This may be the last place I can whine about people confusing “consumerism” with materialism. Consumerism is a political belief that government is needed to rein in the rapaciousness of corporations to protect consumers. Ralph Nader was the ultimate consumerist. Materialism is the belief that happiness can be bought at a store. Loretta Lockhorn is a materialist.
This is another case where the smartass kid doesn’t know as much as he thinks he does. Yes, “Black Friday” (among other days) has been used to describe catastrophic events for a long time. However, the day after Thanksgiving is called that because it’s the day retail stores go “in the black” and start making a profit for the year. It’s not related to the market crashes, expect perhaps as deliberate irony.
Someone’s got the statistic somewhere, I’m sure, but I would be curious to know what portion of post-Thanksgiving pre-New Year’s shopping is for gifts and what portion is people buying things for themselves and what portion is just people unable to resist the massive advertising blitz.
And I wonder, because wondering is what I do, if the well-known spike in depression around the holidays is related to that advertising blitz. After all, the whole point of any advertisement is to convince you that your life would be somehow better if you purchased this particular product, and I suspect that one easy and common route to that sentiment — or byproduct — is to first convince you that your life is, in fact, kind of problematic and that this particular product will fix that.
Then again, I wonder if it’s as simple as it’s colder and sometimes slipperier and dark more so people don’t get as much bicycling in, but I haven’t seen any studies to back that up specifically.
Frazz by Jef Mallett for Nov 24, 2017 | GoComics.com
A more likely cause for seasonal depression is lack of sunlight relative to the rest of the year. Frenzied spending, partying and over-indulgence in sugar (sweets and alcohol) are just means of self-medicating against the pain. Bright light and exercise are better means.
As a sufferer, from Thanksgiving on, I have to constantly remind myself that the depression is seasonal; I will feel better – usually around Valentine’s Day.
Ok. I have spent most of my off time of the past two weeks going through the archives and I have finally caught up with today. It’s felt kind of ironic reading about Frazz and all of his running and swimming and biking while I sit myself on the couch looking at my phone. But here I am; all caught up.
I have really come to love Jefs artwork and creativity and have learned to accept what many see as preachiness. I have tried to stay away from trolls and from commenting on any mistakes I have seen and done my best remember that it’s a comic strip written by a talented stripper. And yes, I stole that stripper joke from Bloom County just as comics have been stealing other’s joke for time immemorial and just a Jef has done many times. Nothing wrong with that.
I love that I need to keep a dictionary by the couch when I read Frazz in the newspaper. The only problem I have now is that in our paper Frazz isn’t a Sunday strip so I will have to check in here and catch the beautiful artwork.
If I knew how I would try to catch up with NAB… Since we seem to live in the same town here in Oregon.
I’m sure I’ll have to check in at the end of October to get help with Caulfield’s costumes since I’m not that well read and the only one that I have gotten was Frost and that was because of a big hint from Frazz.
So enjoy the comics and remember it’s supposed to be fun so tune out the trolls and let’s stay safe out there.
Ontman about 7 years ago
Be careful with the “boy” comment. “Sir”.
JamesDarling about 7 years ago
Gotta tread carefully with the “lets it get to them”. Depression is not a choice.
a68cortina about 7 years ago
This may be the last place I can whine about people confusing “consumerism” with materialism. Consumerism is a political belief that government is needed to rein in the rapaciousness of corporations to protect consumers. Ralph Nader was the ultimate consumerist. Materialism is the belief that happiness can be bought at a store. Loretta Lockhorn is a materialist.
davanden about 7 years ago
This is another case where the smartass kid doesn’t know as much as he thinks he does. Yes, “Black Friday” (among other days) has been used to describe catastrophic events for a long time. However, the day after Thanksgiving is called that because it’s the day retail stores go “in the black” and start making a profit for the year. It’s not related to the market crashes, expect perhaps as deliberate irony.
Ceeg22 Premium Member about 7 years ago
Caulfield is such a whiner
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] about 7 years ago
Frazz-10 hrs ·
Someone’s got the statistic somewhere, I’m sure, but I would be curious to know what portion of post-Thanksgiving pre-New Year’s shopping is for gifts and what portion is people buying things for themselves and what portion is just people unable to resist the massive advertising blitz.
And I wonder, because wondering is what I do, if the well-known spike in depression around the holidays is related to that advertising blitz. After all, the whole point of any advertisement is to convince you that your life would be somehow better if you purchased this particular product, and I suspect that one easy and common route to that sentiment — or byproduct — is to first convince you that your life is, in fact, kind of problematic and that this particular product will fix that.
Then again, I wonder if it’s as simple as it’s colder and sometimes slipperier and dark more so people don’t get as much bicycling in, but I haven’t seen any studies to back that up specifically.
Frazz by Jef Mallett for Nov 24, 2017 | GoComics.com
ellisaana Premium Member about 7 years ago
A more likely cause for seasonal depression is lack of sunlight relative to the rest of the year. Frenzied spending, partying and over-indulgence in sugar (sweets and alcohol) are just means of self-medicating against the pain. Bright light and exercise are better means.
As a sufferer, from Thanksgiving on, I have to constantly remind myself that the depression is seasonal; I will feel better – usually around Valentine’s Day.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] about 7 years ago
I am free from it unlike my good friend who is night owl as I am. I like the greyness.
tdidog about 7 years ago
Ok. I have spent most of my off time of the past two weeks going through the archives and I have finally caught up with today. It’s felt kind of ironic reading about Frazz and all of his running and swimming and biking while I sit myself on the couch looking at my phone. But here I am; all caught up.
I have really come to love Jefs artwork and creativity and have learned to accept what many see as preachiness. I have tried to stay away from trolls and from commenting on any mistakes I have seen and done my best remember that it’s a comic strip written by a talented stripper. And yes, I stole that stripper joke from Bloom County just as comics have been stealing other’s joke for time immemorial and just a Jef has done many times. Nothing wrong with that.
I love that I need to keep a dictionary by the couch when I read Frazz in the newspaper. The only problem I have now is that in our paper Frazz isn’t a Sunday strip so I will have to check in here and catch the beautiful artwork.
If I knew how I would try to catch up with NAB… Since we seem to live in the same town here in Oregon.
I’m sure I’ll have to check in at the end of October to get help with Caulfield’s costumes since I’m not that well read and the only one that I have gotten was Frost and that was because of a big hint from Frazz.
So enjoy the comics and remember it’s supposed to be fun so tune out the trolls and let’s stay safe out there.