A Most Worthy Cause ... ?

[P. G. Tipps]

I'm not normally one for joining boycotts, campaigns and protests but this one does seem rather attractive.

Do members agree ... ?

https://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd

[Pabmusic]

I'm not normally one for joining boycotts, campaigns and protests but this one does seem rather attractive.

Do members agree ... ?

https://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd

I do. But then I don't buy much.

(The eye in the triangle looks vaguely...what?...masonic?)

[antongould]

I'm not normally one for joining boycotts, campaigns and protests but this one does seem rather attractive.

Do members agree ... ?

https://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd

Yes Scotty .....

[french frank]

I do. But then I don't buy much.

Me neither. Like the idea of the trolley conga - I just don't have that many friends

Two thoughts: I think I'm beginning to understand what this Black Friday is - I keep getting references to it popping into my Inbox.

And I've remembered phrases that always grate:

Must-have
Taking the waiting out of wanting, and worst of all
Retail therapy

[umslopogaas]

I agree that we are incessantly pressured to spend money on things we dont need and probably dont even want. However, I dont succumb, and I can point to things I have bought that have brought lasting pleasure: hi fi, compact discs, books. I completely agree with french frank's phrases that grate, I cant remember anything "must have" that I have actually bought, though if it was a CD reviewed as such in Gramophone, I may well have done. Black Friday means nothing at all to me, I have no plans to buy anything until the local craft fair in a fortnight's time when I shall go hunting for a few Christmas presents.

[teamsaint]

I do. But then I don't buy much.

(The eye in the triangle looks vaguely...what?...masonic?)

Bit of a side track, but there was an interesting incident on Match of the day about a year or so ago. ( please keep reading, not obviously footy related).

Right in the middle of one of the games, a series of Masonic/supposed illuminati type images kept very clearly flashing across the screen. Probably about 6/10 images.
I re watched on iplayer ( or is that Eyeplayer) to check and it was still there.
Very odd.

in fact here it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkqqP7x_Pjc

as I say, I actually saw this live and next day on iplayer so this really isn't a youtube fakery job.

Right, anybody spotted any good bargains?

[Lat-Literal]

I do. But then I don't buy much.

(The eye in the triangle looks vaguely...what?...masonic?)

Whereas the name - Black Friday - sounds overtly satanic.

There is also something odd about it given that Black Monday 19 October 1987 was when stock markets around the world crashed.

I don't know quite what to make of that connection but guess on some level it is additional manipulation by big business.

[Serial_Apologist]

And there's me thinking that our bon viveur of Catholic tastes was ideologically opposed to alleged hair-shirters such as me.*

Capitalism will collapse without the greed/guilt see-saw that keeps us finger-poking our fellow consumers, rather than them.

*(Well I am a bit of a hair-shirter - otherwise what remains of that good old temptation tag about delayed gratification?? Everything in moderation being one of my motti, it includes moderation).

[jean]

Since not buying anything on one day only seems a bit pointless, why not try this instead:

Small Business Saturday 5 December 2015

[Lat-Literal]

Since not buying anything on one day only seems a bit pointless, why not try this instead:

Small Business Saturday 5 December 2015

That's much better.

[P. G. Tipps]

And there's me thinking that our bon viveur of Catholic tastes was ideologically opposed to alleged hair-shirters such as me.

Heavens no, I was mentored (albeit unsuccessfully) by the original and genuine hair-shirters even longer than the recognised maturing age of seven, Mr Apologist!

Capitalism will collapse without the greed/guilt see-saw that keeps us finger-poking our fellow consumers, rather than them.

As the wonderfully-phlegmatic Harold MacMillan once said to an anti-capitalist shoe-banger in the infamously iniquitous capitalist den of New York, may we have a translation of that please ... ?

[visualnickmos]

I'm not normally one for joining boycotts, campaigns and protests but this one does seem rather attractive.

Do members agree ... ?

https://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd

Yes. Black Friday and all it stands for is total crap.

[Anastasius]

Grrrr...don't get me going.

Monday...an email from Humax saying 'Black Friday Starts Here' and offering an HDR-1800 PVR for £99. "Availability is limited". So I needed a replacement PVR and bought one.

Friday...another email from Humax offering a better model, more storage for £89. That is taking the piss.

And yes, MrGG, capitalism at its worst.

Sharp practice, certainly.

[Roehre]

Yes. Black Friday and all it stands for is total crap.

[teamsaint]

this is in truth part of a much bigger discussion.

Christmas and the spending that it "generates" keeps very many businesses going and people in work.

It could well be that much of the money spent could be used more wisely , effectively , and usefully, and would be better spent more evenly throughout the year.

At present however, businesses like the one that I work for , ( and indeed many other creative businesses)depend on a big Christmas spend.

So if you have spare cash,think about your fellow citizens, help keep them gainfully employed, and carry on spending.

Wisely and ethically,of course