Day 3: Green Friday (Or Anti-Black Friday)

1,040 Words

** This is day 3 of a 100 day challenge to write 1,000 words per day. Content for this blog is created pretty much on the spot, unless I have a specific task that I’m writing for that day. This preamble is not included in said word count. **

Black friday, the epitome of American consumerism. The day where a large percentage of Americans hoist themselves out of food coma from the prior day’s feast at ungodly hours to line up for marked down electronics and other goods. And who’s to blame them? How can anyone resist getting a 32" TV for under $100? Or a 55" LG LED TV for $500? I mean at prices that low, they’re practically worth killing for. Just ask Ronnie Sharp of Russel County, VA:

…two men, 61-year-old Ronnie Sharp of Russell County and 35-year-old Christopher Jackson of Jewell Ridge in Tazewell County, were arguing over a parking space. This escalated into a threat with a firearm, and then Hieatt says Sharp used a knife to cut Jackson in the arm, slicing down to the bone. (Source)

And that’s just the start of it. The Huffington Post is having a ball recording the many instances of violence this Black Friday. From thefts to tazering to trampling and even a shooting — does anyone else wonder why this of all days comes right after a day of family where we should reflect and give thanks? (to read my reflections, see day 2)

So ok, let’s ignore the senseless violence and selfish actions that people commit on this day. Let’s talk about the deals! At the end of the day, isn’t it worth it to get a great deal on a TV or iPad? Don’t the hours in line justify the joy you get for the rest of the year with your new purchases? After all — the early bird does get the worm, right? Perhaps not. According to the WSJ, that apparent discount may not even be real. In a recent piece titled ‘The Dirty Secret of Black Friday Discounts’, it turns out that often the discounts retailers advertise are manufactured by retailers, marking up prices beforehand and passing off the return to regular prices as a discount:

Prices climbed an average of 8% in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving for 366, or about a fifth, of the products; the items were then discounted on Black Friday. Toys and tools had the biggest pre-Black Friday price increases—about 23%. (Source)

Let’s also not forget about the indirect costs and negative externalities caused by Black Friday: the extra long hours in line both waiting for the stores to open and waiting in line to pay, the extra driving and additional time spent in traffic due to congestion on the roads, the traffic accidents caused by a ton of people driving very early in the morning. Which really begs the question: Is Black Friday good at all for consumers?

I can’t answer that question, nor do I think the answer is as simple as a yes or no. On my part, for those of us that are fortunate enough to not be in need of anything in life and do not have the pressures and responsibilities that come with taking care of a family, I believe there is a better, more productive alternative to engaging in Black Friday. Here is my proposal, which I call Green Friday:

1. No shopping: Don’t contribute to giving retailers incentives to keep putting on Black Friday events. Participate in the Buy Nothing Day cause and stay home. Enjoy the time with your families and friends, and don’t think about the deals. Chances are, they’re not that great anyways.
2. Donate your old electronics and other goods: I think we can all understand the need for families to go out and scour deals on normally pricy electronics. For those least fortunate, consider donating your old electronics so they won’t have to spend 5-6 hours in the freezing cold waiting in line for a $96 TV. Miss Minimalist has a great list of organizations to donate your stuff to, segmented by type of item (e.g. electronics) and by cause. Give thanks and give others an extra reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving.
3. Donate your leftovers: Ok, not the remaining slices of turkey or the half bowl of stuffing from the night before. Chances are however that your preparation for Thanksgiving yielded more than enough cans of veggies, cranberry sauce, soup, gravy, and the like — cans that were never opened. Instead of letting those go to waste or feeling the need to cook extra, look for a local food bank or shelter to donate to. It’ll save you those extra calories and feed someone in greater need.
4. Build something for good: This last one I suppose is more targeted to the hackers I know, but everyone — no matter what profession you’re in— can create something for good, even if it’s writing an article (heck, even a tweet) to bring awareness to a cause you believe in. For hackers, get some inspiration by looking at the awesome hacks others have created for good at Twilio.org or Google.org. With the incredible tools that we all have on hand these days and the low cost of many technologies, we can all be net producers on a day traditionally known for consumption. Creating technology that brings social impact is a great way to give thanks for all that technology has brought to our lives.

Pretty simple rules. If even a small number of people follow, the world would be a better place for it. On the last piece of the proposal, I’d love to participate in an After-Thanksgiving Hackathon (Thanksgivathon? Hacksgiving? We’ll work on the name later). We can all revel in leftover turkey sandwiches and work on building solutions to problems facing those most in need across America. These same events can also include toy, food, and electronics drives — a one stop shop to participate in Green Friday. What better way to reflect on what we have and give thanks than by contributing less to consumerism in America, donating excess food and items, and spending time collectively creating something great to give back to society?

Have a suggestion for Green Friday? Think Hacksgiving is a terrible name and have a better one? Send me your thoughts by commenting or e-mailing me at andrew.h.jiang@gmail.com.