Buy Nothing Day vs. Black Friday
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Buy Nothing Day Instead of Black Friday - Join The Debate
Others have begun to question this crazed consumerism which has overtaken the beginning of the holiday season. The activist organization Adbusters got behind the concept of Buy Nothing Day in September 1992, first as a general critique of over-consumption. In 1997 they established Buy Nothing Day to officially be held annually on the day after Thanksgiving, as a direct challenge to and criticism of Black Friday. Some join in active protests of Black Friday shopping and shoppers; others mark Buy Nothing Day simply by doing that: consciously buying nothing for the day. No trips to the shopping mall, no Starbucks coffee runs, no Amazon orders...no nothing, for one day.
Here is your chance to join the great debate. Do you think the holiday season has been over-commercialized? Do you support the ideas of the Buy Nothing Day campaign, or are you a diehard Black Friday shopping enthusiast? You can answer poll questions, read the arguments, and then cast your vote in the great debate: Buy Nothing Day vs. Black Friday.
Photo: cohdra on morguefile
How Many Days Until The Day After Thanksgiving?
Countdown to Black Friday/Buy Nothing Day
How Do You Plan to Spend the Day After Thanksgiving This Year?
Shopping Black Friday Deals, Relaxing, or Actively Protesting for Buy Nothing Day?
Buy Nothing Day Video Message
Why Consider Consuming and Spending Less This Christmas?
The Case for Buy Nothing Day
Arguments in Support of Buy Nothing Day
Why Should We Protest Black Friday Shopping?
- Western society has become too focused on consumer culture. This is no more evident than in the frenzied madness surrounding so-called "Black Friday" shopping. People become almost mindless in their pursuit of the "best deal," as if it's some kind of game and challenge, not a shopping trip to buy anything they actually "need." We already produce far too much waste and trash, and the Earth is suffering from the weight of our thoughtless consumer lifestyle.
- People have not just been injured but even lost their lives in the stampedes and mobs rushing into stores first opening on Black Friday morning. Check out ranker.com's list of The 13 Most Brutal Black Friday Injuries and Deaths. Shootings, stampedes and frenzies, some of which are shown here in graphic video. Pregnant women have miscarried, old women trampled to the ground, and one woman became paralyzed all in the quest for a "bargain." As the paralyzed woman even put it herself, "I saved 100 dollars on that computer. I've probably spent 100,000 dollars on medical bills."
- So-called in store "deals" are often not great bargains anyway. Once you pay gas to the store and sales tax, you may not have saved anything at all versus buying an item on-line through a discounter - especially when offering free shipping! It's a marketing scam by retailers just looking to deceive shoppers into thinking they're getting a big bargain.
- It diminishes the true meaning of not just Thanksgiving, but the entire holiday season. It has gotten to the point that some people skip Thanksgiving celebrations entirely to camp out for days - even weeks - in shopping mall parking lots to be the first ones in the door to shop on Black Friday morning. Do people really have nothing better to do with their time? Is getting a bargain on a new television or video game more important than spending quality time with family (or perhaps getting a job, so they'd have more money to spend instead of needing to "camp out for bargains"?) Why should Christmas or Hanukkah become all about giving the most mass produced gifts, instead of celebrating the spirit of these religious holidays as they were intended to be about?
- If you are going to buy holiday gifts, you should at least buy unique crafts and support small independent businesses. When I ran an art gallery/craft store, I simply closed shop on Black Friday - because it was never a good day for our business. People were too busy rushing to the malls and the chain stores, spending all their money on generic gift products and merchandise. They weren't even thinking about buying something unique for friends and family like handcrafted jewelry, artwork, home decorations or other one-of-a-kind items. There's no way small independent business people can compete against the giant chains on Black Friday.
- People are being forced to work in retail stores on the day after Thanksgiving, instead of relaxing with family. Retail employees can't even take a day off from work on the day after Thanksgiving - now more staff than ever is needed on Black Friday to cope with the frenzied crowds of shoppers. In fact, this year some stores such as Target are even planning on opening midnight on Friday, meaning store employees are being expected to work on Thanksgiving Day! Workers are beginning to protest such uncalled for demands on their holiday time with petitions, but it may not be enough as the Big Box Stores are ever more driven by profit and courting consumers than respecting their employees personal time and need for holiday celebrations.
Google News about Buy Nothing Day, Adbusters and Occupy Xmas
Headlines on 2011 Protests and Campaigns
- [#m1gs meets #roflcon] It was all a meme? How Adbusters launched the #OWS ...
- How Adbusters launched the #OWS memewar and inspired global in-the-street action On Tuesday, the Occupy Wall Street movement saw its largest resurgence of energy since most encampments were evicted last fall. In New York and worldwide, Occupy activists ...
- Sostenibilità. Terrà Futura ha chiuso con il segno più
- Apprezzatissimi gli interventi di Darren Fleet di ADbusters, la rivista che ha dato vita alle due famosissime campagne ?Buy nothing day? e Occupy Wall Street. Molto conosciute le copertine del magazine senza pubblicità e ?senza padroni?, che incrocia ...
Tweets About Buy Nothing Day
What People Are Saying Right Now
Do You Believe the Holiday Season Has Become Over-Commercialized?
Have We Lost the True Meaning of the Holidays to Consumerism?
Photo: Uncredited "meme" image that has emerged this season from the Occupy Wall Street movement.
What do you think - has the holiday season become too much about commercialism, shopping, gift buying and consumer culture? Have we lost the emphasis on family, spirit and religious celebration that the holidays were meant to mark?
Buy Nothing Day Items from CafePress
Get The Message Out There With BND-Related Designs
Books on Anti-Consumerism
Examining Consumer Culture in the West
A "Buy Nothing" Christmas?
The Growing Campaign to Occupy Xmas in 2011
This year, "Buy Nothing Day" is being taken by some to a new level, with the Buy Nothing Christmas Campaign. Could you commit to buying absolutely nothing at all this Christmas, and give gifts of true value instead such as quality time, love, friendship and help to others in need? Want to really take back Christmas from the corporations and consumer madness? Then check out the BuyNothingChristmas.org website for ideas, downloads, posters to print and ways to spread the word. You can also follow the hashtag #occupyxmas for more information and ideas, or read more about its history and development at wikipedia.Photo credit: cohdra on morguefile
Latest Tweets for #oppucyxmas
Follow the Buy Nothing Christmas campaign on Twitter
What Do You Think of the Idea of a "Buy Nothing Christmas"?
Could You Do It? Would You Want To Do It?
Have you read through the Buy Nothing Christmas FAQ to fully understand the movement's goals and how to participate? If so, what do you think?
The Case for Black Friday
Arguments in Favor of Black Friday
Supporting the Shopping "Holiday" and Criticizing Buy Nothing Day
- Black Friday deals are terrific, and people use them to buy things they need. Black Friday isn't just about buying unnecessary electronic games and gadgets. Some people on very tight budgets use the shopping sales wisely to buy things they need for their everyday lives: work clothes, school clothing and supplies for their children, new computer equipment for their home business or studies - and yes, save money on gifts for the holidays. In our struggling economy, many need to save as much as they can in order to just keep up with basic necessities.
- We need to encourage consumer spending, not discourage it. Stores are closing and employees losing jobs because of the struggling economy. People need to be active spending more money to keep struggling businesses afloat.
- Buy Nothing Day is a meaningless protest, anyway. So protesters won't buy anything for one day. That just means they'll go out the day after and buy what they need/want instead. It doesn't do anything to really teach an overall anti-consumerist message to the general population.
- Buy Nothing Day marginalizes those with real problems in the world. So-called over-consumerism is nothing but a first world problem, and whining about it just an exercise in navel-gazing by middle class, privileged individuals who refuse to see how well off they have it. Meanwhile millions in the world are so poor they can't even afford the basic necessities they need to survive, and BND an insult to their genuine problems and needs.
- Some people don't want to lose a day of work. Why shouldn't retailers be open on the day after Thanksgiving? Many people could use those extra hours of work, especially if its on overtime pay to help them cover their own holiday bills and expenses.
Google News about Black Friday
Planning Your Shopping Strategy? Check Out The Current Headlines
- JC Penney Decides Promotional Approach Is Not So Bad
- By Karen Talley Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--JC Penney (JCP) is backpedaling on its nonpromotional stance, apparently adding a Black Friday event after holding a Memorial Day weekend sale as it licks its wounds from an abysmal first ...
- Savvy Shoppers Find Smart Savings on Trending Graduation Gifts with Increased ...
- About FatWallet: As the preferred online shopping resource for millions of savvy consumers and home of the best Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday coupons, FatWallet.com works closely with hundreds of retailers like HP, Newegg, Walmart and Amazon to ...
- Savvy Shoppers Find Smart Savings on Trending Graduation Gifts with Increased ...
- About FatWallet: As the preferred online shopping resource for millions of savvy consumers and home of the best Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday coupons, FatWallet.com works closely with hundreds of retailers like HP, Newegg, Walmart and Amazon to ...
- Bargains, exchange rates drive Canadians to Maine to shop and stay
- This year, she has already booked three full shopping tours of 55 people each ? a 100% increase over last year. And Hughes expects more to be booked in the coming weeks, especially for Black Friday shopping. "I know other operators are experiencing ...
Tweets About Black Friday
Comments from the Anti-Buy Nothing Day Contingent
Black Friday Shirts and Gear from CafePress
Love Black Friday? Show It Off!
Buy Nothing Day vs. Black Friday
Which "Event" Will You Celebrate?
Now's your chance to sound off. Are you a regular Black Friday shopper? Or do you support the ideas and message behind Buy Nothing Day? Leave your opinions and thoughts here.
Which event do you support: Buy Nothing Day or Black Friday?
Buy Nothing Day
fugeecat says:
I don't like shopping on Black Friday the stores are to crowded and the deals aren't as good as everybody says.
beckyf says:
You couldn't pay me to be in a mall on Black Friday.
kingsrookie says:
I have no problem waiting and will refuse to take part of the madness that happens. I waited outside one year for fun, and had a good time but it was over in fifteen minutes. * hours in the cold for 15 minutes.
Phil says:
As a Taoist, Christmas means nothing more to me than a chance to get together with friends and family and enjoy a meal together. I do not buy Christmas gifts nor do I expect any. I think our society is too materialistic as it is, and we could all do better with less.
sockii says:
I refuse to take part in the madness of Black Friday shopping. I'd much rather spend the time at home relaxing with loved ones. I prefer to hand-make my Christmas gifts anyway, or buy from other crafters and artisans to support their artistic work - and give presents that have specific and thoughtful meaning to their recipients.
Black Friday
SquidooKimberly says:
I rarely buy anything anymore (I make so many gifts) but I love checking out the cool deals. Last year a shopaholic friend and I went out and she did the big shopping while I paid the extra few dollars for her bonus gifts and kept those. It was a sweet deal!
Exposing Wal-Mart: Books and Studies
What is Wal-Mart Doing to America's Economy?
Any Additional Comments on Buy Nothing Day vs. Black Friday?
Leave Your Final Thoughts Here!
Thanks for joining the debate on Black Friday vs. Buy Nothing Day. If you have any other comments to leave on the matter, please do so here. And happy holidays - whichever holidays you will mark this winter season!
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fugeecat
Nov 30, 2011 @ 3:51 pm | delete
- You know I really do like the Small Business Saturday campaign. I think that more of a point can be made with that campaign. Everybody needs to be reminded to support their local businesses instead of the chains.
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sagebrush_mama
Nov 24, 2011 @ 1:51 pm | delete
- I won't be buying for the sake of buying...if I venture out on BF, it's because there is a need. Living in a rural town, there isn't as much of a craziness, at any rate!
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beckyf Nov 23, 2011 @ 8:52 pm | delete
- I worked in retail for many years, and had more than my fill of Black Fridays. These days, I'm thankful that I don't have to work them any more.
By the way, I read an article this week that said some people in Florida have already been camping out at a Best Buy for nearly two weeks!
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JoeCinocca
Nov 15, 2011 @ 10:11 am | delete
- This concept is ideal, but my dilemna is that Record Store Day is on Black Friday every year and fantastic sales on vinyl are out there. They only have RSD twice a year and the collector's items that come out are stellar.
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SquidooKimberly
Oct 26, 2011 @ 7:49 pm | delete
- Great idea for a lens! I bet this will make the rounds on Facebook. :)
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