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Forum Post: black friday and christmas

Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 16, 2011, 6:16 p.m. EST by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

hey, i posted this on facebook first... (as a side note, i've been watching the protests from my home in texas... you make me proud to be american... and you make the world proud that there is an america... you are the america the world wants! i am so grateful to you for the work you are doing. dont let the opposition stop you!)

hey all, please spread the word that in order for thousands of retail and restaurant employees to enjoy the holidays, it is imperative that consumers refuse to give in to the hype surrounding Black Friday. Evidently, petitions have been circulating among employees, but we are really counting on you, the consumers, to stay away from any establishments that are open the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas. I understand that there may be deals to be had, but please (for the love of all that is good and holy!) stay away. You can rest assured that the deals will remain. but allowing large companies to turn our most important holidays into consumer craziness... well, shouldn't we draw a line somewhere? If you believe that being thankful for what you have is really important, I encourage you to stay away from the DEALS, and spend time with your loved ones instead, and know that you are allowing many of the working poor in this country to do the same. A sincerely Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you all! If you like this please (PLEASE! ) share it. Again, Thank you.

42 Comments

42 Comments


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[-] 2 points by nucleus (3291) 12 years ago

Boycott Corporate Franchises / Support Small Businesses

This movement is as much about supporting the good things that we have - independent small businesses - as it is about taking down corporations. Small businesses have been victimized by banks and corporations just like the rest of us.

Showing our support for them can only strengthen our movement. If you are going to shop, do so locally and support the small businesses in your community!

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

agreed.

[-] 2 points by unimportant (716) 12 years ago

We already started a call for a national boycott and general strike for black friday and a boycott of christmas but I am happy to join your boycott.

Thanks for posting this instead of a facebook link.

We wanted to do an alternate christmas where we provide gifts of home made food, toys and other ideas. We used to give money to charities but they began harassing us for more and so we stopped that.

[-] 1 points by JoeTheFarmer (2654) 12 years ago

You can give anonymously.

[-] 1 points by unimportant (716) 12 years ago

We used to give in in the names of our family members. The only way I know how to do that anonymously is to give cash.

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

what a great idea! let's make these companies lose money this black friday! please spread the message. it can happen! thank you thank you thank you!!! i've been waiting for something like the occupy wall street movement. i tell everyone i know about the goings on there. i'm a bit of the alternative news junkie, and i think yall's work is so important. please keep it up. COOPERATION over COMPETITION!!

[-] 2 points by unimportant (716) 12 years ago

We began posting recipes for preserves and prints for toys. Their was another idea but I will have to track the thread down and post it.Anybody else have some ideas of things to do instead of buying stuff for christmas.

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

too cool. i don't know a lot of people down here who think that way. makes me feel good to hear from yall.

[-] 1 points by unimportant (716) 12 years ago

I'll start:

Plum Jam 2 Cups or roughly 8 red/purple plums, pitted, crushed 1/3 Cup water 1/2 Cup granulated sugar 1 ts Cinnamon 1/2 ts Nutmeg 1/4 ts Ground Cloves 1 squeezed lemon 3 ounces liquid pectin Makes 5 jars.

Blueberry Jam 1 lb blueberries, rinsed, crushed 1 squeezed lemon 1 Teaspoon cinnamon 1/3 cup water 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 ounces liquid pectin Makes 2 jars.

Boil everything in a pot until it begins to thicken, boil up some canning jars, put the mixes in the jars, close and tighten the lids, then set on the counter until the top pops.

[-] 2 points by Bambi (359) 12 years ago

I think it's awful that some stores are open on Thanksgiving and even Christmas Eve night. I loved it when you never had stores open on Sundays.

It's all about the almighty dollar. Who is at fault? The CONSUMERS. They've always had "black Friday" but they used to be fun. That's when decorations went up and everyone was in a festive mood. It wasn't about making huge bucks for the stores. It just marked the beginning of shopping for the holidays.

[-] 2 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

thank you so much for your response... please please spread the word. this may not be our most important issue, but it might be our most immediate issue. thank you again.

[-] 2 points by melbel61 (113) 12 years ago

One of the best posts so far on this site....I have never, and will never, step foot in a store on Black Friday. I remember my son, at 16, at a big retailer, having to drive him to work at 4:00 a.m. and thought to myself, this is insanity. You are so right...spend time with your loved ones and when you buy, buy local and buy American!

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

as i said to bambi, thank you so much for your response... please please spread the word. this may not be our most important issue, but it might be our most immediate issue. thank you again.

[-] 2 points by ShesAMusician (2) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Ich liebe wirklich, was Sie Leute machen! ich habe angeschlossen über 10 Protesten in Berlin hat sich angeschlossen mit Ihrer Organisation:) Sie machen eine große Änderung hier in Deutschland

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

hey man, i don't know german, but thank you ( i didi see the smiley face)

[-] 2 points by gjarvi (63) 12 years ago

Thanks mdklanica. Just one suggestion, if you want to buy...Buy local! Support local small businesses this holiday season. They are part of the 99%

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

oh, and although i am an employee of a large retail, i will be buying local. thanks again

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

I totally agree. I'm actually an employee at a large retailer. every year we lose more and more. thank you for your support.

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[-] 1 points by JoeTheFarmer (2654) 12 years ago

I have never shoped on BF and never will but I understand why some people do.

My mother in law does not have a lot of money and has 16 grandchildren. She is a master of BF shopping and gets some great bargains. It brings her joy to ba able to give nice presents to her grandchildren on Christmas.

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

joe, i want to give nice things to my nephew and niece, as well. but more than that, i want them to know how their decisions affect others. again, merry christmas, and i hope you will change your position.

[-] 1 points by JoeTheFarmer (2654) 12 years ago

I have no need to change my position as I never shop on BF.

You will never stop Grammy from participating. She already started planning a few weeks ago.

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

oh, i'm sorry joe, i think i misunderstood. thank you for not shopping on BF, but i wish you would spread the message of what i think is the growing majority of BF workers. thank you and sorry for the mis understanding.

[-] 1 points by SocialDemocratic (29) from St John, NB 12 years ago

Yea!

[-] 1 points by JoeTheFarmer (2654) 12 years ago

Anyone in the retail business knows that black Friday is an important day for retailers. The same holds true for the restaurant industry. My brother is a chef and works weekends and holidays. He knew that going in but he loves his job.

Doctors, police, nurses, hospitals, theaters, and many other businesses are open on holidays. Many people earn double pay on holidays. I have worked on holidays in the past and we always had a good time and made a lot of money.

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

joe, i don't know what to tell you. i've been in retail for ten years, and i've not seen people unhappier about it all than this year. please, i hope you reconsider your position. (i'm getting tired... gotta be at work at 3am)

[-] 1 points by JoeTheFarmer (2654) 12 years ago

What can I say, my brother likes the double hourly pay rate and extra hours so he can have money for the holidays. I guess it depends on the person. I know a lot of people that welcome the extra hours and pay.

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

maybe your brother should be making a higher hourly wage than he is, so he doesn't have to rely on holiday pay.. i don't mean to sound like an asshole. i understand. we are all entiltled to more of the pie.

[-] 1 points by JoeTheFarmer (2654) 12 years ago

He is a chef in a restaurant and makes what they can afford to pay him for what he does. He does OK. He likes the people he works with. He is saving to have his own restaurant some day.

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

look, i know it's not a perfect system, but for the love of... i'm asking for a little sympathy... if you have time to argue, great. but a lot of us in these industries just want some time with our (extended) families. i've worked in this industry for 10+ years... does that not entitle me to one thanksgiving day or christmas with my fam... i mean, the whole day... i dont wanna miss any of it, cuz i have to sleep. i love my family. i get one life (that i know of). why should i sacrifice it for someone else's pocketbook?

[-] 2 points by dspace (47) 12 years ago

Why do you stay in the retail industry?

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

i've been in the retail industry for about ten years. i never planned to stay this long, but life is sometimes not so easy to control. i wish it was. anyway, i really don't want to get into my personal life here, but regardless. even if i left the industry, that doesn't make the issues go away. i've grown to care very much for the people i work with. they are largely very hard workers who deserve to enjoy the couple of days when extended families are able to plan time together.

[-] 1 points by ghostofbettermen (19) from Muncie, IN 12 years ago

How about instead of avoiding the stores, we occupy them?

[-] 2 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

i'd LOVE to see it!

[-] 1 points by dspace (47) 12 years ago

What difference does it make if I dont shop on Black Friday, but do later? At worst, the corporations will get more money out of me later because the deals are not as good.

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

you are right, the big picture does need to change. but more immediately, it is important that restaurant and retail employees enjoy the holidays as mush as anyone else. i understand and agree that this is not the most important issue facing us, but i think that we can agree that people and their family lives are more important than profit. i would also encourage you, as gjarvi said, to shop local. thank you for your response, and, as a retail worker, i hope you will help spread the word against the black friday hype.

[-] 2 points by dspace (47) 12 years ago

If you are working retail, isn't work on black friday a given?

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

it doesn't have to be. every year the holiday is shorter than the year before. now stores are opening on the holidays themselves. my coworkers and i dont get to enjoy time with our families because we sleep through the day. that does not have to be. and should not be, for anyone. it should not be a matter of pay, and if it is, that means the pay is too low. wages need to be increased across the board!

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[-] 0 points by Capitalist111 (59) 12 years ago

Sorry can't there is this bitchin 55" Sony HD TV 3D Internet Ready Skype 4 HDMI ports 2 pc ports that I got to buy, I been saving all year for this regular price 2895.00 and I know who is gonna have it for less than 1500.00 bucks and if I have to occupy (HAHA) that store I will get one.

Oh and its a full 1080p

[-] 1 points by JadedGem (895) 12 years ago

A couple of day boycotts won't affect the monthly profits. I am all for boycotts but even I'd cave and get that TV!

[-] 1 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

HA HA i hope you are kidding. seriously, please spread this message. there are a lot of people upset about the hours this year. i know it might not be the most important issue right now, but it is an immediate issue.

[-] 0 points by Capitalist111 (59) 12 years ago

No I'm not. Seriously I am going to buy that TV. But I agree with you about the Commercialization of Christmas but damn I gotta have that TV.

[-] 2 points by mdklanica (22) from New Braunfels, TX 12 years ago

uncool.