Friday, November 25, 2011

Thumbs Down: Black Friday



I remember as a kid I had this great uncle who spent every Christmas complaining about how commercialism has ruined the holiday. I didn't really get it and thought he was just an annoying old man. I am only in my thirties but have officially joined that club!

I don't want to be judgemental, if I could have gotten a 52 inch flat screen for a couple hundred bucks I would have been in line this morning too. But....shirtless Abercrombie guys aside, this years Black Friday push seems beyond what I remember from past years. Making a day that is about being thankful for what we have, into the biggest greed fest of the year is something only America can master. The commercials were relentless, retailers desperate to end everyone's holiday early and drag them into crowds and noise and yank their hard earned cash for products most don't actually need has a almost cruel element to it masked only slightly by theme songs, glitter and decorations.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just don't get how those people on the news shoving each other and acting like fools aren't humiliated. If people act like this over a discount over electronics and toys, I would hate to see what happens if we ever have a food or water shortage. It's scary how fast many people will turn on each other over something so ridiculous.

-Chris

Bobby F said...

I have made the decision that from Nov. 24th-Dec. 26th that I will not shop at any business that opened before the usual 4 a.m. Black Friday opening time. Stores that opened at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving night (Walmart) and midnight Black Friday (Target, Kohl's, Best Buy, etc...) hurt their employees by taking away part of their Thanksgiving. The very people who go out and make millions or billions of dollars for these companies. I guarantee you the corporate offices of these businesses were closed on Friday. Shame on them! And just so you know, I haven't shopped at Target since their bad political donations were revealed.