Black Friday: The Dark Madness Descends

Like it or not, it has reached the level of "holiday."  It is a day that many keep track of, look forward to (?), and "celebrate." If it is not the equivalent to Thanksgiving or Christmas  it is at least the equal to the start of deer hunting season.

I understand the necessity to kick start the retail season.  Our economy, for better or worse, is based on consumption and spending.  When money circulates, everyone does better.  It just isn't pleasant to look at up close.

There is just such an unfortunate juxtaposition with Thanksgiving   Here we have a holiday designed to put us in a reflective mood, appreciative,  thankful for those blessings that we do have, only to be followed by a mass orgy of greed and coveting.  One where you seek out so-called bargains with such intensity that you are willing to trample others and push them aside.  It is like the inverse of mardi gras and lent.

And what's even worse is that Black Friday is creeping into Thanksgiving.  Stores anxious to be the first to get the mad rush of shoppers have moved their start time to Thursday evening.  I read an article that was treating Best Buy as a model of restraint because they were going to wait until open until midnight.  Insane!

Some of the retail workers are starting to raise objections to this madness, and other poor working conditions and low wages they suffer through.  There are even signs that in some places, Wal-Mart workers may strike.  I say more power to them!  This economy won't truly turn around until service workers are given dignity and living wages!  I support every effort of service/retail workers to improve themselves.

I cannot tell you personal stories of Black Friday.  We don't go.  We are content to stay at home (or, at some points in our lives - had to work) and enjoy less hectic things.  Alison and I went once a long time ago, pre-Benjamin, to a Wal-Mart Black Friday opening.  It was such a fight just to get in the store and even get a shopping cart, that we just left empty-handed.  I'm not a huge fan of blind, rabid crowds.

This year I did have a friend whose young son was having his birthday on Thanksgiving day, and she wanted to get him a Nintendo Dsi XL.  She went to Wal-mart on Wednesday night in hopes of finding him one.  There were none on the shelves.  She asked a clerk to check the back for her.  After a very long time, she finally realized that that clerk was never coming back.  She found another clerk who did go back to check.  When he came back he told her there were a hundred DSi's back there!  Only thing was they were all designated for Black Friday and that he could not bring her one.  Even if she was willing to pay regular price.  Even it was a special gift for a little boy whose birthday was Thanksgiving.  INSANE!

We need to come up with a different plan.  Cyber shop. at least during this period of insanity.  Concentrate on local merchants instead of big box retailers.  Anything but this!

So next Black Friday I hope to be doing the same thing I am this Black Friday.  Relaxing in my pajamas, enjoying my family, and venting on my blog.  Ain't life grand?