Black Friday Hysteria Has Gone Too Far

Stupidity gone wild in America!!!

I worked at walmart until 7am on Thankgiving morning, then back to work at 5pm to set up for the 10 pm sale. I had no thanksgiving with family this year, and I couldn't help but feel sick as I watched customers be rude to the associates as they piled crap high in their carts.

This article hit every nail on the head! I thought I was the only one who thought that it's just gone way too far. Makes me sick when I hear about how people trample each other and someone dies, just to get into a #$%$ store......it's disgusting. I live in Cali and I will hate to see what people will do when the mother of all earthquakes hit or some other disaster. If people are so emotionally cold to trample each other to death for a sale, then what would they do during a disaster?? The people who camp out in front of stores and trample each other for a sale have no say so about how there is so much greed on Wall St. I stay home every year on Black Friday, and so I can't get as many gifts, but at least I didn't hurt or kill anyone to get those gifts!

There was a time that there was no such thing as Black Friday. Stores opened at a regular time the day after Thanksgiviing and we all were able to enjoy T-Day as a day of family togetherness. I hate what this has all become.

$600 on average for gifts? Not in our house.

For those who love Black Friday sales....knock yourself out. Just be kind to each other.
For those who don't. Voice your opinion with your wallet. Stay home. Love your spouse, hug your kids, put your feet up and take a nap. Nobody on their deathbed says "Man...I wish I'd picked up that 70" big screen for $2.99"

Just 30 years ago in my area there was absolutely nothing open on Memorial Day,Thanksgiving,Christmas,and New Years Day....It was a time for families..

You can keep the money in the U.S. by buying pre-owned items (regardless of where they were originally manufactured) at ebay, Amazon, thrift stores, antique malls, estate sales, etc. This holiday has lost its meaning and has become a spending orgy for China's benefit.

If people would stop lining up for Black Friday, then the stores would stop having Black Friday. Don't blame the stores for what people are doing or want to do.

Tell me about it. I worked Thanksgiving. There should be at least one day where all stores are closed.

...as Yahoo! runs this next to FOUR featured articles about when and where to find the best "black friday" deals. You can't blame this all on the retailers. The consumers are to blame, and so is the media. Ultimately, our culture as a whole is the problem. People do this because it makes them feel good about being part of something and they get a rush from buying stuff. It's the same reason this country has an enormous drug problem. We're a miserable lot and we can't even take the first step of admitting it.

My temper is too short for black friday........I'd end up in jail.

i just got home from working overnight black friday. after seeing fights break out, cashiers in tears due to screaming customers, an iraq veteran who had to calm a woman down before she started a riot, and one of our little old lady employees who now has bruises from being slammed into a pallet and would have been trampled had it not been for the person working with her grabbing her, i don't think the disrespect is coming mainly from the corporation's lack of respect for their family time. it is the customer's lack of respect for another person's well being. hope all your holiday joy was worth it. the only highlight of the evening was the guy with the warrant for his arrest getting caught trying to switch license plates with a similar vehicle. jerk got arrested!

Well put. I found happiness in family, love, and friendship. I didn't have to wait in line for that. I am humble and appreciative for that.

IDEA .. stay warm and comfy at HOME, bake cookies as gifts, visit with family .. relax and smile.

Black Friday is the best day of the year to sleep in!

Although I agree with the article (I'm proud to say I haven't gone shopping on Black Friday in over a decade), I think Yahoo speaks out the proverbial two sides of its mouth. It's been posting articles on how to best shop for Black Friday items for days.

Consumers, use your power! buy Made in USA- the job you save may be your own.

I knew that when I saw more stories about Black Friday than Thanksgiving. Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving though.

Don't get me started on the Christmas music that starts two weeks before Thanksgiving. I remember the days when the stores didn't even decorate until after Thanksgiving. Ridiculous! What is funny is our economy was more balanced back then and we weren't in such a debt crisis nor was the average American family living on credit cards. There were also many stores that were still closed on Sundays then. That was in the 70s and 80s. I really don't think it's made that much of a difference or benefited in anyone to be open all these ridiculous hours and I would love it if everyone was closed on Sunday. It would force people to take a day to truly rest and relax and spend time with their family. We were supposed to rest on the 7th day! We weren't meant to work this much and wear ourselves out like this!

It's also fascinating to me that all these people will camp out to buy things manipulatively discounted but they won't donate to a good charity, take a moment to volunteer or attend a church service or help their community. It's so lame. None of this junk has made us any happier. It has only complicated our lives!