovers of diversity can now survey the derelict, marginal, and weird peoples from a variety of locations (not just Walmart). So if you love People of Walmart, but have always lamented the utter lack of snappy Scandinavian decor in the background of each photo, then cheer up: there's good news to come. Here are three other great 'people of' websites:

1. People of IKEA

Perhaps the most surprising thing about People of IKEA -- at least as compared to People of Walmart -- is how little the demographic changes. This either reflects a dramatic shift in home decor among society's oddballs, or it seconds the whispering voice in Field of Dreams ("If you build it, they will come"). With this in mind, it is interesting to note that, given sofas and beds to flop on, there are people among us that have no qualms about taking a nap right in your face. If one thing can be said for Walmart, it's that they had the foresight to keep home furnishings in boxes.

2. People of Public Transit

If collective contributors to People of Public Transit had to be described with one word, it would be Courage. Or maybe Devious. In the end, it depends on whether the subway moles are blatantly snapping photos of their subjects, or just pretending to send a text at an oddly straight angle. The threat, whether implied or construed, seems clear enough: trapped on a bus, subway, or train within three feet of a hazardously strung out stranger, a decision to share the experience on twitter could have confusing or dangerous consequences. From a societal perspective the content is less frightening than that of People of Walmart. From a personal perspective, it is totally horrific.

3. People of the Gun

This site offers a continuation in theme, but diverges in attitude, from the previous two sites. People of the Gun highlights the 2nd Amendment adherents that walk in your midst. Its membership seems quite robust, and very well armed. Brady bill bashers can pick their favorite gun toter for a desktop photo sure to give a jolt in the morning; city-folk and pacifists can finally get a ground level view of the way things work down south. It goes without saying that these are our obvious shoe-ins for any materialization of the avatar science in the near future. I, for one, will be Calamity Jane.


Seen any other "People Of" websites that we missed? Tell us about them in the comments below.