Burke Shoppers Close Their Wallets for 'Buy Nothing Day'
Some Burke residents are avoiding malls, big box stores and all other retail on Buy Nothing Day, which coincides with Black Friday.
Some Burke residents will be sleeping in, eating Thanksgiving leftovers and spending time with family and friends on Black Friday—doing anything but shopping—as a way of celebrating "Buy Nothing Day."
One person on the Burke Patch Facebook page wrote, "Never been a fan of Black Friday. ... People are crazy enough on regular shopping days! I'd rather stay home and enjoy my family!"
Buy Nothing Day is traditionally the day after Thanksgiving and is a movement to establish a counterbalance to the consumerism that can dominate Black Friday (and, increasingly, Thanksgiving itself).
Another person commented on the Burke Patch Facebook page, "I hang out with my family Friday instead of acting like a shopping maniac. Over the past few years, the online deals have been just as good!" (Cyber Monday is the Monday following Thanksgiving.)
“Until we challenge the entrenched values of capitalism—that the economy must always keep growing, that consumer wants must always be satisfied, that immediate gratification is imperative—we’re not going able to fix the gigantic psycho-financial-eco crisis of our times,” according to AdBusters, which promotes the day annually and this year is pushing the hashtag #OccupyXmas on Twitter.
“This November 23rd, go cold turkey on consumption for 24 hours … see what happens … you just might have an unexpected, emancipatory epiphany!”
What’s your plan for Friday? Are you getting up early to shop (or going out Thursday night)? Or are you spending time with your family and intentionally avoiding the malls? Tell us in the comments below!
Matt
9:51 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
"challenge the entrenched values of capitalism" ??? What a crock!
Dan Canty
12:31 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Im with Matt "what a crock!" but i never go shopping on Black Friday. I just can't be bothered and i'd rather not be in long lines. I'd rather spend Friday with family and maybe take in a good movie. I would go out and shop but just prefer not to. Nothing wrong with capitalism!
Amy Zacaroli
8:05 pm on Thursday, November 22, 2012
Black Friday, Cyber Monday. Check out the very first Giving Tuesday! This is the best counterbalance to shopping mania. How will you give back?