To think that it's not hard to take a minute's silence?

[justwonderingtbh]

I work in Manchester. Today was the second anniversary of the attack, which is always going to be a sad day.
I work in an office call centre environment and everyone was briefed about a minute's silence that would be taking place at 2:30. Was told to not take calls after 25 past etc.
It came to half past and a bell was chimed for the silence, I was the only person who stood up for the silence which didn't bother me much but I did think that's the done thing. Also there were people still on their calls! More bothered about making a sale than remembering the 22!
Yes I understand that these people are just trying to hit their commission but just call the customer back afterwards. It has really angered me.

and those 5 have the right to do that. You cannot force this kind of thing on others.

I do get the point about the seperate room,but that wouldn't have been possible because almost everybody didn't see a problem in being quiet for a minute whilst people reflected. So we wouldn't have fitted in in another room.

but almost isn't everyone.

There was not another room big enough to hold the majority of the sales floor. Even though it was almost and not everyone.

I do mean this kindly but let it go and focus on the fact you observed the silence.

Then I'm afraid that this was always going to be the case.

@bellinisurge - so you're basically claiming that the magnitude of the difference between WWI and the Manchester bombing is so vast that comparing them is ridiculous, right?

Well, that's exactly my point. The idea of a public silence was introduced in the UK in 1919 for Armistice Day, for remembrance of the war dead, and that's exactly why I'm uncomfortable with using the same thing to commemorate something so massively different.

Seriously @ThePants999 , you want to play top trumps on this? Really odd.

Considering the Manchester event occured at a concert, a minute’s silence was ridiculously inappropriate. Manchester council should have hosted a music event in the park and honoured those victims properly

If they didn't answer and I lost the sale, then so be it. There'll be other sales, I think it's monumentally disrespectful to people affected to ignore the silence just because you want to hit you commision

I get where you are coming from from a respect angle, but you don't know people's finances and how hard up they are so you can't really say so be it to lost money for everyone else.

I think a music event in the park would've been a fantastic idea too.
However the reason for the silence was because last year there was a larger focus whereas this year a private event for families was deemed more appropriate and personal. So businesses in Manchester took a silence at the same time as they did during their service at the cathedral as a small nod to show solidarity with them.

* I just think if everyone around you is doing one then it's courteous to stay silent too *

So if you want to do a minutes silence you are forcing those around you to do so as well since being courteous and staying silent means they are de facto observing the silence.

Which for many reasons they may not want to do.

You can't dictate how people grieve.

I was in A&E when they had a minute's silence yesterday. Granted, I wasn't in resus (I doubt anyone stopped for a minute from trying to restart someone's heart), but it was very busy and noisy. Dead silent for a minute, though. Everyone managed to pause.

It’s still very raw here in Manchester, thousands of people were affected not just the 22 who died. I had friends who were there that night and I don’t think it’s something you ever get over.
It was also the anniversary of Lee Rigbys death and he was from Manchester too.

I always respect memorial silences. As to the people who don't, I rationalize them away on the basis that if it were made compulsory it would lose all meaning.

Whilst I think those who ignore it are rude, they are simply exercising the freedom we enjoy in our society, that same freedom that those behind the attack seek to undermine. In their own way they're sticking it up the terrorists as well, even if they don't realize it.

Op did you request to go to the service? Would your company not have given you the day off?

It was a small service for the families of the 22 as I have said.

Ah you said you lost loved ones, so I thought relatives or friends

I think there may well be people who think that a more appropriate way to acknowledge the victims of this particular incident would be to play one of Ariana Grande's records really loudly. And there are are also people who think that going about your daily life, unafraid, without feeling the need to take a tour in other people's misery or show off how special you and your Important Feelings are, is an equally good way to refuse to let terrorists win.

But it's worth remembering that there is nothing that 'unites everyone.' And any attempt to coerce people into not just behaving in a particular way (observing some or other stupid wanky ritual) but feeling a certain way is toxic, and to be mocked and resisted.
There are going to be people even in Manchester who would have more pressing concerns at present than a memorial to dead strangers. People with a premature baby in ICU, people sitting at a loved one's deathbed, people getting engaged or married... or just people worried that they are going to lose their home, or that their DC's funny symptoms are an indication of something life-threatening. It's perfectly all right to have your own concerns and be more invested in those than in performative grief rituals to placate wankers and grief tourists. (The actual bereaved are not interested in you if they don't know you.)

It's so rude to say that the families of the 22 having a minute's silence are performing a wanky ritual.
These people weren't sat at a love ones deathbed, they were just sat in the office I really don't get your point.
I agree that many people would love to play an Ariana Grande song as tribute and think that would be a terrific idea, I just also think that if the whole office is joining the families of the 22 in a minute's silence then I just didn't see a reason why someone would object so much to joining in. I now understand that a lot of people really love to refuse.

That is very rude esp as the op is bereaved. Inappropriate.

I now understand that a lot of people really love to refuse

That's not true at all and if you read back at the replies you will see people have explained why.

I don’t get how you weren’t at the service If you lost loved ones in the attack.

But anyway, I wouldn’t waste time worrying about what others do and don’t take part it.

Grieve how you need to. Not everyone will feel the same.

I’ve never really understood the minutes silence thing. And I’ve never heard of standing for them! But I wouldn’t go out of my way to make noise during one!

OP, your company backed this so you had the right to be silent. Those who didn't want to, didn't have to. Yes, it would have been nicer for you if they had but they didn't.

The only silence I participate in is Armistice. That's what it was intended for and observation is widespread although some people choose not to observe. That's fine too. When I observe, I'm tuned out of everybody else around me and I'm not interested or aware of them.

People have adopted The Silence for all manner of causes and it's become a bit meaningless for many because of that. Which deaths deserve observed silence? Same with those flower 'rosettes' for whatever cause. Most people don't even know what they are.

I wouldn't term it as 'grief wanking' because that's just intended to wound but by the same token, it is ostentatious and it makes me cringe. Do what you want - leave others to do the same.

We're all bereaved at some point. Just something to consider.