'Black Friday'....
30 November 2014, 11:46 AM
#61
The scenes across the country seem shocking. If it's an indication of poverty, poor wage growth etc then it's very sad.
However since most people were fighting over TVs I wonder if it just reflects the rise of tech consumerism.
But given we are talking Blaupunkt, Seiki and Polaroid ffs I wonder if it's just stupidity and mass hysteria.
However since most people were fighting over TVs I wonder if it just reflects the rise of tech consumerism.
But given we are talking Blaupunkt, Seiki and Polaroid ffs I wonder if it's just stupidity and mass hysteria.
The latter IMHO.
People in real poverty don't "need" a TV.
Its a simple fact that if you have little money and given the choice of a new TV or food and clothing and paying the electric/gas all of which is needed, the TV would take last place of priority.
Especially given that you can get TVs cheaper. Be it in a smaller size, or buying second hand.
Which leaves me to state that this is nothing but stupidity and hysteria combined with sheep mentality.
30 November 2014, 04:31 PM
#62
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The latter IMHO.
People in real poverty don't "need" a TV.
Its a simple fact that if you have little money and given the choice of a new TV or food and clothing and paying the electric/gas all of which is needed, the TV would take last place of priority.
Especially given that you can get TVs cheaper. Be it in a smaller size, or buying second hand.
Which leaves me to state that this is nothing but stupidity and hysteria combined with sheep mentality.
People in real poverty don't "need" a TV.
Its a simple fact that if you have little money and given the choice of a new TV or food and clothing and paying the electric/gas all of which is needed, the TV would take last place of priority.
Especially given that you can get TVs cheaper. Be it in a smaller size, or buying second hand.
Which leaves me to state that this is nothing but stupidity and hysteria combined with sheep mentality.
Last time I saw this sort of thing was in Take That gig in 2011, I think. Some sheep-some pished ladies were sprinting towards the stage like crazy, waving their arms up in the air and cackling sharp like....oh God.....like a balloon during a slow puncture! Not that any of them got to touch the TT boys. Just as well one less to go mental about it now. The trio danced really bad on the XFactor, so I think I'll be walking at zero mph towards to stage in their next gig.
30 November 2014, 07:27 PM
#63
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Ding you are no better. You happily elbow people out of the way and make them suffer so you can secure your BTL's, just you have the luxury of being able to **** on people from a distance.
30 November 2014, 08:13 PM
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I just think it's easy to scoff at the 'lower classes' displaying undignified 'dog eat dog' behavior to claim some consumer bargains, but the middle classes are much worse in some ways for being 'sharp elbowed' and gathering resources and privileges for themselves...which means excluding them from others. Of course it tends to be done 'at a distance' and through institutions of Capitalism, makes it easier to sleep, and harder to resist.
Things are pretty precarious for people at the bottom of society, this black friday carry-on is a sort of witness to the people being created by neoliberalism.
Things are pretty precarious for people at the bottom of society, this black friday carry-on is a sort of witness to the people being created by neoliberalism.
Last edited by tony de wonderful; 30 November 2014 at 08:16 PM.
30 November 2014, 08:33 PM
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30 November 2014, 08:35 PM
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30 November 2014, 08:41 PM
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If only James, if only.
Gifted means you don't leave school with zero qualifications and with a clue what you want to do in life.
I think to lay the blame firmly at the door of capitalism, neoliberalism, lesbianism or any or ****in ism, is frankly a moronic and blinkered point of view.
Gifted means you don't leave school with zero qualifications and with a clue what you want to do in life.
I think to lay the blame firmly at the door of capitalism, neoliberalism, lesbianism or any or ****in ism, is frankly a moronic and blinkered point of view.
30 November 2014, 08:43 PM
#73
'You're'.
I think it's less to do with being gifted and more to do with avoiding situations akin to Black Friday sales. It's said in the presence of a crowd individual thinking becomes diminished. The crowd becomes almost a living entity, acting individually in those situations is both dangerous and unproductive.
I think it's less to do with being gifted and more to do with avoiding situations akin to Black Friday sales. It's said in the presence of a crowd individual thinking becomes diminished. The crowd becomes almost a living entity, acting individually in those situations is both dangerous and unproductive.
30 November 2014, 09:45 PM
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I just think it's easy to scoff at the 'lower classes' displaying undignified 'dog eat dog' behavior to claim some consumer bargains, but the middle classes are much worse in some ways for being 'sharp elbowed' and gathering resources and privileges for themselves...which means excluding them from others. Of course it tends to be done 'at a distance' and through institutions of Capitalism, makes it easier to sleep, and harder to resist.
Things are pretty precarious for people at the bottom of society, this black friday carry-on is a sort of witness to the people being created by neoliberalism.
Things are pretty precarious for people at the bottom of society, this black friday carry-on is a sort of witness to the people being created by neoliberalism.
30 November 2014, 09:55 PM
#79
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I just think it's easy to scoff at the 'lower classes' displaying undignified 'dog eat dog' behavior to claim some consumer bargains, but the middle classes are much worse in some ways for being 'sharp elbowed' and gathering resources and privileges for themselves...which means excluding them from others. Of course it tends to be done 'at a distance' and through institutions of Capitalism, makes it easier to sleep, and harder to resist.
Things are pretty precarious for people at the bottom of society, this black friday carry-on is a sort of witness to the people being created by neoliberalism.
Things are pretty precarious for people at the bottom of society, this black friday carry-on is a sort of witness to the people being created by neoliberalism.
Tony, I'm not scoffing. As I said in my earlier post my question was whether this sort of behaviour was truly driven by poverty or by misguided herd mentality, and it was a genuine question.
I also agree that the 'middle classes' can be just as aggressive in their own way.
30 November 2014, 09:58 PM
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If only James, if only.
Gifted means you don't leave school with zero qualifications and with a clue what you want to do in life.
I think to lay the blame firmly at the door of capitalism, neoliberalism, lesbianism or any or ****in ism, is frankly a moronic and blinkered point of view.
Gifted means you don't leave school with zero qualifications and with a clue what you want to do in life.
I think to lay the blame firmly at the door of capitalism, neoliberalism, lesbianism or any or ****in ism, is frankly a moronic and blinkered point of view.
Sorry, mate!
I think it's less to do with being gifted and more to do with avoiding situations akin to Black Friday sales. It's said in the presence of a crowd individual thinking becomes diminished. The crowd becomes almost a living entity, acting individually in those situations is both dangerous and unproductive.
30 November 2014, 10:00 PM
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30 November 2014, 10:02 PM
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Tony, I'm not scoffing. As I said in my earlier post my question was whether this sort of behaviour was truly driven by poverty or by misguided herd mentality, and it was a genuine question.
I also agree that the 'middle classes' can be just as aggressive in their own way.
I also agree that the 'middle classes' can be just as aggressive in their own way.
30 November 2014, 10:03 PM
#83
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That's unfair and inaccurate Tony. I spend most of my time trying to do the exact opposite, even if according to you I'm paid too much in the process
30 November 2014, 10:04 PM
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30 November 2014, 10:05 PM
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01 December 2014, 12:47 AM
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It's usually a bit worse than you see in the UK. I've not seen news reports from this year, but certainly in past years there were people being crushed trying to get in stores, then the obvious fights, and in at least once place I seem to recall there being a mention of firearms being drawn.
It really does show how low people will sink to get what they perceive as a good deal, when in fact it's mainly the retailers pumping out tat at a low price and still making a profit on it.
There are however some good deals if you are prepared to look properly, mainly as most retails know they have to do something for Black Friday, as everyone else is doing it.
Cyber-Monday also seems to be taking off too, pretty much the online version, and again, some good deals, also has the advantage of not having to stand in line and risk getting pushed out of the way by someone and then a fight starting.
02 December 2014, 12:19 AM
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Ding you are happy to take advantage of someone who can't buy a house by sticking your hand in their pocket. Sure, there are worse sins, but let's not pretend it isn't exploitative.
02 December 2014, 12:22 AM
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The latter IMHO.
People in real poverty don't "need" a TV.
Its a simple fact that if you have little money and given the choice of a new TV or food and clothing and paying the electric/gas all of which is needed, the TV would take last place of priority.
Especially given that you can get TVs cheaper. Be it in a smaller size, or buying second hand.
Which leaves me to state that this is nothing but stupidity and hysteria combined with sheep mentality.
People in real poverty don't "need" a TV.
Its a simple fact that if you have little money and given the choice of a new TV or food and clothing and paying the electric/gas all of which is needed, the TV would take last place of priority.
Especially given that you can get TVs cheaper. Be it in a smaller size, or buying second hand.
Which leaves me to state that this is nothing but stupidity and hysteria combined with sheep mentality.
We make loads of crap, sell it to people who then must throw it out when it is time to 'upgrade', or it breaks (built in obsolescence), or fashion changes (as it must), then rinse and repeat with the next cycle.
These people were anxious for some reason. Anxious about being left out, missing a great deal, not acquiring the latest consumer good at a cheap price, anxious that someone else might beat them to it.
Last edited by tony de wonderful; 02 December 2014 at 12:23 AM.
02 December 2014, 01:07 AM
#90
Tony, I'm not scoffing. As I said in my earlier post my question was whether this sort of behaviour was truly driven by poverty or by misguided herd mentality, and it was a genuine question.
I also agree that the 'middle classes' can be just as aggressive in their own way.
I also agree that the 'middle classes' can be just as aggressive in their own way.
I'm a low earner, and as much as I like a bargain, and shop around to get the things I need or heaven forbid, at times, would like, there is no way I would have gone along to one of the stores partaking in Black Friday. Even if I actually needed a TV, I wouldn't chance being trampled over/punched/kicked etc. just to get one that was affordable. That said, whilst some people behaved shockingly, I think if retailers are going to run such 'events', they need to find a way to do so, that doesn't result in the scenes we've seen in the last couple of years since this has really taken off here.