Buy Nothing Day

Sparkysgrrrl · 11-21-2002, 02:44 PM

It's getting to be that time of the year again.
http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd/

Since its launch in the Pacific Northwest eleven years ago, Buy Nothing Day has grown into a worldwide celebration of consumer awareness and simple living. Observed on the day after US Thanksgiving � America's busiest shopping day of the year � the campaign has sparked debate, radio talk shows, TV news items and newspaper headlines around the world.

People in more than thirty countries have made a pact with themselves and, as a personal experiment and public statement, stepped out of the consumer stream for 24 hours. The ways in which people have marked the event worldwide have been as diverse as the participants themselves.

In America, Buy Nothing Day played out in some of the nation's last remaining public spaces - its malls. Costumed groups of revelers managed to slip in and stay long enough to set up tables and suggest alternatives to heavy holiday spending such as giving to charity. Spend time with family and friends, rather than money on them, was the message. Yes it's cliche, but, the things most worth pursuing, and exchanging - love, ritual, attention, sacrifice, freedom-are the things no-one can buy.

Lilly · 11-21-2002, 02:47 PM

this shant be a problem for me and my college unemployed peers.

Sparkysgrrrl · 11-21-2002, 02:54 PM

Yes, everyday is buy nothing day for me as well

Gina Marie · 11-21-2002, 03:05 PM

I am definitely going to try my best to do this-I did it last year.People are so brainwashed to go shopping that day. I know when I worked in retail it was an absolute nightmare!

I started my Christmas shopping early to avoid all of this hype. The world will not end and the economy will not collapse if people don't shop that day

us3 · 11-21-2002, 04:05 PM

how much does "nothing" cost? if it's free, then I'm buying!

nbcrusader · 11-21-2002, 04:32 PM

Learn contentment.

joyfulgirl · 11-21-2002, 04:33 PM

You couldn't pay me to get near a store the day after Thanksgiving. And I celebrate a buy-nothing Christmas as well. My family has had a decade to get used to the idea but I think they're still pissed.

Sparkysgrrrl · 11-21-2002, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by joyfulgirl
My family has had a decade to get used to the idea but I think they're still pissed.

hahahaa!!

There's also a site for that:
http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/

joyfulgirl · 11-21-2002, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sparkysgrrrl

hahahaa!!

There's also a site for that:
http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/

I guess I should've said I celebrate a DO nothing Christmas. That site has some interesting ideas for alternatives to shopping, but it all still seems too stressful to me (except for making a tape for people, which I do all the time). One year some friends and I wrapped up something we already owned and put it under the tree and everybody just picked something. I got a shower massage.

I forget what I gave, though...I remember originally it was my motorcycle jacket but I panicked at the last minute before everybody got there and took it back.

deep · 11-21-2002, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by joyfulgirl
You couldn't pay me to get near a store the day after Thanksgiving. And I celebrate a buy-nothing Christmas as well. My family has had a decade to get used to the idea but I think they're still pissed.

This is the Christmas Card I mail to my 15 neices and nephews to explain why they got nothing from me.

joyfulgirl · 11-21-2002, 06:35 PM

LarryMullen's POPAngel · 11-21-2002, 07:45 PM

No problem for me.

*looks in empty pockets

pax · 11-21-2002, 10:59 PM

I dunno...for years now I've spent Black Friday with my stepmother and a few of my cousins, rising at the crack of dawn armed with coffee and department store circulars, and spending the day shopping, talking, and eating together. I've always found it to be a very fun day and a great bonding experience for the women of my family.

I'm no friend of conspicuous consumption, but I see no harm in Christmas shopping. It's possible to go overboard, of course. I'm not saying I buy huge, expensive presents for ANYONE, and I certainly don't expect to receive any. But you're hard-pressed to find better sales at any other time of year than on Black Friday, and for cash-strapped college kids, six a.m. on Black Friday is in the fact the *best* time to go shopping.

speedracer · 11-21-2002, 11:03 PM

Some of us try our best to remember the original purpose of Christmas.

The birth of Christ.

And the beginning of college bowl week.

I know Bama will agree with me on both counts.

daisybean · 11-22-2002, 04:15 AM

I must of been ahead of my time....I never went shopping on Black Friday...I hate crowds....and when I was little I saw two women get into a fist fight over a Cabbage Patch Doll....it scarred me for life. I get all my shopping done before thanksgiving.

LarryMullen's POPAngel · 11-22-2002, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by paxetaurora
I dunno...for years now I've spent Black Friday with my stepmother and a few of my cousins, rising at the crack of dawn armed with coffee and department store circulars, and spending the day shopping, talking, and eating together. I've always found it to be a very fun day and a great bonding experience for the women of my family.

I'm no friend of conspicuous consumption, but I see no harm in Christmas shopping. It's possible to go overboard, of course. I'm not saying I buy huge, expensive presents for ANYONE, and I certainly don't expect to receive any. But you're hard-pressed to find better sales at any other time of year than on Black Friday, and for cash-strapped college kids, six a.m. on Black Friday is in the fact the *best* time to go shopping.

I used to go with my mom, and it was great.

But yeah, people seriously do go nuts.

Zoomerang96 · 11-23-2002, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by speedracer
Some of us try our best to remember the original purpose of Christmas.

The birth of Christ.

agreed completely. i still believe in exchanging presents as long as that point is front and center of the holiday season compared to the awful commercialization (santa-ization) it recieves.

elizabeth · 11-23-2002, 08:15 PM

a lot of things have impressed me here:

*people who can avoid consumerism

*people who can get their holiday shopping done before thanksgiving

*people who can stand to shop on the day after thanksgiving

I like the idea. I think I'll join buy-nothing day! I'm on board!

I personally like doing my shopping on line.

elizabeth · 11-23-2002, 08:19 PM

Oh yeah - I forgot to include a link to this thing called Heifer or something.

Instead of giving people gifts this year, you can donate animals to poor families, they can use them for food, clothing, etc.

http://www.heifer.org/

I got the catalog. It looks cool!

So, I thought this post might be appropriate in this thread.

nbcrusader · 11-23-2002, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elizabeth
Oh yeah - I forgot to include a link to this thing called Heifer or something.

Instead of giving people gifts this year, you can donate animals to poor families, they can use them for food, clothing, etc.

http://www.heifer.org/

I got the catalog. It looks cool!

So, I thought this post might be appropriate in this thread.

I'll second elizabeth's recommendation for this organization. OUr high school pastor has taken groups of students to Heifer International's camp in Arkansas. Quite an eye-opening experience for the kids as well.

11-21-2002, 02:44 PM	#1
Sparkysgrrrl War Child Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: under the table and screaming Posts: 754 Local Time: 12:49 PM	Buy Nothing Day It's getting to be that time of the year again. http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd/ Since its launch in the Pacific Northwest eleven years ago, Buy Nothing Day has grown into a worldwide celebration of consumer awareness and simple living. Observed on the day after US Thanksgiving � America's busiest shopping day of the year � the campaign has sparked debate, radio talk shows, TV news items and newspaper headlines around the world. People in more than thirty countries have made a pact with themselves and, as a personal experiment and public statement, stepped out of the consumer stream for 24 hours. The ways in which people have marked the event worldwide have been as diverse as the participants themselves. In America, Buy Nothing Day played out in some of the nation's last remaining public spaces - its malls. Costumed groups of revelers managed to slip in and stay long enough to set up tables and suggest alternatives to heavy holiday spending such as giving to charity. Spend time with family and friends, rather than money on them, was the message. Yes it's cliche, but, the things most worth pursuing, and exchanging - love, ritual, attention, sacrifice, freedom-are the things no-one can buy. __________________

11-21-2002, 02:47 PM	#2
Lilly Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: back and to the left Posts: 8,523 Local Time: 02:49 PM	this shant be a problem for me and my college unemployed peers. __________________

11-21-2002, 07:45 PM	#12
LarryMullen's POPAngel Blue Crack Distributor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: I'll be up with the sun, I'm not coming down... Posts: 53,698 Local Time: 03:49 PM	lmao @deep No problem for me. *looks in empty pockets

11-21-2002, 10:59 PM	#13
pax ONE love, blood, life Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ewen's new American home Posts: 11,412 Local Time: 04:49 PM	I dunno...for years now I've spent Black Friday with my stepmother and a few of my cousins, rising at the crack of dawn armed with coffee and department store circulars, and spending the day shopping, talking, and eating together. I've always found it to be a very fun day and a great bonding experience for the women of my family. I'm no friend of conspicuous consumption, but I see no harm in Christmas shopping. It's possible to go overboard, of course. I'm not saying I buy huge, expensive presents for ANYONE, and I certainly don't expect to receive any. But you're hard-pressed to find better sales at any other time of year than on Black Friday, and for cash-strapped college kids, six a.m. on Black Friday is in the fact the best time to go shopping. __________________ and you hunger for the time time to heal, desire, time Join Amnesty.

11-22-2002, 04:15 AM	#15
daisybean Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Born under a bad sign with a blue moon in your eyes Posts: 8,577 Local Time: 03:49 PM	I must of been ahead of my time....I never went shopping on Black Friday...I hate crowds....and when I was little I saw two women get into a fist fight over a Cabbage Patch Doll....it scarred me for life. I get all my shopping done before thanksgiving. __________________ "....But all I ever hear from you is "

11-21-2002, 02:54 PM	#3
Sparkysgrrrl War Child Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: under the table and screaming Posts: 754 Local Time: 12:49 PM	Yes, everyday is buy nothing day for me as well

11-21-2002, 03:05 PM	#4
Gina Marie Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Bruce's land of hope and dreams Posts: 5,404 Local Time: 03:49 PM	I am definitely going to try my best to do this-I did it last year.People are so brainwashed to go shopping that day. I know when I worked in retail it was an absolute nightmare! I started my Christmas shopping early to avoid all of this hype. The world will not end and the economy will not collapse if people don't shop that day

11-21-2002, 04:05 PM	#5
us3 The Fly Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 165 Local Time: 12:49 PM	how much does "nothing" cost? if it's free, then I'm buying!

11-21-2002, 04:32 PM	#6
nbcrusader Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,071 Local Time: 12:49 PM	Learn contentment.

11-21-2002, 04:33 PM	#7
joyfulgirl Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 16,652 Local Time: 02:49 PM	You couldn't pay me to get near a store the day after Thanksgiving. And I celebrate a buy-nothing Christmas as well. My family has had a decade to get used to the idea but I think they're still pissed.

11-21-2002, 06:35 PM	#11
joyfulgirl Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 16,652 Local Time: 02:49 PM

11-21-2002, 11:03 PM	#14
speedracer Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 7,604 Local Time: 04:49 PM	Some of us try our best to remember the original purpose of Christmas. The birth of Christ. And the beginning of college bowl week. I know Bama will agree with me on both counts.

11-23-2002, 08:15 PM	#18
elizabeth New Yorker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: PANTSburgh, PA Posts: 3,046 Local Time: 03:49 PM	a lot of things have impressed me here: people who can avoid consumerism people who can get their holiday shopping done before thanksgiving *people who can stand to shop on the day after thanksgiving I like the idea. I think I'll join buy-nothing day! I'm on board! I personally like doing my shopping on line.

11-23-2002, 08:19 PM	#19
elizabeth New Yorker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: PANTSburgh, PA Posts: 3,046 Local Time: 03:49 PM	Oh yeah - I forgot to include a link to this thing called Heifer or something. Instead of giving people gifts this year, you can donate animals to poor families, they can use them for food, clothing, etc. http://www.heifer.org/ I got the catalog. It looks cool! So, I thought this post might be appropriate in this thread.

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