username: Eraserhead

[passfail]

So, what's Black Friday, anyway? Is this some American day of remembrance for a tragedy I don't know about?

And before any of you decide to get cute about it:

1. I'm not from the US, and I'd never been before arriving here

2. I tried searching for the same information about Columbus Day and got what I'm pretty sure are all the same sales advertisements I'm seeing now only with fewer birds

Comments

[disasterstraight]

None of the festivals or holidays of this world make any sense to me.

But I think the birds are meant to signify some kind of feast of remembrance.

[passfail]

I'm from Japan, so I expected some of the holidays to be less relevant--most of them, probably--but this one I really can't figure out.

That would make sense...although I thought the birds were related to Thanksgiving, which is apparently a big food-related celebration. Easier to search for, at least

[disasterstraight]

Thanksgiving. Yes, that is what they call it. Why they need to schedule a specific day to be thankful is beyond me.

Japan... That is near China, is it not? If so, we are from a similar part of the world.

un: puturhandsup

[vociferates]

black what

[passfail]

Black Friday. You don't know anything about it, either?

[vociferates]

the bird thing's totally a thanksgiving gig but
nope
knowing americans though it could be anything.

UN: Uravity

[floatsaway]

hi sensei!!

i think it's sum sort of business holiday or smth??
all i hear abt day by day is sales and deals and ppl at school are talking abt camping out at certain stores to get a deal on a PS4 or the new Wintendo console
idk why it's called Black Friday, tho. maybe because all the retail clerks look like they're going to attend their own funerals...

[passfail]

I'm not surprised it's focused on retail, that seems to be the standard response for most holidays in this country, as far as I've seen

And honestly, that answer's as good as any.

Speaking of school, you've been keeping your grades up, right? Nothing I should know about?

[That's Aizawa for 'I'm worried, how are you,' obvs.]

[floatsaway]

hehehe you're right, i kno so many major chain stores had their christmas things up the moment halloween was over
apparently that's just a THING in america
every1 complains abt it

[AH...even over text, Ochako can feel the hair on her neck stand up, imagining that fierce glare. She clears her throat, not really needing to, but. It's just instinct at this point. Also going to use some proper grammar now, because she just feels self-conscious.]

Yes, sensei. I'm keeping up as best I can, though I still struggle with the usual subjects - English (though apparently it's more literature based here??), History (it's ALL about America...) and advanced Math. Plus, I think two of my teachers just don't LIKE me...

I miss having you as my teacher. And Mic and All Might too, of course. :(

[goldtoxicity]

It's like the one day of the year where it's socially acceptable to murder someone for a good discount.

[passfail]

You're joking, right? This is humor.

[PLEASE TELL HIM YOU'RE JOKING, JOSH...he's reasonably certain but he's seen some video clips online that are disturbing to say the least.]

[goldtoxicity]

Okay, okay, murder is a little strong - but it is basically a given that someone is gonna get decked over a deal.

[continuousgroaning]

black friday always falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving and a bunch of stores open early and have huge sales

it's called that because it's assumed that's the point stores start profiting and move "out of the black" for christmas season

in theory

in practice it usually ends up with people trampling each other and getting into fistfights

[passfail]

That's actually the most helpful answer I've gotten. Thank you.

Also, that's frankly disturbing. Does law enforcement do nothing to police these events?

[continuousgroaning]

you're welcome!! i've come to realize that a lot of stuff about american culture is pretty weird when you're not from here

or disturbing, that's a good word

they try but I think they're either spread too thin or don't think it's a big deal unless someone, like, pulls a weapon or something

or else it's self-preservation

i know I wouldn't be too keen to throw myself into a group of parents who are all after the year's hottest toy when there's only one left or something

Anon.

[bleedformeplz]

[passfail]

[Honestly, the image looks like some of the videos he's seen. Terrifying. He doesn't respond, though.]

un: stark

[irondad]

Biggest post-holiday shopping day, aside from the day after Christmas.

Many of the big, hot ticket items are old stock from last year, or were made of lesser-quality materials specifically to sell today, to mimic newer, better quality merch. In the former case, from a retailer perspective it's a great way to clear the warehouse. The latter's a great way to dilute your brand with shitty-quality products for cheap, but $$$! or something.

( look he has a lot of opinions on this )

[passfail]

More money, and who gives a damn about integrity? Sounds like it's pretty much the same no matter which universe you're from.

I'd rather stay home, personally. Not much of a crowd person, and I'd rather pay more for good quality items if I'm using them daily.

You sound like you're less than impressed with the latter.

[irondad]

A man after my own heart.

My company back home gets to deal with the fallout of others' shortsighted decisions. Every year, some shiny new marketing bobble head or subsidiary of ours pitches the idea to slap our name on something made for pennies, in a factory overseas, that'll break before the summer, like it's a bold new Black Friday concept and not the same, tired old shit.

[obediences]

I knew about it as a shopping holiday that happened right after Thanksgiving, but I never knew why it was called Black Friday, either, so I'm learning stuff from this post too. Thanks.

I did once stop a supervillain who tried to mass hypnotise an entire crowd of frenzied Black Friday shoppers into doing his bidding, though.

[passfail]

No need to thank me, I was curious. Now I'm less curious and more fascinated and horrified.

Really? Here, or back home?

for Shigaraki, private

[passfail]

[The message doesn't have any words attached. It's just a picture. Nothing special, just a stuffed cat wearing what looks like Shouta's hero costume, goggles and scarf. And it's just sitting on the window ledge, next to a small black furry blob roughly half its size.

Still, it's something. And it's almost a thank you.]

Perpetual

[facepalmchampion]

[[Now this is a name he hadn't considered the pop up of. Many-a-time he had considered actually messaging, but never followed through. The cat, plushie that is, catches his attention first and it really did look like Hizashi could be trusted. He had done what Shigaraki had asked and for that he is thankful.

The fluffy blob, however, can't just be a fluffy blob. No, that, to him seems like an animal and a cute one at that. He'll give it being cute.]]

What's the thing beside it? Cough up a hairball?

[[It's not the words 'you're welcome' but it means as much to gloss over it.]]

text.

[hot_handed]

heard someone say if anyone annoys you when you're trying to get a console you can murder them and it's LEGAL