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.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe

That's a really good post.

"It's so rude to say that the families of the 22 having a minute's silence are performing a wanky ritual."
Nobody has actually said that. They were at a private ceremony, not at an office with a bunch of people unaffected who have had their own bereavements but don't expect a minutes silence for them.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe
Well put. I agree.

I find the public displays of grief over the top and it's for people to choose if and how they reflect. I do the silence for armistice and we do a silence in school during the week which is powerful.
Personally, I would feel awkward talking in a minute silence, but equally I find the holier than thou competitive grievers really quite annoying because they almost always think their way of signalling grief is the only correct way and anyone who doesn't do what they think is a wanker who is insensitive and has essentially graffitied on the graves of victims (and other such hyperbole).

@Litchie the op is affected.

Excellent post, Lying. I’m not keen on mass public grief for this, that and the other, and I’m not keen on forced ways of doing it - like public figures having to wear poppies. Though there’s omethinf about Corbyn on Remembrance Day that really fucks me off, so probably not entirely logical with that!

@hollowvictory, that may be the case, although I don't think its to any of the 22 (correct me if I'm wrong OP?) but that doesn't mean her office of 100 people were,and doesn't mean they have to act the same as her.

There is a beautiful song on YouTube called "Pittance of Time". It was written in response to an incident observed by the composer on Remembrance Day (November 11 in Canada).

Yes she said she had loved ones among the 22, so it must be pretty hard when colleagues are rude enough to be on the phone during a silence.

There were numerous people in the office affected. I think it's great that people can show grief and reflection in many different ways and that they have the freedom to do that, just didn't see the harm in the others joining in really. Especially when people in the rooms family members died.

Its interesting that some posters observe it for Armitace but not for anything else.

Why is that?

Because the armistice were giving thanks to those that served not 22 who died in a tragic event.

We don’t have a minutes silence for every plane crash. Just as an example.

Having a minutes silence willy nilly which is happening more and more devalues the one that means something.

Although I am getting more meh about armistice with the compulsory almost poppy wearing. It should be a choice not forced on you

I agree with Imoen

Armistice is a completely different thing. I’m amazed anyone could even ask that tbh.

As long as they are aware of it, it is the least they can do. It's not long .

You’re amazed? It was just a question!

Thanks @Imoen

Because armistice is recognising people who gave their lives for our freedom.

I feel strongly about forced poppy wearing too. It's a personal choice and anyone who clutches pearls and enjoys getting on their high horse over people not wearing one annoy me. It's all about being outraged to prove how they're a better person than others.

There are plenty of reasons why a person might refuse to observe the silence, and some of them are to do with the fact that it's quite arbitrary whose grief is 'important' enough for strangers to be pressured to acknowledge it and participate in it.
If you have suffered a loss that was awful and harrowing and utterly devastating but you and the person you lost weren't or aren't considered 'newsworthy' enough to get charity records made for you, or 'official' commemorations, or random bucketheads posting misspelt poetry and pictures of badly photoshopped candles along with their thoughts and prayers on facebook, you might find yourself feeling angry and resentful when some officious little tit tries to tell you that 'everyone' shares the pain of those who were bereaved in a 'bigger' incident.
OP is coming across as a bit of a grief tourist, TBH. Not close enough to any of the victims to go to the official service for the bereaved, not taking the day off work because her distress is overwhelming but expecting all her colleagues to pay attention to her and behave just like she does because, well, by the sound of it, she might have once met one of the victims at a bus stop or something and therefore she is part of the whole thing.

Armistice is about taking a moment to give thanks and pay tribute to the millions of people have given their lives to protect the rest of us and our way of life in the two world wars and other conflicts. What they did directly affects all of us. They showed superhuman bravery and selflessness. The world wars were catastrophes on a global scale and we should always be reminded of that. Our leaders should be reminded of that.

The poor people killed in Manchester were the victims of a tragic attack, which was horrific and remains a terrible loss to those who knew them.

Also, having a minutes silence for a terrorist attack is almost giving the terrorists more publicity than they need.

Isis can rub their hands to say yes we’re affecting them. Which will just give them encouragement.

Best thing is to say, fuck you and carry on

Wow as I am being called a grief tourist over this. Saying that I "once met one of the victims at a bus stop" what the actual fuck? The service was for pretty much immediate family, which I am not. I am not going to justify my relationship to any of the victims because I find that so weird. People need to think about what they're saying and how it might hurt someone.
How did I ever expect my colleagues to pay attention to me? I didn't speak to anyone all day about the anniversary and only observed the silence alongside my other colleagues. I just noticed that some other colleagues didn't join in and I found that odd given that it was only 60 seconds and a few their colleagues had been greatly effected by what had happened.
To call me a grief tourist and accuse me of not knowing any victims is actually fucking vile.

I completely understand the points about thinking a minute's silence is not the best way to observe, but at the same time I do think that if everyone else is doing one you do join in. Not saying anyone should be forced and it is their right to what they want, but even if I didn't care about the cause I would just shut up for a minute and not draw attention to myself.

@mbosnz are you for real? 22 innocent people died, and you think it’s unnecessary? What happens every year when hillsborough comes around? You don’t hear the last of that do you after how ever many years!

As well the point about not having a minute's silence because that means the terrorists have won, I don't agree with.
I know what you mean as in let's not go on about the attack, for example don't mention the attackers name or post his pictures anywhere etc, but I do think it's important to remember how this city suffered and still continues to suffer, and remember the victims.

OP why don't you turn off MN, make a cuppa or a glass of wine and just concentrate on how you feel and not worry about what anyone else has done/not done or said.

But why? Because what isis wants is for the city and victims to suffer.

The more we have public displays of grief the more we give them what they want.