So what about all the great sales they have going on the day after?

What is it that you think is the real point of all this? I'm asking because I just don't see a point. Is it like not buying gas on said day in order to drive the prices down?

-Dave

I think this sort of thing is a good example of trying to treat the symptoms rather than the disease. IMHO, consumerism and living in our overworked society is the only means many people have for reacting to a profound lack of meaning in their own lives.

To treat the problem, provide people with an alternative source of meaning by introducing a new system. You can't hope to tear down the current value system without having a mass alternative.

It is about thinking about the global consequence of the economy. It is a day of reflection on moving jobs to cheap overseas labor markets. It is a day to reflect on the practice sending our oil money to the middle east. It is a day to question that if we are headed in the right or wrong direction.

It is a day to get people thinking and talking.

t

Sorry about the previous comment Jake, something fell on the keyboard, feel free to delete the comment.

I'm going to stay away from the mall on Friday, not out of any protest, but for the simple reason that there will be masses of undisciplined kids running around with their parents looking on the chaos they cause and not caring.

Sorry to be a misanthrope, but I just don't like other people kids.

I think Black Friday has turned into a tradition for some people more than anything. Of course, that's not accounting for the psycho grandmothers who line up outside of stores at 4 a.m. just to have that "one" toy their grandchildren "have to have." Myself, I hate shopping any day of the year, so I am especially careful about staying home the Friday after Thanksgiving! Besides, I am already done with most of my shopping. And I didn't even leave my house to do it!

That's easy for me to do...

1) No malls in Invercargill.
2) Almost out of money anyway. Might give some money to my girlfriend for Christmas.
3) At home for most of Friday anyway.

Try to don't buy electricity on that day... would be a good start.

(I don't like such "fun"-days)

If one good thing comes from this weekend it's that my eBay auctions always get a big boost. Guess that's almost as bad as the stores but at least I'm not trying to sell cheap quality electronics to a mob at 4am (all ready did that for three years).

Well I have super low power bills. I turn off my heat and lights when I leave. The only thing that I leave on it my VCR, refrigerator and my clock.

I actually got around to reading "Ad-Busters"

While I don't wholey support everything Lasn said, I do think he has every right to present an opposing voice in this world of consumerism

that said, I'm not even going to fast food, grocery stores, gas stations, or anything.

I'm not sure if anyone else noticed but, shouldn't it say this Friday the 26th?

"Well I have super low power bills. I turn off my heat and lights when I leave. The only thing that I leave on it my VCR, refrigerator and my clock."

smart. I don't leave a room without turning everythin off

You are right I got the date wrong. Fixed it.

Ahhhhh,

I have the day off and sitting around doing nothing is much better than having to deal with the insane mall culture.

How are you enjoying it Jake?

A different take;

http://www.adamsmith.org/blog/archives/000854.php

hmmmm, I bought some wood so I could install a shelf does that count? :) I too had the day off, but my honey-do list took my first priority.

Actually, some of the sales are out of control. Frys had half-life 2 on sale for $39.99 and it's still retailing for $54.99. There were lots of game and entertainment related deals out there to be had today.

I'm currently protesting high videogame prices year round. Instead of buying the game as soon as it comes out, when it's priced $50 or higher. I wait a few months until the price comes down. I'm voting with my wallet. I only paid $20 for WC3 and it's still just as fun as it would have been if it had cost me $55.
(I did buy Halo2 the day it came out, but I had a gift card he he)

Are you stil promoting globalization if you buy from a local store?

I made a mistake earlier, I meant to say I read "Culture Jam" by the editor of Ad-Busters, Kalle Lasn

Not to piss in anyone's cerial but this sounds like the lazy mans way to protest against real issues in the world.

I mean I know we're all Blog reading internet people, but you're basically saying "Stay at home on your day off and don't go shopping or leave the house or anything". It's not that hard to convense any of to do that already. WoW just came out too as well as EQ2. I'm sure there's a community of people protesting and not knowing they are. =)

-Dave

Well it is a good place to start. If you want to make your own subversive informational fliars and hand them out at your local mall you are quite welcome to do it.