Just when you thought commercialism couldn't be more idiotic, we will now have Black Thursday - stores open on Thanksgiving for Christmas shopping.
And since it's before Black Friday, the selection will be better, and the feeding frenzy even more enthusiastic. Better borrow your kid's football padding.
On second thought, better borrow his football team, to run interference for you.
This is getting ridiculous. Thanksgiving is supposed to be one of the few paid holidays for the American worker, and now a number of individuals will be told - hey, you're coming in! Better TiVo the parade and the game!
And you can wave to your family as you're coming in at the end of Black Thursday, and they're getting ready to head out on Black Friday.
This is crazy. Are we so totally bereft of interest, imagination, and a sense of family and community that we have to take every opportunity to go shopping?
Do we really need more Duck Dynasty t-shirts or Neiman-Marcus scarves?
Is it worth walking out on Thanksgiving to see what kind of deal you can get in Electronics?
Is it worth truncating Thanksgiving night to camp out in front of the entrance to your favorite store, ready to claw your way to the head of the line?
I had a friend who participated in Black Friday for many years, because her daughter just had to have certain toys for Christmas, and they sold out quickly.
"Of course, it's probably my fault that she's so spoiled," said my friend with a shrug.
A universal observation.
What do you think - is Black Thursday a good opportunity, or are our holidays being stolen by commercial interests? Will you participate?
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I don't participate, Andrew. No one could pay me enough money to. Time is valuable. I'd rather pay more for an item later, than waste my time out in the cold ... just sounds too painful.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for a good deal, but I won't pay that cost!
I'm with you. And I find that I need less and less 'stuff' for myself.
DeleteWhen choosing gifts, I generally take my time and pick something that I hope will mean something to the recipient. A bargain is nice, but shopping for gifts off a list rather contradicts the whole meaning of the enterprise - especially at Christmas.
You've hit on one of my hot buttons. I thought it was bad enough that stores began opening at midnight, then at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving. I was furious when I read that stores were opening Thursday morning.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have a tradition of doing our shopping together on Black Friday. We've never gotten out of the house before 8:30, but we have fun, share lunch, coffee and chat as we shop. We will still do that this year, but we will not be going out on "Black Thursday."
I hate that people will forego celebrating Thanksgiving, an important holiday for our country, in favor of shopping/hunting/clawing for the best (which, by the way, aren't all that great anymore) gift, the best price, the best whatever. It says a lot about the values of our society that so many people rank shopping higher than all that Thanksgiving represents.
I wonder what would happen if people would refuse to shop on Thanksgiving....? I know it probably wouldn't happen, but a girl can wish.
Okay, I'm done with my rant now. I'm glad you commented on this. You said what I've been thinking about this Black Thursday "thing."
It would be nice if people would just say no to shopping on Thanksgiving. It's an important holiday, as you said, and one that really needs proper observance.
DeleteIf not...what will become of Christmas?
I feel sorry for all the employees at Target and Walmart. It's not as if they have a real choice.
ReplyDeleteI agree. My wife has friends who work at WalMart, and they are not pleased. They will get some more pay, which is nice, but the family time is irreplaceable,
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