Our first Q&A session is tomorrow!

Let's turn Black Friday into Friendly Friday, 7pm (GMT) via Zoom

I am so looking forward to this event tomorrow and I do hope you’re able to join me. I’m not a big fan of ‘Black Friday’ with the relentless push to make us all buy, buy, buy. The advertising is designed to trigger ‘fear and greed’: fear that we might miss out on a good deal, and greed for things we are apparently supposed to want. This annual event seems to contribute to the scam that keeps us trapped in the material realm, thinking that if we can get a good deal on something, if we can buy another thing, our lives will be improved.

I had a quick look at the origins of its name and was surprised - and not surprised. Black Friday is supposedly named to mark the point where retailers stop operating at a loss (in the red), and turn a profit (in the black). But as it turns out, this term was first coined in 1869, when two traders used insider information to drive up the price of gold, triggering panic selling and a stock market crash that caused economic devastation. Farmers were hit hardest, with the price of wheat and other commodities hitting the floor. Despite all this, the two perpetrators got off scot free.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Black Friday originates in a couple of shady characters manipulating and hurting others for their own selfish and materialistic ends. Now I understand the history, this event which has always seemed a bit creepy to me, makes more sense.

Let’s revise this.

How about we make it Friendly Friday instead and do something that honours the fellowship of humanity.

It could be something as simple as giving a friend a call, or inviting a neighbour round for tea and a chat. And of course, you are warmly welcome to join your fellow Substackers and myself at tomorrow night’s event.

I look forward to Friendly Friday and our event, tomorrow at 7pm GMT.