Poppy wearing

[HappyAgainOneDay]

I was in town today and waited for a friend who didn't turn up because she'd forgotten for half an hour. Opposite me in a shopping Mall was a poppy table and two servicemen behind it. I began to look at people passing and was amazed at the huge number of people who were not wearing a poppy. Far more were not sporting a poppy than those who were.

I then realised that those without poppies were mostly on the younger side of the population - say, 40 and younger. Do they not realise what we are remembering? Yes, the poppies represent those who died but the general reason for the charity now is that the funds collected go to service people who've lost limbs or are otherwise disabled. The families of those who never came back are also helped. AIBU for thinking that more should wear a poppy with pride?

In the last few days I have bought bands for each of my family and also a poppy car sticker. The paper poppies are a nightmare hence bands being a much nicer option

We all have them, but I only wore mine on the day DS1 bought it for me (I gave him the money)

If I'd worn it for the last 2 days, it would either have got soaked or blown away.

Maybe some of those people are not from this country to understand the history and meaning?
It shouldn't be an obligation though.

I'm an Army wife and I only wear a poppy at Remembrance-related events. I never wear befor 1st Nov and loathe the kind of rubbish people come out with at this time of year. Supprt the RBL or not, wear a poppy or not, I - and my husband- could not give two hoots about what people do. We choose to donate and to wear a poppy and attend events but I honestly don't care about what other people do. Most of the people spouting stuff like the OP are the sort who ignore the Forces at any other time but buy into the kind of Sun-esque "Our Boys" rubbish - which I also loathe - and probably do little to support the Force other than dropping a pound in a tin once a year.

The beauty of living in a liberal democracy (protected by a professional military) is that we all have choices. I refuse to judge others for their choices and hope they accord me the same respect.

I wear mine with pride but I don't judge. It's up to the individual.

YABU - I have freedom of expression, which is exactly what my grandfathers and great grandfathers fought for, as well as my great uncle who was killed in 1918 on his 19th birthday.

If the money solely went to soldiers who had been conscripted I would happily donate. As it no longer does and I cannot choose where the money goes (i.e. just to the remaining WW2 veterans/conscripts) then I choose not to wear a poppy, not to join in what has become a bit of an hysterical lead-up (too much associated with 'Help for Heroes' IMO) and instead I observe the silence and remember those who sacrificed their lives in WW1 and WW2.

It is more important (again, IMO - you can believe what you like) that we observe personal remembrance and that we change society so that they did not die in vain than it is to donate to the charity and wear a poppy.

I don't wear a poppy, I have my own reasons for not doing so.
But I remember and I respect and honour those who fought in the great wars and the memory of my great grandfathers.
As others have said many far too many died for our right to express ourselves freely.
Incidentally when I refused to buy a poppy the other day, I was asked my reasons, I told the soldiers there them, and they were respectful of my position.

I dont wear a poppy, i dont feel the need to advertise the fact that im toeing the line whe n it comes to poppy wearing.

I donate i just dont wear a poppy

I have one as does DS, he's got a sticker one, not a pin.

I don't wear it all the time, sometimes I change coats of forget to move it.

I'm 25, most people I know wear them.

I don't wear one. I remember those who died in the World Wars, and always make a point of honouring the 11 O'Clock silence etc, but have my own reasons for not wearing a poppy.

I don't think you should judge.

Totally up to everyone to choose to wear one or not, but, as so many others have said, I always buy several one but it might not be on show as I was walking past you - I could have a coat on top, or I could have left it on coat and not be wearing said coat, or I might have lost that one, etc.,etc.

My poppy fell off twenty minutes after I bought it. DD lost hers, too. I have got us a second poppy each, but suspect that they won't last until 11th.

There's a massive AIBU thread on poppies at the moment.....

I don't wear a poppy, my husband wears one for work reasons

I still donate

YABU - it's none of your business.

So far I've got two poppies and a Poppy sticker on baby car seat. Still meant I had to dodge ashamedly past royal legion earlier as we were displaying none!

" (too much associated with 'Help for Heroes' IMO)"

Point of detail: Help4Heroes is nothing whatsoever to do with the Poppy Appeal, and like the other major charities associated with the military, stops its main fundraising during the RBL Poppy campaign.

like Rufus I don't wear but I do donate

Yes, I meant to add that some poppies might be on coats not in use today but I forgot. I was at a bus stop later and someone there said that her poppy was on another coat because she needed a warmer one today and she forgot to transfer the poppy. Before I'm castigated, I did not bring up the subject. We had started to talk about the cold wind.

My initial post wasn't about shaming people either. I just wondered if younger people are not as interested in the reason for the poppies as others were.

My dds have wristbands. They're 18. They don't always have them on show.

All the blingy poppies that cost more - I think you'll find only a small percentage of the money goes to the BL.

It's the paper poppies that provide employment and most funds for ex-service personnel.

Lots of teens here wear the wristband

Mostly cos pins are banned at school

I just get so fucking fed up with these threads. Wear a poppy or don't, but spare me the fucking grandstanding.

My parents lived through WWII. My father fought and my mother served on the home front.

They never wore poppies. My maternal grandfather, who died before I was born, served in the merchant marine in WWI and was torpedoed twice and was rescued from drowning and still she didn't feel the need to wear a poppy. I don't know about my father's side in WW1 because he never talked about it.

That is not to say that others shouldn't talk. But it wasn't his choice. He never talked about his own experiences either.

I always wear a poppy, but that's my decision. Every November I'd wear one and my mother wouldn't bother.

Do you think I should judge her OP? Because I think that would be grotesque.

If it didn't matter to people who lived through it, why does it bother you so much?

I don't care who does or does not wear a poppy. But I do wish that those who do would wear it on the left hand side. Which is petty I know but it really annoys me.

My two DSs wear wristbands. I bought a poppy but it's in the bottom of my handbag. I don't care what anyone else does TBH.

Why does everyone get so het up about them?