Buy Nothing Day Essay

Andrew Leonard's "Black Friday: Consumerism Minus Civilization" argues that the Black Friday shopping spree has begun to get out of hand in the previous years. Leonard explains that consumerism is a great thing for America, but showing Americans that it is okay to go crazy when shopping for deals is not the way to approach the buying markets. He mentions a Target advertisement and states that, "The Crazy Target Lady is not a joke. Watch her cannibalize her gingerbread man, or strategize her reverse psychology shopping techniques... she is America. She might be a lunatic, but it's a culturally approved lunacy" (Leonard 166). The author emphasizes how Americans embrace the acts of the target lady as funny and amusing, but during Black Friday shopping, some shoppers will take the night to the extreme like the advertisement does. He does remind us that there is light at the end of the tunnel, by reporting how shoppers are seeing the problems with the night of crazy shopping. I agree with Leonard that there are problems with Black Friday ads, and that consumers are realizing Black Friday shopping is taking away from Thanksgiving.

Black Friday shopping is a controversial issue in the United States; while many believe the day after Thanksgiving is a part of holiday festivities, others view it as destructive. Throughout “Black Friday: Consumerism Minus Civilization,” Andrew Leonard argues that the chaos of Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in which crowds of Americans shop all night for extremely low prices, lessens the sophistication of Americans and the true meaning of the holidays. People become so consumed in the idea of endless sale prices that they forget to embrace what they already have, such as family, food, and shelter. He believes that Black Friday shopping has become out of control and describes the negative effects of excessive consumerism. he explains how most consumers act completely insane while Black Friday shopping and how society encourages this behavior by creating commercials and advertisements. Furthermore, Leonard states that it hurts the economy and damages one’s mental health. While Leonard is probably wrong when he claims that Black Friday shopping is completely troublesome to America’s well-being, he is right that consumerism overpowers the true significance of Thanksgiving.

In 1992, Canada organized a day on which people are urged to make no purchases. The idea behind this “Buy Nothing Day” is to increase citizen awareness of “environmental and ethical” consequences that come with too much consumerism; however, many feel it will severely hurt small businesses. Nevertheless, the concept behind a day without spending is a great way to control consumer rates as long as those who choose to partake are prepared to go a whole day with no transactions.

Quindlen starts her essay by stating that at a Wal-Mart in Valley Stream, New York, a worker was trampled to death by a horde of excited shoppers during Black Friday; the day after Thanksgiving when stores hold massive sales for the holiday season (Par. 2). She then goes on to talk about credit card debt and gives various examples of people buying different versions of items they

Today, Americans live in a world where we are constantly encouraged “to keep up with the Joneses” whether it be from advertisment, longer shopping hours, or multiple other factors. A surprising statistic you can find in the book, Affluenza: How overconsumption is killing us--and how to fight back, where it states that “70 percent of us visit malls each week, more than attended houses of worship” (15). Shopping has become so convenient in recent years due to online stores, as well as the growing number of shopping centers, that it’s become a problem. Kalle Lasn, co-founder of the magazine Adbusters and starter of the Occupy Movement, believes that, “Overconsumption is the mother of all of our environment problems” (197). Consumers have come to see shopping as a fun activity while spending time with friends or family. When really over consumption of material goods ultimately leads us to unhappiness, the unsatisfied desire to want more, and possibly put you into debt.

As Black Friday has progressed along with retailors marketing their products and their sales, it has become a national day of shopping to get the best deals. Americans mainly go shopping on this day to get huge deals for Christmas presents. Stores have even taken this great opportunity to open their establishments for 24 hours. Just last year, consumers spent a whopping $57,400,000,000 with each consumer individually spending $410 on average. The #1 retailor customers purchased from and camped out at was Best Buy. All of the statistics are based on 2013 and this year was projected to be an 11% increase.

First, the day called Buy Nothing Day helps to understand what it would be like to buy nothing for one day. The change impact is different to different people. Some people originally do not spend a lot and some people do. Those who do not spend a lot originally, they most likely will not see

Since 1992, an annual “Buy Nothing Day” has been held in many countries to show people the detrimental effects of overconsumption. This event often coincides with Black Friday―the prime time for eager shoppers after Thanksgiving festivities. The term “Black Friday” originated from a financial crisis in the late 1800s, but that memory changed to display one of busy roads, packed department stores, and post-Thanksgiving chaos (Pruitt). In order to raise awareness, supporters of Buy Nothing Day argued that events like Black Friday cause damage to the economy and environment. Considering counterfeit advertising and the environmental hazards of a day like Black Friday, a yearly Buy Nothing Day will be beneficial to society.

Every year, United States citizens are reminded of our dependence on material goods just over the duration of a single day: Black Friday. Black Friday is an annual shopping extravaganza in which customers craze over slashed prices and the release of the newest technology. Not only are people able to get a large chunk of their holiday shopping done, their purchases also help to boost our nation 's economy. People may wonder why the United States even has this day and the most simple and logical way to put it would be for revenue. The companies are fully aware of our innate greed over materialistic goods so they use it to their advantage to create products that will serve us for years to come, or more

One walks into a shop and most likely he or she will hear someone say at the counter, “No, I don’t want to spend too much money...I can’t waste money.” However, those consumers keep coming back to purchase goods that they want. This spending habit, whether deliberate or not, results in a prevalent over consumerism around the globe. To counter this epidemic, nations like Canada are bringing awareness of excessive consumerism and its environmental impact. However, the “Buy Nothing Day” in Canada will not accomplish its goal due to the short time period and the priorities people hold.

In the essay “Consumerism Minus Civilization,” the catalyst being described, is the effect of how Black Friday affects the general populous. The author goes on to describe the certain instances of how the holiday sale is actually harming humanity and the consumer market. The ads that are present are not something to be admired or amused by, but instead something to be feared because the affect of the season ruins humanity. The author then references major retail stores such as, “Target” and “Walmart” as some of the worst to breed this competition of Black Friday. With these ideals the author closes by explaining how everyone should take a break go shopping, and go a little later instead of immediately disbanding their homes to then flood

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are one of the best days for consumers in America, because everything is on sale with an unbelievable low price. According to CNN Money, business made over 50 billion dollars in the year of 2013 after these special sales event in America. In these special occasions, people purchase product base on the recommendation of the media. When consumers realized that they have no use of the product or an improved new product releases, the old product will end up in a dumpster. Americans will create environmental problem and outbreak of resource war if they continue wasting Earth’s source base on their lavish lifestyle, in which it is supported by their culture and the lack of appreciation.

REI, an American retail corporation that sells sporting goods and outdoor recreation gear, has shocked the world of retail and made the decision to close all of its stores on Black Friday this year and pay its multitude of employees to “head outside”, according to REI’s President and CEO, Jerry Stritzke. The company is describing this decision as “a stand against the commercial madness that has characterized the day after Thanksgiving for at least a decade and a half”. While this decision comes with high risk, due to the fact that all REI stores will be closed for what most would say is the busiest shopping day of the year, it is clear that REI is more concerned with the message it is sending to consumers and its employees.

The reason to have an annual Buy Nothing Day would lessen our effect on the environment, even then a little goes a long way. It would lessen our effect because less car, that fill the air with carbon monoxide, would be on the street filled with people with the need to buy goods. This would also decrease gas use. In Addition, a Buy Nothing Day would allow businesses to close and check inventory especial before a holiday like Black Friday, where people are so eager to consume. Lastly it gives people a chance to spend more time with their family and teaches people how to plan, which is very important skill. One does not even have to take part in Buy Nothing Day at all.

Fichter, K (2003). E-Commerce Sorting Out the Environmental Consequences . retrieved January 23 2014, from engineering.dartmouth.edu Web Site: http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/~d30345d/courses/IE-at-UNG/eCommerceConsequences.pdf