The Long Road

12/24/2003 Archived Entry: "Mallrats"

Seems to me like most people hate malls during X-Mas shopping season, some people just hate malls all the time. Well, I love them! You can either choose to loathe and boycott these bastions of consumerism or, like me, choose to embrace them. In particular, malls during X-Mas are the bomb because they're open so late and if you have nothing to do, you can just go to the mall and loiter till midnight or so. When I want something, I usually know exactly what it is and just head into a store, grab, pay, and leave. But when I'm just cruising to lay down some of the money that's burning a hole in my pockets, I really enjoy walking around a mall and looking at stuff and getting tempted.

I like how you can spend a whole day in one mall looking at all the different stores with their similar yet slightly different products, and being able to grab something to eat if you're hungry without going outside into the cold. I like how I'll always inevitably run into someone I know but don't keep in touch with and small talk to them without making any kind of commitment. I like seeing all these great deals everywhere and knowing that in a few days when everyone's bought what they have to buy, prices will be even lower. I like contemplating whether or not to buy something for myself and then asking if I REALLY need it or not, and then buying it regadless!

Now if only they could do something about those long lines and that dreadful music.

Replies: 1 Comment

i'm glad you mentioned the lines ... b/c otherwise, i'd want to know from where your lineless holiday bliss came ... even if you know what you want and just go in, pick it up and pay you could easily be a half hour in the stores ... i found the mall wasn't really bad until yesterday (for a weekday at least ... since i basically work in the mall ... i spend a lot of time observing mall behaviours) ... i could still top up a couple presents with something little ... but is it worth waiting in line for half an hour to buy something worth $5?

Posted by melpie @ 12/24/2003 08:53 AM EST