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

Unwilling sure. Unable Don't be ridiculous. Some people CAN'T be quiet. I have a friend with torettes did you want him shut away at 11 o'clock just in case?

Didn't it used to be a one minute silence? Why did it increase?

We’ve been doing it for over a hundred years and no one seems to have learned a thing from it. I object to the hypocrisy of it on that basis.

I don't think you need to worry about your 6yo who can't be quiet for the whole two minutes. Nobody begrudges that kid unless he's demanding fags or sandwiches from the cashier.

I understand what meaning is.

The 2 min silence always falls off my radar. In the example the OP gave, I think a notice on the till "closed to observe the 2 minute silence" would be really helpful as I could easily be someone standing there confused and asking if I could check out, not trying to be rude, just forgetting. And personally, if I worked there I would want to step away from the till so that I could do my honouring whilst not feeling responsible for anyone being rude.

Step into the back/away from the counter for your 2 minutes? If I've just walked into a cafe, I'm not reading your signs or listening to the radio to declare its 11am or whatever. I'm chatting to friends and wrangling my kids. It could be totally innocent.

That’s not what the OP was getting at.

Why didn't you just close if it was genuinely that important to you?

It's not meaningless.
Also nobody said that's all we need to do.
We need to remember, reflect and learn.

Thankyou for the reminder ! I’d forgotten so will aim to be out and back before then as have a 6 year old who won’t comply

I don't talk through funerals, in religious environments or at Remembrance services. None of those things have ever taken place in an Asda though, to my knowledge

Quite

That isn’t quite how meaning works.

This was me for a second last year. I was in a supermarket but was rushing between two child's clubs and had to pick something up quickly. I never pay attention to tannoy announcements as they're generally asking someone to report to customer services or flagging up a license plate which doesn't affect me.

Anyway, was at the checkout and started talking to the cashier without realising! I didn't mean any disrespect, then as soon as I realised I stopped. I think in a supermarket setting that might be quite common because your mind is on something else and you've not kept tabs on the time.

I agree.I had my own business, a sandwich shop/cafe. We had printed signs explaining staff would be observing the silence at 11am and they'd be no service during those 2 minutes. These went up in the week before.
Without fail there would be at least one customer who just didn't get it so every year we would have a similar conversation
Us,informing customers
"Everyone,we'll be observing the 2 minutes in a moment,it's almost 11am"
Customers
"Ooh yes.Tell us when"
we'd have the radio on anyway so I'd give them the time. Silence.
Customer
"I'll have a chicken tikka mayo baguette with mixed salad today please"
Us

"it's the 2 minute silence"
Them
"Oh god yes of course,sorry,sorry." Pause "I'll have red onion as well and a cappuccino,just fancy a cappuccino!"
Every bloody year,a similar thing.
If you can't show respect a couple of times a year,it's a poor show in my opinion.

It's just two minutes to remember billions of sacrificed lives.

I have no wish to encourage or glorify war in any way.

Also we are probably about to desert Ukraine anyway, so that just proves what a meaningless waste of life and money war is.

It probably should be meaningful to everyone though.

Do you talk through funerals? How sad we used to show respect for others feelings if I'm in a religious environment I don't talk through others reflection or prayers. The country decided to honour its dead soldiers even the ones still dying today.

I don't talk through funerals, in religious environments or at Remembrance services. None of those things have ever taken place in an Asda though, to my knowledge.

I would never stop anyone else observing their silence but thankfully we all have the freedom to remember in our own way and in our own time.

I've not worn a poppy or donated since a Royal British Legion poppy seller verbally berated me in the street for saying a polite 'No thank you' when offered a poppy (Because I already had one that year).

Yes I agree.

It is meaningless if that’s all you do.

Theres no point in remembrance without action.

This may not be you. But it’s most people. Especially the ones who are most vocally performative about it.

I would observe it if I happened to be out, because im not a total dick, but i privately think it's a meaningless display of virtue signalling.

I think she chose the wrong way to express it. Unable isn't the correct word. Perhaps 'able but not willing' is better.

True, but I'd argue partaking in the silence is, it almost falls into the ritual category. I don't mean that as any kind of judgment on thosewho choose to participate, but people should also be free to choose not to, otherwise it's not freedom.

No one should be forced or coerced into taking part in a ritual or practice against their will, and the threat of placing people on house arrest if they choose not to participate feels like that to me.

The silence is meaningful to some people and not others. It’s not a legal requirement and some people will not observe it. That’s how it is.