Comments on: The Performance Art of “Buy Nothing Day”

By: Dana

Dana — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:01:12 +0000

“Because by making it on Black Friday, the concept gets publicity — and in the modern world that is more important than creating real change.”

Often publicity can lead to real change. Not always, but it does have the potential to do so.

By: patty

patty — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:39:54 +0000

The chances of me buying anything today that isn’t a coffee or The New York Times are exceptionally slim. It’s not protest – I simply hate shopping.

My father called me yesterday to tell me that the local mall was offering valet parking to anyone who drives a certain make of car, which I happen to drive. I asked him if I should pick him up at 3:45 a.m. so we could be there for the 4 a.m. opening. Then we laughed ourselves silly because we’d both rather show up for the 4 a.m. root canal special at our dentist’s office than go anywhere near the mall today. Or, say, ever.

Considering a Wal-Mart stock clerk was trampled to death in Valley Stream this morning at 5 a.m., Buy Nothing Day sounds better by the moment.

By: Danny

Danny — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:38:06 +0000

Every year the day after Thanksgiving is Buy Nothing day for me since I’d rather kill myself than go anywhere near a store on such a busy day and I never go shopping anyway except for food–and who needs to buy more food the day after such an eating orgy? However, this year, even though I still won’t be there, I feel comforted at the idea of crowds in the stores since I’m terrified about our tanking economy and I know that many businesses do a huge percentage of their total sales for the year during this time period. Sure, shop wisely, don’t buy crap you don’t need, but I hope the people are out there in droves. I’ll be home digesting.

By: Loulou

Loulou — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:47:28 +0000

I am bloody loving, as is everyone here, the ‘Buy Nothing Day’ concept. We created our site http://www.ourswaps.com for exactly that reason so let’s hope that by working together we make an impact.
If we can all just stop and think about how much we consume without any thought of what we already own (and are ready to discard) then things might be, just a little bit, different and better.
Please feel free to link to us, or not, it’s up to you.
Enjoy the non-consumption day!

By: kanani

kanani — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:53:23 +0000

I’d like to encourage people to buy plenty at small family-owed businesses. They could really use your business and your dollar spent there will go toward making their payroll, paying rent, taxes and giving them a much-needed profit.

By: teahouseblossom

teahouseblossom — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:12:00 +0000

I’m so poor these days that every day is Buy Nothing Day!

I’ve been watching tv all day, and I keep seeing these ads about the stores that open super early tomorrow morning. 4 a.m., sheesh!!

By: La Framéricaine

La Framéricaine — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:47:43 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving, Neil!

As said one of your other commmenters, I really don’t enjoy the crowds of the Biggest Shopping Day of the Year.

That said, I will probably start paying attention to this type of push for non-consumerism right about the time the poster and the push become a public protest for:

–Universal and equal access to education and educational materials for all the children of the USA regardless of race, religion, or social class

–Universal access to health care for all the citizens of the USA without the profit-making insurance middlemen and rescinding of benefits when you apply to use them

–Universal access to housing for all the citizens of the USA in all markets–rather than rich people owning Santa Barbara and importing their teachers, nurses, firemen, and policemen from outside the city due to lack of affordable housing for the middle-class and poor in town

–Universal access to basic food for everyone on a daily basis

Until then, I’m not too impressed with protests to stop cash-strapped people from buying large screen TVs, Barbies, or 2-for-1 Chinese manufactured acrylic sweaters.

Nice post, my man!

By: AnnieH(the other Annie)

AnnieH(the other Annie) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:18:51 +0000

I think there are some who would tell you that they shop on Black Friday precisely so that they can get their shopping done and spend time enjoying the rest of the holidays with their families.(The Get-Er-Done School of Thought) The school parties, the work parties, baking cookies, wrapping, The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, the school recitals. I don’t shop on this day because quite frankly I don’t like that many people in one place and I don’t know what to buy yet, but I have friends who revel in it and have made it a tradition. They’re my organized friends. So, I’m ambivalent about the whole boycotting idea. I’m right with you on the shopping local though. We’re trying as much as possible to keep our dollars with the smaller independent stores around us. And the arts. And making sure that College Grrrl has food:>)

By: Memarie Lane

Memarie Lane — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 01:32:23 +0000

I think it’s great. I’m not really that concerned with religion being brought back into Christmas. Even though I’m a Christian, for me it’s a secular holiday. But I think it would be MUCH more enjoyable if it was observed more like Thanksgiving; no toiletry sets or toaster cozies, just good food, good company, and good conversation.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:33:49 +0000

Neil, I am with you on the supporting the boycott thing.

That said – and I am whispering here – if you want to know more about decent digital cameras, drop me a line. I’ve done some research on this lately for my tech column.