If you don’t want to observe two minute silence- don’t be out

Exactly this ^^ The excuses here are pathetic, as is the reasoning. The silence should be observed if you’re in a public place. That doesn’t mean you have to think about Remembrance if you don’t want to, but it’s respectful to stay silent for 2 minutes. It’s not much of an ask, is it?

It’s nothing to do with having your freedom restricted 🙄 It’s about respect. As an example, I was walking through the town centre and saw a large group of teens pausing two or three metres from a fountain. My route would have taken me right between them and the fountain, as I was heading for a particular shop. But, as I got closer, it became obvious that something was going on, something solemn. So, what did I do? Did I barge through tutting? Did I get out my phone and start a loud conversation with my mum? Of course not! I silently walked a respectful distant around them with my head down.

I later found out that they were paying their respects to a friend who’d died. I had no idea who they were or who the poor teen who’d died was, but it was respectful to respect them in their moment of remembering him. It’s the same with Remembrance - pay some respect to others even if you’re not affected, don’t care or aren’t interested. It’s common courtesy. Purposely interrupting their moment is unnecessary and rude.

As for ‘performative’, I’d apply that to the rude people continuing to talk loudly and barge their trolleys past people in supermarkets who’ve stopped to pay respects.

I observe the silence, and I wear a poppy. I think it's important to reflect on the cost of war for future decision making.

But the freedom to live and express ourselves as we please is one the rights we fought for. If people choose for whatever reason not to observe the silence they should be able to go about their day as normal.

(But there is a balance, the woman shouting about fags in the op was clearly very rude)

I think, as a society, we have to question why people are so selfish that they see no meaning in it.

I hate ‘forced’ silences and detest the performative nature of it all. On strictly imagine if someone didn’t wear a poppy; they would be crucified on social media. It’s fine to remember any way you want. Or even not at all, if that’s your view about the wars.

But of course I would never disrupt anyone’s silence. That would be disrespectful to others doing so.

I am often working in the hospital though. So there have been occasions where I have had to talk. Or if I am honest, have been rushing between wards and simply forgotten.

Maybe lots of people don’t feel the need to set aside a specific 2 minutes every year and can be thankful and reflecting more often than that.

I'm not celebrating the politicians, I'm celebrating men and women willing to sacrifice their lives and well being.

"It probably should be meaningful to everyone though."

Why though? Its meaningful to me and I do always observe it, but I also know that others don't find it meaningful for many reasons. I, maybe disagree, but I respect their right to different opinions.

I agree. Carry on shopping or whatever it is you are doing but do it quietly. Don't expect others to break their silence to serve you.

Whilst I'd never ruin someone else's silence, I do wonder why they can't remember and reflect without being silent.

It just seems so silly and meaningless. 2 minutes silence doesn't teach us anything. It doesn't bring anyone back. It doesn't achieve anything.

It just seems so performative to demand it's done in public and that everyone joins in. It's harmless, but utterly pointless. The atrocities of war arnt fixed by silence. Maybe 2 minutes of non-stop ranting of why war is awful and is a needless loss of life would be more helpful actually...

What a daft suggestion,of course businesses don't close.There was no service for 2 minutes that's all, customers were free to go to the other sandwich shop in the town, though they also observed it. It's just 2 minutes.

I haven't been doing it for 100 years.
Some people clearly have learned, and while wars still happen much effort us expended in the name of diplomacy and cordiality between nations.
It's not hypocritical to give thanks to those who sacrificed their lives or who lost family members.

There are awful wars going on at the minute. No amount of remembering and reflecting has stopped them. So I don't feel inclined to join in with the performance poppy wearing and observing 2 minutes silence,

I'll admit that years ago it completely slipped DH and I's mind and we happened to walk into a shop talking to each other at 11.00, or 11.01 or whatever. So we'd missed the announcement and it took us a minute to twig that everyone was quiet and glaring at us. That wasn't deliberately disrespectful, but I'm sure we are in people mind when they talk about horrible disrespectful people.

Remembrance Sunday isn't a huge thing for us. I'll respectfully take part on a silence if I am somewhere one is happening, but I do sometimes think people should be going to services and remembrance events if it's a big deal to them, or staying home and watching events on TV, not shopping! I realise the staff don't have that option though, so yes people should respect businesses who choose to take part, and stay outside for a few minutes if they can't / won't. I don't think they need to stay home though!

But I don't think enforcing poppy wearing and silences once a year is the best way to remember war dead personally, and I see so much virtue signalling and hypocrisy around it. I think of my grandad and how sad I am that that gentle man had to fight very often. I think of how my fil never even met his dad because he was killed in ww2 the same time as he was born. I think of all the horrific things happening in the world right now, and the civilian deaths, and how little some of the people who bang on most about poppies and silences seem to care about that. I don't think I need to be wearing a poppy or standing silent in a supermarket to care or be respectful.

That's much better

It’s hard for it to be meaningful when it’s no longer just about remembering those who were forced to fight and sacrifice in the World Wars but celebrating those who fought in the wars and invasions by the UK that should never have happened.

You don't have to but it is polite to not deliberately ruin the silence for others

I think it has all become very performative like pp have said. The furore if a newsreader or sports presenter doesn't have a poppy on for weeks prioer is a bit much.

I would observe the two mins if out and about out of respect, but refuse to wear a poppy now as I no longer believe any government supports peace. There is too much money to be made from arms sales. They will happily send soldiers into harms way to line their pockets.

It is important that honouring the dead is a voluntary act or it is meaningless. Let those for whom it has meaning do it, and those for whom it does not, not do it. It would be polite to stay silent when out if others are doing so, but should not feel obligatory.

I understand people's feelings about this, but find the poppy mafia unacceptable.

Is it possible she had a mental impairment of some kind

He can be really loud as is autistic and won’t stay still so it’s probably better we avoid it as I don’t want to offend people . I’d totally forgotten about it as always think of the 11th but forgot about today as well for some reason

You give the impression that you don’t 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don’t think there can be a ‘should’ about it. The silence is an opportunity for shared reflection but not everyone takes up the opportunity. Lots do which says something.

My message was longer but this one said it more succinctly. Just don’t be a dick,for two minutes. Two. Minutes.

Op sometimes people just forget. I remember shopping in town with a friend in my 20s and we were walking along the high st and then walked into M&S chatting and everyone was standing silently. It was a shock as we had no idea what time it was but we copped on and stood silently. The looks we got!

As if I’ll stay in my house🤣