black friday or thursday?

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

A number of stores opened at 8pm tonight (Thanksgiving Day) and some opened even earlier with a few open all day. I've never done the Black Friday shopping thing, but this just feels wrong. Thanksgiving is a national holiday. On the other side, some restaurants are open serving Thanksgiving food and this doesn't bother me. Or maybe it's that the food is related to Thanksgiving.

In the newspaper, there was a comment that it isn't a holiday for immigrants so it is ok for some people to work. My first thought is that some people should work. Firefighters and bus drivers and many other jobs. I ran into someone who was a home health aide. That needs to be done on Thanksgiving too. But going to a department store? It also worries me that Macy's is at a disadvantage. They can't open earier because are using so many of their people for the parade.

My second thought is that immigrants are in the US. Thanksgiving isn't a religious holiday. What's wrong with giving thanks. Most people take off Christmas even if they don't celebrate it.

Thoughts?

[Bear Bibeault]

I cannot agree more. I've never participated in the Black Friday madness to begin with. Extending it to Thanksgiving Day is nothing but pure greed.

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

And it's a game of who can start first. Seems like some game theory thing getting them to start earlier and earlier and earlier.

I also think they are making things worse for themselves by spreading it out. But they have to open earlier because the other guy did.

[Maneesh Godbole]

Jeanne Boyarsky wrote:In the newspaper, there was a comment that it isn't a holiday for immigrants

Wouldn't that mean just about everyone who is non native?
I blame the media hype. Fathers day, mothers day, secretary day, neighbors dog day. People just loose focus of what the day is actually supposed to mean and everything is commercialized.

[fred rosenberger]

Doesn't the fact that it is not a religious holiday mean that EVERYONE celebrates it? I personally DON'T celebrate Hannukah, Eid, Diwali, etc., all of which are religious. I do celebrate 4th of july, thanksgiving, etc, which are not.

That argument seems 100% backwards to me.

Also, I don't think most people are given a choice. Some corporate vice president who makes $200k a year makes the decision, and then spends the day at home with his or her family, NOT working.

I spent most of thanksgiving in the hospital with my wife. I was very thankful to all the nurses and technicians who were working.

[Martin Vashko]

Jeanne Boyarsky wrote:I also think they are making things worse for themselves by spreading it out. But they have to open earlier because the other guy did.

I'd say it's true. In my country, shopping centers are open every day except two-and-half days on Christmas (Christmas is the only generally observed "family reunion" holiday here). The retailers sometimes say that hey wouldn't mind to stay closed on state holidays as well, if it was a general rule. But no one will do it unilaterally, because that would hurt their share.

On the other hand, I also believe that shops would not be open on Thanksgiving if people were not willing to shop in them in large numbers. Some countries in Europe have laws to close most shops on Sundays (Austria, for example - so it is certainly possible without the society breaking down ), yet in countries where shopping centers stay open on Sundays, they are packed.

[fred rosenberger]

Missouri had "blue laws" up until i was in high school (so mid-80s). These laws required most stores to be closed on Sundays, and limited what you could buy - but they made little to no sense. I remember my mom bought oven cleaner, but couldn't buy the rubber gloves you needed to wear to use the oven cleaner. no retail liquor, but bars were open. Most people hated them (the laws) and they got repealed.

[Henry Wong]

fred rosenberger wrote:Missouri had "blue laws" up until i was in high school (so mid-80s). These laws required most stores to be closed on Sundays, and limited what you could buy - but they made little to no sense. I remember my mom bought oven cleaner, but couldn't buy the rubber gloves you needed to wear to use the oven cleaner. no retail liquor, but bars were open. Most people hated them (the laws) and they got repealed.

There are parts of New Jersey still operating under blue laws. And some of the areas have big malls that are affected.

I agree that it is silly, after all (1) not all religions have services on Sunday, (2) the tax revenue for the area is severely impacted, as one out of two weekends days are prohibited, and (3) how hard is it to drive 10 minutes to an area without blue laws.

Henry

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

fred rosenberger wrote:I spent most of thanksgiving in the hospital with my wife. I was very thankful to all the nurses and technicians who were working.

Yes. They fall into the category of people who need to work that day.

Henry Wong wrote:I agree that it is silly, after all (1) not all religions have services on Sunday, (2) the tax revenue for the area is severely impacted, as one out of two weekends days are prohibited, and (3) how hard is it to drive 10 minutes to an area without blue laws.

Agreed. The weekend is when there is time to do things.