Consumerism & the Holidays

The following is a Terry Weiss production. I'm feeling it today, folks. I am welcome, Welcome, one and all to another glorious campire sit down where the yours truly Terry Weiss. Welcome to Wife's Thoughts. I'm so glad you're here, and we got a we got a great podcast episode in store for you today. But before we get underway with the program, remember to stop by the white the website Weis's Thoughts dot com. Say, I got tongue tied there, Wife's Thoughts dot com. Just make sure you spell my name right, w y Ce. There you can listen to each and every episode of this podcast. You can interact, send me an email, leave a show rating please if you do, and so much more. It's all waiting for you at Weissthoughts dot com. All right, we got that out of the way. I'm on x formerly known as Twitter at Terry Weiss, and you can look for me on YouTube as well. Just look for Weis's Thoughts, all right. Welcome, Welcome, Welcome one and all, Greetings and salutations abound. Welcome to Weis's Thoughts. I am Terry Weiss. I am overjoyed and so glad that you are here today to join me on this episode of the podcast A lot going on today and broadcasting a semi live from the Purple Pit Studios here from whence the program cometh here in the Northeastern quadrant of the United States of America. I hope you're doing well. How are you? Sincerely? Are you? Are you well? Is your family well? We've all survived. The election is over. Now we can all of us can stop getting those dog on tweets and texts. And we need your money. This one needs your money. That one needs your money. Oh, they're gonna do this. They're gonna do that, that one's gonna do this. Oh God. That's one of the things I don't like about election season, you know, all the dog gone spam texts and everything else. I mean, come on, we all know who we support and don't support. We all make up our minds. Does a text the especially now the scammers, I guess from what I've heard, the scammers have gotten in on this too now and they're the ways to kind of get your money. If it's one thing I hate. I hate spammers, Spammers with a pe and scammers, you know, the phishing emails, and all that other stuff. You know, get a legitimate job. Will you please just go get a legitimate job, be a productive member of society and not a scumbag. All right? Anyway, I don't want to get on a tangent about that, but again, welcome, welcome to White's Thoughts and our virtual campfire sit down as we go full blast in the month of November heading towards Thanksgiving. And you know, then the next is the big one, December. The month of December is coming up. And then that said, folks, that the year twenty twenty four will be in the books here in just a few short days, in about thirty forty forty some days forty five days Best Producer or something like that, right, Okay, I don't so. Yeah, the year is quickly drawing to a close on us, and on some past episodes of the podcast we talked about, you know, reflecting back, have you accomplished everything that you wanted to this past year? I haven't. I actually maybe maybe, if I was lucky, made it halfway through some of the things that I wanted to accomplish, but nowhere, nowhere near where I wanted to be. What my mics? Why is my mic acting that way, it's acting weird. Okay, sorry about the white noise, folks. If you heard that, we'll try and edit that out. It is one of those things is gonna take a little sip of subsistence here. There you go, little something the wet the whistle because the pipes can dry sometimes. So yeah, the year is quickly quickly approaching a close here. And I was reflecting back an episode or two back here on the program about what I wanted to accomplish, what I didn't accomplish. And one of the last episodes I did too, was about you know, the customer service, phone mazes, the phone labyrinths were all in. Check out those past episodes here hold the phone, I believe is the name of that episode. And one of the other birds in my saddle on recent programs too, look for the episode to get your hand out of my pocket. You know, it doesn't mean that, don't be a perfec. I was talking about all these businesses, and especially like the streaming companies lately as of late, these subscription online companies that just want to get every god blessed nickel that you have, and they want to turn you upside down and shake any loose pennies out of your pocket. So look for that episode entitled get your hand out of My Pocket at wiss thoughts dot com or on your favorite podcast provider. I know I'm just full of boor I'm full of energy. Today. I went for a mile and a half walk today because the weather actually was cooperating here in the Northeast. It was about fifty two out earlier and I actually got a chance to go out and take a nice walk and it was really refreshing. It really. It wasn't windy. It was comfortable, still light jacket weather, but it was very comfortable, and I had the old headphones on and I was yapping on the phone to somebody while I walk, you know, because I like to try and be multitasking, but not crazy multitasking like an octopus. And next thing I know, I'm like man. Usually my little apple watch here, I'll give me a little nudge and say, hey, yeah, you've gone your mile, because I try to do a mile, if not every day, every other day. And for some reason I may have missed it because I was so engrossed in a really good conversation with someone about music and some upcoming plans for getting together and making and playing some music that I missed the little nudge and I looked down, like, oh, almost a mile and a half. Okay, well, well there we go. I did my bit, But that was that was nice to get out and enjoy the weather here, especially especially coming up mid November, you know, to be able to go outside without especially in the Northeast, without you know, hats and mittens and scarves and you know, snowsuits and and warmers and all that kind of good stuff. But it was nice. I took advantage of it. Are you ready for holidays? I've I was out in a few stores and I actually heard some people. I was eavesdropping. I know, terrry, don't be rude. I was eavesdropping on some conversations and a couple of folks ahead of me in line at one of the stores I was at mentioned yep, already started Christmas shopping. Missus w is already She's already started the Christmas shopping for this year too, So I figured, you know, get it out of the way and think about this too. Have you noticed on the television and I haven't noticed so much on the radio yet or satellite radio, or if you listen to terrestrial radio. I haven't noticed it there, but definitely on television it's starting, and on the internet, you know, Black Friday, Black Friday. Oh, Christmas deals are starting now. Now, now, what are your thoughts on that? I mean, do you think that we we push the consumerism way too early year round, not just but especially around the uh you know, if you celebrate the Christmas honig you know han Christmas holiday season in December, which is the I would say probably the number one gift giving time of the year in December. Lots of holidays there, But do you do you feel that we push it too quickly on everybody? I I'm of the feeling that we do. When I was a was a Wei lad. When I was a wei lad back in the back in the olden days. I don't know what kind of accent I'm trying to do. Sorry, not trying to found anybody. But when I was a youngster, a younger version of myself, I remember that that advertising for the holidays, especially around December time. The Christmas season, as I like to call it, did not actually start until after Thanksgiving. It started literally the day after Thanksgiving, and they didn't call it Black Friday or you know, all these colloquialisms that we have nowadays. And I never was a fan of that Black Friday. I don't know why, it just it just never set well with me. I mean, when I grew up, it was, you know, the day after Thanksgiving starts the shopping holiday for the season, or you know, holiday shopping season, however you want to word it. And that's what I was used to seeing from advertisers in my youth, growing up, and things like that. And I'll tell you it's the other thing too. It's funny because I tell my grandkids this. I said, when I grew up, stores never used to be open on Sunday, not even grocery stores. Gas stations were the only thing. Gas stations and movie theaters were the only things open on Sundays when I grew up. And they look at me like, I've got you know, six arms, three heads and four years. They're like, what, Papa, what, No, come on, you're putting us on. I said, well, let's go to the internet, and I show them back then that you know a lot of you know stores, grocery stores, you know, big box department stores and things that were not open on Sundays. I think it was called the blue law, if I'm not mistaken, or blue laws in the state where I lived, and that was at gas stations were the only thing opened on Sundays. If you needed milk or something, there were milk machines, usually in the neighborhood somewhere on a corner, and Mom would send you up there with four quarters and you go up and get a gallon of milk. Remember when a gallon of milk is to be a buck. Some of you out there listening to me, they're going yep. And some of you out there listening to me, going, what the hell are you talking about? A buck? Doesn't that get you a glass of milk if you're lucky? But anyway, I digress. I just think the consumerism really needs to be toned down. I mean, I've seen in the past, I don't know about you, but three or four years marketing high ticket items to younger and younger folks, the children, I mean three four hundred dollars items, and then you know, some times these kids will flip out because they don't I don't think, truly comprehend the value of a dollar, and especially over the past four or five years with inflation, it hasn't gone much farther than it used to. And these companies are just you know, targeting these higher ticket items to the youngsters. And then you know, mom and dad, us adults in turn and grandparents. You know, we're kind of guilted into buying these high ticket item gifts. Have you found that to be the case? Let me know the Let me know in the comments, or you can email me Terry to E r Y at weissthoughts dot com. I'll be more than happy to read your emails. So, or you can comment on your favorite podcast provider or contact me through the through the YouTube channel, just look for wife's thoughts anyhow, or you can you know, hit me up on X too and say, hey, I listened to the show. You know consumerism. That's probably what we'll name this one. Consumerism too early, too late, or something like that, mister producer. I'm gonna put you in charge in even the episode consumerism, Does it start too early? Whatever, We'll figure it out. But anyway, you can just reference this show and let me know your comments on one of those platforms. But I think it does. I really strongly feel that I mean and don't get me wrong. I understand they're a business. They have to make money. They're in the business to make money. That's their job. To keep people employed. You got to sell your product, you got to promote the new product, and YadA, YadA, YadA. I get it. I understand, you know. I mean, that's what capitalism is built on, is products and services marketed to the general population to increase overall the production and you know, employ people, and the cycle goes on and on and on. I get it. I get it, I understand it. I just think there has to be dare I say the word, are you ready drumall blaze? Ethics somewhere in there. A little bit of ethics somewhere in there. That's all I'm saying, just a little bit of decency, a little bit of common sense. Not asking for the world, but who knows it. I just think it's just it starts way too early. I mean, you know, when you're I started seeing commercials for Christmas, and this is, folks, hands down, no baloney. Like the week before Halloween, I started seeing some advertisements on our local cable channels here in town for you know, Christmas specials. It ain't even Halloween yet, are you nuts? But stuff like that. I know, I'm not trying to be a Ebenezer, Scrooge or a grinch. I'm just saying, yeah, I love the holidays as much as the next person. I love them all. I do. I really do, except maybe Groundhog Day. I don't know something about that. The groundhog's a little shifty. But anyway, no, I do. I love all the holidays, but just give me time to enjoy the one we're on. So those are my thoughts on you know, just pushing the holidays forward and the consumerism. You know, are we are we just asking for it? I guess ourselves, because you know, businesses and advertisers wouldn't do this if we didn't respond. Now, I know there is a school of thought out there that says, you know, Terry, these advertisers and ad agencies spend hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars on learning how to market to we the people, psychology and you know, neuroscience and all these things that I've heard that they do. And that's true. That's you can These are things you can look up. I mean, the internet can be a wonderful thing and not just used for you know, fighting and memes and funny cat videos. That being said, though, however, I think as being a part of the population, we as the general public, we have a certain amount of responsibility that must fall upon us. We have to be better stewards of our money, better stewards of our time and traditions. And if I may be so bold, and dare I say, not fall into these traps, not fall into the easy way out of just giving in to the consumerism. And again and again, I am not standing on a soapbox preaching down to you on high like I know everything and I am the model of everything I talk about. I as I've stated many times on this podcast platform program here, I say this as a reminder to myself as well. So though you know, those are just things that go through my mind, we can do better. We can make sure we abstain from just jumping at every little thing. You know, celebrate each holiday as it comes, when the time arrives, and in that case, in due time, in preparation thereof if that makes sense, you know, don't start celebrating Christmas in September and October. And dare I say, dare I even go far as far to say, even November, celebrate Christmas, you know, but then just the month of December when it's supposed to be the same thing. For Halloween, celebrate Halloween in October, celebrate the fourth of July. Don't get so far ahead. So it's year round. We're perpetuating this consumerism in this advertising cycle, just trying to get more money, more dollars and pennies and nickels and dimes out of our pocket, okay, And you know they're in relieving us of our hard earned money nowadays, because we all know that the dollar right now, the dollars in your pocket are very very valuable because they don't go as far as they did just a few short four or five years ago. Hopefully that will change. You know, as we talked about, there has been an election in the United States. There is a new president that is going to be coming in and there is also going to be new leadership across all divides of the United States government. So with that, hoping, okay, hoping that there will be some more benefits for we the people. Many times going to tell I'm trying to remain cautiously optimistic as I am with any politician, anyone that makes a promise. Let's see if they put their actions behind their words and do what's best for the majority of the American people. That's all we can hope with through that. But as far as the holidays and everything goes, you know, the consumerism, it just I think it's time for us to reclaim the holidays and keep the holidays where they belong and not push everything forward. Hey, thanks for listening to the program today. I truly appreciate each and every one of you out there, and remember to see a change in the world, you have to be the change in the world you want to see. It all starts with you, the person looking back at you in the mirror every morning. Remember to be kind to yourself, be kind to others. If you want to tweet at me on Twitter, it's at Terry Weiss. Stop by the website Wis's Thoughts dot com just to make sure you spell my name right Wye wis Thoughts dot com, and hey, leave us a positive rating and review on your favorite podcast provider. Won't you tell your friends, tell your family, tell your pets about wife's thoughts And I look forward to gathering yet again around the virtual campfire with you real soon take care