To dislike the 'bling' poppies that celebrities have started wearing?

[filetheflightoffancy]

I was watching Strictly Come Dancing last night and noticed that pretty much all of the dancers and judges (apart from Len Goodman) were wearing these poppy brooches that are made with crystals and are all sparkly.

Now, I guess you could say that it is good that they are wearing a poppy in any form - I dont know, but am assuming that donations from the sparkly poppies still go to the RBL?

But I just think it goes against the whole point of the poppy. It is supposed to be a humble reminder of those who died for our freedom. But it is as if these celebrities have decided that the regular paper poppies are just too 'boring' and need something more blingy to show just hooooooow respectful they are. Its just all a bit 'look at meeeeeeeee and my sparkly poppy!' They have turned to poppy into a fashion accessory and I just think it is wrong.

I havent articulated myself all that well in this post, but AIBU?

[SmellsLikeTeenStrop]

As long as all proceeds go to the RBL I don't particularly care.

[RubyGates]

Didn't they used to do "silk" poppies that lasted more than half-an-hour before they rolled up and looked hideous?
I'm sure they did. I've bought a poppy and a wristband this year, but I'd really like something that looks respectable for the full time I'm wearing it.

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

My 6 year old proudly told me that I didn't need to buy him a poppy this year as he still had last years in his 'treasure box' he's put it away again for next year. Not sure how he's managed it, as like everyone else I get through a few per year

[happylass]

I have a sparkly poppy brooch that I bought from the Royal British Legion website, costing about £20. The main reason being that I found that the paper poppies were constantly falling off and I was then left without one. I'm guessing the whole £20 goes to the RBL and is a lot more than I would spend in a good few years on paper poppieS. Plus I bought a paper poppy this year as well as wanted to make a donation. So definitely not a fashion accessory. Helping out a very good cause IMO.

[EdgarAllanPond]

.. or maybe, some people like shiny things more..

[BrianGiggs]

I liked the egality and simplicity of the paper one. And I suppose it's ephemeral nature.

[BrianGiggs]

I think it's symbolic of the ostentatious "I'm remembering more than you" by showing off.

[greenbananas]

whathasthecatdonenow - I've just looked at the 'poppy shop' on the Royal British Legion website, and the RBL alternative poppies are very close to the orginal shape of the standard poppies, just more indestructible. I do think those RBL poppies are a far cry from the overstated, big and blingy alternative poppies that I've seen some celebrities wearing over the last couple of weeks.

[greenbananas]

Is it disrespectful if the Royal British Legion are the ones doing the 'messing about' with the symbol?

Well, yes, I think it is bit of a shame, although I do respect their decision and I'm sure they thought long and hard about it. If they didn't produce these 'alternative' poppies then somebody else would (maybe only donating a token 10% of the profits) and it's hardly fair to blame the RBL for making sure they get as much of the money as possible.

[Mynewmoniker]

Actually that's not quite the extent of it as I teared up when I bought it a month ago on the day my cousin left for Iraq. LFC

I also have someone close going over shortly. I still think it's bling for the sake of it.

[whathasthecatdonenow]

Is it disrespectful if the Royal British Legion are the ones doing the 'messing about' with the symbol?

[greenbananas]

OP, I agree with you wholeheartedly (although I can also see the point about donations being valid whatever the poppy looks like).

The ordinary lapel style poppy is a very powerful symbol, and to me it seems disrespectful to mess about with that symbol. Wearing a cheap-looking and unfashionable paper poppy is not much of a sacrifice, compared to the sacrifice those WW1 soldiers made for us - and of course all the other soldiers since that time.

[kissyfur]

I bought a crystal one from the RBL shop last year, but I still buy paper ones for DP and DD, and will do every year

[filetheflightoffancy]

Yes, I think thats it Lily and Reshape, the paper poppy used to be a simple, universal thing, everyone wore the same one whether they were celebrity, politician or Joe Bloggs. Now there is almost an element of 'my poppy is better than your poppy'.

McChristmas you make a good point that there probably are implications with all that wasted paper and plastic. But I think that there should still just be one Poppy, albeit perhaps a more environmentally friendly you, that everyone wears and pays for with a donation.

My opinion is quite invalid really though, as the RBL obviously are all for selling the blingy ones.

[Tiggygirl]

I think they are a fab idea and plan on buying one for next year.I hate the fact that I constantly lose the paper ones and prefer to know that they are going to stay put .I plan to donate money every year regardless ,so I don't agree that it will affect donations .

[McChristmasPants2012]

I wonder how many trees are used to make the thousands of poppies that end up in landfill and the plastic bits in the middle how much pollution is emitted when making theses parts.

I try to reuse, reduce and recycle as much as I can, so a poppy that last from my pov is more Eco friendly

[LilyVonSchtupp]

Hi LFC - I'm not putting any assumptions on you. I didn't mention you at all. I think there should be one poppy for everyone and people donate according to what they can afford. I agree with you and think this poppy should last longer and be more environmentally / wildlife friendly. But it should be one poppy for all.

However, there would clearly be a cost-benefit to RBL on having 'bling' poppies so I am aware I'm out of touch on this.

[BinksToEnlightenment]

It's not possible for the whole price of a poppy to go to the charity. Even it's made of paper, it has still cost money to make it. You have to pay for the time and the materials before the donation.

[LFCisTarkaDahl]

Actually that's not quite the extent of it as I teared up when I bought it a month ago on the day my cousin left for Iraq.

But let's not let reality get in the way of having a go at what you think is a 'fashion statement'.

[LFCisTarkaDahl]

But I am not making a statement, I am not advertising my 'benevolence'' - those are assumptions you are putting on me.

In my head I'm buying something not disposable and that's the extent of it.

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

I agree with those who say it shouldn't become a fashion statement. I always liked the essential leveller of poppy-wearing - the prime minister, your teacher, the vicar, some sleb on tv and you would all be wearing the same cheap paper poppy. The message was kept simple and there was no implication that all poppies were equal but some were more equal than others. I also dislike the opportunity for ostentation - that if you're wearing the £24.99 bling one from the RBL site rather than one bought for an unspecified donation, it's quite clear how much you've spent.

(on the other hand, I wore an AIDS ribbon for about an entire decade (and not sure why I don't still wear one) and sometimes it was a ribbon one, sometimes it was an enamel one, and for a while it was a lovely one woven from beads by HIV sufferers in Kenya. It fell off though.)

[LilyVonSchtupp]

Sorry I missed a senstence off the 3rd para. Should read: - "it's not about advertising how benevolent you are but about getting donations to service families and veterans."

[LilyVonSchtupp]

I agree with you OP. YANBU.

"More money goes to the charity" argument would make more sense if everyday poppies weren't bought by DONATION. i.e. YOU choose how much to put in.

I also agree with Mynewmoniker - I don't think the poppy should be turned into a statement about the wearer. If the old poppy does get lost or broken, so what - it's

I think the simplicity of the poppy and its uniformity is symbolic. Everyone wore the paper and plastic poppy regardless of wealth, age, ability and background. Wearing the poppy gave us something in common. I think 'brand diversification' goes against the spirit of remembrance and of uniting us all in a simple act that remains the same year in year out.

And if I sound both pretentious and an old duffer I don't care :)

[EdgarAllanPond]

maybe they are more charitable than you?

or maybe they like shiny things more.

[akaemmafrost]

I don't think there's anything wrong with them. I am going to get one but will still donate each year. Going to get the dc wrist bands as well as their poppies fall off in minutes without fail.