Revisiting Barbarianism (aka Black Friday)

So today was Black Friday, the after-Thanksgiving shopping extravanganza that has people lining up for hours outside of stores waiting for the gates to open so they can trample each other for cheap electronics. I've never shopped on a Black Friday, but I worked two at a retail job and, aye, are people complete wackos when it comes to this day. Shoppers frothing at the mouth, beating each other up for that last "toy of the year," screaming and cursing and making everyone else miserable.

It's not a myth, it's the fall of humanity in one day-length period. If the apocalypse were to happen now, looters would be more decent despite fighting against zombies and roving gangs in order to get food. Last year, an elderly Wal-Mart greeter was trampled to death when the doors opened and the shoppers came barreling through like a herd of bison. Cashiers were sobbing as they checked people out, people who didn't care that they just killed a man over some vague deals.

I think Black Friday is a good example of why our society is so miserable as a whole now. In exchange for greed, you get complete barbarianism. Vikings look like well-tempered educated gentlemen compared to some shoppers.

"A good Freya's Day to thee, kind sir. I wisheth that only the best pillaging will come thy way."

People have been killed, killed, over this stupid phenomenon. People have been beaten up, cursed at, spit at, shoved, trampled, screamed at, and bitten over this thing. Does this not seem just completely weird to everyone?

I know some people that go Black Friday shopping because they say that the deals are too good to pass up. There's some arguments against this:
1. What you think are deals are not really deals. Many retailers will bump up the price right before Black Friday so they can claim things are on sale.
2. The sales are vague. Many places will have only a few things that they put on sale, while the rest is full-price. People still buy these full-priced items though, because, hey, they're right there.
3. You can get the same deals, and some even better, from online stores. You can do this in the comfort of your home, completely naked and smeared with mustard if you wanted to.
4. Many retailers also continue having good sales for Christmas far after Black Friday.

I think this event is also incredibly depressing, because of what it stands for. Christmas is no longer about spending time with friends and family, enjoying a good movie with hot chocolate and gingerbread. It's no longer the joy of giving. It's now about who can buy the best and the most things. Material things. That's all it's about anymore.

So instead of kicking an old lady in the face for the last Dell, try something new. Make a Christmas box with treats for a child in poverty. Send handmade cards to your friends, family, and neighbors. Something that goes beyond the pure greed of modern society.