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‘SALE!’ –What is it about that word that causes all logic to go out the window?
I can’t go into town at the moment. Don’t trust myself. It’s too dangerous. I’m likely to go in to pick up my contact lenses and come back three high street bags heavier. Because there is something unmistakable about those big red signs that lure me in and cause some chemical reaction in my brain. One that says ‘Thou shallst buy’. Along with the lethal accompanying mantra of ‘If you don’t, somebody else will’.
Clearly I am the quintessential, lowest common denominator of consumer. I am the kind of punter that single-handedly keeps retailers afloat. The troika must love me. Because, recession and all, I will buy virtually anything if it’s greater than 50% off.
Skewed logic
Slightly imperfect? Size 8 but liable to stretch? Floral pattern worthy of Hyacinth Bouquet? Bring it on… sartorial duds welcome here.
For a relatively balanced individual, I find myself using all kinds of skewed logic to justify my purchases.
For example; ‘Well, I’m not really spending €80 by purchasing those LKBennett shoes. I’m actually saving €115. Even if they are bright purple and half a size too big.’
Or ,‘No, I don’t have a stitch that matches lime green. And in ways it’s pretty hideous, really. But didn’t I read in the hairdressers that it’s all the rage? And a girl has to start somewhere. And sure wouldn’t it make a nice change to black…’ Blah. Blah. Blah.
Blinded by sales
My husband left me alone for all of seven minutes last Saturday while he went to park the car. And in that space of time I managed to spend 60 quid. When he returned he looked aghast. How did my buying a Capri Sun for our three year old, morph into a pair of capri pants?
It went something like this…
Head for Spar shop on Nassau Street. Pass High Street shop en route. Become blinded by SALE sign. Notice ‘75% off’ statistic. Choose to ignore the ‘up to’ small print. Brain enters parallel retail universe. Legs move myself and buggy into shop premises. Eyes drawn to sale rail. Rifle through reduced clothes. Remove any vaguely plausible garments. Enter changing rooms;
Too small. Too tight. Too short. Too tarty. Too garish. Just plain hideous.
Aha… bingo! Plausible item.
Check tag. 50% off!
Become giddy with excitement. Oh, the unmistakable thrilllll of the bargain…
Bit small maybe? Bit tight around the backside?
But, Claire, they’re 50% off. A positive steal. Yes, you may not have been a size 10 since 2005, but you never know. You might be again at some stage in the future. And then where will you be? Some other lucky punter will be out swanning around in your half price capris! Well we can’t be having that…
Trot over to checkout before logic quadrant of brain has a chance to kick in. Saunter out of shop with ‘sale’ itch successfully scratched. ‘Sold!’ to the window shopper with the over-extended credit card…
Meet husband. Hide bag. Curse toddler for asking where her drink is.
Leisurely try on capris three hours later at home without sale adrenalin pumping and potential competition in adjoining changing rooms. Realise they are actually pretty hideous. And bet onto you. From every angle. With pockets that refuse to sit delicately, but instead stick out either side of your hips, proudly announcing to the world at large that they’re at least one size too small.
Prized ponies
Capris join other casualties from earlier seasons at the back of the wardrobe. Because you never get back in in time to return them. Or by the time you do, your ‘prized ponies’ have been reduced to under a tenner…
Oh well. Another Sale Rail Fail… probably should have just gone for broke and ventured into the ‘New Season Stock’. At least then I might have bought something I might actually wear.
Resolve to not go into town again until at least August for fear of recurrence and potential divorce. And to shop in Lidl only for the next month. Where even if I do lose the run of myself on the savings I’ve made on fish fingers, it will only be on a paddling pool for the back garden or a high pressure cleaner with 17 different settings and five adjustable nozzles.
Is it a uniquely Irish trait this love of the bargain? The ‘cute-hoor-ism’ where we all love to point out how little we paid for something? And how we definitely paid less than Mick down the road. Who’s an awful eijit really. Wasn’t in ‘The Know’. Didn’t shop around and do his homework. Doesn ‘t matter that we’ve not got exactly what we wanted. Doesn’t matter that it’s a complete false economy. So long as we feel like we’ve saved a few quid.
Yes, when it comes to the sales, if the price is right, then it matters little if the purchase is entirely wrong. ‘Further reduction time’ anyone?
Claire Micks is the mother of a (reasonably behaved) three-year-old girl and an (entirely spoiled) 15-month-old boy. She survives by day and writes by night. Croaks rather than tweets, but despite that somehow manages to get her ramblings published on occasion.
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We had a few people over from America meeting a few of our work colleagues in Cork, the visitors had already arrived in Cork City the night before before the meeting. One of the visitors was black and when they met with our colleagues the group of three were not in great form. They didn’t have to be asked what was wrong as they came straight out and said they have been all over the world and have never been subjected to the racial abuse they received in Cork. Our people were a bit surprised and asked for some example of what happened them. The black person gave one example and said they were in a bar the night before and when he looked for drinks the barman said “what do you want, boy”. This little Corkism was enough to cause upset and after a bust of laughter all was explained and peace restored.
I remember I use to be an open minded non-racist…but then I moved to London, it’s funny how re-location can alter your opinions…for example I’m not fond of Nigerians and just so happens their black, does that make me racist? I think they’ve a bad and or aggressive attitude maybe due to their strict upbringing (not all)….the debates very VERY long!!!! Why should we have to like other countries when we against everything they stand for…why should we just accept? I’m not in anyway neo nazi and I’m totally against EDL!!! It’s all about the right approach.
Ben
When you generalise and attribute characteristics to a group of people who come from a particular country or region,
That, my friend, is racism
did’nt our Gov do that with the travellers??!!!
Well…guess I’m a racist then cause I don’t particularly like Australia’s either for minor reasons…(1) their loud (2) drunkards and (3) annoying accents, hope I can sleep tonight.
Well, xenophobia :p
No Dave, it is not racist to generalise, that is the most idiotic idea to ever come from as human. The fact is some cultures are not compatible, it has nothing to do with race and everything to do with culture and societal norms. What is normal behaviour for a Nigerian may not be normal for an Irish person and vice versa, recognising this difference is not racism. The fact is culture is a generalist attribute of nations, this can not be denied it is a fact. So go educate yourself before you call people racist you absolute tool.
Dave
I’m an Italian man living here few years, and a part from some smart comments like ” spaghetti, la mamma” etc.. I can say that Irish are just not racists.
In support to Ben it is strange how the vision about the black can be altered here in Ireland.
That happened to myself I must admit. And keep in mind that back home I was ready to go and volunteer for a project in Burkina Faso.
But when it comes to Nigerians we are naturally thinking at a possible scam. Also most of their approach in terms of manners it come across like rude and sometimes aggressive.
Having say that, the new generations are getting integrated into the culture and maybe in 20 years time we will drinking pints with them in the pub and the culture difference will disappear.
But at the moment there is a difference and is just not compatible. Except of course for those very few cases where they accept this culture and traditions.
If you want to call me racist you’re more than welcome but this is what it is.
Gianni
Well said Gianni, pay no attention to the idiots calling everyone ‘racist’ that is the oldest trick in the book to stifle or prevent debate on the subject. When these half wits call people racist it just demonstrates that they have no argument.
Tom this is the oxford dictionary of racism – I’d say that’s educating enough….Definition of racism in English
racism
Pronunciation: /ˈreɪsɪz(ə)m/
Translate racism | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
noun
[mass noun]
the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races:
theories of racism
prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior:
a programme to combat racism
Dave, I don’t need you to Google the word racism in order define it for me, I’m well aware of its definition. Still, my point stands, it is not racist to generalise based on cultural norms, it is racist to generalise based on colour of skin or race alone. Do ya get it now?
There is nothing racist about recognising that some cultures clash with western or Irish ideals and norms. It is a fact.
But Ben, they can spell.
Forgot to mention the cultural thing in my post..but your 100% right with comparability.
Fantastic point Gianni say it how it is.
* you’re
Ben
Two small stories about Nigerians.
First: a Nigerian woman was parking on Dawson Street at 4.00pm so I explained to her about the clearway system. She looked straight through me and walked off, leaving her car on the clearway.
A taxi ride from Dublin Airport. The taxi driver (Nigerian) and I spent the journey setting Ireland’s problems to rights and roundly condemning the useless politicians in Leinster House.
Two sides of the same Nigerian coin.
Some are Ben , some are not
Know all Australians now do you
That’s petty in my opinion, I hate grammar nazi’s..I am fully aware of the their, there and there’re differences! I just wrote as I thought….! Ya clown.
Haha good man Dave biting…Jesus I was being vague with my opinions…I like nice people in all aspects of life, be it Australians, Nigerians, Dubs etc etc.
Ben all your doing is making a fool of yourself
The fourth article on The Journal about racism and immigrants rights in the space of a week, what the hell is going on? Is the Journal trying to push an agenda or is it a personal crusade by the editor of The Journal? Why did you delete this comment? Is censorship the norm for The Journal now? Losing all credibility fast.
Dave, we all know what racism means at this stage. History in different countries, tragic events and being actual the recent death of a great man and his fight against apartheid.
But believe me this just a culture difference clash, two extremes trying to find a middle way.
It all goes down to get the time to be fully integrated with the culture…but this a “new” phenomenon for Ireland and I’m sure that eventually the difference will be smoother and smoother until it disappears.
Please give us a deal of adjustments and stop using the word Racism so easily.
An Italian
But you’re judging a whole countries people on the few that you have met, or heard about.
Do you know all the people you comment on? Have you done exhaustive studies to back up your wild generalisations?
Everybody is different
The only thing you can generalise about is people who generalise are idiots
Dave,
You have to be able to look at the bigger picture. No offence but you sound to me the antiracism knight more than an open minded person that is capable to see things from above.
Culture differences are a fact! Hope you agree with me.
Of course there are cases of nice people despite of their nationalities. But we’re talking about characteristics that identify people, their customs and traditions that are linked to their country.
I’ve been in Nigeria myself and let me tell you…..you wouldn’t go around Lagos screaming I’m not racist!
As European we have an history of colonies, crusades etc. etc….
But the integration of such an extreme culture difference takes time.
Example: you can take a Nigerian in London working for a bank in canary wolf and we wouldn’t have this conversation.
Again Dave….culture differences are a fact and it takes time to adjust them specially when they are so far from each other.
On a funny side if this difference wouldn’t exist we would probably be eating spaghetti or tapas instead of drinking cold pints around “traditional” Irish pubs!
Don’t call this being racist mate!
If you use generalised prejudices to make statements about anybody based on where they are from,
You
Are
Racist
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