h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Buy Nothing Day - A Holiday From Shopping - A78788074
Author: Happy Nerd - U8584330

My favorite non-shopping day of the year.

Glad to see this back HN! a timely reappearance. Thanks!

I find this all very odd, as there are plenty of days when I buy nothing. Am I missing something?

(Posted this to the wrong conversation first time around)

>>> Am I missing something?

North American activists pick the busiest holiday shopping day of the year to protest the commercialization of Christmas. Protests spread to scores of other countries over a period of years.

That's about the size of it.

I like this. Shame the date changes every year or I would suggest putting it in the title.

mini

Is it always on the last Friday of November, or is it always on Black Friday? Most of the time these are the same day, however, if November 1 falls on a Thursday there are 5 Thursdays and Fridays in the month. Thanksgiving is always the fourth, not always the last.

Otherwise, looks good . I wonder why I didn't come across mention of this when I wrote the Black Friday entry? (Or maybe I did and just don't remember).

I'm like Gnoman - there are probably far more days in the year where I don't buy anything than days when I do (and given that i live in a place where Sunday trading is likely to be verboten for ever it's not likely to change much)

However - I think that's a comment better suited to when this hits the FP

In the meantime - is there a particular reason why the day is different in different countries? For example, in Europe Saturday is probably a good day, and the last Saturday in Europe is probably similar to Black Friday in the states as a really big day for shopping, but is there a definite reason for this?

Is the Buy Nothing movement a real organisation, or is it more a loose arrangement of various groups with a similar idea?

Any chance of a view from the shops? During a recession they are probably staking a lot of their business on days like Black Friday, it's understandable to want to stick it to The Man but what about small businesses, do they sufffer?

I'd prefer to have that kind of information in here as well if possible.

Great idea for an entry though, it's a good chance to pass on info about this type of event.

Good eye, brolean.

>>>> In the meantime - is there a particular reason why the day is different in different countries? For example, in Europe Saturday is probably a good day, and the last Saturday in Europe is probably similar to Black Friday in the states as a really big day for shopping, but is there a definite reason for this?

Activism tends to occur on the biggest shopping day.

>>> Is the Buy Nothing movement a real organisation, or is it more a loose arrangement of various groups with a similar idea?

I don't understand the question. What do you mean real? Is over-commercialization a real organization?

>>> Any chance of a view from the shops? During a recession they are probably staking a lot of their business on days like Black Friday, it's understandable to want to stick it to The Man but what about small businesses, do they sufffer?

>>> I'd prefer to have that kind of information in here as well if possible.

I'm not sure how to answer that any more clearly than "inpact ... is insignificant". As the entry says, "Critics of the one-day shopping boycott suggest the impact of waiting a day to make a purchase is insignificant." I absolutely refuse to belabor the point.





Great idea for an entry though, it's a good chance to pass on info about this type of event.

That came across a little sharp. Sorry, Sho.

The thing with Buy Nothing Day isn't about not buying anything as normal, it's about deliberately not making any purchases. It's not about "well, I've got nothing to buy" it's about "I'm not joining in the commercial rat race today"

So, is it the same as most days of the year when you just don't happen to buy something? No.

It's a day of bringing something to the general populaces attention by making a point.

It's about making the conscious decision. To say "Today, I'm not supporting your commercialism"

it's no prob HN - i know how it feels when someone like me comes along and picks holes in your lovely entry.

Let me go through and try to answer you. and be a bit more clear (and supportive - I love the idea of the Buy Nothing day, by the way, I think I kind of gave you the wong impression)

>>I don't understand the question. What do you mean real? Is over-commercialization a real organization?<<
What I mean by 'is it a real organisation' is this: the occupy movement seems (to me) to be a load of separate organisations (if that is the term, some seem more organised than others) with similar names becuase they are doing a similar thing. But as far as I can see, apart from loose connections with each other via blogging and the like, their actions don't apear to be coordinated even though they are doing broadly similar things at broadly similar times. Is that how it is with the Pay Nothing day? Or is there an umbrella organisation coordinating it.

Or is it something like a nihilistic anarchy? (not sure that really would exist...)

>>I'm not sure how to answer that any more clearly than "inpact ... is insignificant". As the entry says, "Critics of the one-day shopping boycott suggest the impact of waiting a day to make a purchase is insignificant." I absolutely refuse to belabor the point.<<
I get your point. What I mean is that, from what I understand of it, the pay nothing day is trying to get us to focus on our rampant consumerism, and to think of ways that we can reduce it. The impact on the economy in general is insignificant, but is that insignificant accross all retail outlets, or does it affect some more than others?

The reason I ask is that while I'd be more than happy to not give my money to big organisations I absolutely don't want to ruin some mom&pop type store's year. (which is outside the scope of the entry - just ignore me!!)

The mom-&-pop shops in the town closest to chez Nerd generally like Buy Nothing Day, and the local brewpub is a strong supporter. When people start rethinking their personal consumption habits, they tend to support their friends and neighbors by shopping locally.

>>> Or is there an umbrella organisation coordinating it.

No. Adbusters has been promoting it all along, but no one owns Buy Nothing Day any more than anyone owns Occupy.

good (about the mom&pop stores)

I didn't mean "own" as in owner (and any profit related motive associated with that) I mean more of an umbrlla coordinator. But I get it now
thanks!

looking forward to this hitting the FP

Interesting. I had thought it was a boycott, but like Pastey says, it;s more a protest, isn't it? Perhaps that misconception could be confronted in the first paragraph as it's clearly a common one.

Deary me. I have an idea for a protest activity too. I may have to look up what's happening near me now...

I like the idea of having a quote, but could there be something more current than 1992 (and who is Dave? Or is that the point? Just ziz guy? Fair enough).

I moved a paragraph up to the first section.

Regarding the boycott or protest thing, this is very much a people-powered event in which each person decides how to reclaim Christmas from those who would package it and sell it back to us.

For example, this year, I'll probably work on my NaNoWriMo on the busiest shopping day of the year.

Could I ask just what "conspicuous consumerism" is?

I've a minds eye picture of a person making sure they are conspicuous as they're about to purchase and then they purchase something conspicuous like say a huge pink elephant, not the guy though who just bought a bvlgari watch for 25 large...that isn't visually conspicuous but it is kind of monetarily conspicuous I guess.

What is an un-commercialised Christmas then, a sort of Dickensian pastiche with some Miracle on 43th Street thrown in (charming as that is)?

There is an inherent type of elitism, snobbishness if you will, a class function coming into play, that states that 'I' do Christmas better, I'm a better person than you because I didn't buy any presents, and by connection I've not harmed the environment in fact my hand made present represent an all together greater depth of giving than your store bought, made in China by a huge global corporation present and of course I enjoy the company of family and friends as a result of these activities.

Is this what BND means, as in this article it seems to imply it?

Is this day of action pointed towards Christmas consumerism only or by default all types of consumerism in this particular genre(birthdays,weddings, kitchen showers, baby showers, graduation balls, house warmings, bar mitzvahs, Easter, Halloween, Valentines day, Guy Fawkes day, Melbourne Cup day, Thanksgiving day and the list can get sillier still)

I'd like to read a little bit more about what the critics of BND have to say. Is there an alternative voice that could be quoted to counter Ted Dave or the Rev Billy?

Two sides of an argument are always better placed together or if not at least as links perhaps?
I'm assuming there are actual critics of this, a spin doctor for the United Shop Assistants Union or the mouth piece for the world wide organisation of Chambers of Commerce.

It's just a bit one sided to my eyes and certainly left of centre if you wish to put it in a political context.

I'm sorry I cant be more enthused about it but in my own case for instance, I rely on a Christmas rush to top up my income so I can actually enjoy my Christmas and the time off. The last thing I want is for one of my customers to ring up and tell me that they are doing their own work this Christmas and my services and goods are not needed.

Feelgood meets Realpolitik.

Cheers Keith

I suppose the critics of BND are out there in the malls, buying stuff?

Personally I think it's not a bad idea. I would be more for a 'buy local' or 'buy quality' day, as I think it's not the act of purchasing that is the problem, more that people buy a load of environmentally damaging tat that they can't really afford.

Nice article.

sprout

I always avoiding shopping on Black Friday even before I'd heard of Buy Nothing Day. Some local Big Box and department stores open at midnight this Friday. Thursday is a holiday which is supposed to be focused on gratitude and family, and all I hear about it is gorging on food and then *waiting in line for hours* for stores to open. I don't buy gifts that way, and I'd hate to think anyone stood in line for hours to get me another something I don't even really need.