MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > The "Black Friday" rubbish continues

The "Black Friday" rubbish continues

posted 4 years ago by SaveTheSeason (388)
74 replies | jump to latest

There's a pandemic going on but you would never know it, judging by the increasing number of pop-up ads (even right here on MovieChat) for this "Black Friday" garbage. These ads first started showing up a couple of weeks before Halloween. I posted this message last year, and unfortunately it's just as relevant today as it was then.

It's called the DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING. There is no such day as "Black Friday." This is nothing but industry jargon that originated with the American department stores, from the accounting phrase "in the black," or turning a profit. So it basically means "Profit Friday" or "Money Friday," which is not why we have holidays. The holiday season is a time to take a break from the daily grind and enjoy some much-needed time off. It's not a time to shove and trample one another over some shoddy imported junk merchandise.

We've been bombarded with this nonsense ever since the minute Halloween ended. It's everywhere: on TV, the radio, in the print media, and on the Internet. You can't even watch a hockey game without hearing about this garbage.

We need to take back the holiday season. There are so few holidays left. Remember when New Year's Day, Easter and July 4th were actual holidays? One by one they have become ordinary weekdays with business as usual. Thanksgiving Day is becoming the latest casualty. Soon it will be nothing more than a fancy marking on the calendar.

The term "Black Friday" needs to be removed from the lexicon. A good start is to refer to the day following Thanksgiving as simply the DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, as was always done in the past. A store is simply conducting an AFTER THANKSGIVING SALE, and it's not some earth-shaking event. It's just another sale, and not a very good one either. There are many sales being held throughout the year that offer much better savings than this one. So why destroy the Thanksgiving weekend?

It's a shame that this nonsense has now crossed the border into Canada, and also to some European countries that have no Thanksgiving holiday. It appears no one is safe any longer from this pestilence.

Save the holiday season before it's lost forever.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 4 years ago

What, do you want America to give up on capitalism?

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

Get rid of corporate-dominated capitalism, and have a true free-market economy. An economy where mom-and-pop grocers, neighborhood hardware stores and family-owned restaurants can thrive without being destroyed by some giant national chain.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 4 years ago

Well, you can't have a cake and eat it too. Thing is what makes capitalism works is because it let people who have capital (i.e., money) to invest and thrive in those mom n pop bussineses and grow them into corporations.

Young people may not know this, but Apple Corp. isn't always a big corp. At one time they 're just what you say: A mom n pop bussiness. They became the biggest corporation like they are today is because of capitalism. Without capitalism they might be your neighbor computer repair shop.

Amazon was just a guy that sells books. McDonald's was just a random restaurant. Nike was just dudes trying to sell Japanese sneakers.

So do you want them to grow or not?

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

I couldn't care less about Amazon. I can count on one hand the number of times I've used it, and then it was only as a last resort. Not one bit impressed with it. It's another giant entity that grew by putting local shops out of business. Malls are becoming ghost towns. Amazon's warehouses are sweatshops where the employees are treated like garbage.

I can do without McDonald's. Their burgers are garbage, they too treat their employees like dirt, and put family-run restaurants with better-quality food out of business.

When I buy shoes I look for something that's high-quality and affordable. I don't purchase things for the brand name.

I have no problem with someone becoming wealthy if it's achieved through good honest hard work, rather than through back-stabbing and stepping on others on their way up.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 4 years ago

You don't get it. You couldn't care less about Amazon, McDonald's, etc. NOW after they got big. But they were also mom and pop business at first. They can only get that big because other people (people with lots of money) invested in them.

So what do you want? That all mom and pop stores should only be mom and pop stores forever? No one should invest in their business or what?

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

What I want is a balance. There has been more than one instance in my area where a local family-run restaurant with good food gets run into the ground. Why? Because some giant corporate chain opens a location two blocks away. One that sells processed garbage food. The local place is at an automatic disadvantage because they can't afford all the slickly-produced deceptive advertising that saturates the media. Eventually the chains dominate the area, leaving fewer (and increasingly inferior) choices for people who wish to dine out.

What's wrong with a mom-and-pop operation remaining as it is? Why is it necessary for an outsider to invest in it, especially when the place is thriving? Unlike the owner or founder who takes pride in their work and desires to offer a high-quality product, the outsider sees nothing but the bottom line. These outsiders think they can now dictate how the business should be run. That's when corners start getting cut and inferior ingredients get added to the recipe. The quality of the food and service gradually declines as the prices continue to rise. One example of this is Subway. When they first entered my area they had the best sandwiches in town. As the chain grew and added more locations, the quality of the food and service began to erode. I haven't done business with Subway for almost a decade now and can only imagine how much more they've declined since.

"If it ain't broken, don't fix it." An old adage that is still relevant today.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 4 years ago

Well, "balance" is easy to say hard to achieve. It's also vague. What is balance anyway? Who gets to decide things are balance or not?

What's wrong with mom and pop stores keep being mom and pop stores forever? Other countries. That's the problem.

The problem is that other countries don't give a shit. If you hinder businesses to grow into big corporations to keep your mom and pop stores forever, your country will be poor and uncompetitive. Your smartest most talented people will leave your country and move to other countries where they can get filthy rich. Except you pull a North Korea and shoot whoever dares to leave.

You'll end up with a brain drain and lots and lots of mom and pop stores.

The solution to your problem is maybe, in my opinion, maybe education. To educate people to not easily fall on marketing tactics and not being gullible to buy any garbage that's advertised.

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

"If you hinder businesses to grow into big corporations to keep your mom and pop stores forever, your country will be poor and uncompetitive."

If there were more mom-and-pop stores, why would that make the country poor and uncompetitive? Wouldn't the wealth generated by the economy be distributed more equitably? And wouldn't more stores mean more competition?

Education? I think you hit the nail squarely on the head with that solution. If people would do more research and begin thinking for themselves, they would soon discover that things like this "Black Friday" garbage are just a bunch of hype. They would learn that there are far better sales being held all throughout the year, and would actually get better deals. There would be no need to destroy the Thanksgiving weekend.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 4 years ago

That's how it goes. More competition will make businesses join forces to be able to compete stronger. Thus it gets bigger. Then they will buy other strugling businesses to make them even more competitive and not be crushed by the heightened competition.

That's how GM became GM. That's how Pizza Hut became Pizza Hut. Like I said, they were once also lovely little mom and pop businesses.

Also, not all business can be served by mom and pop stores. Mom and pop shops cannot produce cars, or aeroplanes, or high tech equipments, or industrial chemicals, etc.

Not everything is just groceries and food.

Without those big corporations, of course your country became poor and uncompetitive in global scale. It may not be Afghanistan poor, but maybe Vietnam poor. Do you really want that?

Capitalism has it's places. People just need to be educated to be less stupid.

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

I never said I wanted the country to be poor. On the contrary, I would like to see the wealth distributed equitably.

Like you said, capitalism has it's place, which is why I favor a free-market supply-and-demand based economic system. It's when it becomes corporate-dominated is when I have problems with it. Especially when these corporations spend millions trying to influence the operation of the government.

You mention Pizza Hut. Perfect example. One of the worst "pizza" restaurants around. Their "food" is processed garbage. Yet they continue to thrive, and family-run pizzerias that offer real pizza are run into the ground thanks to them.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 4 years ago

People keep buying Pizza Hut that's why. Maybe the family-run pizzerias are too expensive. Or too slow. Or not very consistent.

If they can attract more buyers then they can survive. There is no pizza mafia that makes sure people only buy from Pizza Hut and not from family-run pizzerias.

Maybe those pizzerias are just good at cooking but not very good at management.

If they're good at cooking and management and can keep the cost down and everything else, I don't see how they can't be the next Pizza Hut. Even topple them and conquer the pizza world. But then you will not like them anymore because they became big evil corporations.

Or maybe they're just not competent enough in ALL aspects of the business. Good pizza alone won't be sufficient if everything else is sub-par.

[–] 102000 (6349) 4 years ago

And what is your proposal for equal wealth distribution?

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

I said equitable wealth distribution. A company's profits should be distributed to all employees, not just to the CEO and his cronies. It is inexcusable that one person should make 200 times more than other employees. And this doesn't include all the "perks" and other non-salary benefits. In the past 40 years CEO salaries have increased by over 1000% while the average workers have seen an increase of about 12%.

Maybe there should be salary caps as is done in professional sports. I don't know.

Sources:
https://www.business.org/finance/accounting/hourly-wages-ceo-vs-employees/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessecolombo/2019/08/31/why-has-the-u-s-ceo-to-worker-pay-ratio-increased-so-much/?sh=77540c7e455e

[–] 102000 (6349) 4 years ago

Yes you did say equitable, not equal - my bad.

However, I simply don't agree with you. Who determines what is equitable? Some companies do have profit sharing, but that is voluntary and not mandated by a government agency. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great if a company does that, but I don't believe anyone has the right to dictate that it must be done.

Salary caps in professional sports is really not a good example - the disparity between the highest paid players and the rest of the team is huge, but maybe Patrick Mahomes should share is $45 million annual salary because it is a team effort, isn't it?

I've never understood why people care what others make. Only worry about yourself and if you aren't satisfied then do what it takes to improve your job, salary, whatever.

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

"...but maybe Patrick Mahomes should share his $45 million annual salary because it is a team effort, isn't it?"

Great analogy. Without the protection of the offensive line, he would be throwing away a lot of passes. I've seen good quarterbacks fail to make completions because they are not given enough time to connect with the receivers. Yet how often do the linesmen get the credit?

"There is no I in team." One player does not take a team to the Super Bowl.

[–] AndyKing1967 (39846) 4 years ago

Thanksgiving; meanwhile in the rest of the world 🥱

[–] Kowalski (79077) 4 years ago

YOURE JUST BORED AND RESENTFUL AS A THIRD WORLD SHEEP FARMER AND NOT A ROCK AND ROLL AWESOME AMERICAN MUSCLE MAN.

[–] AndyKing1967 (39846) 4 years ago

Pull my finger.

[–] Kowalski (79077) 4 years ago

THATS NOT YOUR FINGER...BUT ILL PULL IT.🙂

[–] AndyKing1967 (39846) 4 years ago

Oh go on then.

[–] Stratego (31075) 4 years ago

It's crazy. We've now got that shit over here in the Netherlands as well, even during times like these. I'm not even sure how they envision this working.

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

People of the Netherlands, and any other country that has been invaded by this garbage, need to put a stop to it before it takes hold. It's like a cancer.

[–] Stratego (31075) 4 years ago

Hey, I don't partake it in it whatsoever. I guess some people fall for it because it's right before the holidays, but it's no different than usual. The stores all act like this is some special, big event, but they've always had sales at the end of November.

[–] overseas7 (5071) 4 years ago

Amazon is happy with this.

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

I couldn't care less about Amazon.

[–] Kowalski (79077) 4 years ago

BLACK FRIDAY NEVER BOTHERED ME..ALTHOUGH IN THIS CURRENT SITUATION IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE....ITS CYBER MONDAY THAT I HATE.

[–] andreaahr (2337) 4 years ago

I could be wrong but, I think retail stores are trying to sell merchandise before another possible shelter in place goes into effect. I actually think this is a good idea because people can buy their Christmas gifts early and save a lot of money as well.

[–] Kowalski (79077) 4 years ago

THATS A GREAT POINT...I HADNT EVEN THOUGHT OF THAT...WOW...I MIGHT NEED TO TAKE THIS SHIT MORE SERIOUS.

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

Earlier this year I head that Black Friday had been officially cancelled.

But that was before the President of the US decided to start holding superspreader events.

[–] 102000 (6349) 4 years ago

Thanks so much for dragging politics into this.

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

I'm afraid it's become impossible to discuss the pandemic in the US without bringing politics into it, because the idiotic one-sided politicization of preventive measures is one of the main reasons the pandemic is currently out of control.

[–] 102000 (6349) 4 years ago

BS - we were discussing Black Friday, not the pandemic.

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

Well, the pandemic does factor into whether there will be, or should be, a 2020 Black Friday.

There shouldn't be, except online. Infection rates are surging, any large gatherings need to be avoided to prevent a real disaster, particularly if the gatherings are composed of prevention-averse consumerism-crazed idiots whose idea of fun it is to stampede Walmarts.

[–] 102000 (6349) 4 years ago

Yep - OK. You are certainly entitled to your opinion about that, but bringing up Trump rallies is political and adds nothing to this particular discussion.

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

You know, you'd be much better off if you listened to the people who understand public health issues, and stopped telling them to shut up when they discuss the RAGING PANDEMIC GOING ON RIGHT NOW. Because your life may actually depend on whether you listen or not.

[–] 102000 (6349) 4 years ago

You know, you would be much better off if you kept politics off this board.

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

Since when has sorting political vs non-political comments been a matter of life and death?

BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC RAGING THROUGH THE USA ACTUALLY *IS* A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, AND BLACK FRIDAY NEEDS TO BE CANCELLED AS PART OF A GENERAL EFFORT TO SAVE LIVES. DO NOT GO TO STORES ON BLACK FRIDAY, EVERYONE, THE LIFE YOU COULD SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN, OR YOUR MOTHER'S, OR THAT OF THE POOR SCHMUCKS WHO HAVE TO WORK THAT DAY. AND REMEMBER WHICH PEOPLE IN POWER ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DISASTER, AND HOLD THEM TO ACCOUNT.

[–] Kowalski (79077) 4 years ago

YOU FUCKED THIS THREAD UP WITH YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS AND WORSE THAN THAT...NOW YOURE STEPPING ON MY STYLE...NOT COOL DUDE.🙄

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

I'm sorry, but the fact that the pandemic has gotten out of control and is going to get incredibly worse in the next few weeks both makes my job a nightmare, and makes me incredibly fucking angry at all sorts of things.

And that defninitely includes idiots who think they can go out and swarm the stores on Black Friday as if everything was normal.

[–] Kowalski (79077) 4 years ago

IM WITH YOU ON THAT...BLACK FRIDAY SHOULDNT EXIST THIS YEAR.

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

You are so delightfully sane!

You're so out of place on this board...

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

I am rather worried about that, numbers are rising sharply right now in the US, and if people are dumb enough to think that viruses will give them the holiday season off then we're in for a great bit uptick.

And people ARE dumb enough to think that the viruses will give them some time off, I went to Lake Tahoe the week after the area officially re-opened to visitors, and nobody was wearing masks but me, some people who were doing their jobs with masks on, and a few elderly hikers. Everyone else there, in the crowded beaches and stores, thought that the virus couldn't possibly be around duing their summer vacation.

[–] Eric56 (4580) 4 years ago

I wonder how Xmas will play out this year.

[–] B1cKsurN (17822) 4 years ago

But what if they die of something else?

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

Then it won't be your fault.

Unless you're a really bad driver or something.

[–] chilone (18316) 4 years ago

Trump - 2024!

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

Why would you wish evil upon your country?

[–] chilone (18316) 4 years ago

I don't. I didn't vote for Biden.

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

But you would vote for a wanna-be dictator who spends hours a day on Twitter calling names and spreading hate? Sounds evil to me.

For the record, I'm an independent not affiliated with any party. My viewpoints fall across the entire political spectrum. And Biden doesn't impress me, either.

[–] chilone (18316) 4 years ago

I would vote for someone who has done a lot of good, these last four years, over someone who doesn't even know where he is or what office he's running for half the time..

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

A "lot of good"? You can't be serious.

[–] chilone (18316) 4 years ago

I'm absolutely serious and if you opened your mind and did some research, you'd understand. Forget the tweets and the 100% biased media.

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

You need to open your eyes. The majority of the media is not 100% percent biased.

It is the job of the media to keep these crooked politicians in check. And all presidents throughout history have been subject to criticism. This is nothing new.

[–] chilone (18316) 4 years ago

I'm sorry. You either are lying or you oblivious to the absolute fact that the media is part of the Democrat machine. Either way, this conversation is pointless.

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

Yes, it's pointless. I can't believe I'm actually discussing stupid politics, something I normally don't do.

This conversation is over. Enjoy the life you have chosen.

[–] chilone (18316) 4 years ago

Back at you.

[–] 102000 (6349) 4 years ago

Starting the holiday season the day after Halloween is way too early for me. Many radio stations begin playing holiday music then. I think stores should be closed on Thanksgiving and it seems that this year they will.

However, I have no problem with the term Black Friday or the shopping frenzy on the long weekend after Thanksgiving. I usually go out very early on Friday morning just to see what is going on and am usually home by noon, which is when the crowds start getting crazy.

Holidays mean different things to different people - explain what should happen in order to take back the holidays???

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

From Merriam-Webster: Holiday: a day on which one is exempt from work;
specifically: a day marked by a general suspension of work in commemoration of an event.

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday. It's not a day for non-essential operations to be open, and should be treated as such. There needs to be occasional breaks from the daily grind, special days of the year to look forward to. Running in high gear 24/7/365 isn't healthy, and leads to burnout. What's wrong with taking a day off once and a while? People have more than 360 days remaining throughout the year for working, commuting, shopping and the rest of the rat-race.

There used to be "After-Thanksgiving Sales" before the media got hold of department store insider jargon and redubbed the day "Black Friday." The retailers and the advertising industry now had a new buzzword with which to dupe the gullible public. Thanksgiving was now glossed over and "Christmas" became the dominant theme. I put the word "Christmas" in quotes because they are not commemorating a family-oriented holiday, but rather a money-making opportunity. Stores putting up decorations and radio stations playing "Christmas" music before Halloween is basically a form of subliminal advertising, telling people that holidays should be all about consumerism, commercialism and materialism. It cheapens and trivializes what should be a special time of year.

We need to get back to the basics and simplify things.

[–] snepts (11123) 4 years ago

Not gonna happen, at least by wishing it. Consumerism is a cornerstone of American life, and we've come to expect and revere it as necessary for existence.
That so many people still think Universal Health Care is undesirable for the world's richest Democracy shows how far we are from a rational and compassionate National agenda.

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

Lack of a "rational and compassionate National agenda" is a perfect description of what is wrong with this country today. Money and materialism are more important than celebrating an occasional holiday.

Consumerism is only "necessary for existence" when it applies to purchasing essentials like food or clothing. The "look at me, I own the latest gadget" mindset is a symptom of crass commercialism. People with this attitude have been brainwashed by the media and the advertising industry.

[–] 102000 (6349) 4 years ago

I have no problem with stores being closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, Easter etc. - in fact I think they should be. But not everyone celebrates Christian religious holidays, so while I may agree with you about things being closed on those days, there are a lot of people in this country who are not Christians and Christmas/Easter has no special meaning to them.

I don't agree with your economic beliefs, but you are certainly entitled to them.

[–] SaveTheSeason (388) 4 years ago

Thanksgiving is a national holiday for all people, regardless of faith. Christians are not the only group that gives thanks.

[–] 102000 (6349) 4 years ago

I never said it is a Christian holiday. I specifically mentioned Christmas and Easter.