Buy Nothing Day vs. Black Friday

^{Even Staples can see a rush of Black Friday madness as shoppers go crazy for office supplies and computer equipment.}

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.

_{Image above courtesy cohdra at morguefile.com}

Do you agree with this video's message of protest and challenge to consumerism?

These are some of the most common arguments in support of the Buy Nothing Day campaign:

• 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."

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?

There is no more recognizable symbol of American consumer culture these days than Wal-Mart. Before you spend the night camped out in their parking lot, waiting for those Black Friday deals, learn more about what Wal-Mart has really meant to American consumer industry.

Since 2011, "Buy Nothing Day" has been 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.

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?

Black Friday has many supporters (obviously!) as well as those who find Buy Nothing Day a meaningless protest. Here are some of the common arguments and defenses for Black Friday:

• 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.

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.

anonymous 3 years ago