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?

[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.

[whathasthecatdonenow]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[BrianGiggs]

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

[BrianGiggs]

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

[EdgarAllanPond]

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

[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.

[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

[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.

[SmellsLikeTeenStrop]

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