Opinion of Black Friday
       |           

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
March 29, 2024, 06:39:55 AM
News: Election Simulator 2.0 Released. Senate/Gubernatorial maps, proportional electoral votes, and more - Read more

  Talk Elections
  Forum Community
  Off-topic Board (Moderators: The Dowager Mod, The Mikado, YE)
  Opinion of Black Friday
« previous next »
Pages: [1]
Poll
Question: Well?
#1
Freedom Day!
 
#2
Horrible Day!
 
Show Pie Chart
Partisan results

Total Voters: 36

Author Topic: Opinion of Black Friday  (Read 761 times)
Atlas Has Shrugged
ChairmanSanchez
Atlas Superstar
*****
Posts: 38,096
United States


Political Matrix
E: 5.29, S: -5.04


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« on: November 27, 2015, 11:55:22 PM »

No ISIS attacks as I predicted, but this is even worse.
Logged
Marokai Backbeat
Marokai Blue
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 17,477
United States


Political Matrix
E: -7.42, S: -7.39

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2015, 12:09:29 AM »

Honestly, for as much as I dislike its encroachment on Thanksgiving, I think the sneering people have toward Black Friday is incredibly distasteful and, to some extent, classist, and ends up annoying me far more. Yeah, I know plenty of people that keep a close eye on Black Friday deals. Because they're f**king poor and this is how they can afford what luxuries they have.
Logged
Mr. Illini
liberty142
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 6,838
United States


Political Matrix
E: -4.26, S: -3.30

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2015, 12:17:17 AM »

Honestly, for as much as I dislike its encroachment on Thanksgiving, I think the sneering people have toward Black Friday is incredibly distasteful and, to some extent, classist, and ends up annoying me far more. Yeah, I know plenty of people that keep a close eye on Black Friday deals. Because they're f**king poor and this is how they can afford what luxuries they have.

Give me a break.
Logged
Atlas Has Shrugged
ChairmanSanchez
Atlas Superstar
*****
Posts: 38,096
United States


Political Matrix
E: 5.29, S: -5.04


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2015, 12:22:16 AM »

Honestly, for as much as I dislike its encroachment on Thanksgiving, I think the sneering people have toward Black Friday is incredibly distasteful and, to some extent, classist, and ends up annoying me far more. Yeah, I know plenty of people that keep a close eye on Black Friday deals. Because they're f**king poor and this is how they can afford what luxuries they have.
Just because poor people are poor doesn't excuse trashiness, as the video I provided shows.
Logged
Marokai Backbeat
Marokai Blue
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 17,477
United States


Political Matrix
E: -7.42, S: -7.39

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2015, 12:23:45 AM »
« Edited: November 28, 2015, 12:50:38 AM by Marokai Backbeat »

Plenty of videos from Black Friday every year (like the one here) are vulgar and gross, but I don't know, I've started seeing stuff like this as a symptom of a much greater problem. Like our growing underclass, for instance. It doesn't excuse these specific incidents but I don't really have as big of a problem with the day (which is what the thread question is actually about more broadly) in general as some people do.
Logged
exopolitician
MATCHU[D]
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 6,892
United States


Political Matrix
E: -5.03, S: -6.26

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2015, 12:48:31 AM »

The entire "holiday season" is awful. 

Get rid of Christmas, and just make a second Halloween.
Logged
Joe Republic
Atlas Legend
*****
Posts: 40,044
Ukraine


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2015, 01:17:30 AM »

The entire "holiday season" is awful. 

Get rid of Christmas, and just make a second Halloween.

How is Halloween not also horribly tacky and commercialized?  Every single holiday we have can be described either the way I just did, or as controversial and offensive, or both.
Logged
Goldwater
Republitarian
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 18,064
United States


Political Matrix
E: 1.55, S: -4.52

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #7 on: November 28, 2015, 01:21:51 AM »

Commercialism is good. Freedom day.
Logged
exopolitician
MATCHU[D]
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 6,892
United States


Political Matrix
E: -5.03, S: -6.26

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #8 on: November 28, 2015, 01:27:52 AM »

The entire "holiday season" is awful. 

Get rid of Christmas, and just make a second Halloween.

How is Halloween not also horribly tacky and commercialized?  Every single holiday we have can be described either the way I just did, or as controversial and offensive, or both.

It's all horribly tacky and commercialized of course, I just enjoy Halloween more.
Logged
tmthforu94
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 22,401
United States


Political Matrix
E: -0.26, S: -4.52

P P P
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #9 on: November 28, 2015, 02:13:50 AM »

Freedom Day. I start a "Black Friday" list at around July and go all out today to get the best deals. Spent under $1000 this year, so not as big as some years, but still got a lot of things I have been needing.
Logged
Joe Republic
Atlas Legend
*****
Posts: 40,044
Ukraine


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #10 on: November 28, 2015, 04:12:43 AM »

Freedom Day. I start a "Black Friday" list at around July and go all out today to get the best deals. Spent under $1000 this year, so not as big as some years, but still got a lot of things I have been needing.

Try something for me.  Look up how much everything you bought costs in a couple weeks from now.
Logged
Why
Unbiased
Jr. Member
***
Posts: 612
Australia


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #11 on: November 28, 2015, 08:10:36 AM »


Commercialism is bad, enslaving the masses to the delusion that they are better with material goods.
Logged
angus
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 17,423
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #12 on: November 28, 2015, 08:53:11 AM »

FF.  Love it. 

Yesterday we went to the club in the morning.  I ran a few laps and then did the bicycle thing.  There's a room full of stationary bicycles and a big screen where users can choose a "class" to watch.  A big screen comes down and you can ride through the swiss alps, the Cape of Good Hope, Guadeloupe, Colorado, etc.  I chose a scenic ride through Acadia National Park in Maine.  My blood pressure is a little high so I try to make my heart pump fast at least 3 or 4 times per week.

Afterward, my son and I swam in the pool for about an hour and then sat in the hot tub for a while.  Of course, we had turkey for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but that's alright because we cooked it a different way each time.  In the afternoon we fired off two rockets, then had a misfire on the third.  (I think the fuses were moist.  They had been in the basement for at least 8 months.)  Then we bicycled to the park and saw some friends of his.  I took a laptop and worked on a manuscript while my son and his friend played on the swings and kicked the soccer ball around.

Best of all, I haven't driven my car since Tuesday.  It's not that I hate driving, but I drive every day to work.  It's only about 8.5 miles, but it takes nearly 30 minutes, so I enjoy days when I don't have to drive.  The liquor store is 500 meters away, the club 800 meters, and there's a CVS, a convenience store, my son's dentist, a frozen yogurt place, a playground, and a couple of mediocre restaurants--one of which has about 100 beers and open mic night every other Thursday--all within walking distance of one mile or less.  I especially avoid driving on Thanksgiving and the day after, because traffic is especially thick on those days.  We have bicycled and walked everywhere we needed to go these past three days. 

All holidays are good, even made up ones like Black Friday.  Spread the love.
Logged
Reaganfan
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 14,239
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #13 on: November 28, 2015, 09:34:54 AM »

Honestly, for as much as I dislike its encroachment on Thanksgiving, I think the sneering people have toward Black Friday is incredibly distasteful and, to some extent, classist, and ends up annoying me far more. Yeah, I know plenty of people that keep a close eye on Black Friday deals. Because they're f**king poor and this is how they can afford what luxuries they have.
Just because poor people are poor doesn't excuse trashiness, as the video I provided shows.

Agree. As children we are punished for having temper tantrums. Now we have grown adults fighting over stupid things. As a kid, we'd get punished and have our stuff taken away. Why should we think any differently as adults?
Logged
angus
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 17,423
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2015, 10:11:33 AM »

There are a number of reasons why we might treat the adults differently, not the least of which is that they have attained enough wisdom to decide whether this is a game that they wish to play.  Unlike children, they are responsible for their deeds and misdeeds and should be judged accordingly.

We were thinking of buying the boy some shoes today, but that will require a drive. 

I think that they're calling it Small Business Saturday now.  I prefer to call it Saturday November 28.  Hopefully the crazy shoppers have finished their game.  (I think it's a game, by the way.  I know that the sensationalistic videos are entertaining and shocking at the same time, in large part because we momentarily suspend our disbelief that they don't know what they're getting themselves into when they go out shopping on the busiest shopping day of the year.  It's sport, though, sort of a combination of the "scavenger hunt" and "king of the mountain" games of youth, all rolled into one.  All the players know the rules, and they're largely the types who don't mind the 15 minutes of infamy that goes with playing the game in an age of instant video communication.  However, I do think that anyone can get caught up in it.  Sponge Bob Chia Pet never looked so good till it sat on a lighted pedestal under a sign that said "70% off!"  And the moment we see fifty other people fighting over the very last Sponge Bob Chia Pet, it becomes an object of glory, worth the scars and wars waged for its procurement.)

I also think that the serious players only play on Friday--especially since the coupons in the spam that has stuffed my mailbox all week are good on "Thursday and Friday only!"--so it's probably a safe day to go out and buy some shoes.  Still, a few crazy drivers might be out there.  Alas, we have two books and a video due today at the public library.  I could bicycle it in 20 minutes, but I think that my entourage wants to attend, so it'll be a car trip nevertheless.  I figure we may as well go to the mall while we're out since it's not far from the library.
Logged
Mr. Smith
MormDem
Atlas Superstar
*****
Posts: 33,080
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #15 on: November 28, 2015, 11:52:43 AM »

Awful

Thank heavens for Cyber Monday.
Logged
Lief 🗽
Lief
Atlas Legend
*****
Posts: 44,876


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #16 on: November 28, 2015, 03:25:29 PM »
« Edited: November 28, 2015, 03:29:18 PM by Lief 🐋 »

Honestly, for as much as I dislike its encroachment on Thanksgiving, I think the sneering people have toward Black Friday is incredibly distasteful and, to some extent, classist, and ends up annoying me far more. Yeah, I know plenty of people that keep a close eye on Black Friday deals. Because they're f**king poor and this is how they can afford what luxuries they have.

Basically agree with this. Most of the opposition to it is increasingly coming from sneering, privileged liberals who want to show that they're better than the people who buy stuff. Who gives a shit? Most people have TVs, most people buy gifts for their friends and family for Christmas... if you can do it for 20 or 30% cheaper than normal, why wouldn't you? Obviously don't f[inks]ing stampede people or get into fights or whatever, but I went out yesterday afternoon, bought some stuff, it was fine. Let people enjoy their lives the way they want to enjoy their lives.
Logged
courts
Ghost_white
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 6,466
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #17 on: November 28, 2015, 03:46:03 PM »

The entire "holiday season" is awful.  

Get rid of Christmas, and just make a second Halloween.

How is Halloween not also horribly tacky and commercialized?  Every single holiday we have can be described either the way I just did, or as controversial and offensive, or both.
the thing about halloween is that its pretty much always been intentionally over the top and garish. because its a costume holiday. thats like saying carnival is cool and all but those brazilians need to tone it down a bit
Logged
Badger
badger
Atlas Legend
*****
Posts: 40,258
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #18 on: November 28, 2015, 04:09:43 PM »

Honestly, for as much as I dislike its encroachment on Thanksgiving, I think the sneering people have toward Black Friday is incredibly distasteful and, to some extent, classist, and ends up annoying me far more. Yeah, I know plenty of people that keep a close eye on Black Friday deals. Because they're f**king poor and this is how they can afford what luxuries they have.
Just because poor people are poor doesn't excuse trashiness, as the video I provided shows.

Agree. As children we are punished for having temper tantrums. Now we have grown adults fighting over stupid things. As a kid, we'd get punished and have our stuff taken away. Why should we think any differently as adults?

Well said! (Sanchez too)
Logged
Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon
Dwarven Dragon
Atlas Politician
Atlas Superstar
*****
Posts: 31,580
United States


Political Matrix
E: -1.42, S: -0.52

P P P

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #19 on: November 28, 2015, 05:22:36 PM »

I would prohibit stores from this ridiculous and inhumane practice of extending it into thanksgiving evening. Anyone who throws a temper tantrum because "I didn't get muh new ipod" should be taken into police custody for an appropriate amount of time.

But as a singular day for big store sales for people capable of being mature, I have no problem with it.
Logged
angus
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 17,423
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #20 on: November 28, 2015, 06:02:56 PM »

The Small Business Saturday report (best I can do, as I didn't go shopping on Black Friday):

Library traffic was light, but the traffic around the mall was thick.  Orange construction cones up in places where turning into the parking lot is normally allowed.  I guessed that they wanted to limit to three the number of entrances and exits into the mammoth parking lot.  Must have been rough yesterday.  I circled a bit, but managed to get a choice spot right next to the store we wanted to enter.  A slow line of tailgaiters looked askance when they saw me taking the spot they were each eyeing.

Inside, the lines at counters were a bit longer than usual.  Many folks were returning items they bought yesterday.  All the freebies were in great abundance.  I had a bit of Auntie Annie's pretzel dog, a souffle cup's worth of strawberry-kiwi smoothie, a small wedge of smoked gouda cheese on a toothpick, and a serving of tangerine-flavored Performix ISO 9:2:2 energy, which left me with a powerful headache and a nasty aftertaste.  The Israelis were there too, with their dead sea salt, and the OroGold people were there as well, although we did not take any of their samples.  Nor did we sign up to win a free car or a free set of new windows for the house.

We ended up purchasing the boy two pairs of shoes, along with a couple of pairs of pants, an overcoat, a t-shirt, (yet another) remote-controlled helicopter, and a set of LEGO Ninjago.  I believe he now has the largest collection of LEGOs I've ever seen outside a daycare center, library, school, or museum.  One thing good about having a child is that it gives you an excuse to be caught playing with all sorts of toys that you normally wouldn't want to be seen playing with. 

I also got a couple of pans.  Those non-stick coatings only last us about a year and it was about time we got some new ones. 

Overall, the lines were not too bad.  I never waited behind more than two other customers, and only once was there some confusion on the part of the obviously exhausted sales associate.  Things were strewn about a little, but not in a state of general disarray.  I suspect that there was a major clean-up effort late last night. 

We tried out three different escalators and one elevator.  All were functioning well, although the men's room could have used a thorough cleaning.  In fact, I did have to wait behind three other men to piss.  The line snaking into the women's room looked even longer and slower.

Santa Claus was there, looking as creepy as ever.  Either he or the little boy on his lap must have had boiled eggs and beer for lunch, because there was a foul stench emanating from their general vicinity.

Although it isn't even the last day of November yet, the halls had already been decked with lighting, wreaths, reindeer horns, trimmed trees, silver bells, and other festive yuletide adornments.

Generally, the mall atmosphere was more festive than tense.  Also, everyone shopping was well attired in the latest fashions.  Even at the light on the bridge over the tracks at the mall exit, the bearded guy who stands guard on the median bearing a sign that reads "HOMELESS  ANYTHING HELPS  GOD BLESS" was sporting what appeared to be a brand new pair of light blue Nike hightops. 

My patience for shopping grows thin after about 45 minutes, so we didn't stay much beyond that.  Still, Small Business Saturday was generally a pleasant experience, and we managed to buy the boy enough clothes and toys to last him a while, and still had enough energy left to go grocery and booze shopping afterward.  Of course, the best part about today was the fact that the last of the turkey was either eaten or thrown out early in the day.  Tonight menu will feature shrimp sauteed in garlic and green onion, homade crab cakes with cocktail sauce, steamed white rice, broccoli with mushrooms, and a nice california Pinot Noir. 
 
A very Black Friday to all, and to all a good night.
Logged
angus
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 17,423
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #21 on: November 29, 2015, 09:09:19 AM »

The low-rent TV news entertainers and the reprobates who watch them - whether to laugh or to jeer - comprise the more disgusting half of that ritual.

What about the thread creators, the posters, the voters in polls.  We are the self-ordained judges of humanity.  I think our inclusion in the disgusting half is also merited.

Logged
Oldiesfreak1854
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 13,674
United States


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #22 on: November 29, 2015, 08:22:09 PM »

Horrible Day.  People camp out in front of stores for days, then literally kill each other to get the latest electronics, toys, etc.  And worse yet, retailers are taking advantage of it by starting their sales on Thanksgiving and taking employees away from their families.  I avoid it (with all the camping, stampeding, violent shoppers) like the plague.
Logged
Pages: [1]  
« previous next »
Jump to:  


Login with username, password and session length

Terms of Service - DMCA Agent and Policy - Privacy Policy and Cookies

Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines

Page created in 0.062 seconds with 13 queries.