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November 26, 2004

Just *Don't* Do It

You're supposed to shop today. Can you resist the urge? And why are some people calling this “Black Friday” while actually promoting consumerism? I don't get it.

Posted November 26, 2004 11:31 AM | life generally


I think it's "Black Friday" for all the folks stuck working. I used to work retail, and the day after Thanksgiving was absolutely the busiest and craziest day of the year, with crazy mobs of tired, cranky, shopping bag-laden shoppers. It was stunning (and very tiring).

Posted by: Jennifer at November 26, 2004 03:39 PM

CNN said it was called "black Friday" b/c today is the day that retailers generally move out of the deficit side of the ledger (Red) to the profit side (Black). I guess it kind of makes sense. It still sounds kind of macabre though.

Posted by: NDC at November 26, 2004 08:56 PM

Ah yes, thank you both. It all makes sense now. To be "in the black" is a good thing if you're a merchant looking at increased sales, but the day is a "black" one for retail workers and for anyone concerned with the culture of consumerism. Very strange, don't you think, how loaded the term is?

Posted by: ambimb at November 27, 2004 09:31 AM

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