Black Friday? No, Thank You!

November 19, 2012

So, a giant retailer, who shall not be named, is staying open all day on Thanksgiving. I just spotted an email from another retailer with the statement "Big Countdown to an Exciting Black Friday Begins!" Look, I'm all for capitalism. I'm something of entrepreneur myself, and I love nothing more than increasing my bottom line. But can we please have some holidays we can just enjoy?

And what's with this "Black Friday" nonsense? Black Friday was simply an industry term the retailers used to describe the day when they plan to be in the black...or at least start heading that way financially...because it is traditionally considered to be the day the holiday shopping season begins.

In the past few years, I've read newspaper reports and seen stories about how people get up at 2:00 a.m. or arrange their Thanksgiving meal around shopping. Why even bother with the meal itself? Who cares about your family or loved ones when you can get an off-brand 42" TV that will break down 3 weeks after it's out of the box?

Then, there are the horrific tales of people being crushed or even killed during the mad rush when the doors are opened at some stores...or people carrying guns and threatening violence against other shoppers!

None of this is for me. I'm going to bake my pies, eat my turkey, and save my money for shopping online. Yay technology! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Tim P.
Smithville Branch