Black Friday Matters: American Holy Day

"Black Friday" ...the term reminds me of funerals, horrible disasters and pirates.

"T'was forever known as Black Friday...the day the economy collapsed and civilization fell into chaos and anarchy. For 200 years now we have still not recovered. Electricity, computers, cars and airplanes ... all of these things are lost to us since that world-wide EMP on Black Friday..."

Or..

"Yarr! Tis Black Friday me matey! Tighten up the mizzen mast and set yer sails for the mall! Tis time we plundered and looted Ye Olde Navy for cheap shirts and capri pants! Arrrguh!"

Black Friday was originally named for the day in which retailers went from running in the red all year long to finally going over to the black because Christmas is when they finally turn a profit. "Consumerism" keeps these guys on business.

In terms of the awful behavior I at first blamed the animals getting into fights, etc., but the more I thought about it I believe the retailers are largely to blame. They make up an artificial scarcity, lower the price on a handful of hotly wanted items, limit the quantity, and then wonder why a riot starts. Yet they're the ones who created the scenario almost guaranteed to cause trouble. If they marketed their items in a sane manner, such things would never happen.

I thought this would be good for the economy. people actually spending money, workers getting paid.

Why is consumerism suddenly bad?

I'm in a small town, but we're the commerce hub for over 50 miles of outlying communities...I headed out for a sale on t-shirts...sue me....I was pleasantly surprised by the local turn out - calm, composed, happy and a multitude of well-wishing and Christmas blessings for all involved.

So this whole "Black Friday Madness" just didn't swarm and poison the minds of balanced and socially adjusted people.

But yeah, if you're working retail....which I did for many a year back in the day even before "Black Friday" had a name and a rabid fan club...it can be mentally taxing out there all throughout the Holiday Sales Season..

Props and heartfelt appreciation to the Retail Sector.

We thank you by being calm, pleasant, polite and patient.

My sympathies to those dealing with the Heathen Hordes.

Nothing compared to when the food shortages arrive.

originally posted by: roadgravel
Nothing compared to when the food shortages arrive.

Exactly, if people can get this nasty over a TV or other crap, I can only imagine what they'd do then they're going after the last loaf of bread or gallon of milk at the store.

Great responses!

This OP I want people to know is meant to be satirical…and the video beyond pitiful is kind of funny.

I totally understand our civilization is consumed by consumerism and we are more than addicted to it therefore I have no particular problem with consumerism other than understanding that people shouldn’t kick each other in the face over a TV set.

Of course everything should be done in moderation

I for one am sick and tired of all this socialist, commie crap.

Capitalism and spending money on s*** you don't need is what made America the envy of the rest of the planet.

You commie bastards should get on your Knees and apologize to the free market enterprise system that allows us to exploit other countries for their raw materials and cheap labor so we can have nice things.

Makes me want to puke!!

BFD if a little blood is spilled when shoping. It's like hunting bears for Christ sake!

Am I the only one who thinks some of this looks staged? If not, Jerry Springer needs to start filming his show at Walmart, it appears that is where the real action is.

My faith in humanity lowers just a little bit further.
Thank you China-mart and MSM, thank you.

I do not partake in Black Friday because of # especially like this. I'm pretty staunch in defending Capitalism (not the super corporate type) but # like this makes it really hard.


The main drivers behind black friday (major retailers, WalMart, Best Buy, Department Stores, Malls, etc) seriously need to get together to end this #. If they MUST have a Black "day" at least push it back to Saturday so people can spend some time with their families instead of having Thanksgiving Dinner then immediately having to head into work.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
I thought this would be good for the economy. people actually spending money, workers getting paid.

Why is consumerism suddenly bad?

Because they're training us all to be good little socialists now ... Hadn't you figured that out yet?

I was busy ... at home ... enjoying my warm house and a mug of hot tea, Earl Gray, all day.

a reply to: MystikMushroom

Monday you can fall apart Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart Thursday doesn't even start

I hate crowds. I have no desire to put up with throngs of idiots for cheap stuff. If I want cheap stuff bad enough, that's what the internet is for -- like hell am I putting myself in the middle of all that walking stupid.

Quick edit: I did Black Friday once in the late 90's with my sister-in-law. Never, ever again.

I actually kinda want to go to the US on one of these "Black Fridays" just to see for myself how bad it actually gets. I couldn't believe it until I saw all the videos etc.

I'm still not 100% on it - is it really all about shops putting on sales specials? Shops get really busy here on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) when they all put on post-Christmas sales, but I've never heard of actual fights breaking out over some item in a shop. American shoppers are hardcore.

Obviously there are exceptions, but it's pretty depressing to see just how much people are influenced by advertising. A lot of the time, people will buy stuff that's on sale that they wouldn't actually have bought otherwise. They'll get it simply because there's a big brightly coloured sign saying announcing a price reduction. It's amazing how a simple little trick of elementary psychology can have such a huge impact on people.

Not to mention, we all think we're immune to advertising. But if it can lead to people rioting over sales discounts, imagine the effect of political propaganda. It's often a lot more subtle, such as media bias, but no less effective. Unfortunately, most people will essentially do as they're told, whether their dictator be the government or corporations.

originally posted by: Lysergic
a reply to: MystikMushroom

Monday you can fall apart Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart Thursday doesn't even start

Now I cannot get that damn song out of my head ...

a reply to: DeepThoughtCriminal

I worked a Black Friday at a major retailer one year in a fairly large city. You might say it's like a woman's contact sport in a way.

We didn't have any fights or anything, but the place was so packed and so crowded with so many people demanding our time and attention, that I had to go from one corner of the store to the other to get some rainchecks and it took me a good two or three hours to work my way across the place and back. That's normally only a minute or two tops.

a reply to: MystikMushroom

Now you got me wondering how it became called Black Friday because it does sound morbid.

a reply to: schuyler

Well hell, one post below Mushrooms answered my question. Ha!