Black Thursday? Really?
No longer will anxious consumers be forced to wait until 4 a.m. on Black Friday. This year, several companies, including Target, Toys R Us, and Walmart, are obligingly opening their doors Thanksgiving night, with at least a couple opening as early as 8 p.m. …
If you have a family member who has been eying a new computer or another electronic device, expect to hear goodbye before there’s even been a chance to whip out the pumpkin pie. This is what it has come to in our consumption-driven culture: We can’t even set aside a whole day to cherish what we have without buying yet more.
In these tough economic times, I completely understand why people are looking for bargains, whether for themselves or for their loved ones’ holiday gifts. But there’s no reason sales can’t start on Black Friday — not Thanksgiving….
The American character has always been restless, driven and ambitious. …
But if we are always focused on the next purchase, we’re working toward a series of ends in which we never allow ourselves to savor our achievements.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Not for me. Nor Friday either. It’s family time (especially considering I drive 600+ miles each way.) Shopping can wait for Amazon.
rbj on November 21, 2012 at 9:05 PM
It’s time to bring back blue laws…
ninjapirate on November 21, 2012 at 9:13 PM
Who’s still eating Thanksgiving dinner at 8pm?
Let the free market decide.
Lots of folks want to shop then.
Lots of employees (including my wife) want the time-and-a-half working on Thanksgiving.
Win-win.
itsnotaboutme on November 21, 2012 at 9:13 PM
Yall need to come to my house. I have a Black Thursday (and Friday) every week!
Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on November 21, 2012 at 9:13 PM
If you’ve got time to stand in line at 7PM on Turkey Day (or midnight, whatever) waiting for a 26in TV priced $10 less than it was yesterday, you’ve got time to be working in the salt mines.
Jeddite on November 21, 2012 at 9:15 PM
BTW on this note, the Right in America has based too much of their ideology on capitalism. There are many enemies in Corporate America… and too many times GOPers are willing to bend over and take it up the arse for anyone in a suit who has a firm handshake. Just look at what happened to the recent copyright reform proposal.
ninjapirate on November 21, 2012 at 9:15 PM
Wal-Mart’s fun starts at 8:00. I get off at 10 and my department is likely to be slow(no one’s going to be interested in produce)so I expect to be helping management get people ‘corralled’ starting at about 6.
annoyinglittletwerp on November 21, 2012 at 9:18 PM
I gotta call BS on this ruining Thanksgiving day crap. Most people I know and my family included are done with Thanksgiving by 4. We have supper at 12 watch the game and we are done – after 4 hours, before the stores were open the adults would head out to the bars. Wow no one is yelling the bars are open. I do not shop at any after Thanksgiving sale it is stupid to me. Seriously if you want to hang with your family after 9 hours, see because mine day starts at 12, you are a better than me.
The stores would not be open if those people who line up for days on end(and who do they do that?) weren’t there.
mnkatie on November 21, 2012 at 9:25 PM
It’s at 8PM, who is still chowing down or arguing at 8? Let people do what they want. If you don’t like it, don’t go. Or better yet, go online.
thebrokenrattle on November 21, 2012 at 9:40 PM
ROTFL!!!
22044 on November 21, 2012 at 9:41 PM
Hey alt, I work 4 to 1 myself. Going to be handling large items in TLE. Better than dealing with the craziness on the sales floor.
Gianni on November 21, 2012 at 9:42 PM
If we’ve met the enemy, it’s us. I’ll probably watch football instead, though.
22044 on November 21, 2012 at 9:42 PM
Yes, because Thanksgiving should be all about punching another human being in the face because he got his hands on the last Playstation at Toys R Us before you did.
Mark1971 on November 21, 2012 at 9:46 PM
Then why did we elect a president who promotes sloth, lower expectations, and government hand outs?
Do you get a cattle prod? or whip?
And why ain’t you in charge of the walk-out?
cozmo on November 21, 2012 at 9:48 PM
Hey alt, I work 4 to 1 myself. Going to be handling large items in TLE. Better than dealing with the craziness on the sales floor.
Gianni on November 21, 2012 at 9:42 PM
Spawn’s a cashier in garden center, working 5-10. I do NOT envy him.
annoyinglittletwerp on November 21, 2012 at 9:52 PM
cozmo on November 21, 2012 at 9:48 PM
Shaddup.
annoyinglittletwerp on November 21, 2012 at 9:53 PM
So mean…what an annoying little yankee twerp you are tonight.
cozmo on November 21, 2012 at 9:56 PM
yeah, definately wouldn’t want to be a cashier tomorrow night…
Gianni on November 21, 2012 at 10:05 PM
Black Thursday or Friday? More appropriate – Green, ’cause that’s what it’s all about. (Yeah, accounting types understand that it’s black, as in the black versus in the red, but there really are some who do not get it.)
IrishEyes on November 21, 2012 at 10:07 PM
Happy Thanksgiving!
mnkatie on November 21, 2012 at 10:09 PM
Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on November 21, 2012 at 10:16 PM
you say “who’s still eating dinner at 8″ but i still am XD
i think it’s stupid for the stores to open at 8 but if people don’t want it to ruin thanksgiving dinner then they shouldn’t go.
Sachiko on November 21, 2012 at 10:44 PM
Does anyone here even remotely care about the workers who have to service the mindless hordes shopping on Thursday night?
libfreeordie on November 21, 2012 at 10:55 PM
libfreeordie on November 21, 2012 at 10:55 PM
2 of us here are happy Wal-Mart associates.
*uck off…again!
annoyinglittletwerp on November 21, 2012 at 11:13 PM
I’ve worked ALL HOLIDAYS known, in the past. Name one, I’ve worked it. Chose one day out of 365 available, I can without a doubt tell you I’ve worked it.
I don’t understand the issue.
Ugly on November 21, 2012 at 11:17 PM
That’s when it’s time for some leftovers and another slice of pie.
If the worst part of your life is having to work retail Thanksgiving night, then I think you’re pretty well off. 99.99% of the human population throughout history would change places with you in a heartbeat. How about caring for those who haven’t been able to find work, thanks to the Democrats’ policies.
I care first for our soldiers (generic term) who come home broken in body or mind.
rbj on November 21, 2012 at 11:17 PM
….aaannnd this is where I begin to give up.
Ugly on November 21, 2012 at 11:19 PM
Ugly on November 21, 2012 at 11:17 PM
I get to spend part of the day NOT having to work produce.
What’s not to like. LOL
annoyinglittletwerp on November 21, 2012 at 11:33 PM
I’m an unloader, a day without a truck, after all the double truck days lately will be nice.
Gianni on November 21, 2012 at 11:35 PM
Such care, such love for one’s fellow man/
thebrokenrattle on November 21, 2012 at 11:48 PM
Well, maybe there will be less of that trampling at the door this way. Seems to me it might take some of the pressure off the whole thing.
Alana on November 22, 2012 at 1:06 AM
I, for one, look forward to hearing about what new tactics are used by this years gladiatorial shoppers. Last year’s Wal-Mart pepper spraying of Xbox competitors was inspired. I’m not sure gunplay will figure this year (maybe 2013?), but I have some ideas for more adversarial shoppers:
1. bring large bags of birdshot in a purse. Scatter on the floor behind you while running to the desired department.
2. WD-40 and a lighter make a formidable weapon which can be used defensively, or as a weapon to clear an area of people not as deserving as you of a $10 bread maker.
3. Air horns can be used to scare the more fleet footed foe into dropping their booty. Advanced users should simultaneously grab the shoulder or neck from behind. Zombie makeup optional.
4. If you choose to wait outside the store for the prior week, not bathing can brew up a formidable scent weapon. The overweight+fold cheese+moist = defensible perimeter. If you can’t run faster than them to get that $5 Fry Daddy, make sure they gotta get past you on their way to the register!
Art imitates life
Kungfoochimp on November 22, 2012 at 1:42 AM
Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on November 22, 2012 at 5:23 AM