“Black Friday” Becomes More of an Abomination Every Year

[brian64]

What a sad commentary on our society.
Just a few of the numerous stories...and a video of one of the Zombie riots.
Women Get Into Black Friday Stun Gun Fight Inside the Mall

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Woman-Tased-Mall-Fight-Black-Friday-Philadelphia-233855601.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_PHBrand
Two Arrested After Stabbing Over Parking Space At Wal-Mart

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/11/29/two-arrested-after-stabbing-over-parking-space-at-walmart/
Shoppers Trampled In Race For $49 Tablet...

http://lasvegas.cbslocal.com/2013/11/29/shoppers-knocked-to-ground-in-utah-walmart-rush/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_adgG8Ba2Q

 

[tarak]

Agreed. What a greedy people we've become.

 

[beezer]

Here in Central Virginia people started literally pitching tents and camping out in front of Best Buy about 48 hours before the doors opened. Insanity.

 

[mustanggt]

I agree 100%. I have declined to participate in such BS for many years now and will continue to decline till I draw my last breath.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

We've become a society that cares only about ourselves. This kind of ridiculousness happens every year. You would think the major retailers would get a clue by now that it's not a good idea to have these sales. They sale major items marked down at low or below profit only to bring in more shoppers for the profitable items. This kind of chaos is the result every year. They let their own greed feed other peoples greed, and people get hurt.

 

[mp31guitar]

I've always said I would never go shopping on black friday. However, my 17 year old daughter and 17 year old niece talked me into taking them shopping at 3:33am this morning. When I agreed to take them I didn't think they would actually get up. But, they were knocking on my bedroom door this morning. It wasn't all that bad. I guess we missed the main crowd because there wasn't as many people out as I thought. We had a good time. I would do anything for those two and they know it. Lol

 

[yazamitaz]

I have never done the Black Friday thing and don't plan on doing it in the future. I don't have patience for people in general.

 

[Perique]

"Happy Holidays". Few things grind my nerves like that phrase.

 

[ejames]

Which is why I stay home! To many idiots out there to contend with!

 

[winton]

I put in a full day of work. Then I went to a hardware store. The item I wanted was the same price as before. I will check the internet further the see I can do better. Then perhaps buy it anyway.
FYI we spend 40% of the clothing budget at this time and 40% at back to school time. This strategy stretches the funds as far as possible. But we only buy what is worn out or grown out.
Winton

 

[sfsteves]

Two days ago, in the midst of all the publicity attending Black Friday and Thanksgiving store openings, this story appeared on our local news:
http://www.wmur.com/news/money/sears-owner-refuses-to-open-on-thanksgiving/-/9857662/23173260/-/156o6ybz/-/index.html#ixzz2lvvVZb1S
Sadly, I've since heard that Sears corporate has retaliated against this woman ...

 

[trailspike48]

Today was my first ever indugence in Black Friday Shopping. My cordless drill just puked and Home Depot had a sweat deal on a pair of Milwaukee tools, one driver and one impact driver. Today should be my only time. Everything was orderly at the straight mans botique, I was in and out in 5 minutes.

 

[lifeon2]

While not quite black friday a friend of my wifes runs a store in the mall which opened at 6 pm on thanksgiving for an overnight/all day sales event. We went out at about 9pm and brought lyssa and her 3 employees hot cocoa and then we left without shopping. Figured it would be cool to put a little bright spot in someones rather crappy evening.

 

[mso489]

We cooked and took Thanksgiving food to a friend recovering from an injury, and didn't shop in stores or online today.

Here locally -- and it may work for you where you live -- I highly recommend Monday and Tuesday nights for

Christmas shopping, when the stores are all staffed up, but the shoppers don't show up in as great a number.

It's a low blood pressure way to do your shopping. But if you really want super discounts, especially for "gifts"

for yourself, wait until after Christmas and New Years are over. The Monday/Tuesday recommendation is also

good for after the holidays. You'll find 70 plus percent discounts on many items, and you won't see many other

customers at all. Sure beats the disoriented manic groveling after merchandise. You'll never miss what you didn't

buy on black Friday or on Thanksgiving.

 

[dervis]

Back in the day I worked one black Friday in retail. Watching the people had flash backs to reading Animal Farm . Swore I would never be part of that . I hide in my pajamas.

 

[stbruno70]

Very sad.

 

[scrapyardape]

Between the shrieking hordes of barbarians.. I mean "customers" and the ever earlier opening times by retailers, this has become my least liked time of year. Now, Thanksgiving is becoming nothing more than "Black Thursday".
It is time to consider either moving Thanksgiving to earlier in the month, or removing it entirely as a national holiday. I've seen Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day become little more than consumerist orgies and I'll be damned if I'm going to allow Thanksgiving to become the same.

 

[philip]

"Black Friday", or any other day for that matter, is whatever you make of it for yourself.
Today I read my Bible, went swimming, smoked my pipe, had a cup of coffee and played my ukulele. My day was very nice - not black at all (except for the coffee).

::

 

[dragonslayer]

Well we now have cyber Monday where you can click confirm from your home, and if you know how to look you can get things at the same or even lower prices. I'm amazed and laugh at what people will do for a few dollars.
Craig

 

[kcghost]

Like most men I just ignore Black Friday. The bargains are nice but the internecine warfare to get them isn't worth it to me.