Be prepared....here come a bit of a rant!
Ok so the title of this blog post is something that I actually heard said at a meeting for my work. I just found out this week that I will be working on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. I don't have to go in til the evening on Thanksgiving and in the afternoon on Black Friday but still. I just don't understand this mentality that we have to spend all kinds of money on gift that most people will not use that often.
I think another thing that I have heard lately that interest me is that on Thanksgiving we spend all day saying what it is we are thankful for, but then we spend that night being greedy and mean hearted. Now I know this is not everyone, but really it is a large number of people. Why oh why must we be so concerned with keeping up with the latest trends and toys. Just by the fact that we are called consumers show that all we do is consume. We are constantly trying to consume more of what is around us. This covers a wide gambit of things, but just stuff in general.
I know that for some families this is part of their Thanksgiving traditions, but in the end would it be better to be home enjoying company? I just don't understand this mentality in any way shape or form. I know that some people will say that "well I am doing it to save money", but is that the real reason? Or is the reason that we cannot stand to think that someone else got the better deal on the same product?
I just think that this idea that we have to get the best deal sometimes is rooted in greed. "I want the best product for the cheapest price!" I believe that as American's specifically we have gotten so used to the fact that we can get anything and everything when we want it, that we feel that we have the right to want it cheap. I think sometimes that in this desire to want it cheap we forget to look at the cost for that cheap item. So like these sales at Thanksgiving, while people are making the conscious choice to go shopping; the people working at that shops have no choice. At my work, it is next to impossible to get Thanksgiving and Black Friday off. I am pretty sure I would have to die, or someone close to me die to not have to work. So while the consumer is getting savings, the employees are missing out of family time.
I think my challenge to all is look at why we are choosing to shop on Thrifty Thanksgiving(my own term) and Black Friday. Is that savings really worth it? The consumer is the one that tells the stores if they should be open or not. If consumers demand it, the companies will gladly supply. Could we as a people give up on our own desire to have what we want for the price we want, so that others may enjoy the Holiday time with their family and friends?
Sorry for the rant! I just get going sometimes, and need to get it out. I hope you all have a blessed holiday season, and know that if you still choose to go shopping on these days I don't think you are a bad person. I love you all, and hope that my rant has given some food for thought if nothing else.
Ok so the title of this blog post is something that I actually heard said at a meeting for my work. I just found out this week that I will be working on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. I don't have to go in til the evening on Thanksgiving and in the afternoon on Black Friday but still. I just don't understand this mentality that we have to spend all kinds of money on gift that most people will not use that often.
I think another thing that I have heard lately that interest me is that on Thanksgiving we spend all day saying what it is we are thankful for, but then we spend that night being greedy and mean hearted. Now I know this is not everyone, but really it is a large number of people. Why oh why must we be so concerned with keeping up with the latest trends and toys. Just by the fact that we are called consumers show that all we do is consume. We are constantly trying to consume more of what is around us. This covers a wide gambit of things, but just stuff in general.
I know that for some families this is part of their Thanksgiving traditions, but in the end would it be better to be home enjoying company? I just don't understand this mentality in any way shape or form. I know that some people will say that "well I am doing it to save money", but is that the real reason? Or is the reason that we cannot stand to think that someone else got the better deal on the same product?
I just think that this idea that we have to get the best deal sometimes is rooted in greed. "I want the best product for the cheapest price!" I believe that as American's specifically we have gotten so used to the fact that we can get anything and everything when we want it, that we feel that we have the right to want it cheap. I think sometimes that in this desire to want it cheap we forget to look at the cost for that cheap item. So like these sales at Thanksgiving, while people are making the conscious choice to go shopping; the people working at that shops have no choice. At my work, it is next to impossible to get Thanksgiving and Black Friday off. I am pretty sure I would have to die, or someone close to me die to not have to work. So while the consumer is getting savings, the employees are missing out of family time.
I think my challenge to all is look at why we are choosing to shop on Thrifty Thanksgiving(my own term) and Black Friday. Is that savings really worth it? The consumer is the one that tells the stores if they should be open or not. If consumers demand it, the companies will gladly supply. Could we as a people give up on our own desire to have what we want for the price we want, so that others may enjoy the Holiday time with their family and friends?
Sorry for the rant! I just get going sometimes, and need to get it out. I hope you all have a blessed holiday season, and know that if you still choose to go shopping on these days I don't think you are a bad person. I love you all, and hope that my rant has given some food for thought if nothing else.
