Just in Time for Thanksgiving

Black Friday & X-Finity

If the two above neologisms don't at least somewhat rouse frustration or disgust in you, perhaps it's best to know just what they are.  (And of course, just what I'm talking about.)  The two succinctly demonstrate how insidiously evil corporatism and run amok capitalism can be.  If wealth inequality is the source of suffering for the disappearing middle class in America, these terms shed light on to what the hell is wrong.

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, a holy day in which mindless consumerism drives droves in to stores to worship money.  You can also save a buck or two.  But yes, the lines and camp outs that can be observed in front of large retailers can't help but instill a feeling of incredulity; people actually wait nights and hours to, ultimately, do nothing other than give their limited amounts of cash to the 1%.  

But Black Friday is different this year and it must be recognized that a much greater meaning -- one given by our new definitional qualities -- should permanently supplant the sad old label.

Comcast, as they were developing into a major media conglomerate -- one that is now consolidating power (and, therefore, influence) across the country -- realized they had a problem.  People knew who they were too well.  Side note: if you have to change your name because your original one has negative connotations, your nature is probably pretty bad.  

So bad as to invent a new term in replacement and then desperately market the hell out of it, spreading its appearance all over the place?  Comcast did just this.

On NFL games (a common target, as the reigning lowest common denominator in all of American culture), there would be a large gaudy neon orange couch down on the field for VIPs.  But that's not the point; the point is that this couch had X-Finity printed on it so large, one couldn't keep from noticing it.  So, suddenly, a new entertainment “product” existed.  Way too many became curious.

You see, the worst employees in the world, marketers, realized the corporate name Comcast was -- well, all too readily recognized as a giant in the telecommunications sector.  And thankfully, enough people had the sense to be wary of anything being pushed by a corporation.  We knew (and still know) the monopolistic consumer services here in The US have but one master: the almighty dollar.  

The company doesn't care at all for customers and does only the absolute least service so as to avoid lawsuits.  The aforementioned solution was to invent a new, fun sounding name that would all too easily take the place of Comcast in the typical American's perceptions.

If you ask me, what they did -- with perhaps malicious aforethought, in rebranding themselves -- is far worse than the phenomenon of Black Friday.  I think, mainly, because the deception has gone unnoticed -- whereas Black Friday is a sadly accepted inevitability of a rising plutocracy.  

The behavior of those on the most sacred of Fridays, however, is beyond despicable.  Shoppers literally trample one another.  Just to save a buck and gain more material crap to fill their empty lives with.  Black Friday has, as I've let on, changed forever.  We can only hope more people will grow resentful of Comcast's trickery in turn.

Black Friday is now known, internationally, as the name given to France's nine-eleven.  The coordinated ISIL terrorist attacks -- already being called the start of a third World War -- that rocked Paris to its core did so on a Friday night.  We cannot keep going on with our sacrilegious money worshipping holiday and call it the same thing.  Thankfully, we can become more aware and worldly.  

Indeed, some retailers are not holding corresponding “sales.”  They are not to be commended though, the second worst employees -- PR agents -- have pushed for it, undoubtedly to gain favor (and then, more money).

The end, of beginning of the end, we can only hope, of Black Friday is a most welcome occurrence.  But, like Comcast, only a name change need be made; the loathsome specials will continue.  Horrible.  But what Comcast has just recently come up with is truly, astoundingly sick in how bold and shameless their methodology proves to be.  They are outsourcing their fucking job -- getting new customers -- to you.  And bribing you to do it.  

These fuckers are betting that you'll sink lower than their inhuman level.  You just go and evangelize about Comcast -- and when you've finally convinced a friend (maybe one you'll (rightfully) be losing) to buy the oh-so-fun X-Finity, they'll send you a card good for more of their shit products and services.  How sad.  You're now Comcast, inc.  But people will do it.  

And that just blows me away.  The ignorance.  The technological addiction.  The corporate greed.  The selling of one's soul.  I can't fucking write about this anymore.

Good riddance, Black Friday: it looks like your celebration will be declining in years to come.  And Comcast...may your enablers and master planners burn in hell.

~ GPM: this messy, unprofessional prose is caused by the very socioeconomic stressors I document...