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> People love shopping Genuine question, does this still hold true? I'm asking because I've also read it (relatively recently) in other places and it struck me

> People love shopping Genuine question, does this still hold true? I'm asking because I've also read it (relatively recently) in other places and it struck me, because I personally dread shopping, and I didn't think I was the only one with those type of feelings. And ignoring old recluse people like me (even though this pandemic has transformed many of us into recluse people), I had the impression that spending your free time with friends at the mall had died out as a cool thing do to in the late 2000s-early 2010s (when the Mall Cop movies were premiered, they were more a testament to a period that had just ended).

AussieWog93 5y ago
>I didn't think I was the only one with those type of feelings. You're not. There are plenty of people that hate shopping, just as there are plenty of people that hate watching sports. Probably a disproportionate number of both groups are on HN. It still has huge broad appeal, though, especially among women.
- bell-cot 5y ago
  This. I certainly know a fair number of women (admittedly, the grandparent commenter would probably not call them "young") who regularly shop as a recreation and social activity. Mostly with other women from their family and circle of friends. They often shop for half a day or more, without buying anything. Usually not at "The Mall" - instead they're walking a denser shopping district, or driving around to strip malls, estate sales, antique shows, etc. Probably not grocery shopping together, but they may do the Farmer's Market. I figure that it's the women's version of a few older guys going out and playing golf for hours. Humans spent quite a time as hunger-gatherers, and still enjoy exercising their old software.
bitwize 5y ago
Try living with a traditionally feminine woman. I don't particularly like shopping. I go in, I look for something I want, I see something I like, I buy it, I leave. The satisfaction of having the thing(s) that I want trumps all other concerns, so I optimize a path to there from where I am which means spending as little time in-store. Sometimes I browse, just to see what is available, but not too much. My girlfriend is... way different. She can spend hours, browsing around, examining the merchandise, evaluating the color or style or fabric or thread count for linens, looking for things to "call out" to her (the joke goes that you go to Target and Target tells you what to buy), chatting with sales staff, and of course ensuring that as many things we need, might need, or want are bought in that one go as possible. The shopping experience is just as important as obtaining the things. Plus, during the pandemic, retail locations were her primary spot for "people bathing" (akin to Japanese "forest bathing"), fulfilling a need she has for contact with random other folks. This is anecdata, but I'd say yes, there are types who love and need to shop, and I'd be willing to guess that there's a bimodal distribution with strong gender correlation.
bobthepanda 5y ago
Personally, there are enjoyable parts of shopping and there are the not enjoyable parts. Depending on which parts you enjoy, and the magnitude at which you like or dislike something, means that it varies. Trying things on without the anxieties of mailing returns and what happens if a return gets lost or rejected etc. is amazing. Waiting in line for 30 minutes+ because a typical American mall store is understaffed and has maybe one constant cashier is not fun. It depends on how much you like the discovery vs. how much you hate the waiting. Some people who are big, tall, and petite don't get the joy of discovery, for example, due to limited in-store selections.

AussieWog93 5y ago

>I didn't think I was the only one with those type of feelings. You're not. There are plenty of people that hate shopping, just as there are plenty of people that hate watching sports. Probably a disproportionate number of both groups are on HN. It still has huge broad appeal, though, especially among women.

bell-cot 5y ago
This. I certainly know a fair number of women (admittedly, the grandparent commenter would probably not call them "young") who regularly shop as a recreation and social activity. Mostly with other women from their family and circle of friends. They often shop for half a day or more, without buying anything. Usually not at "The Mall" - instead they're walking a denser shopping district, or driving around to strip malls, estate sales, antique shows, etc. Probably not grocery shopping together, but they may do the Farmer's Market. I figure that it's the women's version of a few older guys going out and playing golf for hours. Humans spent quite a time as hunger-gatherers, and still enjoy exercising their old software.

bitwize 5y ago

Try living with a traditionally feminine woman. I don't particularly like shopping. I go in, I look for something I want, I see something I like, I buy it, I leave. The satisfaction of having the thing(s) that I want trumps all other concerns, so I optimize a path to there from where I am which means spending as little time in-store. Sometimes I browse, just to see what is available, but not too much. My girlfriend is... way different. She can spend hours, browsing around, examining the merchandise, evaluating the color or style or fabric or thread count for linens, looking for things to "call out" to her (the joke goes that you go to Target and Target tells you what to buy), chatting with sales staff, and of course ensuring that as many things we need, might need, or want are bought in that one go as possible. The shopping experience is just as important as obtaining the things. Plus, during the pandemic, retail locations were her primary spot for "people bathing" (akin to Japanese "forest bathing"), fulfilling a need she has for contact with random other folks. This is anecdata, but I'd say yes, there are types who love and need to shop, and I'd be willing to guess that there's a bimodal distribution with strong gender correlation.

bobthepanda 5y ago

Personally, there are enjoyable parts of shopping and there are the not enjoyable parts. Depending on which parts you enjoy, and the magnitude at which you like or dislike something, means that it varies. Trying things on without the anxieties of mailing returns and what happens if a return gets lost or rejected etc. is amazing. Waiting in line for 30 minutes+ because a typical American mall store is understaffed and has maybe one constant cashier is not fun. It depends on how much you like the discovery vs. how much you hate the waiting. Some people who are big, tall, and petite don't get the joy of discovery, for example, due to limited in-store selections.