About minute silences at work

[onesupplied]

We had a one minute silence today to recognise the Grenfell tragedy.

We all received an email well in advance about this. Our office manager sets off an alarm at 11am and when the silence is over. We've (sadly) done this a couple of times now in the past month.

There still remain a few colleagues who seem to take no notice. Although not talking they're typing, clicking, scrolling, shuffling papers.

AIBU to think that this is bloody disrespectful and that everyone can afford to take one minute out of their day?

So you spent the minute that was for paying respect raging at what other people were doing? Shame on you.

They were making a noise on the outside. You were making a noise on the inside. What makes you feel you are better than them??

Yes, ThanksMsMay, I did. It wasn't about "forcing her to pay her respects", that was her own affair, it was about her shutting up as my kids were looking bemused at her giggling away at full throttle.It wasn't my business, but I did it anyway.

since when is it the business of others to parent for you? She should shut up so your kids don't giggle?

And this is all because we should be respecting a silence which you freely admit you broke to telll someone else off, and risked causing an argument during the silence that was so important.

^this is exactly what everyone means about virtue signalling.

Enforced grieving smacks of the "three minutes hate" to me.

I've cried buckets about Grenfell. On my own.

I think about the fallen of WWI. I named my son after a family member who died at the front aged 15.
If I don't observe a silence at the prescribed time, it's not because I don't care.

People died in WWII fighting governments that told the populace what to think and feel. I remember them often. I'll not feel bad for remembering in my own way.

I clearly said I tapped her on the shoulder, I didn't tell her off
And no, my kids weren't giggling along with her, they were slightly bewildered at hearing the announcement that we'd be having a minutes silence and then having to listen to madam honking like a goose in an otherwise silent carriage.
It wasn't you, MsMay, was it? You seem to have such an issue with it.

You had no business doing that, Floggingmolly, none at all. I would certainly have had an issue with you doing that to me.

Tough...

Floggingmolly you completely demonstrate the reason that a minutes silence turns into a minute of pretending that you are being silent and paying respect. But actually raging away inside at what other people are doing. And then actually telling them what they should be doing. And being a fucking righteous cow.

Instead of paying your respects.

A fucking self righteous cow?

Today 19:16 Purplepotatoe

I think it's up to people to decide whether they want to observe a silence or not.

^ this

I think people like to, and should be able to, decide in their own way how to pay their respects. As long as they were being quiet if others were taking part.

Agreed.

Sounds about right. Don't touch other people.

The more there are the less meaning they have. They shouldn't be compulsory, if you want to pause to reflect go ahead but it sounds like a lot just sit there seething about those that don't agree with them. You shouldn't be put off by somebody else making some noise.

I work in a call centre type setting. The calls we take can be as long as 20-30 minutes involving detailed information, emotional situations and payment processing (which can be time consuming). It is hard to pause a conversation, and not all the customers are happy to have to wait. However, we all know that other people in the office are trying their best so there is a bit of leeway given to people in the middle of dealing with a tricky phone call.

I disagree with these minutes of silence. Ok on 11/11 - a huge number of people died in the wars and it is a chance to reflect on the whole issue of war and death. But not for terrorist crimes or fires. It doesn't mean these events are not tragic or terrible but so is every unnecessary death, every murder, every fatal car accident, so are the deaths of the poor folk fleeing the forest fires in Portugal, or people massacred in Syria. The enforced grief for some deaths must surely diminish others? As some else suggested, it is almost virtue signalling, making a public sport out of grief. Or is it that in a secular society people no longer know how they should respond to death?

I really hate enforced public mourning. Honestly, I will show my respect in a way that means something to me and it doesn't involve silence and it doesn't extend to a minute.

So glad I missed todays.

I wouldn't deliberately interrupt others or make a noise, but my goodness it annoys me.

I would find it very odd indeed to be in a shop and be expected to stand still for a minute to pay "respect" (why?) to people I didn't know and who didn't know me. They died a tragic and horrific death. I have thought about it a lot. It's very, very disturbing. But I can't see any reason at all for a minute's silence. What's it for? Until an inquest shows different, Grenfell was a tragic accident.

I feel 11/11 is different. It's marking history and it's very meaningful. We are remembering something that changed all our lives and the world. It speaks to all our humanity. The silence unites us. Just my personal opinion. I wouldn't force it on others.

But I wonder how many people have to die in an incident for there to be "respect due"? A car crash killing 4? A botched burglary killing 2? An outbreak of swine flu killing 15?
Is it about the numbers? Or the newsworthiness?

Used to think that people who objected to these silences and wouldn't observe them as miserable old gits. Now I totally get it. Maybe it means I am now an old git but I really object to being pressured to conform to this. We all show our respect and acknowledge these tragedies in different ways. Participation should be voluntary and preferably in a private place.
All this po-faced, contrived public demonstration of respect feels quite false. I have been shocked and upset by all the recent events and tried to fade it in a useful / supportive way. I just don't get this 1 minute silence thing.

I agree completely with the last few posters but does this mean only miserable old gits are up so late?

Clicking on keyboards or scrolling a mouse is not noisy. Unless your are an officious type who demands forced compliance. Answering the phone would be rude and I would put my phone on silence. But a minutes silence is for personal reflection on the issue being contemplated not a mental, silent group hug type thing.

I would do it at events where someone/thing is being remembered or I am in or near the community affected. Otherwise I would not talk but I would not stop what I am doing.

To demand I do otherwise is disrespectful to me.

Also, I think this competitive silencing that the OP wants started with the death of Diana. That massive overeaction changed everything.

You don't have to stop what you're doing to share a thought.

I was moving the sheep and lambs that had just been clipped back to their field. The lambs don't recognize their mums for a couple of hours so it definitely wasn't quiet and there's no way you can just stop for a minute.

I don't think a minute's silence is a remotely appropriate or relevant response to the worst case of institutional manslaughter in decades.

Nor do I. It's a completely useless gesture that allows people to feel that they have 'done something' while actually doing nothing.

People should be angry, not silent.

Ye gods, there was another two minute silence in the UK?

Come on please. There's not a war on. And while everyone should pity and help the victims of bombings and accidents, the arm-bands, two-minute silences and enforced emoting of public figures on Twitter is strange. It looks more like indulging feelings than showing genuine sympathy.

What happened to the British stiff upper lip?

But surely if they aren't speaking, they are observing the silence?