by Russell Linton

Created on: November 25, 2010   Last Updated: November 26, 2010

Black Friday. It sounds like a mourners' convention. Yet, it is perhaps for some the most exciting day of the year. Millions of Americans line up in front of their local "big box" stores to await their turn to enter the sacred gates of shopping Nirvana. Some in fact, camp out in front of stores DAYS prior to the big sales event in hopes of being the first in line for the "special deals" within. Fact of the matter is, there are many reasons to avoid this commercialization of a once innocent and reflective holiday. A holiday where gluttony and not greed used to top the list of sins.

I'm going to suggest you avoid it all together. Avoid it like the proverbial Black Plague. Sound crazy? No, it makes perfect sense and I'll give you five reasons why:

1. Trampling. Really, do I need to go further? Being trampled by a crowd of bargain hunting shoppers has to be the absolute worst way to go. Even if your list of life achievements rivals the leaders of the free world, having your obituary state the cause of death as "crushed under a sea of people fighting to be the first to purchase a stylish pair of shoes" is down right depressing. 

2. Sales. American shoppers are pretty deal savvy, right. We can tell you if that FREE Blue Ray player is worth the $500 minimum purchase of marked up merchandise, right? What about when you are trembling before the big glass doors with an agitated mob behind you praying you will be the first to get to that one $200 HD LCD television (and hoping that the heavyweight breathing down your neck isn't fast enough to overtake you)? Are you calmly evaluating the deal or worried more about "being there first"? How much fine print are you really going to read? How much faster do you think you are than the un-showered shopping zealot next to you that has been camped out for two days next to the door?

3. Stress. Do you really want to know what's killing people? It's not really the stampedes. It's the stress of -getting- to the limited-time super sale item. High blood pressure, heart failure, obesity, lack of sleep, can often be traced to stress to one degree or another. How much is it worth it for you to lose a few hours of sleep and plunge into a mosh pit on the toy aisle of your local "Big Box?" $20? $50? What is your price for peace?

4. The Internet. You almost don't have to leave your house anymore in today's society. Start yourself on a Vitamin D supplement and you've replaced the need for actual sunshine.

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