Poll: black friday ban

[Carrots_macduff]

whats up escapist. i've been watching some youtube videos of black friday sales, and i have to say that i'm quite confused as to why there isnt more regulation and security at these events, given the sheer volume of people in one place, as well as how the horrific injuries and deaths that directly result from such sales, are pretty much expected at this point.

are you a black friday shopper? if so there's something id like you to consider. a few years back a wal-mart employee was literally trampled to death for no better reason than impatience and greed.

so if you were a part of one of these hordes of shoppers and got yourself a big screen t.v. for half price, then took it home and got it all set then switched on your local news to discover that the crowd that you were in killed someone because no one thought to stop and help him, how would you feel about being a part of that?

 

[thesilentman]

Uh, okay? People choose to be crazy on that day. There's nothing we can do about it, even if we enact laws for it.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

You can't legislate away stupidity and greed. No company in the states is ever going to want to ban one of its greatest days for numbers of people walking through the store doors.

Maybe there should be a TV ad campaign before the next Black Friday?

'This is Jerry. Trampled to death trying to buy a $30 flatscreen television. Shop responsibly.'

 

[Pimwing]

If dumb people decide that they want to be pressed to death in a massive mob it's their decision. Just like standing front row at a festival.

I personally enjoy black friday because it allows met to order american products at reduced price. (steam sale, threadless)

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

It's nowhere near as bad as people from outside the US seem to think. The shops are packed, yes, but not significantly moreso than they are on, say, Christmas eve. Or at pretty much any other part of the Christmas shopping season. It's not like people get trampled to death on a regular basis -- it's just one of those things where if it even happens once, it defines the entire event. Like how Doom and black trench coats were associated with mass murderers for so long after Columbine. Schools across the country literally banned black trench coats in response to the fact that the Columbine shooters wore trench coats. That's basically what the "people get killed on Black Friday? There oughta be a law!" sentiment is.

 

[Ljs1121]

I've never gone to one and I don't plan to in the near future.

Perhaps if somebody I care about was injured in a Black Friday sale I'd feel more strongly about it, but for now my response is a resounding meh.

 

[burningdragoon]

Sure. After all, everybody knows that Black Friday is the only day of the year where bad things happen to people shopping. /sarcasm.

I'd be curious to know what you think would be a proper law to address this.

 

[Carrots_macduff]

Sure. After all, everybody knows that Black Friday is the only day of the year where bad things happen to people shopping. /sarcasm.

I'd be curious to know what you think would be a proper law to address this.

oh i dunno perhaps having sufficient security on staff to deal with the disproportionate crowds?
or maybe enforce a maximum capacity rule?

if you talk to someone who works in retail they will probably tell you that they don't have any sort of strategy to deal with shoplifters or violent crowds at these events beyond maybe a patrol car waiting outside the store.

next time you go black friday shopping take note of the ratio of staff/security to hyperactive, agitated customers.

 

[Carrots_macduff]

it's just one of those things where if it even happens once, it defines the entire event. Like how Doom and black trench coats were associated with mass murderers for so long after Columbine. Schools across the country literally banned black trench coats in response to the fact that the Columbine shooters wore trench coats. That's basically what the "people get killed on Black Friday? There oughta be a law!" sentiment is.

i believe marilyn manson was to blame for columbine sir.

anyways my point with this post was to say that i find it baffling that no even tries to discourage people from stomping all over others just to get an iphone for half off.

and i realize people don't die every black friday, but if you think the sort of behavior that goes on in a wal-mart on black friday is acceptable, i pity you

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

it's just one of those things where if it even happens once, it defines the entire event. Like how Doom and black trench coats were associated with mass murderers for so long after Columbine. Schools across the country literally banned black trench coats in response to the fact that the Columbine shooters wore trench coats. That's basically what the "people get killed on Black Friday? There oughta be a law!" sentiment is.

i believe marilyn manson was to blame for columbine sir.

anyways my point with this post was to say that i find it baffling that no even tries to discourage people from stomping all over others just to get an iphone for half off.

and i realize people don't die every black friday, but if you think the sort of behavior that goes on in a wal-mart on black friday is acceptable, i pity you

What country are you from? Because it really sounds like you've never been out on Black Friday. It's crazy, but not /that/ crazy. It's just a big shopping day, and the week before Christmas is at least as bad. You'll notice you've never heard stories of people dying while shopping on Christmas eve. The reason? Mostly because it's not Black Friday, and it doesn't play into the narrative that Black Friday sales kill people.

Edit: In fact, do you know the reason it's called Black Friday? It's not because it's some horrible day. It's because it's the start of the Christmas shopping season, when retailers finally go into the black (i.e., start turning a profit) after operating at a loss (i.e., in the red) for several months.

 

[Aris Khandr]

Edit: In fact, do you know the reason it's called Black Friday? It's not because it's some horrible day. It's because it's the start of the Christmas shopping season, when retailers finally go into the black (i.e., start turning a profit) after operating at a loss (i.e., in the red) for several months.

This actually isn't true at all. Retailers just say that, because they don't want their holiday carrying around a negative name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_%28shopping%29#Origin_of_the_term

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

Want black Friday deals without risking your life? Buy shit online. New egg and Amazon have amazing sales and you don't have fight people for stuff. Seriously, it baffles me the kind of shit people will put up with when they can just go to Amazon

 

[Dangit2019]

Look, Black Friday isn't a cess pool of violence and crazy people. Every single day is full of those, you just don't see them reported unless it's good for news ratings (i.e. on a public holiday/yearly occurrence).

I went to a Black Friday sale this year. Do you know what happened? A bunch of people stood in a line/crowd, and then when the doors opened the walked swiftly (NOT TRAMPLING SPEED) into the store before choosing what they wanted from the advertisements and leaving in about 15 minutes time. It's not some giant bloodbath that the media would have you believe.

And how the hell are they going to ban Black Friday in the first place? Will they say "you can't have sells on this day?" Because all that will do is make them have a bunch of sales on the day after...

 

[Ashadowpie]

Black Friday is ...very well ridiculous, but it pays a part in the economy. its the sole reason why here in Canada, we started black Friday now too. i do feel it should be heavily regulated with tickets or 10 people group waiting lines. watching the video's of swarms of people racing for the latest phone on sale, not caring at all who's throat they just stepped on is really really sad and disturbing.

deep down we're all still just stupid sheep monkeys.

 

[Hazy]

Hell no. Black Friday is a day to snag some sweet stuff at a great price. Do people act like jackasses? Absolutely, but that can be said for every other shopping day out of the year as well.

Imagine the security:

"No, ma'am, please: we do not want you to spend hundreds of dollars here while shopping with the other several hundred other patrons who are also spending hundreds of dollars. Return home and try again later."

 

[Dangit2019]

Look, Black Friday isn't a cess pool of violence and crazy people. Every single day is full of those, you just don't see them reported unless it's good for news ratings (i.e. on a public holiday/yearly occurrence).

I went to a Black Friday sale this year. Do you know what happened? A bunch of people stood in a line/crowd, and then when the doors opened they walked swiftly (NOT TRAMPLING SPEED) into the store before choosing what they wanted from the advertisements and leaving in about 15 minutes time. It's not some giant bloodbath that the media would have you believe.

And how the hell are they going to ban Black Friday in the first place? Will they say "you can't have sells on this day?" Because all that will do is make them have a bunch of sales on the day after...

 

[Olas]

I say ban it, it's disgusting the way some people just turn into wild animals. I don't even understand why we have it to begin with, what's so special about the day after Thanksgiving that we need to have a giant condensed sale on that day?

 

[antidonkey]

Just because I don't like doesn't mean it should be illegal. I'd rather people not be such selfish assholes.......sadly, I don't see that happening anytime soon. Leave black friday alone and just do what do what I do....don't leave the house that day.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

**facepalm**

Really? Really?! Laws against Black Friday sales? Really?

OP, if you think we need laws about that, then you're missing out on some far more awful things going on in this country, to say nothing about the rest of the world.

Black Friday isn't any worse than anything else - it just gets more press.

 

[COMaestro]

I went out on Black Friday, and saw no one arguing over items, no one pushing people out of their way and other than a couple of sprinters right when the doors opened for one store, no one running madly for the item they want. I waited in a line at Best Buy two hours before opening, people were chatting amicably, asking what other groups were planning on buying. Employees came down the line with tickets for doorbuster items, without which you could not receive the item in the store. No one tried to snatch tickets away from anybody, there was no trampling or shouting or fighting. There were a couple of security officers directing people in and out of the store and police cars going through the parking lot of the shopping center to help prevent car break ins.

Once the doors opened I was in and out with all the things I wanted to purchase within 30 minutes. Went to some other stores afterward and though packed with people, there was never any issue. The mythical Black Friday madness is mostly that, a myth, with the occasional crazy person/group getting sensationalized by the news which makes it look like the whole country goes nuts.

I will admit, I think it's getting pretty ridiculous how stores are opening earlier and earlier with their sales. Used to be 5 AM, then some stores went to 4 AM, then midnight, now 8 PM on Thanksgiving is becoming pretty standard. Sad really. I have better things to do on Thanksgiving than go shopping. Like eat a lot.