I find this article extremely interesting because I do agree that thanksgiving went from a celebration of graditude, to a celebration of consumerism. the author was point onabout that but throught the whole piece she critizes poeple that go black friday shopping when she is one of these people who did the same thing, she conformed to society just like everybody else and she's a bit of a hypocrite I mean, she does have a garage full of "disposable" stuff. Personally, i'm not a fan of Balck Friday due to the fact that i'm probably too lazy and i cant deal with crazy people. Black Friday shopping reminds me of the Spanish bull fights, once you fall down dont get back up because youll hurt yourself. but, on a serious note i think that thanksgiving has become into thankbuying and it's not traditional. AM Prd. 6
Black Friday has become a part of America culture, something we should not be too proud of. I have heard many people express how ironic it is that right after we spend a day remembering the things we are most thankful for, we splurge on unnecessary items just because they are on sale. And I completely agree with this common notion. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t find the hype of Black Friday to be well deserved. From past news stories, we are aware that injuries, even deaths, have occurred as a result of the rush to catch these sales and I just don’t think it is worth it in the end. I think it is important that Americans stop and analyze what Thanksgiving is about before the holiday transforms from a “celebration of gratitude to a celebration of consumerism.” (Ariana S )
After reading this article I began to question the holiday of Thanksgiving and what is truly associated with the holiday. As of today, holiday is 3 days away and since it is vastly approaching it is the only thing that is being discussed. When most people think of thanksgiving they firstly associate it with turkey and food, secondly shopping and black Friday. It really made me question the kind of people that we’ve evolved into. In the past Thanksgiving was all about spending time with family, eating a lot of good food and making memories. But nowadays many people in my family spend an hour or two at dinner and then rush off into the cold to battle it out with other people for the best deals on electronics or to get an early start on their Christmas shopping. “ Certainly today, with stores opening in the wee hours, the masses are exhorted to get off their "masses" and race to their local retailers for a local version of World Wrestling Federation tryouts. "I got here first... that dress is mine... dibs that camera... mine, mine, mine." With nary a moment to digest their Thanksgiving feast, the gladiators are sent into the ring to fight for ostensible bargains amidst cheering crowds. Hey, everything's half off-- who can resist?” I personally think that black Friday is both a blessing and a curse. You can an amazing deal on almost anything but yet at the same time it isn’t really worth it. Almost every store is crowded, claustrophobic, and downright noisy. Black Friday is definiately something that I do not partake in. Personally, whenever I shop I like to take my time, not be rushed, and prefer whatever store I’m in to be relatively empty.
I agree with this article 100%. Every holiday our capitalist culture finds an excuse to enhance sales. Thanksgiving has turned into a consumer holiday, with Black Friday the following day. People always go crazy when they see the word sale and usually buy things they don’t want or don’t need. But now, there is a holiday just for sales, which makes consumers go 100 times more insane. On Black Friday people act like the world is ending, they fight and stock up on clothes and electronics they don’t need. Meanwhile, Black Friday does not even have good sales for clothing only electronics, but businesses convince us consumers this day has the best sales for everything. It is sad how our market turned Thanksgiving into a consumer holiday and not a holiday of thankfulness, but this has similarly happened with Christmas too and many other holidays. Our society rarely preaches positive messages, which the author points out at the end of the article.
I always tried to avoid the consumerism that comes with Black Friday. It's scary how people collect for what in reality are only ok discounts. Imagine what we'd do if they products were free. But, I also have a sympathetic view towards what it can bring to people. I know families that do all their Christmas shopping that day because it's the only way they can afford those items. That's why I don't totally agree with the article. It paints Black Friday as this day of massive greed when some people only participate so they can please their families. I think the real crime isn't that the consumers are buying so much, it's that the workers are forced to work on these days. I know because I have to work Thanksgiving Day at The Bakery. It sucks because that's supposed to be the day when I can spend time with my family, but instead I have to serve the hoards of people pushing to get their bread before we run out. We don't have a rush on Black Friday, but the idea is still the same. I am not allowed to ask for any holiday off. That was part of the agreement I made when I took the job. I think it's not only unfair, but it puts me in a position where my life is given to this business. Just because I'm an employee, doesn't mean my life needs to change so drastically, especially since I am only working part time. I don't need the paycheck, but if I did then i couldn't even consider quitting. I think people should not partake in the phenomenon that is Black Friday not because they need to check their greed, but rather to give the workers a break. If those days weren't so busy, people wouldn't have to work in such large numbers. -Julian Vargas
I definitely can see how someone may adopt that a point of you of how people spend money they don't have to buy things they don't need, but not everyone just spends at the first site of a good deal on Black Friday. Many people, including myself, know what we want to buy prior to black friday and we know how much we are going to spend. I don't view Black Friday as something that comes arounds once a year and when all prices are so low thats its impossible to say no. I think of Black Friday more as a day where you can walk into a store and know that there is going to be a sale. Alot of these major retailers have sales throughout the year which are just like black friday, and if not, they do have sales on certain items throughout the year, but not many people realize that the prices they pay on Black Friday, are practically the same as the ones a store advertises throughout the year. I don't want to say that people aren't stupid on Black Friday because some are, but many people are also smart with Black Friday and know what they are doing. Yash Shah pd 8
I sometimes fall guilty for this, wanting to buy something that I do not need. The rush to buy something that is on a discount can be pretty strong to resist. Who would not pass up such a golden opportunity? Common sense would have us think that buying it would be the right choice.
I think people are often brain washed into thinking that black Friday deals are the only day of the where one can truly make the best bang for their buck. People have lot a sense of being thankful for you already have and now have a bad sense of the gimmes. It has turned into an unfortunate irony. -Paridhi Vayda
I completely agree with this article. Each year we read articles and hear stories on the news of tragedies and outrageous things that occur at malls and in stores during Black Friday, and it’s scary. As a society, we are starting to celebrate Black Friday as a holiday, and we are starting to combine this “holiday” with Thanksgiving. In recent years, Black Friday has been starting earlier and earlier. Now, most stores are open with great sales on Thursday night, taking away from Thanksgiving. Most of the products that are fought over and are bought on this day are not even what people want! They are willing to buy something so useless and unnecessary just because of the ridiculously high sale. With a big enough discount, you can sell someone almost anything. Isabel R. pd 6
Stephen F. period 6 This article outlines the craziness that is black Friday in such a way that is truly astounding. The author calls this national past time a " frenzy" and over dramatizes the hysteria that is this capitalist holiday. What I really enjoyed about this article was its explanation to why we celebrate black Friday and how it was originally to work off our previous Thanksgiving 4,000 calorie meals. Another great point made in this satirical article is when its stated that we end up buying items that we didn't even need or have no use for or that we could not afford to buy just because of these massive sales that come along with Black Friday. In all I believe that the author has done an excellent job in explaining the extreme and crazy holiday that we take part in each and every year in a fluent and clearly sardonic way.
I think that this article is very accurate in describing our actions as Americans. Even though Black Friday is full of amazing sales, most people go out on this day and buy unnecessary items just because it is cheaper. I think that people take Black Friday way too seriously and it is not worth the trouble that it causes. Many people are injured, and some even die, because of the packed crowds of people rushing from store to store. The hype of Black Friday is way too intense and uncalled for. I believe that people should only consider risking going out shopping on Black Friday is if they really deem it necessary to buy an object that they were longing for. Personally, I would go shopping on any ordinary day but only if I really wanted that item in particular. Our society has a very high sense of affluence and this sometimes gets out of hand, especially when people go out and buy things just because they can.
The whole concept of Thanksgiving has changed. In the past, it was a day to acknowledge the "harvest" and the "discovery" of America. It has now turned into the true start of the shopping frenzy for the coming holidays. I think that stores have gone overboard in competing with each other. I feel sorry for the poor salesclerks who are forced to skip their holiday because some large corporations have decided that it is more important to make a sale. I admire the stores who have taken a stand and have refused to open on Thanksgiving Day. Our society has become too focused on consumerism and the need to bag a great deal. Maybe we should reflect on the true meaning of the holiday. It should be a day spent with family and friends, reflecting on the importance of gratitude for the things that we have. We shouldn't look at it as a day to grab more things that we really don't need. We should not be drawn into the frenzy that has been created by merchants. After all, there are still 27 more days to shop before Christmas. - M.B. period 6
I thought this article was very interesting. With Black Friday just around the corner, it is very easy to forget what comes before that (Thanksgiving). And when reading this article and thinking about it, all the shopping frenziness and fighting over merchandise seem to contradict the whole meaning of this season. Yes, the gifts are usually bought in good spirits for someone else, but the way that the whole Black Friday shopping has evolved may be doing more damage than good. It has become to some people more important than Thanksgiving, which is ridiculous. With that being said, I do think the article took a very funny approach to the whole topic that was quite humorous, yet still serious. I liked the article also because it talked about how quick we are to buy things in this panic; and we push aside all other aspects (Such as interest). –Tara O’Shea
I think that the article was mostly true. I did some previous research on the black friday sales, and the research shows that the week after thanksgiving actually is the day where there is the most sales. Black Friday has become an excuse to splurge and buy without having to think about the practicality of the items you are buying. Even though there are sales on black friday, most stores only have a limited supply of the items on sale. This leads to people just buying a lot of things that are not even on sale for the heck of it because they missed out on the items on sale. Personally, I like shopping on cyber monday because there is no rush, and I feel that I actually see a substantial difference in the price.
in my opinion, shopping on black friday is pointless because these goods usually are not what we need, we are not buying "necessary" things, we are buying "extra" things. i believe that black friday is invented by some businessman in order to stimulate the market so that people can buy things that usually are hardily sold. per 9 Yan
Haha, I definitely agree with this article that the holiday of giving thanks is pretty much contradicted with Black Friday being only a day after. However, I'd be a liar if I say I never went black friday shopping. I think similarly to how this author started off, most people go black friday shopping looking for things they do not need and buy it anyways on an impulsive reaction because it seems to be half price. However, majority of the time I go black friday shopping, I never use or wear anything that I buy. I think this generation especially is a generation of wanting extra crap we don't need. And although I've mentioned all these points, I know that won't stop anyone from shopping (including me to be honest), but it is very sad that a holiday that is supposed to be humbling and filled with gratitude is destroyed. It goes the same for Christmas which is a holiday of gift giving, but it has turned into a holiday focus on receiving (at least on a teenager's perspective).
While reading this article- I started to wonder how Black Friday even came about? Who came up with this idea to sell merchandise for insanely low prices, and eventually start this tradition that essentially marks the consumer-frenzy world America is? However, I find it ironic how a holiday is supposed to be dedicated to being thankful for what you have has been morphed into a holiday where people are essentially the exact opposite. Now, Thanksgiving dinners have not really been about meeting with family, but more about orchestrating the ultimate game plan to get all the great Black Friday deals from Walmart. Now, people wait in lines at midnight in order to get the first grab on merchandise. Every year, we hear about the number of people that have been injured or even killed by the stampede of people at Black Friday. The odd part of this whole tradition is that people don't even buy things that they need or even want. But all the sudden, because it's on sale, people feel the need to take advantage of these prices while they can. At least it's a smart marketing strategy for companies in order to get rid of inventory. They make us consumers think that we need these pointless products by adjusting price, and it works. - Maisha Savani Pd.8
Yolanda Reid Chassiakos’ editorial “Capitalist Bacchanalia” was definitely relatable and relevant in this day and age. For me, it served as a necessary reminder of reality. After thought, I completely agree with Chassiakos that Thanksgiving has transformed from a celebration of gratitude to a celebration of consumerism. At home, my family deals with issues of similar nature. Often times, when my family and I encounter discounts or sales on items, we instantly purchase them, thinking that doing so will save us money in the long run. In reality, however, such things are of no use to us; in other words, we do not necessarily need nor want them. At this point, my house is full of disposable “stuff” that my family does not utilize; instead, most of it remains in storage and eventually, we forget that we bought the items in the first place. I admit that, in past years, I have been a victim to the high of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping. This year, I hope to overcome this consumerist habit and spend more of my holiday break expressing gratitude for and appreciating what I already possess. As ancient Greek philosophers said, "Pan Metron Ariston,” or everything in moderation.
I completely agree with this article. I feel that we, as humans, consume more that we actually need and this is a model example; we are buying so much stuff on Black Friday shopping which we haven't any possible need for. In simpler terms, we are aimlessly wasting our money buying stuff that are perceived as very cheap. By doing this, we do not dare stop and think of the consequences of it: maxed out credit cards, debts, etc. And although some people know of this risk, they don't care because they feel as though this shopping time actually saves them heaps of money and use Thanksgiving as their excuses to spend this amount of money. This mindset of people have clearly shown that Thanksgiving has evolved into I completely agree with this article. I feel that we, as humans, consume more that we actually need and this is a model example; we are buying so much stuff on Black Friday shopping which we haven't any possible need for. In simpler terms, we are aimlessly wasting our money buying stuff that are perceived as very cheap. By doing this, we do not dare stop and think of the consequences of it: maxed out credit cards, debts, etc. And although some people know of this risk, they don't care because they feel as though this shopping time actually saves them heaps of money and use Thanksgiving as their excuses to spend this amount of money. This mindset of people have clearly shown that Thanksgiving has evolved into approved greed. -Maresa M. Period 8
I think that the article is very true about thanksgiving. Its a prime example of capitalism. It changed from a wonderful and thankful holiday to a brief moments of thanks and then to savagery of consumer products. No one can resist the every things half off. I think everyone has their own crazy black friday story where we hate the experiences but still come back every year to participate in it. Its addicting like a drug. But black friday is so big in our country because the rich get richer (so they can buy the product for full prices whenever they want) and the poor get poorer (not enough income therefore they wait for the perfect opportunity to buy what they want for a very cheap price). Thus black friday has became very crucial for the people of America. Go to other places around the world, black friday doesnt even exist or isnt even that crazy as it is here. - Noved G. Period 9
The idea of people gorging themselves on high-carb foods, then buying everything in sight as if the apocalypse was near makes me think of the same humans in Pixar's movie, Wall-E. I personally don't enjoy the idea of purchasing masses of stuff on Black Friday just because "it's a good deal". I don't condemn the mini-holiday though, because I can see how many people would enjoy the idea of fun at a discounted price. However, I think it becomes a bit excessive when people are acting like savages and trampling each other just to get the best deals. If a big flat screen LCD television was originally $2,000 and is selling for $500 on Black Friday, and a mob of people killed a man in their rush to get their hands on it, it's like saying that man's life wasn't even worth $2,000, just a mere, "cheap", $500. Thanksgiving is a time when we're supposed to be thankful for what we have, but it seems like it's evolved into a day where we're grateful for the low prices on everything else we could also have. It angers me to see that a holiday originally meant for spending time with friends and family has become a day where your only friends are those who save you a place on the long checkout lines and family only matters if they're serving you food.
I guess the article was somewhat right in saying that Black Friday has become a day that preaches the exact opposite of Thanksgiving. Instead of being thankful for what we have, we rush off to fight others off to buy the things that we want and don’t have. Thanksgiving has certainly evolved as stores are opening earlier and earlier every year, and now is at the point where people are off to shop right after they finish their Thanksgiving meal- even sometimes cutting it short to go shop. Personally, I’m a fan of it. I had never been Black Friday shopping until two years ago and I think it’s a great opportunity for the consumer to buy things at a cheaper price as long as they are willing to take on the exhaustion that comes along with it. And I believe that not all Americans are Black Friday crazy. It is possible to enjoy Thanksgiving with family and friends and also do a little shopping on Friday. I plan on having a great meal with my family On Thursday nonetheless, and then going shopping myself to get more stuff…I love stuff. But this time around I’ll keep in mind to remember what Thanksgiving is all about- offering thanks, not shopping.
This article is completely true. Last year, when I went Black Friday shopping all the sales were over because the sales started on Thanksgiving at 10 PM and ended at 9 AM. They started on Thanksgiving. You should spend Thanksgiving with your family and friends not with strangers at a mall. Every time I think of Thanksgiving, I actually think of Black Friday, which is sad. They have such great sales, so how can you not go? I buy all my winter clothes and gifts during Black Friday. JJ Pd 9
Black friday is something I have never really understood. In my opinion the entire notion of Black Friday is a marketing scheme that has snowballed into full blown consumerism. People start camping out for days in front of stores and sacrifice their income just to get a discount for “stuff” they most likely won’t/barely use. We've all seen the videos of people trampling each other for a items, we've all read the stories of people getting killed by stampeding shoppers, and we’ve all experienced the crowded malls. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy black friday too. But a lot of people are going way overboard with it. Is it really worth sleeping in the parking lot for a $20 discount? Moreover, I think that it would absolutely suck to work during black friday.
Thanksgiving brings life to the word ironic. On this festive day, families unite to appreciate their shared blessings. People revel over what they have and honor thanksgiving as a day of self-reflection. The next day is literally the polar opposite. Those same appreciate family members are now “saturated and sedated” going mad over 20% off electronics and items they don’t really have a need for. The demand curve seems to blur as people buy anything they can get their hands on. Who wouldn’t want a “three year loan on an SUV.” Black Friday emphasizes are consumerist culture and pushes us to buy even though we are content with what we are have. The irony of the holiday is so great, to a point where it’s almost funny. Thanks and cheer are replaced with greed and debt. This capitalist hysteria undermines our feelings of cherishment and promotes an insatiable desire for more goods. It’s a sad day when people are more thankful for discounts than their family. -TB Econ Per 9
S.S Pd 9 This article was so true and so ironic because people are the most insatiable creatures since they cannot get enough of what they don't have. It's sad that we consume so much meanwhile we know we are in debt, but we continue to spend. We should call Thanksgiving, "Takesgiving" (haha) because all we do is take and we haven't even had the chance to digest our meal! It's sad because it shows how selfish we are and we have actually taken out the goodness and selflessness out of this holiday. I have never been Black Friday shopping nor do I plan on it unless I am in dire need of an electronic. Otherwise, buying clothes on sale is pointless to me if I can usually get it on sale without getting trampled over and having to wait on those lines. The phrase "Pan Metron Ariston" means everything in moderation and for that to happen in terms of people's buying habits AND mindsets would be truly a CHRISTMAS miracle.
It is so ironic that the day before consumers greedily buy frivolous items they don't really need, they are thankful for all that they have. I never really considered that Black Friday could have a some cons to it. Though businesses reap profits and consumers purchase items for a lot less than the original price, consumers also increase their debt by following victim to the craze of Black Friday shopping, spending and buying more than they actually need. If more of an emphasis of what they are thankful for is pushed on consumers on Thanksgiving, then maybe they would not feel impulse to rush out to buy things they don't really need, only increasing their debt. Avital B.
"Pan Metron Ariston" -- everything in moderation.” I feel is something that we have forgotten in society along with the everyday blessings we have. Why do we need a national holiday lasting one day to think of what we are grateful for? If we do take everything in moderation, maybe others would take more time to reflect on what they have more than what they don’t have. Christmas is crawling into thanksgiving. I have noticed over the year’s holiday songs being played well before Thanksgiving Day and in newspapers bundles of advertisements for the next best toy. I think that being in a society that demands big we just naturally get hooked on materialistic things. It’s not that we’re bad people but we have been groomed by society either by friends or the way we grow up to want. That’s where moderation comes into play as being very important because the less we have the more we are grateful. If we have everything at the snap of our fingertips there’s no excitement or feeling of blessing in that object. It takes away from the holiday spirit as well; we want to be on the giving end but lately a lot of people are on the receiving end when it comes to gifts.
I totally agree with the author of this article on this topic of "Thanksbuying", who claims that Thanksgiving has transformed from a celebration of gratitude to a celebration of consumerism. It's incredible to see people, including myself, go crazy on Black Friday when the sales are not even that great after all, and the checkout lines are extremely long. I think the spirit of the day and the excitement it holds are what gets people hyped up about Black Friday. The whole day is just full of adventure and thrill such as getting up at 2 A.M. to hit the mall and then the Tanger outlets and then back to the mall. People wait till this day to binge shop because it is definitely a stress reliever to be able to buy everything you want to buy even when you don't necessarily need it. In my opinion, this day exists just to serve as our excuse for satisfying our desires to buy more "things."
I do agree that our contemporary culture revolves around consumerism which has resulted in the transition between a celebration of gratitude to an unnecessary waste of money. The ostensible benefits of buying products on Black Friday prove to be nonexistent as we continue to purchase goods that we do not even need. In an effort to keep up with the pace society has placed on its citizens, we mindlessly spend our limited money, leaving us with credit card debt. Excessive materialistic items do not justify our wasteful spending during Thanksgiving, elucidating America's loss of identity. "Thanksbuying" has taken over as the new holiday, and will continue unless we come to our senses and celebrate the actual tradition of giving thanks instead of giving away our money carelessly. -Kevin Chao Period 8
I hate and have always hated the furor behind Black Friday shopping, ESPECIALLY since it is around Thanksgiving time. The irony is too distinct for comfort. While I do believe shopping is one of many great ways to spend mornings around Thanksgiving time with family, the whole idea centered around getting "stuff," regardless of whether it is for the person buying or a gift for a friend, is not the idea that should be reinforced around the time of Thanksgiving. I understand that businesses have to get themselves "in the green" but there should be a line where society and businesses work together so that businesses can make their profits and culture is still allowed to develop the way we want it to. - Jugal pd. 8
I think the key argument made in the article is that Thanksgiving and Black Friday inspire reckless excess, from 4000-calorie dinners to spur-of-the-moment expensive car purchases. I think this is true—you always hear these ridiculous stories of shoppers physically assaulting each other to get some of these deals on Black Friday and, ironically enough, even on Thanksgiving itself. One would think the only national holiday dedicated to giving thanks for what one has wouldn’t be characterized by early Black Friday frenzy, but it seems to happen more and more often each year. With that in mind, I don’t think the author will be very happy with some of the headlines occupying the news for the next few days. Karan Singhal AP Econ Pd. 9
David Lee Pd 9 I agree with this article because Americans spend a great amount of time buying things they don't really need rather than spending meaningful time at the dinner table. Stores are opening earlier, Thursday dinner time, which shows some people skip dinner to buy things they don't need. This article relates to what we talked about in class today, how the debt of America keeps on growing. We keep buying and buying on Black Friday and now Cyber Monday, once Christmas shopping starts we will have so much debt. Americans do not put their money in private savings, therefore all we can do is spend, spend, spend.
As someone who doesn't like Black Friday shopping and has never bought more than some cheap books and CDs from stores like Target, I have never truly understood the Black Friday frenzy. I guess I can see why people like it, but I definitely agree with the author of this article. So much of it is due to the United States becoming an increasingly consumer society. People just buy, buy, buy. And what makes Black Friday so dangerous is that people impulsively buy goods, thinking about how cheap they are on that day. They don't think about whether they really need the item, if they'll ever even use it, and/or if they have the money to buy all the goods. They see the price tag and the enticing sales. I think it's sad that a holiday such as Thanksgiving, which is about spending time with family and friends and appreciating/giving thanks for what we have has become about shopping and buying. If you're thankful for what you have, do you really need a new TV, new car, new whatever? Didn't you just celebrate what you have? And it's gotten worse as Black Friday fever has increased; stores start sales even on Thanksgiving, further cutting into time meant to be spent with loved ones. It takes away from the whole meaning behind the holiday and leaves people spending more money on goods they don't really need. Of course those benefiting aren't complaining. It's just too bad many people (not all people) don't realize it themselves.
I dont know why the author is surprised about the consumerism that comes with Black Friday. Yes, it does take away the purpose of Thanksgiving, and, yes, most of the products bought during the sale are worthless anyways. However, consumerism and Black Friday are what define America today. As the capitalist king in modern economics, America should be predicted to be a country full of people frenetic over consuming goods, especially when a clearance sale is set as motivation. Moderation? Not in America.
In terms of his argument, I agree that Americans need to think less about money and more about other aspects such as being thankful on the holiday Thanksgiving. But that's just asking to change what defines America; that's just asking to change all of modern American culture.
This article shows how people can make stupid decisions on black friday , putting them into credit card debt. He shows how they will just rush through the isles and grab any bargains they see, even if they do not need it. However, I think that buying during black friday can be beneficial if it means you buy things that you are going to buy anyways in the future; it is just a cheaper price now. Also, i do not think that people would go like "A no-interest, three-year loan on that SUV at the dealer's till midnight? Let's go!" because it is obvious that you still have to pay for this, just later. I think that buying can be OK if you know what you want to get and do not buy extra things just because it is a good bargain. - Karan L. Period 8
I believe that Black Friday is necessary for people to feel good about themselves and their purchases. In the moment, sales make us seem rich and cause us to buy and spend more on products that we wouldn’t normally. As Pigou’s Wealth Effect claims, the drop in price induces us consumers to spend more. It is especially good in midst of the Great Recession because the economy is being stimulated because households are spending their money and feeding in into the rest of the cycle. However, I agree with the author that it is ironic that Black Friday takes place after Thanksgiving because after a day we give thanks to the immaterial, we go on to buy more materials. AB pd. 9
Won Park Period 9 This article made a lot of sense. It is pretty funny that Thanksgiving is so closely tied with Black Friday. It seems pretty contradictory. However, I cannot relate to the hysteria of Black Friday shopping. I have never gone out to shop on Black Friday. I do see how sales can manipulate thousands of people to become knee deep in debt. I do not think we can do anything to fix this situation.
I agree with what this article is saying. Right after people give thanks for all the things they have they go buy more. Since everything is on sale they go crazy and buy everything. People wait for this it's become part of the Holiday spirit. VG Prd 6
Black Friday has always been the type of outright consumer gluttony that I have viewed as a necessary evil - evil, yes, but in a country so dominated by the need to buy, consume, then buy some more, I supposed (in my naive Herricks-induced bubble) that since nothing REALLY awful came out of the whole affair, it just allowed corporations the opportunity to gain some largely needed profit. However, with the advent of bountiful, far saner alternatives, like Cyber Monday, and stories of people literally dying due to the animalistic stampedes that occur on this consumer holiday, I can't help but think, "How is this still a thing?" for lack of a more eloquent phrase. Needless to say, there is intense irony emerging from the fact that this display of consumer greed follows Thanksgiving, which has now become an equally gluttonous display of excess. Personally, I doubt I will ever understand the allure of Black Friday. I would much rather lay in the wake of my turkey-induced food coma and pay full price for that LCD TV than lose my right arm battling a soccer mom for it at 2am. -Qasim Iqbal, Period 9
It is not surprising that Thanksgiving has been commercialized. Before every major holiday retailers have some sort of special sale. One of my main issues with all of these sales, is the loss of the meaning of each holiday. Whenever I watch TV, all the ads are usually holiday related. The problem with Thanksgiving and Black Friday, is that some retailers are begging to open their stores on Thursday. If they open their stores on Thursday, then their employees won't have any time to spend with their families. Fortunately, some companies are refusing to open their doors on Thanksgiving day in an attempt to shame competitors who will stay open. AA Per 9
Though my family personally doesn't do much buying on Thanksgiving, I can see why many would. I found the article interesting in that it details the gradual transition from indulging in food to indulging in spending. I agree with the article's stance on this issue; buying neither strengthens family bonds nor relates to the idea of "giving" in Thanksgiving. There are many better, and often cheaper, activities that can be done to celebrate this holiday. For instance, the classic Thanksgiving dinner can, at the very least, give one's family some time together without costing an extravagant amount of money.
I could talk on and on about the irony of the notion of shopping right after Thanksgiving, but then I'd also be technically wrong since shopping starts midnight of Thanksgiving morning for some places. People point out how the idea of rampaging over sales right after a day of being thankful for what we have is stupid, and I can't help but agree with them. The whole idea behind 'mine, mine mine' kind of angers me to a point, but I feel that my upbringing influenced that since I never grew up with a silver spoon in my mouth. Seeing that my family, and many others, have been fine without the 'mine, mine mine' philosophy, I think that everyone can give up on that for a day.
I think the article had so much truth to it. Like every single statement she said, I knew exactly what she was talking about. And I could connect to it. My dad never goes shopping, but the few times that he does, he goes into the store for only one thing, but comes out with 12 other items. Just a few weeks ago, he went into Micro-Center for a microphone and when we left, he chose the cheapest microphone but ended up buying the most expensive Wi-Fi booster that cost over $100 and a car charger, even though we already had one for each car. I think I’m the same way though. Black Friday 2 years ago, my brother and I stood outside of Best Buy from 3 P.M. to 12 A.M. just to get a new Xbox. I wonder how long it will be until Thanksgiving itself is taken over and people start waiting in lines on Wednesday morning until 12 A.M. on Friday. -ArjunL Pd. 8
It is easy to forget about the greater effect of Black Friday. As an average consumer, I must admit that I do participate in the Black Friday madness. I rarely even consider the irony behind the materialistic mass shopping that occurs just hours after a day that is designated for giving thanks. However, this article has highlighted just how unethical the day is.
It is true that the thanksgiving weekend represents a profound shift in psychology; on thursday we celebrate what we are thankful for, and on friday we celebrate consumerism. But there isn't anything necessarily wrong with that. Black friday gives people the opportunity to satisfy a selfish desire or two and I don't understand why people like this writer for the Huffington Post feel the need to bash that desire. In a world where many people work over 40 hours a week, they deserve to be rewarded in the way they choose - so long as they can afford it. E.S. period 8
"Our consumerist culture has managed to transform Thanksgiving from a celebration of gratitude to a celebration of consumerism." This sums up the article as a whole. Thanksgiving has been transformed from a day of giving thanks to a day of selfishness and gluttony. It was accurate how it said we buy a big flat screen even if we don't want, afford or have space for it. We get so caught up in the aura of the holiday and are pressured into throwing our money around. The craziness of Black Friday has led to even deaths of employees and shoppers. It is amazing how this hasn't even phased us too much. We can criticize it all we want but come Thanksgiving and Black Friday we will all submit to our usual habits even if we know they are not ideal
I find that shopping on Thanksgiving destroys the entire purpose of the holiday and the foundation upon which it was founded. We glutinous Americans have taken an occasion to be grateful for all that we have and take pleasure in the fact that we are so fortunate and transformed it into a holiday to buy stuff that's not much cheaper than it is regularly. I feel bad for people who have become so enthralled by the capitalistic propaganda and feel compelled to buy overpriced garbage. I feel bad for those unfortunate enough to work on thanksgiving night and having to deal with hordes of crazed shoppers. It's despicable.
This article is very thought provoking because until this point I had not considered how ironic it is that the day after we all give thanks for the things we have and the people we value in life, we fight one another over unnecssary items that we don’t need, but want. Especially over the past few years, when more stores have been opening their doors to flowing customers earlier and earlier, some even opening up late Thanksgiving evening. This rat race for items that none of us need but simply find the need to buy because they are at a discounted price, is slowly degrading the values of our society today. Although I myelf enjoy the festivites of Thanksgiving weekend and the joy of going aorund a cramp packed mall the day after a hearty meal with loved ones to find some cool products to buy, I agree it is an unneccesary facet of our society and drives from the values that we embrace the day before.
The concept of Thanksbuying defines the very reason that when I was younger and begged my mom to go Black Friday shopping. Even when there were sales- my mom would refuse since she would remind me that the only purpose of Black Friday was to waste money on products that would never be needed in the house. Say, a flat screen TV which was to replace the older flat screen already occupied the living room wall. It really has turned into a celebration of thanks into a concept of overindulgent consumerism. I think the best thing to do is before going for black friday shopping- list only the things needed and not be overwhelmed by the whims of good sales on items that we do not need. D.M 8
Personally, I love how Thanksgiving has changed through an expansion of consumerism. It gives me an excuse to spend obscene amounts of money on everything from electronics to shoes and it allows me to have lots of stuff that I need. However, I think it has taken away from family time and it has made shopping very dangerous. I do all my Black Friday shopping on Cyber Monday though so I'm safe. Have a happy Thanksgiving.
The consumerism that infects the American public is an amazingly stereotypical American viewpoint, a sense of gluttony that powers our economy. I wouldn't say it's limited to only Thanksgiving, rather more ironically apparent during Thanksgiving just as the holiday season rolls in. But buying in excess doesn't sound too bad to me, if not a big drain on the world's resources; the article's main punch seems to lie in the poor financial sense of those who go on buying sprees during the Thanksgiving season, those who think that the savings they are getting make up for the losses. The savings and bargains are a farce in light of the attention-grabbing strategies keeping customers in the stores to buy.
First off, I thought the title of this article was intriguing. The word Bacchanalia refers to a lively festival that typically entails large amounts of alcohol. Thereby, a capitalist Bacchanalia is meant to conjure images of citizens spending money in a state of solely semi-awareness (the attraction of "stuff" acts, much like drugs and alcohol, to manipulate our senses and cause us to buy, buy, and.. oh yeah, buy). Personally, my family never felt the attraction of Black Friday. The long waits, the lack of sleep, the only partially good deals that are overhyped by media -- Black Friday simply had no appeal to my parents, and as a result, has no appeal to me. However, last year, I went Black Friday shopping for the first time with my two friends. Though I purchased nothing except coffee and a Jamba Juice, it amazed me to see, firsthand, the frenzy that people get into over Black Friday sales. The irony lies in the fact that many of these sales occur during the year, or can be acquired through the use of coupons. However, the hype of Black Friday causes people to forget this fact and instead consume on Black Friday. So, in conclusion, I felt that this article was a very accurate depiction of Black Friday.
If I understand this article correctly, it's talking about how Black Friday shopping isn't as good as it seems because it leaves people in debt over buying things that they didn't really need, but the sales were too good to resist. Personally, I agree with this. So many times in a store, friends and family say things like, "Go get something else too. It's 20% off the second one." Sometimes, it is the smarter decision to take advantage of the deal, but sometimes, the second thing bought is pointless. There are so many sweaters sitting around in my house that my parents said I should buy because of a deal that I never wore because I hated them but bought them for the deal. There are so many weird kitchen gadgets that my dad has bought because of them being on sale that we still haven't found any use for. And there are so many strange water bottles with compartments everywhere you look in my house because my dad was seduced by the sale. Take this concept of buying things you don't need just because they're on sale, add it to Black Friday (where everything is on sale), and you're left with a lot of debt. So because of this phenomenon that I've observed and the ridiculous deals of Black Friday, I see this article's point. But I also think Black Friday is good in the sense that it has become apart of our culture. I went this year simply for the experience, and personally, I loved it. Waking up early was a hassle but going to the mall with friends to get amazing deals was way more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be. I also think it's nice to have something to as a transition into the holiday season. Because of these two perspectives I have, I am ambivalent towards Black Friday. -B.T Period 8
I never understood the concept of Black Friday, especially since it is the day right after Thanksgiving. It's great that there are so many amazing sales that go on, but I never understood why it was such a big deal. As the holiday season approaches, people are bound to go shopping for gifts so money would be incoming anyway.
I agree with this article 100%. Every holiday our capitalist culture finds an excuse to enhance sales. Thanksgiving has turned into a consumer holiday, with Black Friday the following day. People always go crazy when they see the word sale and usually buy things they don’t want or don’t need. But now, there is a holiday just for sales, which makes consumers go 100 times more insane. On Black Friday people act like the world is ending, they fight and stock up on clothes and electronics they don’t need. Meanwhile, Black Friday does not even have good sales for clothing only electronics, but businesses convince us consumers this day has the best sales for everything. It is sad how our market turned Thanksgiving into a consumer holiday and not a holiday of thankfulness, but this has similarly happened with Christmas too and many other holidays. Our society rarely preaches positive messages, which the author points out at the end of the article.
when you think about it with the perspective of somebody who doesnt celebrate the holiday or live in north america and take into account the stigma that all American people are overweight and rude, it makes us all look way worse. Alot of Americans (should) know that the relationship between the Natives and the European immigrants was bloody. But the media glorifies this holiday with cute cartoon turkeys and native americans and the white people holding hands but that was far from the truth. The way black friday has become almost like a holiday makes me sick. Thursday night at the table we say what we're thankful for and then the next day you're running around the mall like a farm animal trying to snatch that deal on as much as you can. sickening
I find it very interesting how the day after people say what they are thankful for, they flock into stores like sheep simply because of "lower prices".
I find this article very ironic. The fact that our country spends a whole day giving thanks and showing appreciation for all that we have only to go on a frenzy of buying material things we don't really need all in the same few days is unbelievable. The juxtaposition of these 2 days makes it clear that people need to reevaluate what they really need. These days, people chase things like possessions and money, and don't enjoy and appreciate what really matters in life. Haley Lacey, pd 6
I agree with the author of the article. It's sort of ironic how the original values of Thanksgiving, such as being thankful and grateful for the people in our lives, have been replaced by a frantic frenzy of capitalism. I will not lie; I myself wake up early in the morning the day after Thanksgiving to go Black Friday shopping. However, I would never give up spending time with my family and eating Thanksgiving dinner to wait on lines for 50% off clothes. Thanksgiving comes once a year, but there is always a sale somewhere. Giving up something special for a commodity is, in my opinion, one of the dumbest things you can do. KH8
I myself am guilty of participating in shopping on Black Friday/ Thanksgiving and I never really thought about how silly the idea of shopping on Thanksgiving is until I read this article. The author is right, Thanksgiving has become nothing but a day for gluttony between the meals and the shopping. I hope we could try to get back to the days where Thanksgiving actually meant something and spending time with your family is valued more than a 50% sale.
Tristen Cara pd 3 I honestly never saw the point of black Friday. Yes, the prices are lowered, barley, and the stores are crowded which is good for the company but why would you want to wait online in the cold all night and early in the morning. Some people even leave dinner early to go shopping. Thanksgiving is suppose to be about being thankful not being greedy.
After reading this article I began to question the holiday of Thanksgiving and what is truly associated with the holiday. As of today, holiday is 3 days away and since it is vastly approaching it is the only thing that is being discussed. When most people think of thanksgiving they firstly associate it with turkey and food, secondly shopping and black Friday. It really made me question the kind of people that we’ve evolved into. In the past Thanksgiving was all about spending time with family, eating a lot of good food and making memories. But nowadays many people in my family spend an hour or two at dinner and then rush off into the cold to battle it out with other people for the best deals on electronics or to get an early start on their Christmas shopping. “ Certainly today, with stores opening in the wee hours, the masses are exhorted to get off their "masses" and race to their local retailers for a local version of World Wrestling Federation tryouts. "I got here first... that dress is mine... dibs that camera... mine, mine, mine." With nary a moment to digest their Thanksgiving feast, the gladiators are sent into the ring to fight for ostensible bargains amidst cheering crowds. Hey, everything's half off-- who can resist?” I personally think that black Friday is both a blessing and a curse. You can an amazing deal on almost anything but yet at the same time it isn’t really worth it. Almost every store is crowded, claustrophobic, and downright noisy. Black Friday is definiately something that I do not partake in. Personally, whenever I shop I like to take my time, not be rushed, and prefer whatever store I’m in to be relatively empty. - Melinda R. Period 6
I find this article extremely interesting because I do agree that thanksgiving went from a celebration of graditude, to a celebration of consumerism. the author was point onabout that but throught the whole piece she critizes poeple that go black friday shopping when she is one of these people who did the same thing, she conformed to society just like everybody else and she's a bit of a hypocrite I mean, she does have a garage full of "disposable" stuff. Personally, i'm not a fan of Balck Friday due to the fact that i'm probably too lazy and i cant deal with crazy people. Black Friday shopping reminds me of the Spanish bull fights, once you fall down dont get back up because youll hurt yourself. but, on a serious note i think that thanksgiving has become into thankbuying and it's not traditional.
ReplyDeleteAM Prd. 6
Black Friday has become a part of America culture, something we should not be too proud of. I have heard many people express how ironic it is that right after we spend a day remembering the things we are most thankful for, we splurge on unnecessary items just because they are on sale. And I completely agree with this common notion. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t find the hype of Black Friday to be well deserved. From past news stories, we are aware that injuries, even deaths, have occurred as a result of the rush to catch these sales and I just don’t think it is worth it in the end. I think it is important that Americans stop and analyze what Thanksgiving is about before the holiday transforms from a “celebration of gratitude to a celebration of consumerism.” (Ariana S )
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article I began to question the holiday of Thanksgiving and what is truly associated with the holiday. As of today, holiday is 3 days away and since it is vastly approaching it is the only thing that is being discussed. When most people think of thanksgiving they firstly associate it with turkey and food, secondly shopping and black Friday. It really made me question the kind of people that we’ve evolved into.
ReplyDeleteIn the past Thanksgiving was all about spending time with family, eating a lot of good food and making memories. But nowadays many people in my family spend an hour or two at dinner and then rush off into the cold to battle it out with other people for the best deals on electronics or to get an early start on their Christmas shopping. “ Certainly today, with stores opening in the wee hours, the masses are exhorted to get off their "masses" and race to their local retailers for a local version of World Wrestling Federation tryouts. "I got here first... that dress is mine... dibs that camera... mine, mine, mine." With nary a moment to digest their Thanksgiving feast, the gladiators are sent into the ring to fight for ostensible bargains amidst cheering crowds. Hey, everything's half off-- who can resist?”
I personally think that black Friday is both a blessing and a curse. You can an amazing deal on almost anything but yet at the same time it isn’t really worth it. Almost every store is crowded, claustrophobic, and downright noisy. Black Friday is definiately something that I do not partake in. Personally, whenever I shop I like to take my time, not be rushed, and prefer whatever store I’m in to be relatively empty.
Melinda R.
Period 6, Economics
I agree with this article 100%. Every holiday our capitalist culture finds an excuse to enhance sales. Thanksgiving has turned into a consumer holiday, with Black Friday the following day. People always go crazy when they see the word sale and usually buy things they don’t want or don’t need. But now, there is a holiday just for sales, which makes consumers go 100 times more insane. On Black Friday people act like the world is ending, they fight and stock up on clothes and electronics they don’t need. Meanwhile, Black Friday does not even have good sales for clothing only electronics, but businesses convince us consumers this day has the best sales for everything. It is sad how our market turned Thanksgiving into a consumer holiday and not a holiday of thankfulness, but this has similarly happened with Christmas too and many other holidays. Our society rarely preaches positive messages, which the author points out at the end of the article.
ReplyDeleteLauren S. Period 6
I always tried to avoid the consumerism that comes with Black Friday. It's scary how people collect for what in reality are only ok discounts. Imagine what we'd do if they products were free. But, I also have a sympathetic view towards what it can bring to people. I know families that do all their Christmas shopping that day because it's the only way they can afford those items. That's why I don't totally agree with the article. It paints Black Friday as this day of massive greed when some people only participate so they can please their families. I think the real crime isn't that the consumers are buying so much, it's that the workers are forced to work on these days. I know because I have to work Thanksgiving Day at The Bakery. It sucks because that's supposed to be the day when I can spend time with my family, but instead I have to serve the hoards of people pushing to get their bread before we run out. We don't have a rush on Black Friday, but the idea is still the same. I am not allowed to ask for any holiday off. That was part of the agreement I made when I took the job. I think it's not only unfair, but it puts me in a position where my life is given to this business. Just because I'm an employee, doesn't mean my life needs to change so drastically, especially since I am only working part time. I don't need the paycheck, but if I did then i couldn't even consider quitting. I think people should not partake in the phenomenon that is Black Friday not because they need to check their greed, but rather to give the workers a break. If those days weren't so busy, people wouldn't have to work in such large numbers.
ReplyDelete-Julian Vargas
I definitely can see how someone may adopt that a point of you of how people spend money they don't have to buy things they don't need, but not everyone just spends at the first site of a good deal on Black Friday. Many people, including myself, know what we want to buy prior to black friday and we know how much we are going to spend. I don't view Black Friday as something that comes arounds once a year and when all prices are so low thats its impossible to say no. I think of Black Friday more as a day where you can walk into a store and know that there is going to be a sale. Alot of these major retailers have sales throughout the year which are just like black friday, and if not, they do have sales on certain items throughout the year, but not many people realize that the prices they pay on Black Friday, are practically the same as the ones a store advertises throughout the year. I don't want to say that people aren't stupid on Black Friday because some are, but many people are also smart with Black Friday and know what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteYash Shah pd 8
I sometimes fall guilty for this, wanting to buy something that I do not need. The rush to buy something that is on a discount can be pretty strong to resist. Who would not pass up such a golden opportunity? Common sense would have us think that buying it would be the right choice.
ReplyDeleteI think people are often brain washed into thinking that black Friday deals are the only day of the where one can truly make the best bang for their buck. People have lot a sense of being thankful for you already have and now have a bad sense of the gimmes. It has turned into an unfortunate irony. -Paridhi Vayda
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this article. Each year we read articles and hear stories on the news of tragedies and outrageous things that occur at malls and in stores during Black Friday, and it’s scary. As a society, we are starting to celebrate Black Friday as a holiday, and we are starting to combine this “holiday” with Thanksgiving. In recent years, Black Friday has been starting earlier and earlier. Now, most stores are open with great sales on Thursday night, taking away from Thanksgiving. Most of the products that are fought over and are bought on this day are not even what people want! They are willing to buy something so useless and unnecessary just because of the ridiculously high sale. With a big enough discount, you can sell someone almost anything.
ReplyDeleteIsabel R. pd 6
Stephen F. period 6
ReplyDeleteThis article outlines the craziness that is black Friday in such a way that is truly astounding. The author calls this national past time a " frenzy" and over dramatizes the hysteria that is this capitalist holiday. What I really enjoyed about this article was its explanation to why we celebrate black Friday and how it was originally to work off our previous Thanksgiving 4,000 calorie meals. Another great point made in this satirical article is when its stated that we end up buying items that we didn't even need or have no use for or that we could not afford to buy just because of these massive sales that come along with Black Friday. In all I believe that the author has done an excellent job in explaining the extreme and crazy holiday that we take part in each and every year in a fluent and clearly sardonic way.
Robert Lis- Pd.9
ReplyDeleteI think that this article is very accurate in describing our actions as Americans. Even though Black Friday is full of amazing sales, most people go out on this day and buy unnecessary items just because it is cheaper. I think that people take Black Friday way too seriously and it is not worth the trouble that it causes. Many people are injured, and some even die, because of the packed crowds of people rushing from store to store. The hype of Black Friday is way too intense and uncalled for. I believe that people should only consider risking going out shopping on Black Friday is if they really deem it necessary to buy an object that they were longing for. Personally, I would go shopping on any ordinary day but only if I really wanted that item in particular. Our society has a very high sense of affluence and this sometimes gets out of hand, especially when people go out and buy things just because they can.
The whole concept of Thanksgiving has changed. In the past, it was a day to acknowledge the "harvest" and the "discovery" of America. It has now turned into the true start of the shopping frenzy for the coming holidays. I think that stores have gone overboard in competing with each other. I feel sorry for the poor salesclerks who are forced to skip their holiday because some large corporations have decided that it is more important to make a sale. I admire the stores who have taken a stand and have refused to open on Thanksgiving Day. Our society has become too focused on consumerism and the need to bag a great deal. Maybe we should reflect on the true meaning of the holiday. It should be a day spent with family and friends, reflecting on the importance of gratitude for the things that we have. We shouldn't look at it as a day to grab more things that we really don't need. We should not be drawn into the frenzy that has been created by merchants. After all, there are still 27 more days to shop before Christmas. - M.B. period 6
ReplyDeleteI thought this article was very interesting. With Black Friday just around the corner, it is very easy to forget what comes before that (Thanksgiving). And when reading this article and thinking about it, all the shopping frenziness and fighting over merchandise seem to contradict the whole meaning of this season. Yes, the gifts are usually bought in good spirits for someone else, but the way that the whole Black Friday shopping has evolved may be doing more damage than good. It has become to some people more important than Thanksgiving, which is ridiculous. With that being said, I do think the article took a very funny approach to the whole topic that was quite humorous, yet still serious. I liked the article also because it talked about how quick we are to buy things in this panic; and we push aside all other aspects (Such as interest). –Tara O’Shea
ReplyDeleteChirag Soni; AP Econ Pd.8
ReplyDeleteI think that the article was mostly true. I did some previous research on the black friday sales, and the research shows that the week after thanksgiving actually is the day where there is the most sales. Black Friday has become an excuse to splurge and buy without having to think about the practicality of the items you are buying. Even though there are sales on black friday, most stores only have a limited supply of the items on sale. This leads to people just buying a lot of things that are not even on sale for the heck of it because they missed out on the items on sale. Personally, I like shopping on cyber monday because there is no rush, and I feel that I actually see a substantial difference in the price.
in my opinion, shopping on black friday is pointless because these goods usually are not what we need, we are not buying "necessary" things, we are buying "extra" things. i believe that black friday is invented by some businessman in order to stimulate the market so that people can buy things that usually are hardily sold.
ReplyDeleteper 9 Yan
LP Pd 8
ReplyDeleteHaha, I definitely agree with this article that the holiday of giving thanks is pretty much contradicted with Black Friday being only a day after. However, I'd be a liar if I say I never went black friday shopping. I think similarly to how this author started off, most people go black friday shopping looking for things they do not need and buy it anyways on an impulsive reaction because it seems to be half price. However, majority of the time I go black friday shopping, I never use or wear anything that I buy. I think this generation especially is a generation of wanting extra crap we don't need. And although I've mentioned all these points, I know that won't stop anyone from shopping (including me to be honest), but it is very sad that a holiday that is supposed to be humbling and filled with gratitude is destroyed. It goes the same for Christmas which is a holiday of gift giving, but it has turned into a holiday focus on receiving (at least on a teenager's perspective).
While reading this article- I started to wonder how Black Friday even came about? Who came up with this idea to sell merchandise for insanely low prices, and eventually start this tradition that essentially marks the consumer-frenzy world America is? However, I find it ironic how a holiday is supposed to be dedicated to being thankful for what you have has been morphed into a holiday where people are essentially the exact opposite. Now, Thanksgiving dinners have not really been about meeting with family, but more about orchestrating the ultimate game plan to get all the great Black Friday deals from Walmart. Now, people wait in lines at midnight in order to get the first grab on merchandise. Every year, we hear about the number of people that have been injured or even killed by the stampede of people at Black Friday. The odd part of this whole tradition is that people don't even buy things that they need or even want. But all the sudden, because it's on sale, people feel the need to take advantage of these prices while they can. At least it's a smart marketing strategy for companies in order to get rid of inventory. They make us consumers think that we need these pointless products by adjusting price, and it works.
ReplyDelete- Maisha Savani Pd.8
Zeeshan Anwar – Period 8
ReplyDeleteYolanda Reid Chassiakos’ editorial “Capitalist Bacchanalia” was definitely relatable and relevant in this day and age. For me, it served as a necessary reminder of reality. After thought, I completely agree with Chassiakos that Thanksgiving has transformed from a celebration of gratitude to a celebration of consumerism. At home, my family deals with issues of similar nature. Often times, when my family and I encounter discounts or sales on items, we instantly purchase them, thinking that doing so will save us money in the long run. In reality, however, such things are of no use to us; in other words, we do not necessarily need nor want them. At this point, my house is full of disposable “stuff” that my family does not utilize; instead, most of it remains in storage and eventually, we forget that we bought the items in the first place. I admit that, in past years, I have been a victim to the high of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping. This year, I hope to overcome this consumerist habit and spend more of my holiday break expressing gratitude for and appreciating what I already possess. As ancient Greek philosophers said, "Pan Metron Ariston,” or everything in moderation.
I completely agree with this article. I feel that we, as humans, consume more that we actually need and this is a model example; we are buying so much stuff on Black Friday shopping which we haven't any possible need for. In simpler terms, we are aimlessly wasting our money buying stuff that are perceived as very cheap. By doing this, we do not dare stop and think of the consequences of it: maxed out credit cards, debts, etc. And although some people know of this risk, they don't care because they feel as though this shopping time actually saves them heaps of money and use Thanksgiving as their excuses to spend this amount of money. This mindset of people have clearly shown that Thanksgiving has evolved into I completely agree with this article. I feel that we, as humans, consume more that we actually need and this is a model example; we are buying so much stuff on Black Friday shopping which we haven't any possible need for. In simpler terms, we are aimlessly wasting our money buying stuff that are perceived as very cheap. By doing this, we do not dare stop and think of the consequences of it: maxed out credit cards, debts, etc. And although some people know of this risk, they don't care because they feel as though this shopping time actually saves them heaps of money and use Thanksgiving as their excuses to spend this amount of money. This mindset of people have clearly shown that Thanksgiving has evolved into approved greed.
ReplyDelete-Maresa M. Period 8
I think that the article is very true about thanksgiving. Its a prime example of capitalism. It changed from a wonderful and thankful holiday to a brief moments of thanks and then to savagery of consumer products. No one can resist the every things half off. I think everyone has their own crazy black friday story where we hate the experiences but still come back every year to participate in it. Its addicting like a drug. But black friday is so big in our country because the rich get richer (so they can buy the product for full prices whenever they want) and the poor get poorer (not enough income therefore they wait for the perfect opportunity to buy what they want for a very cheap price). Thus black friday has became very crucial for the people of America. Go to other places around the world, black friday doesnt even exist or isnt even that crazy as it is here.
ReplyDelete- Noved G. Period 9
The idea of people gorging themselves on high-carb foods, then buying everything in sight as if the apocalypse was near makes me think of the same humans in Pixar's movie, Wall-E. I personally don't enjoy the idea of purchasing masses of stuff on Black Friday just because "it's a good deal". I don't condemn the mini-holiday though, because I can see how many people would enjoy the idea of fun at a discounted price. However, I think it becomes a bit excessive when people are acting like savages and trampling each other just to get the best deals. If a big flat screen LCD television was originally $2,000 and is selling for $500 on Black Friday, and a mob of people killed a man in their rush to get their hands on it, it's like saying that man's life wasn't even worth $2,000, just a mere, "cheap", $500. Thanksgiving is a time when we're supposed to be thankful for what we have, but it seems like it's evolved into a day where we're grateful for the low prices on everything else we could also have. It angers me to see that a holiday originally meant for spending time with friends and family has become a day where your only friends are those who save you a place on the long checkout lines and family only matters if they're serving you food.
ReplyDelete- VL Period 8
I guess the article was somewhat right in saying that Black Friday has become a day that preaches the exact opposite of Thanksgiving. Instead of being thankful for what we have, we rush off to fight others off to buy the things that we want and don’t have. Thanksgiving has certainly evolved as stores are opening earlier and earlier every year, and now is at the point where people are off to shop right after they finish their Thanksgiving meal- even sometimes cutting it short to go shop. Personally, I’m a fan of it. I had never been Black Friday shopping until two years ago and I think it’s a great opportunity for the consumer to buy things at a cheaper price as long as they are willing to take on the exhaustion that comes along with it. And I believe that not all Americans are Black Friday crazy. It is possible to enjoy Thanksgiving with family and friends and also do a little shopping on Friday. I plan on having a great meal with my family On Thursday nonetheless, and then going shopping myself to get more stuff…I love stuff. But this time around I’ll keep in mind to remember what Thanksgiving is all about- offering thanks, not shopping.
ReplyDeleteThis article is completely true. Last year, when I went Black Friday shopping all the sales were over because the sales started on Thanksgiving at 10 PM and ended at 9 AM. They started on Thanksgiving. You should spend Thanksgiving with your family and friends not with strangers at a mall. Every time I think of Thanksgiving, I actually think of Black Friday, which is sad. They have such great sales, so how can you not go? I buy all my winter clothes and gifts during Black Friday.
ReplyDeleteJJ Pd 9
Black friday is something I have never really understood. In my opinion the entire notion of Black Friday is a marketing scheme that has snowballed into full blown consumerism. People start camping out for days in front of stores and sacrifice their income just to get a discount for “stuff” they most likely won’t/barely use. We've all seen the videos of people trampling each other for a items, we've all read the stories of people getting killed by stampeding shoppers, and we’ve all experienced the crowded malls. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy black friday too. But a lot of people are going way overboard with it. Is it really worth sleeping in the parking lot for a $20 discount? Moreover, I think that it would absolutely suck to work during black friday.
ReplyDelete-Ben Jung period 9
Thanksgiving brings life to the word ironic. On this festive day, families unite to appreciate their shared blessings. People revel over what they have and honor thanksgiving as a day of self-reflection. The next day is literally the polar opposite. Those same appreciate family members are now “saturated and sedated” going mad over 20% off electronics and items they don’t really have a need for. The demand curve seems to blur as people buy anything they can get their hands on. Who wouldn’t want a “three year loan on an SUV.” Black Friday emphasizes are consumerist culture and pushes us to buy even though we are content with what we are have. The irony of the holiday is so great, to a point where it’s almost funny. Thanks and cheer are replaced with greed and debt. This capitalist hysteria undermines our feelings of cherishment and promotes an insatiable desire for more goods. It’s a sad day when people are more thankful for discounts than their family.
ReplyDelete-TB Econ Per 9
S.S Pd 9
ReplyDeleteThis article was so true and so ironic because people are the most insatiable creatures since they cannot get enough of what they don't have. It's sad that we consume so much meanwhile we know we are in debt, but we continue to spend. We should call Thanksgiving, "Takesgiving" (haha) because all we do is take and we haven't even had the chance to digest our meal! It's sad because it shows how selfish we are and we have actually taken out the goodness and selflessness out of this holiday. I have never been Black Friday shopping nor do I plan on it unless I am in dire need of an electronic. Otherwise, buying clothes on sale is pointless to me if I can usually get it on sale without getting trampled over and having to wait on those lines. The phrase "Pan Metron Ariston" means everything in moderation and for that to happen in terms of people's buying habits AND mindsets would be truly a CHRISTMAS miracle.
It is so ironic that the day before consumers greedily buy frivolous items they don't really need, they are thankful for all that they have. I never really considered that Black Friday could have a some cons to it. Though businesses reap profits and consumers purchase items for a lot less than the original price, consumers also increase their debt by following victim to the craze of Black Friday shopping, spending and buying more than they actually need. If more of an emphasis of what they are thankful for is pushed on consumers on Thanksgiving, then maybe they would not feel impulse to rush out to buy things they don't really need, only increasing their debt.
ReplyDeleteAvital B.
"Pan Metron Ariston" -- everything in moderation.” I feel is something that we have forgotten in society along with the everyday blessings we have. Why do we need a national holiday lasting one day to think of what we are grateful for? If we do take everything in moderation, maybe others would take more time to reflect on what they have more than what they don’t have. Christmas is crawling into thanksgiving. I have noticed over the year’s holiday songs being played well before Thanksgiving Day and in newspapers bundles of advertisements for the next best toy. I think that being in a society that demands big we just naturally get hooked on materialistic things. It’s not that we’re bad people but we have been groomed by society either by friends or the way we grow up to want. That’s where moderation comes into play as being very important because the less we have the more we are grateful. If we have everything at the snap of our fingertips there’s no excitement or feeling of blessing in that object. It takes away from the holiday spirit as well; we want to be on the giving end but lately a lot of people are on the receiving end when it comes to gifts.
ReplyDeleteSRB P6
R.L. Per. 8
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the author of this article on this topic of "Thanksbuying", who claims that Thanksgiving has transformed from a celebration of gratitude to a celebration of consumerism. It's incredible to see people, including myself, go crazy on Black Friday when the sales are not even that great after all, and the checkout lines are extremely long. I think the spirit of the day and the excitement it holds are what gets people hyped up about Black Friday. The whole day is just full of adventure and thrill such as getting up at 2 A.M. to hit the mall and then the Tanger outlets and then back to the mall. People wait till this day to binge shop because it is definitely a stress reliever to be able to buy everything you want to buy even when you don't necessarily need it. In my opinion, this day exists just to serve as our excuse for satisfying our desires to buy more "things."
I do agree that our contemporary culture revolves around consumerism which has resulted in the transition between a celebration of gratitude to an unnecessary waste of money. The ostensible benefits of buying products on Black Friday prove to be nonexistent as we continue to purchase goods that we do not even need. In an effort to keep up with the pace society has placed on its citizens, we mindlessly spend our limited money, leaving us with credit card debt. Excessive materialistic items do not justify our wasteful spending during Thanksgiving, elucidating America's loss of identity. "Thanksbuying" has taken over as the new holiday, and will continue unless we come to our senses and celebrate the actual tradition of giving thanks instead of giving away our money carelessly.
ReplyDelete-Kevin Chao Period 8
I hate and have always hated the furor behind Black Friday shopping, ESPECIALLY since it is around Thanksgiving time. The irony is too distinct for comfort. While I do believe shopping is one of many great ways to spend mornings around Thanksgiving time with family, the whole idea centered around getting "stuff," regardless of whether it is for the person buying or a gift for a friend, is not the idea that should be reinforced around the time of Thanksgiving. I understand that businesses have to get themselves "in the green" but there should be a line where society and businesses work together so that businesses can make their profits and culture is still allowed to develop the way we want it to. - Jugal pd. 8
ReplyDeleteI think the key argument made in the article is that Thanksgiving and Black Friday inspire reckless excess, from 4000-calorie dinners to spur-of-the-moment expensive car purchases. I think this is true—you always hear these ridiculous stories of shoppers physically assaulting each other to get some of these deals on Black Friday and, ironically enough, even on Thanksgiving itself. One would think the only national holiday dedicated to giving thanks for what one has wouldn’t be characterized by early Black Friday frenzy, but it seems to happen more and more often each year. With that in mind, I don’t think the author will be very happy with some of the headlines occupying the news for the next few days.
ReplyDeleteKaran Singhal
AP Econ Pd. 9
David Lee Pd 9
ReplyDeleteI agree with this article because Americans spend a great amount of time buying things they don't really need rather than spending meaningful time at the dinner table. Stores are opening earlier, Thursday dinner time, which shows some people skip dinner to buy things they don't need. This article relates to what we talked about in class today, how the debt of America keeps on growing. We keep buying and buying on Black Friday and now Cyber Monday, once Christmas shopping starts we will have so much debt. Americans do not put their money in private savings, therefore all we can do is spend, spend, spend.
As someone who doesn't like Black Friday shopping and has never bought more than some cheap books and CDs from stores like Target, I have never truly understood the Black Friday frenzy. I guess I can see why people like it, but I definitely agree with the author of this article. So much of it is due to the United States becoming an increasingly consumer society. People just buy, buy, buy. And what makes Black Friday so dangerous is that people impulsively buy goods, thinking about how cheap they are on that day. They don't think about whether they really need the item, if they'll ever even use it, and/or if they have the money to buy all the goods. They see the price tag and the enticing sales. I think it's sad that a holiday such as Thanksgiving, which is about spending time with family and friends and appreciating/giving thanks for what we have has become about shopping and buying. If you're thankful for what you have, do you really need a new TV, new car, new whatever? Didn't you just celebrate what you have? And it's gotten worse as Black Friday fever has increased; stores start sales even on Thanksgiving, further cutting into time meant to be spent with loved ones. It takes away from the whole meaning behind the holiday and leaves people spending more money on goods they don't really need. Of course those benefiting aren't complaining. It's just too bad many people (not all people) don't realize it themselves.
ReplyDeleteI dont know why the author is surprised about the consumerism that comes with Black Friday. Yes, it does take away the purpose of Thanksgiving, and, yes, most of the products bought during the sale are worthless anyways. However, consumerism and Black Friday are what define America today. As the capitalist king in modern economics, America should be predicted to be a country full of people frenetic over consuming goods, especially when a clearance sale is set as motivation. Moderation? Not in America.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of his argument, I agree that Americans need to think less about money and more about other aspects such as being thankful on the holiday Thanksgiving. But that's just asking to change what defines America; that's just asking to change all of modern American culture.
-Jim T
This article shows how people can make stupid decisions on black friday , putting them into credit card debt. He shows how they will just rush through the isles and grab any bargains they see, even if they do not need it. However, I think that buying during black friday can be beneficial if it means you buy things that you are going to buy anyways in the future; it is just a cheaper price now. Also, i do not think that people would go like "A no-interest, three-year loan on that SUV at the dealer's till midnight? Let's go!" because it is obvious that you still have to pay for this, just later. I think that buying can be OK if you know what you want to get and do not buy extra things just because it is a good bargain.
ReplyDelete- Karan L. Period 8
I believe that Black Friday is necessary for people to feel good about themselves and their purchases. In the moment, sales make us seem rich and cause us to buy and spend more on products that we wouldn’t normally. As Pigou’s Wealth Effect claims, the drop in price induces us consumers to spend more. It is especially good in midst of the Great Recession because the economy is being stimulated because households are spending their money and feeding in into the rest of the cycle. However, I agree with the author that it is ironic that Black Friday takes place after Thanksgiving because after a day we give thanks to the immaterial, we go on to buy more materials.
ReplyDeleteAB pd. 9
Won Park Period 9
ReplyDeleteThis article made a lot of sense. It is pretty funny that Thanksgiving is so closely tied with Black Friday. It seems pretty contradictory. However, I cannot relate to the hysteria of Black Friday shopping. I have never gone out to shop on Black Friday. I do see how sales can manipulate thousands of people to become knee deep in debt. I do not think we can do anything to fix this situation.
I agree with what this article is saying. Right after people give thanks for all the things they have they go buy more. Since everything is on sale they go crazy and buy everything. People wait for this it's become part of the Holiday spirit.
ReplyDeleteVG Prd 6
Black Friday has always been the type of outright consumer gluttony that I have viewed as a necessary evil - evil, yes, but in a country so dominated by the need to buy, consume, then buy some more, I supposed (in my naive Herricks-induced bubble) that since nothing REALLY awful came out of the whole affair, it just allowed corporations the opportunity to gain some largely needed profit. However, with the advent of bountiful, far saner alternatives, like Cyber Monday, and stories of people literally dying due to the animalistic stampedes that occur on this consumer holiday, I can't help but think, "How is this still a thing?" for lack of a more eloquent phrase. Needless to say, there is intense irony emerging from the fact that this display of consumer greed follows Thanksgiving, which has now become an equally gluttonous display of excess. Personally, I doubt I will ever understand the allure of Black Friday. I would much rather lay in the wake of my turkey-induced food coma and pay full price for that LCD TV than lose my right arm battling a soccer mom for it at 2am.
ReplyDelete-Qasim Iqbal, Period 9
It is not surprising that Thanksgiving has been commercialized. Before every major holiday retailers have some sort of special sale. One of my main issues with all of these sales, is the loss of the meaning of each holiday. Whenever I watch TV, all the ads are usually holiday related. The problem with Thanksgiving and Black Friday, is that some retailers are begging to open their stores on Thursday. If they open their stores on Thursday, then their employees won't have any time to spend with their families. Fortunately, some companies are refusing to open their doors on Thanksgiving day in an attempt to shame competitors who will stay open.
ReplyDeleteAA Per 9
Jonathan Chen - Period 9
ReplyDeleteThough my family personally doesn't do much buying on Thanksgiving, I can see why many would. I found the article interesting in that it details the gradual transition from indulging in food to indulging in spending. I agree with the article's stance on this issue; buying neither strengthens family bonds nor relates to the idea of "giving" in Thanksgiving. There are many better, and often cheaper, activities that can be done to celebrate this holiday. For instance, the classic Thanksgiving dinner can, at the very least, give one's family some time together without costing an extravagant amount of money.
AHirani Prd. 9
ReplyDeleteI could talk on and on about the irony of the notion of shopping right after Thanksgiving, but then I'd also be technically wrong since shopping starts midnight of Thanksgiving morning for some places. People point out how the idea of rampaging over sales right after a day of being thankful for what we have is stupid, and I can't help but agree with them. The whole idea behind 'mine, mine mine' kind of angers me to a point, but I feel that my upbringing influenced that since I never grew up with a silver spoon in my mouth. Seeing that my family, and many others, have been fine without the 'mine, mine mine' philosophy, I think that everyone can give up on that for a day.
I think the article had so much truth to it. Like every single statement she said, I knew exactly what she was talking about. And I could connect to it. My dad never goes shopping, but the few times that he does, he goes into the store for only one thing, but comes out with 12 other items. Just a few weeks ago, he went into Micro-Center for a microphone and when we left, he chose the cheapest microphone but ended up buying the most expensive Wi-Fi booster that cost over $100 and a car charger, even though we already had one for each car. I think I’m the same way though. Black Friday 2 years ago, my brother and I stood outside of Best Buy from 3 P.M. to 12 A.M. just to get a new Xbox. I wonder how long it will be until Thanksgiving itself is taken over and people start waiting in lines on Wednesday morning until 12 A.M. on Friday.
ReplyDelete-ArjunL Pd. 8
It is easy to forget about the greater effect of Black Friday. As an average consumer, I must admit that I do participate in the Black Friday madness. I rarely even consider the irony behind the materialistic mass shopping that occurs just hours after a day that is designated for giving thanks. However, this article has highlighted just how unethical the day is.
ReplyDelete-Gina Yoo
It is true that the thanksgiving weekend represents a profound shift in psychology; on thursday we celebrate what we are thankful for, and on friday we celebrate consumerism. But there isn't anything necessarily wrong with that. Black friday gives people the opportunity to satisfy a selfish desire or two and I don't understand why people like this writer for the Huffington Post feel the need to bash that desire. In a world where many people work over 40 hours a week, they deserve to be rewarded in the way they choose - so long as they can afford it.
ReplyDeleteE.S. period 8
"Our consumerist culture has managed to transform Thanksgiving from a celebration of gratitude to a celebration of consumerism." This sums up the article as a whole. Thanksgiving has been transformed from a day of giving thanks to a day of selfishness and gluttony. It was accurate how it said we buy a big flat screen even if we don't want, afford or have space for it. We get so caught up in the aura of the holiday and are pressured into throwing our money around. The craziness of Black Friday has led to even deaths of employees and shoppers. It is amazing how this hasn't even phased us too much. We can criticize it all we want but come Thanksgiving and Black Friday we will all submit to our usual habits even if we know they are not ideal
ReplyDelete-KJ PER 8
I find that shopping on Thanksgiving destroys the entire purpose of the holiday and the foundation upon which it was founded. We glutinous Americans have taken an occasion to be grateful for all that we have and take pleasure in the fact that we are so fortunate and transformed it into a holiday to buy stuff that's not much cheaper than it is regularly. I feel bad for people who have become so enthralled by the capitalistic propaganda and feel compelled to buy overpriced garbage. I feel bad for those unfortunate enough to work on thanksgiving night and having to deal with hordes of crazed shoppers. It's despicable.
ReplyDeleteSg p9
This article is very thought provoking because until this point I had not considered how ironic it is that the day after we all give thanks for the things we have and the people we value in life, we fight one another over unnecssary items that we don’t need, but want. Especially over the past few years, when more stores have been opening their doors to flowing customers earlier and earlier, some even opening up late Thanksgiving evening. This rat race for items that none of us need but simply find the need to buy because they are at a discounted price, is slowly degrading the values of our society today. Although I myelf enjoy the festivites of Thanksgiving weekend and the joy of going aorund a cramp packed mall the day after a hearty meal with loved ones to find some cool products to buy, I agree it is an unneccesary facet of our society and drives from the values that we embrace the day before.
ReplyDeleteA.R. P8
The concept of Thanksbuying defines the very reason that when I was younger and begged my mom to go Black Friday shopping. Even when there were sales- my mom would refuse since she would remind me that the only purpose of Black Friday was to waste money on products that would never be needed in the house. Say, a flat screen TV which was to replace the older flat screen already occupied the living room wall. It really has turned into a celebration of thanks into a concept of overindulgent consumerism. I think the best thing to do is before going for black friday shopping- list only the things needed and not be overwhelmed by the whims of good sales on items that we do not need.
ReplyDeleteD.M 8
Personally, I love how Thanksgiving has changed through an expansion of consumerism. It gives me an excuse to spend obscene amounts of money on everything from electronics to shoes and it allows me to have lots of stuff that I need. However, I think it has taken away from family time and it has made shopping very dangerous. I do all my Black Friday shopping on Cyber Monday though so I'm safe. Have a happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDelete-DC pd 8
The consumerism that infects the American public is an amazingly stereotypical American viewpoint, a sense of gluttony that powers our economy. I wouldn't say it's limited to only Thanksgiving, rather more ironically apparent during Thanksgiving just as the holiday season rolls in. But buying in excess doesn't sound too bad to me, if not a big drain on the world's resources; the article's main punch seems to lie in the poor financial sense of those who go on buying sprees during the Thanksgiving season, those who think that the savings they are getting make up for the losses. The savings and bargains are a farce in light of the attention-grabbing strategies keeping customers in the stores to buy.
ReplyDeleteKramer Period 8 JW
First off, I thought the title of this article was intriguing. The word Bacchanalia refers to a lively festival that typically entails large amounts of alcohol. Thereby, a capitalist Bacchanalia is meant to conjure images of citizens spending money in a state of solely semi-awareness (the attraction of "stuff" acts, much like drugs and alcohol, to manipulate our senses and cause us to buy, buy, and.. oh yeah, buy). Personally, my family never felt the attraction of Black Friday. The long waits, the lack of sleep, the only partially good deals that are overhyped by media -- Black Friday simply had no appeal to my parents, and as a result, has no appeal to me. However, last year, I went Black Friday shopping for the first time with my two friends. Though I purchased nothing except coffee and a Jamba Juice, it amazed me to see, firsthand, the frenzy that people get into over Black Friday sales. The irony lies in the fact that many of these sales occur during the year, or can be acquired through the use of coupons. However, the hype of Black Friday causes people to forget this fact and instead consume on Black Friday. So, in conclusion, I felt that this article was a very accurate depiction of Black Friday.
ReplyDeleteShweta Lodha
Pd 8
If I understand this article correctly, it's talking about how Black Friday shopping isn't as good as it seems because it leaves people in debt over buying things that they didn't really need, but the sales were too good to resist. Personally, I agree with this. So many times in a store, friends and family say things like, "Go get something else too. It's 20% off the second one." Sometimes, it is the smarter decision to take advantage of the deal, but sometimes, the second thing bought is pointless. There are so many sweaters sitting around in my house that my parents said I should buy because of a deal that I never wore because I hated them but bought them for the deal. There are so many weird kitchen gadgets that my dad has bought because of them being on sale that we still haven't found any use for. And there are so many strange water bottles with compartments everywhere you look in my house because my dad was seduced by the sale. Take this concept of buying things you don't need just because they're on sale, add it to Black Friday (where everything is on sale), and you're left with a lot of debt. So because of this phenomenon that I've observed and the ridiculous deals of Black Friday, I see this article's point. But I also think Black Friday is good in the sense that it has become apart of our culture. I went this year simply for the experience, and personally, I loved it. Waking up early was a hassle but going to the mall with friends to get amazing deals was way more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be. I also think it's nice to have something to as a transition into the holiday season. Because of these two perspectives I have, I am ambivalent towards Black Friday. -B.T Period 8
ReplyDeleteI never understood the concept of Black Friday, especially since it is the day right after Thanksgiving. It's great that there are so many amazing sales that go on, but I never understood why it was such a big deal. As the holiday season approaches, people are bound to go shopping for gifts so money would be incoming anyway.
ReplyDeleteKK pd 8
I agree with this article 100%. Every holiday our capitalist culture finds an excuse to enhance sales. Thanksgiving has turned into a consumer holiday, with Black Friday the following day. People always go crazy when they see the word sale and usually buy things they don’t want or don’t need. But now, there is a holiday just for sales, which makes consumers go 100 times more insane. On Black Friday people act like the world is ending, they fight and stock up on clothes and electronics they don’t need. Meanwhile, Black Friday does not even have good sales for clothing only electronics, but businesses convince us consumers this day has the best sales for everything. It is sad how our market turned Thanksgiving into a consumer holiday and not a holiday of thankfulness, but this has similarly happened with Christmas too and many other holidays. Our society rarely preaches positive messages, which the author points out at the end of the article.
ReplyDeleteLauren S. Period 6
Amanda Walsh
ReplyDeletewhen you think about it with the perspective of somebody who doesnt celebrate the holiday or live in north america and take into account the stigma that all American people are overweight and rude, it makes us all look way worse. Alot of Americans (should) know that the relationship between the Natives and the European immigrants was bloody. But the media glorifies this holiday with cute cartoon turkeys and native americans and the white people holding hands but that was far from the truth. The way black friday has become almost like a holiday makes me sick. Thursday night at the table we say what we're thankful for and then the next day you're running around the mall like a farm animal trying to snatch that deal on as much as you can. sickening
I find it very interesting how the day after people say what they are thankful for, they flock into stores like sheep simply because of "lower prices".
ReplyDeleteI find this article very ironic. The fact that our country spends a whole day giving thanks and showing appreciation for all that we have only to go on a frenzy of buying material things we don't really need all in the same few days is unbelievable. The juxtaposition of these 2 days makes it clear that people need to reevaluate what they really need. These days, people chase things like possessions and money, and don't enjoy and appreciate what really matters in life.
ReplyDeleteHaley Lacey, pd 6
I agree with the author of the article. It's sort of ironic how the original values of Thanksgiving, such as being thankful and grateful for the people in our lives, have been replaced by a frantic frenzy of capitalism. I will not lie; I myself wake up early in the morning the day after Thanksgiving to go Black Friday shopping. However, I would never give up spending time with my family and eating Thanksgiving dinner to wait on lines for 50% off clothes. Thanksgiving comes once a year, but there is always a sale somewhere. Giving up something special for a commodity is, in my opinion, one of the dumbest things you can do.
ReplyDeleteKH8
I myself am guilty of participating in shopping on Black Friday/ Thanksgiving and I never really thought about how silly the idea of shopping on Thanksgiving is until I read this article. The author is right, Thanksgiving has become nothing but a day for gluttony between the meals and the shopping. I hope we could try to get back to the days where Thanksgiving actually meant something and spending time with your family is valued more than a 50% sale.
ReplyDeleteTristen Cara pd 3
ReplyDeleteI honestly never saw the point of black Friday. Yes, the prices are lowered, barley, and the stores are crowded which is good for the company but why would you want to wait online in the cold all night and early in the morning. Some people even leave dinner early to go shopping. Thanksgiving is suppose to be about being thankful not being greedy.
After reading this article I began to question the holiday of Thanksgiving and what is truly associated with the holiday. As of today, holiday is 3 days away and since it is vastly approaching it is the only thing that is being discussed. When most people think of thanksgiving they firstly associate it with turkey and food, secondly shopping and black Friday. It really made me question the kind of people that we’ve evolved into.
ReplyDeleteIn the past Thanksgiving was all about spending time with family, eating a lot of good food and making memories. But nowadays many people in my family spend an hour or two at dinner and then rush off into the cold to battle it out with other people for the best deals on electronics or to get an early start on their Christmas shopping. “ Certainly today, with stores opening in the wee hours, the masses are exhorted to get off their "masses" and race to their local retailers for a local version of World Wrestling Federation tryouts. "I got here first... that dress is mine... dibs that camera... mine, mine, mine." With nary a moment to digest their Thanksgiving feast, the gladiators are sent into the ring to fight for ostensible bargains amidst cheering crowds. Hey, everything's half off-- who can resist?”
I personally think that black Friday is both a blessing and a curse. You can an amazing deal on almost anything but yet at the same time it isn’t really worth it. Almost every store is crowded, claustrophobic, and downright noisy. Black Friday is definiately something that I do not partake in. Personally, whenever I shop I like to take my time, not be rushed, and prefer whatever store I’m in to be relatively empty.
- Melinda R. Period 6