Call to boycott stores with Black Thursday Sales

front spacer said:

The delusion that Thanksgiving day is an actual day of giving thanks is ridiculous.

Everyday should be a day of giving thanks for what we have, not just some day in November that we mostly get off work.

If there are sales, people will shop. If people don't want to work, then requested off.

I pretty much agree with this.
Either people are thankful or not. Whatever. Either people want to shop on Thanksgiving or not. I am not sure why in the world retailers decided that special sales should occur on national and/or international holidays, but whatever the reason, they aren't putting guns to our heads and forcing us to shop. This is just a case of the general public being brainwashed by the entities that keep the capitalist machine running. So basically, the public simply needs to pull its collective head out of its collective ass, and all of this would go away. If it chooses to keep being the collective capitalist lemming, then the retailers will keep having these sales. Simple as that.
As far as the employees are concerned.... I thought that point about movie theatres was a good one. There are TONS of non-essential businesses that remain open on Thanksgiving besides movie theatres. Gas stations, 7-11 and other convenience stores, many grocery stores, you can still find some restaurants open, etc etc. Not sure why people suddenly care about employees working on holidays now. It's not a new concept.

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

jeffbr said:

ldent42 said:

I don't think the big box stores should be open on thanksgiving day. And yes, it is because don't think people should be forced to work even if it is at time and a half.
That said, if Amazon puts cat food on sale on thanksgiving day I'm ordering it.

Another side of this, movie theatres are open on thanksgiving. Why is no one upset about that?

I don't really get this. Why reference big box stores specifically? And what does "forced" mean? Nobody is forced to work. You may have to agree to do so in order to keep your employment, but most states have at will employment. You can leave any time. I run a data center. We're be staffed 24 x 7 x 365. The Internet doesn't take a holiday. We're salaried, so there is no notion of time and a half.

Plenty of people work most/all holidays - broadcasters, journalists, police, fire, emt, data centers, hospitals and healthcare clinics, retailers, restaurants, theaters, bars, electricians, plumbers, Christmas Tree lots, etc... I guess I don't get the outrage against select retailers. If someone wants to spend the holiday with their family, then do it! If someone wants to shop (perhaps they don't have a family nearby or at least one they enjoy spending time with), then shop 'til you drop.

I think the "outrage" stems from it supposedly being thankful for what you've got, and stores/customers are celebrating the holiday doing the exact opposite: stocking up on more shit they don't need. essential services and entertainment are considered different in this context I gather.

I think that is no one's business other than the employees in the question. Just how much outrage is really being expressed by people?? Or are they mostly just happy for the opportunity to work time and a half? I don't personally buy into these very specific days. I figure that I would be more than happy to work for overtime wages on the actual holiday, and then have the Thanksgiving Day family thing on the following Sunday or something. I really don't see why people give such a huge shit about a day on a calendar (twiw, I'm also perfectly happy to reschedule Christmas and my birthday, if that works better for people).

well, the OP for one. and there is a movement down south among big box store employees to not allow stores to open TG day.

it disgusts me how materialistic some are, but it doesn't affect me directly, so whatever.

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

jeffbr said:

ldent42 said:

I don't think the big box stores should be open on thanksgiving day. And yes, it is because don't think people should be forced to work even if it is at time and a half.
That said, if Amazon puts cat food on sale on thanksgiving day I'm ordering it.

Another side of this, movie theatres are open on thanksgiving. Why is no one upset about that?

I don't really get this. Why reference big box stores specifically? And what does "forced" mean? Nobody is forced to work. You may have to agree to do so in order to keep your employment, but most states have at will employment. You can leave any time. I run a data center. We're be staffed 24 x 7 x 365. The Internet doesn't take a holiday. We're salaried, so there is no notion of time and a half.

Plenty of people work most/all holidays - broadcasters, journalists, police, fire, emt, data centers, hospitals and healthcare clinics, retailers, restaurants, theaters, bars, electricians, plumbers, Christmas Tree lots, etc... I guess I don't get the outrage against select retailers. If someone wants to spend the holiday with their family, then do it! If someone wants to shop (perhaps they don't have a family nearby or at least one they enjoy spending time with), then shop 'til you drop.

I think the "outrage" stems from it supposedly being thankful for what you've got, and stores/customers are celebrating the holiday doing the exact opposite: stocking up on more shit they don't need. essential services and entertainment are considered different in this context I gather.

I think that is no one's business other than the employees in the question. Just how much outrage is really being expressed by people?? Or are they mostly just happy for the opportunity to work time and a half? I don't personally buy into these very specific days. I figure that I would be more than happy to work for overtime wages on the actual holiday, and then have the Thanksgiving Day family thing on the following Sunday or something. I really don't see why people give such a huge shit about a day on a calendar (twiw, I'm also perfectly happy to reschedule Christmas and my birthday, if that works better for people).

well, the OP for one. and there is a movement down south among big box store employees to not allow stores to open TG day.

it disgusts me how materialistic some are, but it doesn't affect me directly, so whatever.

Well I just looked it up and apparently the US has NO federal laws related to stat holiday overtime pay or any holidays or vacations whatsoever as far as I can tell. Wow. Whatcha doing, friends to the South? Why do Americans seem so content to put up such things? I don't get it.

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

jeffbr said:

ldent42 said:

I don't think the big box stores should be open on thanksgiving day. And yes, it is because don't think people should be forced to work even if it is at time and a half.
That said, if Amazon puts cat food on sale on thanksgiving day I'm ordering it.

Another side of this, movie theatres are open on thanksgiving. Why is no one upset about that?

I don't really get this. Why reference big box stores specifically? And what does "forced" mean? Nobody is forced to work. You may have to agree to do so in order to keep your employment, but most states have at will employment. You can leave any time. I run a data center. We're be staffed 24 x 7 x 365. The Internet doesn't take a holiday. We're salaried, so there is no notion of time and a half.

Plenty of people work most/all holidays - broadcasters, journalists, police, fire, emt, data centers, hospitals and healthcare clinics, retailers, restaurants, theaters, bars, electricians, plumbers, Christmas Tree lots, etc... I guess I don't get the outrage against select retailers. If someone wants to spend the holiday with their family, then do it! If someone wants to shop (perhaps they don't have a family nearby or at least one they enjoy spending time with), then shop 'til you drop.

I think the "outrage" stems from it supposedly being thankful for what you've got, and stores/customers are celebrating the holiday doing the exact opposite: stocking up on more shit they don't need. essential services and entertainment are considered different in this context I gather.

I think that is no one's business other than the employees in the question. Just how much outrage is really being expressed by people?? Or are they mostly just happy for the opportunity to work time and a half? I don't personally buy into these very specific days. I figure that I would be more than happy to work for overtime wages on the actual holiday, and then have the Thanksgiving Day family thing on the following Sunday or something. I really don't see why people give such a huge shit about a day on a calendar (twiw, I'm also perfectly happy to reschedule Christmas and my birthday, if that works better for people).

well, the OP for one. and there is a movement down south among big box store employees to not allow stores to open TG day.

it disgusts me how materialistic some are, but it doesn't affect me directly, so whatever.

Well I just looked it up and apparently the US has NO federal laws related to stat holiday overtime pay or any holidays or vacations whatsoever as far as I can tell. Wow. Whatcha doing, friends to the South? Why do Americans seem so content to put up such things? I don't get it.

PJS, buddy, you say things like this pretty regularly and I gotta admit it irks me. It's like asking the abused wife why she doesn't just leave him. The question itself is ignorant of how pervasive the issue goes in this country. We aren't content to put up with shit like this, or our shitty healthcare system, or our shitty school systems, but there's little to nothing that regular people can do. Unions are not what they used to be. Lots of places aren't even allowed to unionize. Low wage labor like retail stores employees are easier to replace since that's where the unemployment is highest. Remember the story about the Amazon factory workers that don't even work for Amazon, they work for a temp agency? It's taking advantage of high unemployment among the low skilled labor market. Thats what capitalism does. Our shitty school systems make sure that we are too dumb to know how politics works so even the people who are eligible to vote, don't. Those who are affected most by shitty policies like the lack of federal law you are talking about are too busy trying to keep their heads above water to do all the research to figure out who would help them. Those who aren't affected don't give a shit cuz it doesn't involve them, so they focus on stuff that matters more to them personally.

PJ_Soul said:

ldent42 said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

jeffbr said:

ldent42 said:

I don't think the big box stores should be open on thanksgiving day. And yes, it is because don't think people should be forced to work even if it is at time and a half.
That said, if Amazon puts cat food on sale on thanksgiving day I'm ordering it.

Another side of this, movie theatres are open on thanksgiving. Why is no one upset about that?

I don't really get this. Why reference big box stores specifically? And what does "forced" mean? Nobody is forced to work. You may have to agree to do so in order to keep your employment, but most states have at will employment. You can leave any time. I run a data center. We're be staffed 24 x 7 x 365. The Internet doesn't take a holiday. We're salaried, so there is no notion of time and a half.

Plenty of people work most/all holidays - broadcasters, journalists, police, fire, emt, data centers, hospitals and healthcare clinics, retailers, restaurants, theaters, bars, electricians, plumbers, Christmas Tree lots, etc... I guess I don't get the outrage against select retailers. If someone wants to spend the holiday with their family, then do it! If someone wants to shop (perhaps they don't have a family nearby or at least one they enjoy spending time with), then shop 'til you drop.

I think the "outrage" stems from it supposedly being thankful for what you've got, and stores/customers are celebrating the holiday doing the exact opposite: stocking up on more shit they don't need. essential services and entertainment are considered different in this context I gather.

I think that is no one's business other than the employees in the question. Just how much outrage is really being expressed by people?? Or are they mostly just happy for the opportunity to work time and a half? I don't personally buy into these very specific days. I figure that I would be more than happy to work for overtime wages on the actual holiday, and then have the Thanksgiving Day family thing on the following Sunday or something. I really don't see why people give such a huge shit about a day on a calendar (twiw, I'm also perfectly happy to reschedule Christmas and my birthday, if that works better for people).

well, the OP for one. and there is a movement down south among big box store employees to not allow stores to open TG day.

it disgusts me how materialistic some are, but it doesn't affect me directly, so whatever.

Well I just looked it up and apparently the US has NO federal laws related to stat holiday overtime pay or any holidays or vacations whatsoever as far as I can tell. Wow. Whatcha doing, friends to the South? Why do Americans seem so content to put up such things? I don't get it.

PJS, buddy, you say things like this pretty regularly and I gotta admit it irks me. It's like asking the abused wife why she doesn't just leave him. The question itself is ignorant of how pervasive the issue goes in this country. We aren't content to put up with shit like this, or our shitty healthcare system, or our shitty school systems, but there's little to nothing that regular people can do. Unions are not what they used to be. Lots of places aren't even allowed to unionize. Low wage labor like retail stores employees are easier to replace since that's where the unemployment is highest. Remember the story about the Amazon factory workers that don't even work for Amazon, they work for a temp agency? It's taking advantage of high unemployment among the low skilled labor market. Thats what capitalism does. Our shitty school systems make sure that we are too dumb to know how politics works so even the people who are eligible to vote, don't. Those who are affected most by shitty policies like the lack of federal law you are talking about are too busy trying to keep their heads above water to do all the research to figure out who would help them. Those who aren't affected don't give a shit cuz it doesn't involve them, so they focus on stuff that matters more to them personally.

There is plenty Americans could do. They could vote for Bernie Sanders, say. The unions could fight harder while the citizens actually get on board. They could protest in the streets. They could stage a people's revolution (yes, such things DO still happen in this world! All it takes is enough people who are fed up with the status quo). These are the kinds of things I have in mind when I say I don't understand why Americans put up with this shit. I'm talking about 1) voting against it, and 2) pro-actively fighting it in the very real sense of the word.
What you just said simply says that Americans are cowed. Cowed by those in power, and, more than anything, cowed by apathy. It's a shame. And it is a sad sign of the times. I am sorry that saying these things irks you - I don't mean it as a personal insult.

I dont know what cowed means. But I just said exactly why they can't protest or try to unionize. These issues mostly affect poor people who have too much to lose by getting fired from their shitty retail job. A lot of jobs specifically state that employees aren't allowed to unionize. I dont know what the word is called, but just for an example my old job bought out a company to bring it under their umbrella right? So that company had union workers driving the trucks. So when my job bought the company they had to get those truck drivers to quit the union for a raise or else push them out by not giving them hours specifically so they didn't have to deal with the union. And that's not even a big box store that's a mid sized business. Nowadays the jobs that had gotten unionized before are considered middle class jobs. The low wage jobs of today have that shit prevented by putting in the employment contract.
As far as Bernie goes, yea he sounds great but like I said a lot of people who are affected by this cannot vote. You can only vote if you are a citizen that has not been convicted. And we only hear about him because it's a presidential race. Anything from small local government (which would be where these things need to start) is not something people who have to work 2 jobs at 40 hours a week for $8/hour to support themselves and their kids are going to be able to learn about.
I don't take it as a personal insult, I know you are good peeps and don't mean it badly, that's actually why it bugs me. Cuz if you were an idiot just shooting off at the mouth about how 'murica sucks, it's like who cares? you know? But it bugs me cuz you ain't dumb so I want you to understand that there's these reasons that are like permeated in the fabric of the american society that exists to keep little people down. That how our poor keep getting poorer while the rich get richer. It didn't help that OWS didn't do anything other than piss off the NYPD. But I mean that was the peak of Americans "trying" to do something about the situation and it went exactly nowhere. It's not that we don't care about whats going on it's just that we are kept busy and distracted specifically so we can't do anything about it, and those of us who can pay a little more attention see the attempts failing and get discouraged. It's a systemic, institutional plague. You have to think about it in the same way you think about racism or sexism - people talk about it on the person to person level but the other, even more dangerous side of it is the institutionalized , systemic practice.

sorry, I had to

PJ_Soul said:

ldent42 said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

jeffbr said:

ldent42 said:

I don't think the big box stores should be open on thanksgiving day. And yes, it is because don't think people should be forced to work even if it is at time and a half.
That said, if Amazon puts cat food on sale on thanksgiving day I'm ordering it.

Another side of this, movie theatres are open on thanksgiving. Why is no one upset about that?

I don't really get this. Why reference big box stores specifically? And what does "forced" mean? Nobody is forced to work. You may have to agree to do so in order to keep your employment, but most states have at will employment. You can leave any time. I run a data center. We're be staffed 24 x 7 x 365. The Internet doesn't take a holiday. We're salaried, so there is no notion of time and a half.

Plenty of people work most/all holidays - broadcasters, journalists, police, fire, emt, data centers, hospitals and healthcare clinics, retailers, restaurants, theaters, bars, electricians, plumbers, Christmas Tree lots, etc... I guess I don't get the outrage against select retailers. If someone wants to spend the holiday with their family, then do it! If someone wants to shop (perhaps they don't have a family nearby or at least one they enjoy spending time with), then shop 'til you drop.

I think the "outrage" stems from it supposedly being thankful for what you've got, and stores/customers are celebrating the holiday doing the exact opposite: stocking up on more shit they don't need. essential services and entertainment are considered different in this context I gather.

I think that is no one's business other than the employees in the question. Just how much outrage is really being expressed by people?? Or are they mostly just happy for the opportunity to work time and a half? I don't personally buy into these very specific days. I figure that I would be more than happy to work for overtime wages on the actual holiday, and then have the Thanksgiving Day family thing on the following Sunday or something. I really don't see why people give such a huge shit about a day on a calendar (twiw, I'm also perfectly happy to reschedule Christmas and my birthday, if that works better for people).

well, the OP for one. and there is a movement down south among big box store employees to not allow stores to open TG day.

it disgusts me how materialistic some are, but it doesn't affect me directly, so whatever.

Well I just looked it up and apparently the US has NO federal laws related to stat holiday overtime pay or any holidays or vacations whatsoever as far as I can tell. Wow. Whatcha doing, friends to the South? Why do Americans seem so content to put up such things? I don't get it.

PJS, buddy, you say things like this pretty regularly and I gotta admit it irks me. It's like asking the abused wife why she doesn't just leave him. The question itself is ignorant of how pervasive the issue goes in this country. We aren't content to put up with shit like this, or our shitty healthcare system, or our shitty school systems, but there's little to nothing that regular people can do. Unions are not what they used to be. Lots of places aren't even allowed to unionize. Low wage labor like retail stores employees are easier to replace since that's where the unemployment is highest. Remember the story about the Amazon factory workers that don't even work for Amazon, they work for a temp agency? It's taking advantage of high unemployment among the low skilled labor market. Thats what capitalism does. Our shitty school systems make sure that we are too dumb to know how politics works so even the people who are eligible to vote, don't. Those who are affected most by shitty policies like the lack of federal law you are talking about are too busy trying to keep their heads above water to do all the research to figure out who would help them. Those who aren't affected don't give a shit cuz it doesn't involve them, so they focus on stuff that matters more to them personally.

There is plenty Americans could do. They could vote for Bernie Sanders, say. The unions could fight harder while the citizens actually get on board. They could protest in the streets. They could stage a people's revolution (yes, such things DO still happen in this world! All it takes is enough people who are fed up with the status quo). These are the kinds of things I have in mind when I say I don't understand why Americans put up with this shit. I'm talking about 1) voting against it, and 2) pro-actively fighting it in the very real sense of the word.
What you just said simply says that Americans are cowed. Cowed by those in power, and, more than anything, cowed by apathy. It's a shame. And it is a sad sign of the times. I am sorry that saying these things irks you - I don't mean it as a personal insult.

I don't think that getting time and a half once a month is something of a major federal political platform to put as your top priority, though. just my $0.02.

Not sure why we care what other people do. There are people that work Thanksgiving already. Not a big deal. I wouldn't shop, but what do I care if someone else does? And if that means someone has to work, well, better than being unemployed. Much more important things to get up in arms about.

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

ldent42 said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

jeffbr said:

ldent42 said:

I don't think the big box stores should be open on thanksgiving day. And yes, it is because don't think people should be forced to work even if it is at time and a half.
That said, if Amazon puts cat food on sale on thanksgiving day I'm ordering it.

Another side of this, movie theatres are open on thanksgiving. Why is no one upset about that?

I don't really get this. Why reference big box stores specifically? And what does "forced" mean? Nobody is forced to work. You may have to agree to do so in order to keep your employment, but most states have at will employment. You can leave any time. I run a data center. We're be staffed 24 x 7 x 365. The Internet doesn't take a holiday. We're salaried, so there is no notion of time and a half.

Plenty of people work most/all holidays - broadcasters, journalists, police, fire, emt, data centers, hospitals and healthcare clinics, retailers, restaurants, theaters, bars, electricians, plumbers, Christmas Tree lots, etc... I guess I don't get the outrage against select retailers. If someone wants to spend the holiday with their family, then do it! If someone wants to shop (perhaps they don't have a family nearby or at least one they enjoy spending time with), then shop 'til you drop.

I think the "outrage" stems from it supposedly being thankful for what you've got, and stores/customers are celebrating the holiday doing the exact opposite: stocking up on more shit they don't need. essential services and entertainment are considered different in this context I gather.

I think that is no one's business other than the employees in the question. Just how much outrage is really being expressed by people?? Or are they mostly just happy for the opportunity to work time and a half? I don't personally buy into these very specific days. I figure that I would be more than happy to work for overtime wages on the actual holiday, and then have the Thanksgiving Day family thing on the following Sunday or something. I really don't see why people give such a huge shit about a day on a calendar (twiw, I'm also perfectly happy to reschedule Christmas and my birthday, if that works better for people).

well, the OP for one. and there is a movement down south among big box store employees to not allow stores to open TG day.

it disgusts me how materialistic some are, but it doesn't affect me directly, so whatever.

Well I just looked it up and apparently the US has NO federal laws related to stat holiday overtime pay or any holidays or vacations whatsoever as far as I can tell. Wow. Whatcha doing, friends to the South? Why do Americans seem so content to put up such things? I don't get it.

PJS, buddy, you say things like this pretty regularly and I gotta admit it irks me. It's like asking the abused wife why she doesn't just leave him. The question itself is ignorant of how pervasive the issue goes in this country. We aren't content to put up with shit like this, or our shitty healthcare system, or our shitty school systems, but there's little to nothing that regular people can do. Unions are not what they used to be. Lots of places aren't even allowed to unionize. Low wage labor like retail stores employees are easier to replace since that's where the unemployment is highest. Remember the story about the Amazon factory workers that don't even work for Amazon, they work for a temp agency? It's taking advantage of high unemployment among the low skilled labor market. Thats what capitalism does. Our shitty school systems make sure that we are too dumb to know how politics works so even the people who are eligible to vote, don't. Those who are affected most by shitty policies like the lack of federal law you are talking about are too busy trying to keep their heads above water to do all the research to figure out who would help them. Those who aren't affected don't give a shit cuz it doesn't involve them, so they focus on stuff that matters more to them personally.

There is plenty Americans could do. They could vote for Bernie Sanders, say. The unions could fight harder while the citizens actually get on board. They could protest in the streets. They could stage a people's revolution (yes, such things DO still happen in this world! All it takes is enough people who are fed up with the status quo). These are the kinds of things I have in mind when I say I don't understand why Americans put up with this shit. I'm talking about 1) voting against it, and 2) pro-actively fighting it in the very real sense of the word.
What you just said simply says that Americans are cowed. Cowed by those in power, and, more than anything, cowed by apathy. It's a shame. And it is a sad sign of the times. I am sorry that saying these things irks you - I don't mean it as a personal insult.

I don't think that getting time and a half once a month is something of a major federal political platform to put as your top priority, though. just my $0.02.

Oh no, of course not. I was talking generally here. I agree that people just not getting time and half on holidays does not warrant a citizens uprising, lol.

mcgruff10 said:

Stores are open thanksgiving, big deal. It s your choice whether or not to go. Almost a quarter of a million people will leave their families to attend three nfl games. To each their own.

They have nfl games on thanksgiving day?! That's nuts. Is it always in the same place?