Solon Economou

The madness of "Black Friday" can kill

Why I hate "Black Friday"

I have always disliked the term "Black Friday" used for the ridiculously insane shopping day after Thanksgiving.  To me it denotes the Black Death or the stock market crash and other terrible disasters.

Now it has taken on a life--or death--of its own.  I quote directly from the Associated Press report today.

Wal-Mart worker dies after shoppers knock him down

NEW YORK--Police say a Wal-Mart worker has died after being trampled by a throng of unruly shoppers shortly after the Long Island store opened this morning.

Nassau County police say the 34-year-old worker was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead about 6 a.m., an hour after the store opened.

A police statement says a throng of shoppers "physically broke down the doors, knocking him to the ground."  Police also say a 28-year-old pregnant woman was taken to a hospital for observation.

Wal-Mart closed the store, citing a "medical emergency."

This madness of people getting up at 3 am or earlier and speeding to the local mall in search of "bargains," has always been totally incomprehensible to me.  I tell them they are literally crazy.  For example, at Cape Cod Mall, Macy's advertised that it was opening at 4 am.  Who cares?  Is shopping so important that we need to plan for it like a military pre-dawn attack?

It is shameful that we have become a nation of consumers, rather than producers, a nation that has raised consumerism high on the altar of individual and collective worship.  A society of consumerism is a weak society.  It is a fat and foolish society. 

Do you really want bargains without having to kill yourself or anybody else?  Do you really want to help the economy by doing your Christmas shopping?  You can do both quite easily.  Buy gift cards (I would not recommend specific stores as so many of them are tanking, unless you are absolutely sure of the store and the preferences of the gift recipient), but general gift/credit cards from perhaps a local bank.

Then the recipient can purchase whatever he or she wants or needs and get an even better bargain--the week after Christmas.

When people say they are dying to do their Christmas shopping, there is no sense in having to take them literally.