The Great Displacement of Turkey Day & The Writer
Welcome to the Holiday Season Series.
Remember that holiday that sits between goblins and elves? It’s the day we bulk up on repurposed pumpkins, stuffed turkey, and a menagerie of carbo-casseroles. Thanksgiving has become better known as the kickstart to the Christmas season. I mean that literally if you happened to be at the bottom of a 5 AM dogpile at Walmart on Black Friday. Since the first fall day, shoppers have browsed store aisles stocked with Halloween and Christmas decorations, hunting for Thanksgiving décor that lay buried at its endcap, ghosted like a bad date. Thanksgiving has become the displaced holiday, ironically like the natives at the traditional pilgrim dinner.
I thought about writing something reflective about the holiday, but I found no fancy tales of a historic Thanksgiving in Missouri. So, I decided to talk about what it might be like to be “displaced” by something perceived to be better—just as Christmas and Halloween have displaced Thanksgiving on retail shelves. One day in the not-so-distant future, a robot might roast the turkey and successfully argue politics with your uncle at the dinner table, so you don’t have to. It’s called artificial intelligence (AI) and it is going to change everything.
Here are the AI basics: AI mimics the problem-solving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind through advanced computing and machines. I get a little scared thinking about what AI could do, but that’s because I have seen all the AI movies where humans have become slaves to machines, like The Terminator, iRobot, and The Matrix. A portion of the CEOs attending a Yale conference last June agreed AI is possibly dangerous to humans within the next five to ten years. Essentially, it might get smart enough to manipulate itself, and depending on how it interprets human behavior, we might be on the verge of distinction, just like Thanksgiving.
If this sounds like Sci-Fi malarkey, then hold on tight. I am about to demonstrate the power of AI in this article twice. To start, this week’s featured photo was created using AI. I simply typed “apron-wearing robot that is holding a cigarette while cooking a turkey” into the AI prompt and voilà, it appeared within 10 seconds. The smoke coming out of the robot’s head was just the icing on the cake.
But that’s not all. Just to prove that AI is no joke, and it’s capable of replacing me as a writer, I also asked AI (specifically, ChatGPT) to “write a 1200-word nonfiction story about the decline of Thanksgiving in retail stores.” It wrote the entire story and title, within 3 seconds (though the word count fell short). By the time I wrote the first four paragraphs of this article, AI could have churned out an epic novel.
AI took less time to generate the article than I took to write the prompt that produced it. For the blogger or digital content manager asked to churn out optimized content like Mark Twain on Red Bull, AI is a good tool. But I am alarmed that my future creativity will get reduced to how well I put together a string of AI prompt words. Or worse, I’ll be relegated to just becoming a fact and plagiarism sleuth. Being replaced is a depressing thought. (I feel ya Thanksgiving.)
The robotic writer is already capable of producing accurately structured stories, but could it pass a creativity test? I asked AI to produce multiple versions of Thanksgiving-themed stories. Specifically, I asked it to write fiction or nonfiction and in sarcastic or humorous tones. AI responded well, though I consider the stories as amateurish attempts at entertainment. It’s just a matter of time before AI learns to mimic the world’s best talent and takes the pen name, Art I. Ficial.
Despite the threat of taking my job, I am intrigued at the thought of a robot civilly standing in a future Black Friday line to purchase its discounted ancestral cousin, an iPhone 20. Meanwhile, the rest of us can sleep off the lethargic effects of Thanksgiving Day tryptophan and Manischewitz. So, as someone who likes Thanksgiving, I say Yes! Let’s take back the holiday and let AI put the F back in family (or any other traditional holiday F like food, football, fighting, etc.).
But, as a writer, I say F AI because it has the ability to crush creative thought. When I tried to use the real four-letter F-word with AI it responded, “I'm sorry, but I cannot generate explicit or offensive content.” I could have added the curse word in this story, but I chose not to use it. I’d rather think as an individual and maintain the ability to self-sensor my creativity.
It is true that AI has the potential to replace human ingenuity way beyond the writer, if we let it. Sadly, I can think of all the bad ways power-hungry lunatics could use AI to censor and manipulate society—the same type of A-holes that decided to open retail stores on Thanksgiving Day.
If reading this article made you feel even the slightest potential of being relegated to less than what you were created for, well, now you know how Thanksgiving feels (if it were human). Could AI write an article on Thanksgiving’s decline to the retail basement with the same feeling? That’s for you to decide. Below is the AI-generated holiday story courtesy of AI in 3 seconds. I hope you don’t like it.
The Erosion of Thanksgiving: A Retail Tale
by Art I. Ficial (ChatGPT)
In the not-so-distant past, the arrival of Thanksgiving marked a time of togetherness, gratitude, and feasting with loved ones. Families would gather around the dinner table, the air thick with the scent of roasting turkey and the promise of pumpkin pie. However, in recent years, a somber trend has been infiltrating the holiday season, particularly in the retail sector—Thanksgiving's gradual erosion, as the pursuit of Black Friday deals encroaches upon this once-sacred day.
The shift in the retail landscape has been palpable, and it reflects a broader societal change in how we approach holidays, consumerism, and the value we place on family time. As I explore this narrative, I delve into the historical roots of Thanksgiving and its transformation into a battleground for consumer attention, analyzing the impact on both employees and the essence of the holiday itself.
The Historical Essence of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving, with its roots dating back to the early 17th century, has been a quintessential American holiday. Originating from the Pilgrims' feast with Native Americans, it evolved into a day to express gratitude for the bountiful harvest and the blessings of the past year. Over centuries, it has woven itself into the fabric of American culture, transcending religious and cultural boundaries.
In the mid-20th century, Thanksgiving became a formalized national holiday, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Families across the nation marked the occasion with elaborate meals, parades, and the symbolic act of expressing gratitude. The holiday served as a reminder of the importance of family, community, and the shared values that bind us together.
The Rise of Black Friday and the Retail Shift
As the 20th century progressed, a new phenomenon emerged—the commercialization of holidays. Black Friday, traditionally the day after Thanksgiving, had been a bustling shopping day for decades. However, the turning point came in the 2000s when major retailers began to push their opening hours earlier into Thanksgiving Day itself.
The idea was simple—capitalize on the Thanksgiving fervor and kickstart the holiday shopping season with a bang. Retailers enticed consumers with "doorbuster" deals and limited-time offers, creating a shopping frenzy that transcended the peaceful spirit of Thanksgiving. What was once a day for family, gratitude, and reflection became overshadowed by the clamor for discounted flat-screen TVs, smartphones, and other gadgets.
The rise of online shopping further exacerbated this trend. E-commerce giants introduced the concept of Cyber Monday, extending the shopping spree beyond physical stores and into the digital realm. The retail landscape began to shift, with brick-and-mortar stores scrambling to adapt to this new reality.
The Impact on Employees
As retailers embraced the Thanksgiving shopping extravaganza, the toll on employees became increasingly evident. The very essence of the holiday, centered around spending time with loved ones, was stripped away for those working in the retail sector. The push for early openings meant that employees were required to clock in on a day traditionally reserved for rest, reflection, and family.
This phenomenon drew criticism from both employees and the general public. Stories of retail workers missing out on Thanksgiving dinners, family gatherings, and precious moments with their loved ones became commonplace. The hashtag #BoycottBlackThursday trended on social media platforms, reflecting a growing sentiment against the encroachment of consumerism on the sacred day.
The Decline of Thanksgiving in the Retail Sphere
The decline of Thanksgiving in retail stores was not just a matter of extended hours; it was also a reflection of changing consumer behavior. The urgency to secure the best deals shifted the focus from gratitude and togetherness to the material pursuit of discounts. In turn, retailers responded to this demand, further eroding the sanctity of Thanksgiving.
Major retailers, once stalwarts of the Thanksgiving closure tradition, succumbed to the pressure of staying competitive. The "early Black Friday" phenomenon encroached into Thanksgiving evening, morphing the holiday into a hybrid shopping event. Soon, it became commonplace for people to finish their Thanksgiving dinners only to rush to stores for midnight openings or even earlier.
As the years went by, the lines between Thanksgiving and Black Friday blurred to the point of almost indistinguishability. The term "Gray Thursday" emerged, reflecting the ambiguous nature of a day that was neither fully Thanksgiving nor Black Friday. Retailers advertised extended hours, enticing shoppers with promises of exclusive deals and limited-time offers that, more often than not, overshadowed the true spirit of Thanksgiving.
The Resilience of Tradition
However, amidst the encroachment of consumerism on Thanksgiving, pockets of resistance emerged. Some retailers, small businesses, and even major chains decided to reclaim Thanksgiving for what it was meant to be—a day of rest and reflection. The decision to close on Thanksgiving became a badge of honor for these establishments, a testament to their commitment to employees and their recognition of the importance of family.
Certain states, too, resisted the trend. Some enacted Blue Laws, prohibiting large retailers from opening on Thanksgiving Day. These laws aimed to protect the sanctity of the holiday and provide employees with the opportunity to enjoy the day with their loved ones.
The Ripple Effect on Society
The erosion of Thanksgiving in retail stores extends beyond the impact on employees; it reflects a broader shift in societal values. Thanksgiving, once a day to pause and appreciate the blessings of life, has become a battleground for consumer attention. The very notion of gratitude is overshadowed by the pursuit of the next big deal.
This shift has consequences beyond the commercial realm. It has the potential to dilute the significance of Thanksgiving in the collective consciousness. If the essence of the holiday becomes synonymous with shopping rather than gratitude, the cultural and communal aspects that make Thanksgiving special may be diminished.
A Call for Reflection and Change
As we reflect on the decline of Thanksgiving in retail stores, it is essential to consider the broader implications. The erosion of this once-sacred day speaks to a societal shift in priorities—a shift that places consumerism above the values of family, gratitude, and togetherness.
While retailers are undoubtedly responding to consumer demand, it is crucial for both businesses and consumers to reevaluate their priorities. Is the pursuit of discounts and deals worth sacrificing the precious moments of togetherness that holidays like Thanksgiving offer?
Thanksgiving, at its core, is a celebration of abundance and the bonds that tie us together. As we navigate the evolving landscape of holidays and commerce, perhaps it is time to reassess our values and reclaim the essence of Thanksgiving—a day for reflection, gratitude, and the joy of shared moments with loved ones. The erosion of Thanksgiving in retail stores serves as a stark reminder that, in the pursuit of progress, we must not lose sight of the traditions that make us human.
BONUS: Best video about Thanksgiving if it were a person. (Source: Eric D'Alessandro)
References:
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F AI. 😁 Your article was much better.