Very few people wearing poppies this year?

[YippieKayakOtherBuckets]

Anyone else noticed this?

I was in some very busy parts of London today and saw maybe half a dozen people wearing poppies in total. I’m watching Question Time now; the panel are all wearing poppies (the Plaid Cymru representative is wearing a red and a white poppy side-by-side) and at a glance I’d say less than a quarter of people are wearing them.

Is this primarily because of Gaza or did the trend start a while ago? Are people who used to wear poppies now choosing not to? I know this probably sounds very journalisty but I’m not, I promise. I’m really struck by what feels like a dramatic cultural shift in the last ten years or so.

Same although ive not actually seen anyone selling to buy from anyway. I do tend to have a knitted one i get out the draw each year and would donate cash if i had some in my purse into the collection box

Was at Sloane Square last week and they charged me £5 for an enamel pin one. I didn't want to appear stingy but thought if it was London prices! I promptly lost it before I came home at the weekend so borrowed my husband's.

Yes, it’s only the paper poppies which are any donation, even only a penny. All the other stuff has a minimum price

Before what happened in Israel/Palestine it was reported that there would be fewer poppy selling outlets this year (don't remember the reason tbh) Everything has now been whipped up on sm because of the conflict and now its news.

Don't judge. I donated but didn't take one.

As I have repeatedly clarified on this thread, I have not and would not judge anyone for wearing a poppy or not. I don’t think a single person has said that they would.

I think when you have no connection to anyone who was involved in either of the world wars and have never been in a position where you have been conscripted into the army it is difficult to understand the original sentiment behind poppies and they are seen as irrelevant and, to some, glorifying war.

Surely this is a good reason to wear one... so that we don't forget the original sentiment behind them, so we don't forget the sacrifices of two world wars

It's really not that hard to understand is it

I've only seen older people wear one, other than our family. All four of my children are wearing one.

My DD13 got a lot of flak for wearing one this week, some of the other kids coming up to her saying it represents genocide

No it hasn’t. Where does this crap come from?

I agree, but also I never carry cash anymore and hardly see Poppy sellers, or get to many shops that sell them, I work full time and my food shop is delivered. I have however bought a Poppy broach from the official online store, but it is very small and you could miss it easily. I do attend Remembrance Service at my local church.

apparently there are new paper poppies, I love the green element, but I hear they’re rubbish and fall off.

That’s an interesting point about the big displays taking away the importance of a smaller gesture

DH has certainly lost two of the new ones already, and the third (which still survives) is one of the old-style plastic stem ones that a seller he came across still had.

I've largely given up on actual poppies (but would get one if going to a formal event) and instead re-wear a wristband

I don't know how much difference it makes, but these days as well as poppies you can buy wristbands, zip tags etc...many people could be wearing one of the little wristbands instead and you wouldn't necessarily see it. I always lose a poppy within about a day of buying it so prefer a wristband, always think the main thing the making of a donation

I've donated at a stall and the kids have bought merchandise at school but I've not bothered to get my own poppy to wear - dont feel I need to tbh
I've given to the cause why do I need to tell the world?

I bought a poppy this year and put it straight on my jacket

the turn in weather meant I swapped my jacket today for a bigger coat, I think it’s more the case of people have more coats/jackets than years ago

I wear a poppy wreath broach all year round it was a gift for being a bridesmaid at my mum step dad's wedding. My step dad will be on parade on Sunday ex army now RBL member. My grandad was raf. My great grandad served in ww2 and lost his leg. My uncle ,cousin and friend all served together in Afghanistan in 2009 my cousin was injured and lance corporal James hill was killed my uncle suffers from PTSD
I can only speak for myself I wear my poppy with pride and will continue to do so.

I usually wear one, but this year it seems to have sneaked up on me, to be honest. I just have not see as many for sale either, which I guess has not prompted me to get one.

I have an enamel brooch but I keep forgetting to put it on.

While I think the ‘poppy police’ situation with regard to broadcasters is bonkers, I think you are very, very unusual to be your age and not know anyone who has ever worn a poppy.

If it has (and I don’t think it has, except on Facebook) it’s because non-far fight people aren’t donating.
@ArseInTheCoOpWindow its not promoting war at all. It’s remembering those who died in war. Almost the exact opposite as far as I can see

What’s it to do with the school? Cadets wear uniform because it’s a tradition to do so. The school haven’t instructed them to in any way. It was a thing when I was in school in the 1970s.

They have though. Several posters have said wearers are extreme right wing/pushing young people into military service.

I've got one - in fact I've bought two, a paper one which I lost the same day and then a pin badge. I got them at central London tube stations on my commute, paid contactless. But I wear it on my clothes rather than my coat so you wouldn't see it out and about!

I do feel like now there is no one I know left alive who fought in WW2, let alone WW1, the collective memory is fading a little.

On the BBC poppy wearing Is compulsory from end of October to Armistice I used to have to wear one at work and there was a hoo-ha when I chose to wear a white one too I wore one for years I now choose not to because I can Not seen any to purchase this year in my area

Hardly anyone is wearing one in our town which has made me very sad. 5-10 years ago lots did and now very few indeed. Ive had one (sometimes more than one - bag, coat, t shirt so three potentially but never all visible at once) all week.
Does it matter........... well yes obviously. "Lest we forget" - judging by the visible lack of people wearing poppies, people have forgotten.

My great grandmothers brother died at the Somme so I wear one to remember him but also anyone throughout history who had/has the courage I most certainly have not.