The last time I participated in Black Friday was all the way back in 1989...

[WCGreen]

We smoked one killer doobie, the last time I smoked pot, my new wife, who didn't smoke any pot, and my best friend from High School who smoked with me and drank cocktails with my wife...

We were all lit up for a day of good cheer in Cleveland's new Galleria, which, by the way, is no longer there. We were sitting in the Top of The Town with a wonderful view of the lakefront, enjoying each others company.

We went into the Galleria and just walked around, stopping at the Sharper Edge to play with the gadgets, went to the book store and just did some good browsing.

There was no real mad rush, no pushing a shoving. It was just a nice day to spend with friends.

I don't remember all the cutthroat standing in line, the pushing a shoving and the craziness of people looking for a bargain.

It's almost as if the people with all the money are playing a game with the people who are struggling. How low can we make you go to grub out a bargain...

[eeyore98]

1. I honestly kinda miss when the Friday after Thanksgiving was just another day at the mall.

I remember going out with my aunts and cousins the year I was 13 (so I guess that would be 1995), and it was just a fun, relaxing day with family. The aunts got a bit of a start on their Christmas shopping, and my cousins and I browsed the B. Dalton for hours, then gushed over earrings and nail polish at a Claire's. Then we all got lunch at one of the mall's sit-down restaurants. No mega sales, but also no lines or fights or trampling deaths.

And now, 16 years, later, it's actually intruding onto Thanksgiving itself. Not just with stores being open for customers then. My husband works for a retail chain supporting servers for their website, and between him and the other guy who shares his job title, they must maintain 24-hour coverage beginning 12:00 am Thursday morning until 11:59 pm Monday morning. It's gotten beyond ridiculous, and all for the sake of greed.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. That sounds like a really nice way to spend the day!

I've never shopped on Black Friday. No inclination, I guess...

And you bet it's a game.

One that we're not winning...

[notadmblnd]

3. In past years I've done my shopping online

No going out in he cold, no spending money on gas, no driving around, no jockeying for position when attempting to purchase items. Nope I'm good with staying home and letting it come to me.

[Taverner]

4. 1994 for me

And NEVER A-FUCKING-GAIN!

[RebelOne]

8. 1999 for me and never again.

My daughter-in-law told me my grandson wanted this toy workbench at Toys 'R Us. I got there at 6 a.m. and was about 20th in line. Once I got into the store it was total mayhem. Fortunately, I got the toy. But after that, I vowed never again would I shop on Black Friday.

[shraby]

5. I never have. It's stupid. I usually wait until right before

Christmas when the prices are more "right". Then buy all at one time.

[Warpy]

6. I've worked retail on Black Friday

but there were no doorbuster specials and we kept normal hours, just got the increased traffic in the store from all the bargain hunters.

It was still Black Friday even 30 years ago because the crowd that day was generally overtired and surly.

Even when I was a little kid, my mother never took me out on Black Friday.

[The Genealogist]

7. I remember the day after Thanksgiving, as youngster

...in the mid 1980s. The day after Thanksgiving could be a quite enjoyable day to go window shopping. It seems there were new things to look at, and it was all Christmassy. I'd call the atmosphere "bustling." There were sales that day, and it was a kind of a big deal. A trip to the mall back then included a couple or three bucks in the video arcade, and an Orange Julius at the food court. I don't remember people out camping so they could be first in a store. I don't remember stores opening at midnight on Black Friday morning. Maybe they opened at 6:00 AM, or 7:00 AM.

[HopeHoops]

9. That's about when I gave up pot also, but I've NEVER participated in black Friday.

It just seems so pointless.