I wouldn't judge his fetish on its own but I'm side-eyeing him thinking it's a nifty family conversation in a pretty conservative group.

I don't want to think about why my sister is posting her pedicures on Facebook.

The evil of the massive shopping on Black Friday is largely the hypocracy of it in immediate proximity to Thanksgiving. Here's all the things we are so so thankful for...now we're gonna crush strangers in throngs of crazed consumerism. Plus, on the emergency services end of things...it's incredibly annoying to know that responders can barely fight through the crowds to get to the woman seizing in the floor near the electronics dept....upsetting.

I worked retail for years - there are a bunch of lies associated with it. First , it is not the biggest shopping day of the year. that day is about 1 week before christmas. Second, about 98 % of the sales - started on the Wednesday before . There are limited bargins for some stores - but that is just to get you in.

What I truely dislike is the encouragement of feeding frenzy behavior. While I get that being a part of something big is exciting, in the end it is still shoping.

and - as a btw, I like the crowds and the excitement in the air . Even working wasn't the worst. At least I wasn't bored.

Mom and I have done the Black Friday shopping thing every year I haven't worked retail. We don't go to Target or Walmart or the big electronic stores where the lines always seem to be long and crazy. We usually go to the mall, and I have gotten very good deals at certain stores. Mom and I get to spend the day together, and it's fun. If it gets too crazy, we leave and get breakfast somewhere. I have also worked many Black Fridays, the worst being at Victoria Secret because they are giving away those free bags every year, but I never really minded them. The days are usually very busy, and the shift just flies by, and like beth said, it's not the busiest shopping day of the year. It was much worse working the few days before Christmas when we were out of everything and couldn't order anything for anyone because they needed it NOW.

Tea: Mom and I didn't go Black Friday shopping this year because she ate things she shouldn't have yesterday and is now sick.

Here's all the things we are so so thankful for...now we're gonna crush strangers in throngs of crazed consumerism.

This.

I resent the forced, wildly manipulated, herd mentality of it all. And that people give into it without thinking.

As beth b says, 'Black Friday' is an illusion. Consumers are tricked into thinking that they are saving massive amounts when much of what they buy is probably cheaper at other times of the year.

Someone I otherwise respect very much made several comments yesterday of an 'it's racist, but hey, it's about a sporting event, so I get a pass' (and is a person of color) nature on facebook yesterday and then followed it up with "I can't help myself, I'm headed to BoxStore."

I just don't understand getting caught up in the fervor.

Like beth, I've worked retail during the holidays and didn't really mind it. There are, obviously, a higher percentage of anxious people, but whatever.

It's just the corporate bullying that bothers me.

eta: I should add that I am not making a link between racism and consumerism, though that is another area rife with racism. In this particular case, I was already looking 'side-eyed' (what a great phrase from up thread!) at that person. The 'uncontrollable' shopping just added extra, 'whuh?'

I did do some online shopping today. I picked up ticket for The Addams Family musical and tickets for another one of those silent films with live Wulitzer music; this time it's Wings. Both were on sale today.

I want to borrow this phrase. It just amuses me.

It's even better with the Russian accent.

Just woke up, forgot to set alarm. Oopsies. Gonna be a short work day, I guess.

I inadvertently went shopping because I never do so voluntarily. My parents wanted us to take their old microwave as a donation to the local thrift store and I went away with a bunch of stuff, as always happens when I go to St. Matthews.

So we picked up an awesome high stool to go next to the pool table. Very substantial (essential with DH), with a nice leather seat and back. I walked in the store and it just jumped out and said it needed to live near our pool table. Then I saw what looked like spectacular ruby wine glasses on 8" or so clear crystal stems. They were plastic! Just incredibly pretty and 8 of them still with stickers on them. I don't allow glass on my patio or boat so they were perfect. Then, as if that were not enough, a huge pillow that must have pictures to explain.

So, it was all stuff for me, but I can say I shopped on Black Friday.

And now to the dog park.....

I hate going shopping all the time so not doing so on Black Friday is the natural extension of that.