We dive deep into the darkness of human nature, as the USA’s sordid shopping phenomena Black Friday’s creeps into Europe. Even here in sleepy Switzerland all manner of marketeers jumped on the expression ‘Black Friday’, from food to electronics it seemed nothing was sacrosanct.  It has become a disproportionate gluttony fest the day after ‘Thanksgiving’ where the phrase, ‘For what we are about to receive may the Lord make us truly thankful’ is ultimately belittled.

The scenes witnessed in the UK are a sad indictment of European retail and a very distressing view on society itself. We have traditional sales periods in Europe (that vary by country) with bargains galore to enjoy.  Shopping the ‘sales’ is a way to cost effectively smarten your wardrobe or get some gadget that is just a little out of your price range.  It is also a lottery as not everything is on sale and if you are an S or XXL then you are generally well catered for in the clothes arena.

Unfortunately it looks like that has all been tarnished with people now wresting people to the ground in rucks similar to those of the autumn rugby internationals. Punters punching each other out for a bargain that appears to be related, in the main, to electronic devices.  Maniacal shopers grappling with each other in scenes aking to starving refugees at the back of a UN Aid truck. It is abhorrent!

Call me old-fashioned but I would rather hear about White Christmas rather than Black Friday.   I hanker for the good-ol-days when people were more civilised not just on Black Friday but also – on the street, in their cars and on public transport.