The whole black friday thing just confuses and saddens the hell out of me. I know the reasons for it. Folks have less money, retailers offer big discounts on items on the friday and sat. after thanksgiving and people rush out to buy stuff. I get it, but I just don't get it.
After what the world has been going through in the last year, do we really need to run out and spend 6 dollars less on a snuggie? Do we really need to stand in line with hundreds of folks for imported goods that we could really do with out? Isn't this time that we are going through a welcome call for more simplicity and less "stuff"?
I know retail keeps people in business too and keeps people working, but creating the fevered madness where people have actually died shopping- just seems insane to me!
from this year...
Inside the store, Menards employees prepared for a stampede of customers as the clock approached 6 a.m. “Here we go!” an employee yelled as shoppers streamed in amidst their own shouts of jubilation after a long, cold wait.
The 240 available shopping carts were claimed in less than five minutes, according to assistant manager J.C. Anderson, and many big ticket items were snatched up within the first 15. Anderson answered shoppers’ questions with, “If there are any left …” as he glanced around the store looking for problems.
Store management took measures to avoid confusion and injury by positioning “courtesy patrol” team members with store maps outside. They answered the questions of eager customers who eventually formed a line wrapping along the front and one side of the building.
Estimating the line to be about five people deep and 100 yards longer than last year’s, Anderson said, “This was definitely a bigger turnout. … We’re just happy to have everyone here and no one getting hurt.- By Shanna Shipman Pekin Daily Times
I mean, really, we measure this day on no one getting HURT WHILE SHOPPING??? what kind of a bizarre psychology is this?
so that's the nonsense
The SENSE side is "Buy Nothing Day" -
Buy Nothing Day (BND) is an international day of protest against consumerism observed by social activists. Typically celebrated the Friday after American Thanksgiving in North America and the following day internationally, in 2009 the dates are November 27 and 28 respectively. It was founded by Vancouver artist Ted Dave and subsequently promoted by Adbusters magazine, based in Canada.
The first Buy Nothing Day was organized in Vancouver in September 1992 "as a day for society to examine the issue of over-consumption." In 1997, it was moved to the Friday after American Thanksgiving, also called "Black Friday", which is one of the 10 busiest shopping days in the United States. Outside North America and Israel, Buy Nothing Day is the following Saturday. Adbusters faced censorship from major television networks and CNN was the only one to air their ads. Soon, campaigns started appearing in United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, the Netherlands, France, and Norway. Participation now includes more than 65 nations. Wikipedia
I am as guilty as the next person, I love gadgets and things, though my worst sin is buying books- which I guess is at least something that helps me learn new things. But I too want to think about less consumption. And where we do consume- wouldn't it be better to buy from local makers, creators and collaborators that WalMart and the malls? or is it just me?
