Black Friday - Consumer Madness at its Peak

Throughout this module thus far I have continued to argue my point that us, as consumers, are too easily tempted by the the goods produced from the manufacturing game. Daily we are assaulted by advertisements which are pasted on buildings, in newspapers and even throughout the majority of programs viewed on TV. We have become obsessed with the concept of maintaining a luxury lifestyle through the exploitation of novelty items that we don't necessarily require, electric blankets, remote cushions and self stirring mugs are prime examples.

(Electric Blanket) 

(Remote Cushion) 

(Self Stirring Mug - the pinnacle of laziness) 

Recently, my judgement was supported by a shopping event known as 'Black Friday', this is traditionally an American holiday (following Thanksgiving) that has been introduced into the UK, unfortunately resulting in 24 hours of complete chaos. Black Friday reflects the beginning of the Christmas shopping season with substantial discounts and freebies being featured throughout a variety of stores. Upon viewing the news I was horrified to see the results of these 'amazing' deals, Black Friday had practically brainwashed consumers, millions of people stampeded towards the shops in a hope of grabbing a good offer. The sad element is that many attended without even knowing what they were going to purchase (they were buying for the sake of it); when they attempted to buy vicious fights would break out over the products, consequently resulting in the potential of injury or worse. Astonishingly, there is actually a website (http://blackfridaydeathcount.com/) that totals up all deaths and injuries that were caused by Black Friday regardless of location, between 2008-2014 7 people lost their lives and between 2006-2014 98 people were injured (USA and UK)!! Not only this but it additionally advertises a t-shirt which reads 'I survived Black Friday 2014'!! 

If that wasn't shocking enough, here are some videos of the 2014 hellish event that was 'Black Friday'... 

(About 'Black Friday') 

(Women in the UK fighting over underwear) 

(Asda TV chaos) 

(Tesco Extra TV chaos) 

Watching these videos illustrates our obsessive behaviour with 'stuff', it's almost selfish, there are people in less economically developed countries suffering, there are people living without a home and there are individuals who are desperately poor; and yet here are a large percentage of us who are willing to physically hurt each other for a discounted plasma TV (that we probably don't need/will just sit in a cupboard for the next decade), it certainly gives you something to think about. This is consumer madness at its peak and a direct reflection of everything that is wrong with consumerist ideology.