Stay safe and shop away
By Brandi Miller, staff reporter.
I haven’t gone Black Friday shopping more than twice in my life; I’m more of a Cyber Monday type of person. Don’t get me wrong, my two years of experience were great, I felt like I was stealing when I was at the checkout of each store. Many people are begging the question, Is it really necessary to start Black Friday when it’s technically not even Friday yet?
Black Friday has become one of the biggest shopping day of the year. People seem to get high off the thought of deals. Stores tend to open much earlier each year. JCPenney’s opens at 6 p.m. and some stores are open all of Thanksgiving to get people in the spirit of the shopping holiday.
Honestly, I haven’t done much Black Friday shopping, but I don’t mind that stores are opening earlier. When I went shopping in the past, I either went with my sister or my friends. Loved ones come home for the holidays to spend family time together. That’s how I see Black Friday—as family time.
To me, Black Friday is about staying up late and not knowing what to expect. Everyone is excited to buy new things and bond with their friends and family while shopping. I think Black Friday is apart of Thanksgiving. Families are able to eat dinner and catch up with one another and once dinner is over they’re able to go out and shop until they can’t stand.
I don’t think Black Friday starting too early is an issue. The only problem I have with Black Friday is when people take it too far. You know, the people that treat shopping like a sport. They’re going to tackle anyone who gets in the way of their prize. Luckily, that’s only a select group of people out of the millions who go out that night.
I think Black Friday should be celebrated earlier because it’s more time to spend with your loved ones. If you plan on going out, stay safe, find great deal, and be aware of the aggressive shoppers.
Showing our true colors
By MaCayla Jablonski, editor-in-chief.
While reflecting on my Black Friday trips through the years, I am filled with excitement and nostalgia. My family and I would leave right after Thanksgiving dinner and drive to Birch Run to wait in lines for hours. I started joining the family on these trips when I turned 13, and it’s become a tradition ever since. But now that I’m older and I see the danger in this tradition, and I wonder why we celebrate Black Friday anyways.
It’s odd to me that people leave their families after spewing their thanks and appreciation for one another to go fist fight some old woman in Target over the last Xbox One. How do we manage going from one end of the spectrum to the other so easily? And for what reason? To throw ourselves into the fire for a few cheap deals on pants and toys?
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been in that fire telling chicks to back off of my American Eagle pants, and yeah, I had fun, but part of me is disgusted by Black Friday. People are harassed, injured and even killed yearly due to trampling, being beaten and being shot. In fact, according to BlackFridayDeathCount.com, seven people have been killed and 98 people injured since 2006. And I get that some people ruin it for everybody, but come on. People are dying! It’s a little ridiculous, don’t you think?
According to BlackFriday.com, the term “Black Friday” was originally pinned to the financial crisis and crash of the U.S. gold market in 1869. This was when two ruthless Wall Street financiers worked together to buy as much of the nation’s gold, hoping to make the price sky rocket and make a tidy profit. This whole plan unraveled on Friday, Sept. 24, sending the stock market into a decline and bankrupting every participant. Coining the term, Black Friday.
So even the source of this holiday is dark and in remembrance of two men who planned to steal the world’s gold. I mean Black Friday can be a great time, and I’ve had good experiences with it, but the holiday itself is a joke. It’s focused on greed, hostility, and truly shows what you’re willing to do for $1 flip-flops.
So whether you agree with me or not, or end up shopping or not, I truly hope you take the necessary precautions to be safe this Black Friday season. Godspeed.