Buy nothing day is on Black Friday because that is the day that represents over-consumerism. It is the day with the most potential to get the attention of other consumers as well as corporations. We only hope to get a message across that perhaps people don’t need to buy so much stuff. perhaps they don’t need to stampede into a Walmart at five am and kill a guy just to get all those items for ten dollars less… My husband and I went out protesting with signs that also promoted a buy nothing christmas. This means giving gift that are homemade and the like. You don’t need to buy a gift to give a gift. Buy nothing day is only part of the movement. I see it as a stepping stone to further activism. If I can get someone to pay attention and think about what they are doing by participating in BND and protesting then at least I am raising awareness. I don’t expect each person to walk by and say ” ya know your right! why am I buying stuff?!” that is unrealistic. Before you bash BND perhaps you should try participating and protesting. I understand you may have problems with Adbusters and their approach to BND, but there are people who believe in what they are doing and don’t just “buy nothing” but actually protest consumerism. If you are looking for something a little less hypocritical you should watch “What would Jesus Buy”. you can watch it for free on google movies.

Dear Staff at AdBusters,
See my, “Buy Nothing 30-Seconds” suggestion below;

You know, for years now I’ve been thinking about your project. When you go on-line to your website there, it LOOKS like a good idea at first glance, (and the idea IS good). If there was ever a need for a serious review and revision of the modern world, it is within the context you promote….a criticism of consumerism and the world-destroying results of that paradigm. Or should I say, “the context you SEEM to promote”?

Upon reading to a greater depth into your articles, whose tone I agree with, the reader comes away with a sense of disappointment. I said, “seem to promote” because really, there IS NO MEANINGFUL DEPTH to your articles. Every single article I’ve read there misses the truly essential points, ones that would give substance and meaning to your mission. Instead of focusing so much on individual companies, why don’t you ever just come right out and say that, “participation in consumerism AT ALL is a horrible waste of life and limb?” Why do you always beat around the bush criticizing the acts of specific corporations or persons, and instead criticize the WRONG VALUES of consumerism itself, i.e., greed and egotism? Where is your advocacy for a meaningful philosophy or set of values that would replace greed and egotism? I know the answer…you don’t really have one, and that’s pathetic.

A perfect case-in-point is your yearly, so-called and much-touted, “Buy Nothing Day”. So let me get this straight…one day a year, you advocate to your readership a single day of not buying anything, (why not advocate practicality and efficiency as a lifestyle?). Gee, a whole day?…really, I mean a whole 24 hours of non-participation in consumerism, for every 364 days of rampant gluttony and Romanesque waste? Wow, now there’s a social movement with some real iron…it must have taken extraordinary self discipline to even come up with an idea like that, let alone ask others to do it too!

So what exactly is it you think you’re accomplishing with this, “Buy Nothing Day”? What’s to keep anyone from buying double on the day before or the day after, rendering the whole thing totally meaningless, instead of just almost totally meaningless? Please, get serious people! This is just an exercise in mediocrity, as is the majority of the material on your website…it lacks teeth, it lacks meaning…it’s just a joke! What…do you imagine this is generating some kind of PR in the mind of the public, causing them to “rethink” their wasted consumer lives? Nice try…you’re going to have to do better then that.

So if you’re going to invest yourselves in mediocrity without any real intention of creating meaningful social change, I have a suggestion for you. Why not go all the way with a, “Buy Nothing-30 seconds”? Just think, you could advocate something like this for EVERY DAY and get 365 times the publicity! Let’s see, what would be perfectly meaningless….yes, from 5AM every day, (from 5 AM sharp to 5AM and 30 seconds past the hour) you could have your little, “Buy Nothing 30 Seconds” every day, and no harm done! You could still go about being mindless consumers, give lip service to DAILY self discipline and meaningful action, and not have to give up your hypocritical lifestyle! What a deal…even better than the, “Buy Nothing Day”!

Think about it.

It becomes clear why you never bothered to answer any of my previous letters, (which used to praise you for your activities, before I learned better). It’s also clear why you never replied on your own forum, (when you had one) to my posts asking you questions. It’s because you lack the sincerity to make a REAL difference in the world. I ask you…why not get a REAL platform for social change by actually taking a meaningful stand on consumerism, and instead of laying blame for this entropic world where it only partly belongs, (with the corporations)…lay it at the feet of every consumer! Lay it at the feet of EVERYONE who participates, and point out that greed and egotism are NOT a viable basis for a culture to stand on! Advocate the rejection of a society gone mad, not just certain products! Please, I beg you…get serious about your own cause.

Thank you for considering this,
Matthew Webb visionquest@eoni.com
The World Mind Society

It always amazes me that a society can or needs to have the opportunity to promote a Buy Nothing Day. It’s a sad commentary on our emotional needs to get our fix by purchasing something everyday. What’s even more amazing is that we only react when we have an assigned day to do it. Is there anyone out there who thinks and acts on their own?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D07tetgSBmY

I want to report the death of my television. Yesterday my TV went dead and we took a walk in the park instead. We ate yummy leftovers that had gotten even better as the flavors mellowed and blended. The Pinot Noir that had been opened the night before was also better the second night in front of the fire. I didn’t even realize that we had not spent a penny until my wife brought it up when we were talking about Christmas presents for the kids. :-)

I don’t have anything against buying and using those things that we actually need, but our consumerist society is so very much beyond selling us what we need. Our consumerist culture is sick to the point of pyschotic dependency and neediness on vast masses consuming resources far beyond what is natural or needed. I want to thank all that is good and wholesome for providing me and my family (and all of us) with what we need to love and thrive in a time of cultural sickness.

I decided to work to make extra money to pay off my credit card I’m almost there. I am a professional crafts person aka blacksmith. I will be making most of my gifts this year for a number of reasons. I have never liked consumer culture. I am from Long Island and am sickened by the Walmart incident. If it were up to me we would start tearing down malls and planting trees.

I decided to buy nothing today after hearing about the Walmart stampede death today. It is no longer enjoyable to Christmas shop.

Again this year, my wife and I are buying nothing on BND. It was funny telling relatives about BND yesterday, as some are really, really shocked. So many people can’t comprehend not physically wanting to shop on such a “fun” day. It’s almost as bad as when we tell them we don’t have a TV with the typical reaction of “What do you do then????”. Ahh, lets see, go to plays, read, fix or build things, involved in community projects, go to the library, take walks, go for a bike ride… anything but stare at a piece of furniture.