Reasons Why I Dislike Black Friday Shopping

Soon the snow will be falling and the Christmas season shall be upon us. While I love a good Thanksgiving the following day however I do tend to have an issue with. Black Friday has been a popular shopping term since the 1970s. Every year people line up outside of stores hoping to get an awesome deal on gadgets, clothing, and more. Sometimes people tend to take these shopping adventures to new extremes and other instances have even resulted in injuries or deaths.

As a kid I still have memories of holidays not being as commercialized as they are now. These days it seems the holiday spirit and generosity in giving has been lost in a focus on image and wealth. Everyone wants to have the newest and best phone or Ipod. It is kind of sad that so many have forgotten the importance of family and the fun in the thought of gifts instead of the gifts themselves. The first instance of Black Friday madness that I can recall was when cabbage patch dolls were the big craze. Now I must have been the only one not obsessed with those dolls. Personally I thought they were kind of creepy looking. I remember watching the news with my family and there was video footage of people pushing and even hitting each other over those dolls. Even being a five year old child I was actually embarrassed for these adults I watched on the news. I could not understand why a doll would be so important that adults would fight each other.

Here in 2012 it seems that things have only gotten worse. Year after year there are reports of employees being injured and killed from stampeding Black Friday crowds. It is so sad that people are so obsessed with getting a good deal that they end up forgetting about the importance of their fellow human’s well-being. That is hardly the holiday spirit that I remember growing up. Also I feel terribly for the employees that have to work that day. Despite the fact that in some businesses employees get paid extra, they have to put up with people who belittle and grow impatient with them. Not to mention having to work unnaturally early hours.

For this holiday season it is my hope and wish that people would treat each other with love, care, and respect this holiday season. If you have an opportunity to show some generosities then take that opportunity. Perhaps one act of kindness can spread and grow. Black Friday is an excellent day to show some care. Maybe carry an extra pair of mittens and hand them over to someone who is cold and may have forgotten. If you see a bell ringer donate a few extra dollars to a cause that helps people in desperate need. If you see elderly couples struggling with their packages then help them put them into their car. Any small act of kindness can really go a long way. We live in a hectic world and all we need sometimes is to just slow down and realize that we can spread holiday spirit if we really try.