Rants from the Ricer: Giving Thanks

[RicerX]

Picture this - it's Thanksgiving morning. You're preparing for lunch (I said lunch on purpose) with your family. You're thinking about all that you have to be thankful for - health, friends, family, love, fun car forums, happy times, a massive amount of food to eat, a warm home, a job/career, etc. Perhaps you're catching the Thanksgiving Day Parade and watching people twirling batons and busting their asses in the rain in NYC.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rDtptNz ... e=youtu.be[/youtube]

The day passes, and you've had your fun. Now it's time for evening activities - SHOPPING. You're one of those shoppers that won't have Thanksgiving Dinner - you have to get all the Black Thursday deals (Black Friday isn't Black Friday if it's f*** Thursday - FYI)

You're one of these people:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w7FjW3QeiQ[/youtube]

Or these people:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ-z8xmADQA[/youtube]

Just a few hours after we all sit down to discuss or share what we're all thankful for in life (because isn't Thanksgiving about that? or something?), we stampede and fight over TVs (that will be the same price in a matter of months or even weeks anyway), buy one/get one free panties, or a s*** boombox that won't last two months.

This overwhelming display of greed is the reason why fewer retail employees get any holidays off. Soon there will be nothing sacred - Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc. The more people show up to these "doorbuster" sales (pretty much a literal term at this point), the more frenzies like this we will get, and the less holidays given to the employees.

It's not even the shopping that bothers me so much. I have worked retail (perhaps why I feel so strongly about the subject) - the 9-16 hour shifts on Black Friday when I woke up at 2am (which at that time, nearly 10 years ago, was unprecedented) to go to the store and game plan how to deal with the insanity demonstrated in the video above. My first black Friday, I had shift managers and store managers sent to the hospital for stitches (they were literally pinned between the wall and the door when they opened the store for nearly 15 minutes while bleeding from their feet/heels from the door and wall digging into them), or for getting trampled by people who were stupid enough to wait outside in the rain all night to get that one piece of s*** TV that you wouldn't buy on any other day of the year. I have dealt with the angry lazy a** people who showed up six hours later expecting the "doorbuster" items to be in stock, and yelling at me - the lowly piece of s*** stockboy, who had zero control over the inventory, and who was 8 hours into his 16 hour shift that day dealing with INSANITY and damn near apocalypse levels of "crowd thinking".

This s*** is disgusting. It's absolutely disgusting. I don't care if you think it's judgmental - the fact that people abandon any sign of human dignity over a discounted iPad or TV is completely f*** disgusting. It's also quite alarming - Thanksgiving day used to be a day to preach the "we should be thankful for this, this, and this" and all of those sentiments are completely abandoned, now, on the SAME DAY! In the same breath!

My wife worked retail for as long as I've known her until recently. We have been together for three years, and this Thanksgiving was the first time we had dinner together - she previously had to leave the house at 2pm on Thanksgiving Day to work crowd control strategies, and then work through the night and sleep through most of the afternoon Friday. I understand she chose the job, as do many others, but the reason why more and more families get less and less time with their families on holidays is because we keep f*** going to the store.

So if you can do without that piece of s*** TV for a Christmas present, do it. Order the s*** from Amazon on the iPad you bought last year. Don't go to the damn store. Stand for taking one day out of the year to eat with yourself or eat with your family or eat with your friends. Take that time to keep it all in perspective. Life is short. No one dies wishing they worked more or spent more time fighting crowds for a TV that only lasted 6 months anyway. They make TVs every single day. You cannot replace time with friends or family. The more we justify retailers to eat into holidays with half-assed products for cheap prices, the less of that time you will get with family - especially those who work in the industry.

I challenge you to force the change in the other direction. Choose true fulfillment.

[numbnuts240]

i went to my parents' house for the day. we all glanced at the ads in the papers, but that's about as much shopping we did all day, unless you count commercial breaks. screw all the chaos in lieu of family time. the last time i went out on black friday, we went to the mall at midnight only to watch the insanity. like you said, utterly disgusting.

[Dattebayo]

Well, most of the people I know are from the south, but "thanksgiving dinner" usually starts at around 2PM and is done by 5 for us every year. Most of the time we're just fu*king around the house of whatever relative we happen to be visiting, and I wouldn't really want to be hanging out with my relatives all damn day, so I can't see the harm in it all.

And not to be dismissing or whatever, but those cases were not how it is everywhere. That's just a media spectacle created in a few areas. I was out shopping on Thursday night and it was very polite and ordered. The rush wasn't very nuts, actually. I was in line an hour and was in the store for exactly 15 minutes, home after 2 hours total by 7PM. Then I just chilled with my mom and dad the rest of the night with what I bought them, presented as an early gift.

[SX APPEAL]

Well, most of the people I know are from the south, but "thanksgiving dinner" usually starts at around 2PM and is done by 5 for us every year. Most of the time we're just fu*king around the house of whatever relative we happen to be visiting, and I wouldn't really want to be hanging out with my relatives all damn day, so I can't see the harm in it all.

The point is that you're not working. But most retail employees WILL be working at that time because of these stupid a** sales. I agree with Ricer on this one 100% Too bad it doesn't matter a damn, its only going to get worse. I was shocked to see the "holiday hours" posted at the Applebee's where, up until recently, I worked as a second job. They're open damn near regular business hours on Thanksgiving AND Christmas. That is unthinkable s*** and if I hadn't quit that job before, I certainly would've over that. Follow the money...

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I too agree 100% with Zack. I hate to say it, but I also agree its only going to get worse too. I've never gone out shopping on Thanksgiving, or even Black Friday. If anything, I'll just order something online. I hope I never meet anyone that wants me to go with them to do that either, because I'm going to be a mega d!ck to them in that very instant.

[Dattebayo]

I would work if I could, cause holiday pay is 3x normal wage.

And if you think that being open on a holiday is shocking, you need to wake up. And try to remember to breathe...

Seriously, there are people who don't have family. There are people who don't care about holidays like that, and there are most DEFINITELY people who aren't American living here. When I lived by myself in a far-away city from home, finding a restaurant or bar open on a holiday was how I spent my time. This is a fact for hundreds of millions of us. Being an American means you have the right to choose about stuff like this. So if a store wants to be open and sell on a holiday, it can.

Try to be rational and realize that this really doesn't affect you at all.

[RicerX]

Try to be rational and realize that this really doesn't affect you at all.

I was planning to engage you until I got to this part - then I realized that I know your type. So I will acknowledge your sentiment and leave it at that. Thanks for your input.

[numbnuts240]

it affects me, because it saddens me how disconnected we have become from what used to be great traditions of enjoying life and family and taking time to be grateful for everything you have and those you have to enjoy it with. we used to be a family oriented, tradition loving, and respectful to others nation. now it's all about saving a buck and openly berating anyone who isn't you on social media.

[MinisterofDOOM]

The point is that you're not working. But most retail employees WILL be working at that time because of these stupid a** sales.

This is it.

I work in an industry that doesn't stop, and we have central stations staffed 24/7/365 with zero downtime because we provide an emergency service. I have people working every holiday, all day, as though it were any other day. And the ONLY thing that keeps me from feeling like a scumbag for tying these great people to desks when they could be with their families is the knowledge that they are saving lives. I don't even have a conscience or a soul yet I'd feel terrible asking anyone to work on Thanksgiving for me so I could sell a few more TVs.

When I started out in this same industry, I was one of those people working holidays. I worked Christmas every year for years. You know what the most frustrating thing was? There was nowhere to buy lunch. Target is open to buy the latest Skylanders set, but I can't go to @#$%ing Smith's for a sandwich and a soda? No Wendy's, but I can go pick up a Coleman camp stove for dirt cheap!

And, sure, you could argue that I should have come to work prepared with food. Except that I just finished trying to cram every second of sleep possible in before an 8 hour work shift, ~4 hours with Family (less driving time) and 4 more hours of sleep before another 8 hour shift the next day. So it'd be nice if maybe some of the OTHER places that are making employees work during what should be holiday time were providing a service of use to OTHER PEOPLE who genuinely need to work during that time!

There are a lot of hard-working people out there sacrificing their personal time to provide a service to others who are enjoying the day off, but nobody should have to make that same sacrifice just so you can save some money at BEST BUY ULTRA SUPER BLACK SAVINGS DAY FROM HELL LAND PLANET. So you got a $1300 TV for $500...in the words of Tom Servo: Whoopty s***. You've also just wasted many peoples' time in exchange.

Priorities.

Society has none.

[Dattebayo]

Try to be rational and realize that this really doesn't affect you at all.

I was planning to engage you until I got to this part - then I realized that I know your type. So I will acknowledge your sentiment and leave it at that. Thanks for your input.

So you know "my type" huh?

I'm not quite done yet about this. You see, at the same time as people are trying to raise minimum wage to work in retail, yet being refused it, they turn to stunts like this and the workers are more than happy to take their time off from family to make some bucks. Yet people like you complain that it hurts our way of life, possibly the same people who want to deny them the wage increase (I can't say I'm entirely in favor of a wage increase to $15 either, however) and probably the same people who think that gay marriage is a crime against society. But that's another issue not meant for these pages...

It doesn't hurt your way of life because you're not participating in it. Do you have to work in retail? Nope. You can consider your part more like a boycott.

More to follow when I get more time...

[Bubba1]

Try to be rational and realize that this really doesn't affect you at all.

I was planning to engage you until I got to this part - then I realized that I know your type. So I will acknowledge your sentiment and leave it at that. Thanks for your input.

I don't know what kind of label you're planning to hang on Dattebayo, but you shouldn't do that. You're viewing it sentimentally, Dave is viewing it pragmatically. I think you're both right.
I worked in retail many years ago have also worked on countless holidays in my post retail career, so I understand the issue pretty well. While I sympathize greatly with those that do not wish to work (or shop) on traditionally "untouchable" holidays like Thanksgiving Day, you must realize there are a LOT people that are not only okay working on those days, they want to do it. Even easier when there's a financial incentive for the employee, which many retailers do (though probably not WalMart ). When I had an hourly employee unhappy to work those days and there were always some, I tried to find someone to cover their shifts for those days. And surprisingly, I never had problems finding substitutes. Retail is not a traditionally high paying career so many folks look for opportunities to make more money. And working on a holiday is one of them.

I think a point that might have been overlooked, is that the date one celebrates a holiday is not as important as with whom you share it. There were many years I worked on traditional untouchable holidays. I wasn't thrilled about it, but my family worked with me and adjusted our "celebration" days to the first day we all could be together. I never felt shortchanged by it. Call me crazy, but I viewed it as a byproduct of the industry in which I chose to work. I think too many people get caught up that a holiday MUST be observed/celebrated a specific date.

If you work in retail or transportation, working on holidays is real possibility. Given the state and direction of the US economy, which includes a rapidly growing 24/7/365 on-line buying alternative, it's hardly surprising that more traditional brick/mortar retailers are opening on holidays. I agree, sentimentally, it sucks. But unfortunately that's reality, and it's probably not going to change.

[frapjap]

I worked in retail many years ago have also worked on countless holidays in my post retail career, so I understand the issue pretty well. While I sympathize greatly with those that do not wish to work (or shop) on traditionally "untouchable" holidays like Thanksgiving Day, you must realize there are a LOT people that are not only okay working on those days, they want to do it. Even easier when there's a financial incentive for the employee, which many retailers do (though probably not WalMart ). When I had an hourly employee unhappy to work those days and there were always some, I tried to find someone to cover their shifts for those days. And surprisingly, I never had problems finding substitutes. Retail is not a traditionally high paying career so many folks look for opportunities to make more money. And working on a holiday is one of them.

I think a point that might have been overlooked, is that the date one celebrates a holiday is not as important as with whom you share it. There were many years I worked on traditional untouchable holidays. I wasn't thrilled about it, but my family worked with me and adjusted our "celebration" days to the first day we all could be together. I never felt shortchanged by it. Call me crazy, but I viewed it as a byproduct of the industry in which I chose to work. I think too many people get caught up that a holiday MUST be observed/celebrated a specific date.

All of this. Working in the hospitality industry taught our family that December 25th doesn't have to be Christmas, and that Mothers Day doesn't HAVE to be during Carlisle.

[Dattebayo]

Now I didn't mean to say what I did to inflame you, but Bubba said exactly what I was getting to but didn't have time to get to yet, as I was being called off to another job last-minute. But anyways, thank you sir!

[AZhitman]

I read a statistic recently that in the past 30 years, the percentage of people working on Thanksgiving has decreased from 50% or 25% (or thereabout).

Getting hung up on a calendar has always seemed silly to me. Why must Monday be the beginning of a work week? It's an artificial, man-made construct, just like "hours" and "months." Neither really exists - they're just ways for us to organize and compartmentalize our existence.

[SX APPEAL]

[MinisterofDOOM]

It's an artificial, man-made construct, just like "hours" and "months." Neither really exists - they're just ways for us to organize and compartmentalize our existence.

Hours and months might be man-made words, but what they measure is very much a fundamental aspect of the universe and human behavior. Why do you think every civilization on earth measures time the same way, even while we measure so many other things differently? "Hours" and "months" are based on the natural, consistent, repeating cycles and patterns of the earth, solar system, and universe. Our physiology is in many ways based on consistency with a lot of those cycles. There's nothing made up or constructed about them. They're physical things that can be defined and observed. When you can send a clock into orbit and observe time dilation, that's not a made up way to organize life, that's part of the fabric of reality. Hours and months, though, are extremely precise units of measure based on actual physical phenomenon. Lunar cycles, solar cycles, diurnal cycles. None of that's made up. We can measure time with amazing accuracy based on observation of constellations for crying out loud.

Your overall point, though, I agree with. It's stilly for stores to close at 10pm or open at 6am in a world where a significant proportion of the population is awake at any given moment.

I've also worked jobs where my "weekend" was in the middle of the week, and it worked just fine (in fact in many ways it was an improvement because it helped me avoid crowds).
I've also experienced the frustration of needing to reach a service or a buy a product during my "day" at 3am when we're still pretending everyone on earth is asleep.

But the fact is I was not designed to operate on that schedule, and those adjustments are not the result of any artificial imposition, but of the fact that I'm a living member of a species that evolved suit life on a planet in a universe with consistent laws.

[Dattebayo]

Actually, it's been proven that the sunlight itself is what stimulates your sleep/wake cycle. The set period when away from sunlight has been shown to be an 18 hour cycle.

This is why I've always been confused as to how the hell people can fall asleep on the beach...

[skydragoness]

In regards to time off...since the holidays are just really consumer-focused-sales-scheme days you may as well plan family get-togethers some other time--there are a lot of benefits to it. Planning to spend time with family outside of the typical holiday schedule is a huge plus because even if one isn't the type to do frantic shopping (like myself) you STILL get stuck in AWFUL, HORRIBLE traffic trying to go see your family. Or spend half a grand on a plane ticket to see them around the holidays. As much as my family dislikes me not visiting for the holidays, going out to see them after the holidays is less stressful/expensive for everyone involved IMO.

As far as the Black Friday insanity, it IS disgusting...and I don't understand it. People don't even know they're getting scammed with sub-par no-name-disposable-crap products that were bulk purchased solely for Black Friday sales that won't even make it into next year before they break. It's 2014 FFS, why are people not shopping primarily online now? I don't get it. I don't understand why anyone would want to be in those crowds, wait in those lines, and brave the insane drivers in the parking lots/roads. Only retailers on the coporate level can scale it back for the safety of others but they won't...because they just look at the numbers and smile at their profits.