reclaiming inconvenience
only capitalism could make consumption boring
two days ago it was black friday, and tomorrow is cyber monday, but honestly? if you looked deep into my brain crannies and found the (admittedly extremely poorly functioning) part that keeps track of dates and time, you’d find nothing there right now. smoothness. these things aren’t events at all anymore — obliterated in a world of constant shopping.
because if you can shop a deal when you’re scrolling tiktok, and check-out without moving your head from your pillow, why bother having a day dedicated to shopping?
some may celebrate this total 360 loop that we’ve done in the past few decades. first we decided to end our thanksgiving gratitude by trampling each other buying TVs at walmart. then we decided to become more civil, slowing sliding into a perpetual november where ‘25% off an algorithmically-manipulated price’ is touted as the ‘best deal of the year.’
yes, it’s probably more dignified. however, it’s fucking boring. where’s the drama? the pearl-clutching thinkpieces each year about society? yes, the late-stage capitalism of OG black friday is scary. but who was going to warn us that hyper-late-stage capitalism would be soul-suckingly boring (and even worse for the environment?)
despite all of my years of trying to be more sustainable and opt out of consumption cycles altogether, part of me deeply mourns the concept of a Shopping Event, where planning, anticipation, and the sensation of Hard Work all yield the prize of scoring a sale that doesn’t feel possible at any other point of the year. it’s like the thrill of stealing, except you only had to push a small toddler to legally get the item.
the one winner of this all: retail workers. i wish them all a trample-free holiday season.
ultimately, black friday is a victim to our never-ending lust for convenience. although some may argue that going to a department store filled to the brim with unimaginable goods on heavy discount is actually quite convenient, the american public has ruled that in-person shopping is inconvenient. you’re around other people (shudder), there is a 2-hour long line (ugh), you’ll get unnecessarily sweaty in the dressing room forcing your way out of a shirt that definitely doesn’t fit (yikes), and the parking situation is probably horrendous.
recently, i’ve been reflecting on how much of life is striving for more access to convenience — and then once achieved, striving for new forms of entertainment, many of which are… inconvenient. like getting on a submarine controlled by an old ps5 kind of inconvenient. traveling to antarctica kind of inconvenient. or running your tradwife ragged while you live off the grid.
the truth is, inconvenience is often entertaining, interesting, and memory-forming. inconvenient paths create space and opportunity for new things to emerge, like communities. simple example: grocery shopping vs. ordering grocery delivery. there are joys in picking out your own fruit, contemplating a new recipe because you saw a specific ingredient in stock, or running into a friend. for me, they outweigh the pain of carrying multiple bags onto the subway, sweating through my puffer as i balance eggs in my hands. (although, the occasional grocery delivery is quite nice).
taking the subway is another inconvenience to some compared to sitting in a car; walking even more so inconvenient. but with each different type of transport, there are different pros available to you — a ride with no internet, so you can read your magazine in peace. or marvel at being in proximity with so many strangers you may never see again.
so often, inconvenience means 'having to be around other people,’ which means that the drive toward a more convenient lifestyle means marching toward a more isolated life. although the fading of black friday is a rather un-heroic thing to mourn, i see it as another symptom of an increasingly lonely, convenient society. (hat-tip, writers of wall-e)
somewhat related reading:
& a palate cleanser: this is your reminder to try to shop local for holiday presents! talk about an incredibly inconvenient (in a good way) activity — it takes a ton of time, but it feels much better and is my way of giving back to the community. disclaimer: most likely will not have a door-bustin’ black friday sale.
a brief gift list:
museum gift shop gifts — every museum has a banging gift store. great place to get coffee table books, quirky puzzles, and often solid wall art pieces. or, pick up a fun postcard and write a nice hand-written note.
farmers market basket — dried flowers + candles (if there’s a candle-seller) + whatever root veggie is in season in the winter. you’ll look hippie, and they’ll get to make some good soup.
coffee beans — for espresso lovers, go to a coffee shop that roasts their beans and buy a bag. they’ll usually throw in a free drink for you, the lucky purchaser!
gift card to a local restaurant
bookstore — stalk their goodreads and buy their next ‘want to read’; pick up a novelty bookmark or a journal
art supplies / stationary store — stationary, mini-watercolor sets, journals
local clothing store — comfy-cozy items (slippers/hoodies/slouchy tees)
shoppy shop — every major city has at least one catch-all ‘shoppy shop,’ which has bits and bobs to delight. pick up a nice hair clip for a girl friend, quality tea-towels, interesting spices, teas, candles, or novelty jesus candles.
my challenge to you is to buy from 1 through 7 vs. all in on the shoppy shop, even if that’s the easiest thing to do
i completely agree