Comments on: Some Call it “Black Friday”

By: Dee

Dee — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 23:30:46 +0000

Ah, yes! I’ve been participating in Buy Nothing Day for many years now. It is one of my greatest joys in life. And I spread the word at every opportunity and ask others to join me.

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By: timpeck

timpeck — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:43:26 +0000

Buy Nothing Day doesn’t go far enough.

Let’s get behind Consume Nothing Day sponsored by Progressives Against Progress.

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By: Kai Schwandes

Kai Schwandes — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:32:27 +0000

Ahem, do I really need to? OK, I am celebrating and not just today but I am not buying anything new or non-essential until January (with the exception of beer on Thursdays DL _ but then you could argue it is essential).

Reasons: it’s the worst experience of life to go shopping on a normal day in a mall but during these days you must love being pushed and screwed

I would be arrested for I would most likely beat up the one or other parent for tracking their children around for hours (which I consider child abuse)

My mom worked in Retail and yes managers can be a pain in the ass but the abuse she had to endure form people especially during the “Christmas Season” oh I could write volumes.

Well, I raise my glass to all those who understand that consumption has nothing to do with Love-Peace-Understanding

Uh Oh We’re In The Red, Dear

(To the tune of Rudolph the red-nose reindeer)

Uh oh we’re in the red, dear
On our credit card it shows
Christmas is almost over
But the debit line still grows
Shopping like Santa’s zombies
Sent our budget down in flames
But all our Christmas spirit
Helped the giant retail chains

I’m so foggy Christmas Eve
Wondering how we’ll pay
Christmas doesn’t seem so bright
When our finances are tight

So here’s a plan for next year
Let’s forget the shopping spree
Let’s give a gift of love, so
All our Christmas gifts are free

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By: A's Dad

A's Dad — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:03:08 +0000

Yes, I’m celebrating too. You know about my familiarity with Black Friday for 32 years. I have had a very good chance to observe managers and the way they deal with employees and customers alike. I have known several who seemed able to change personalities back and forth instantly like changing hats. It was also fairly consistent within the various retail chains. Some were much better than others. This led me to the conclusion that some chains must require their managers to go through “Asshole School” before being promoted.

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By: Arratik

Arratik — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 13:36:38 +0000

Because I worked retail for several years myself (a few of those years were spent in management, I’m ashamed to admit – but like John Cleese said during the “How to Tell a Witch” scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, “I got better…”), my reasons for a Black Friday boycott are far more personal, practical and human than political. I share your distaste for it all as well.

I will tell you one thing, though – the insight that I gained during my time in retail management was invaluable. It’s extremely easy for me to spot a scam or a psychological trick designed to screw customers over, and there are still a great number of “keywords” in my vocabulary that still prove to be very effective when dealing with store managers (who are, for the most part, down there with paramecia and amoebae, I agree), especially the really combative ones with the God complexes.

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