Poppies and FB

[Iamnotagoddess]

Ok this is a really petty gripe - I think.

Firstly it must be said (so as not to drop feed) we are a military family, DH is in the forces.

It really really pisses me off come 1st Nov people on FB who put this bloody ring of Poppies around their profile picture on FB. Them in a bikini with a Poppy etc etc.

Do these people actually buy a Poppy and donate or is this it?

Sheep virtue signalling?

To me it’s crass and shallow and I don’t know a bit inappropriate, duck face with Poppies around it.

I always buy a Poppy broach relevant to my husbands service and I wear it most of the year.

I may be being unreasonable.

It's hypocritical to simultaneously say you want them to respect and remember it but also say they're not allowed to choose how to do so or indeed whether to do so.

Exactly.

The OP chooses to use her coat lapel

Some other people choose to use social media

Different strokes

I currently have my profile picture as my grandad and a poppy. He was a POW on the Burma railway. If one person on my social media asks me about it, then I will be able to keep his story alive and make sure he is remembered.

Does that come across as flippant? Genuine question. I would hope not, I see it as an opportunity to remember.

worra
Whereas I think there is a difference to a point, depending on context.

Someone individually choosing a frame or something with a poppy is neither here nor there to me. I wouldn't assume someone who did a frame once a year hadn't donated etc because that would be unreasonable.

But many of the people I know who do this are also the people who think shares on social media and frames and profile photos are some sort of nice little accessory to show how socially compassionate they are. Their entire approach to charity and remembrance and world affairs is in the tokenism category of appearing compassionate online, jumping cause to cause but actually on talking to them they don't really seem to know or care much about whatever cause is being signalled on their social media pages. For me it's quite a disingenuous form of fakery that almost feels disrespectful.

I choose the Poppy every year, but it and get it delivered to my house.

I remember to put it on whatever top I am wearing that day.

I think about it.

I make sure I am in a place where I can observe the silence.

I don’t spend 50 seconds putting a wreath of Poppies in my FB because it’s trendy and then change it to baubles or a red ribbon on 1st Dec.

I think you are being a bit unreasonable here . As a child of ex military parents I get where your coming from but I actually think using social media is great. Isn't it never forget ? What's it matter if they donate although I agree they should but we always remember?

Lola the same could be said for people who buy and wear poppies in RL.

"nice little accessory to show how socially compassionate they are."

Wearing an actual poppy is no indication that the person knows anything about why.

The only person I know that does this lost her brother in Afghanistan. Should I tell her it's trite?

I choose the Poppy every year, but it and get it delivered to my house.

I remember to put it on whatever top I am wearing that day.

I think about it.

I make sure I am in a place where I can observe the silence.

I don’t spend 50 seconds putting a wreath of Poppies in my FB because it’s trendy and then change it to baubles or a red ribbon on 1st Dec.

And I'm sure that makes you very virtuous OP.

Now why do you think people who have a poppy on their profile pic don't also do that?

Why do you think they might not be as virtuous as you?

How do you know it’s done flippantly op?
It could be done with immense gravity.
Who are b you to police how people remember heroes? You’re making it about you.

Remembrance is an intensely personal thing, and none of your business.

@Iamnotagoddess

Thanks for this thread.

I am going over to my facebook account now - AND my twitter - to put a poppy ring around my profile pic.

I must go tell my niece who's dh served,
My friend who is from a military family
I,will tell them not to mention it on fb as its not the place.
I will also not mention my grandfather who was gassed in the 1st ww
Just incase it upsets the op

iamnitagodess I understand where you are coming from but your complaint should be directed at the RBL. It's their very successful marketing of poppy merchandise and the 'poppy shop' that created this phenomenon.

And also, have you ever been anywhere near the Royal British Legion's Facebook page?

They use it to advertise all of their poppy merchandise and to massively promote the poppy appeal and fundraising in general.

Loads and loads of ex soldiers and their families post on there and they have poppies on their profile pics!

I would imagine SM is a godsend to them because years ago their advertising was very limited, especially to the younger generations.

I am not virtuous.

I just don’t like it.

Clearly if people are doing it because they have lost a loved one it’s completely different isn’t it? We can all see that.

I knew a lad of 21 who died in Afghanistan and some of us post his photo on Nov 11th.

That doesn’t make me right or wrong. It’s just how it makes me feel and I am happy to accept others feel differently.

@Iamnotagoddess

As @WorraLiberty said, why do you assume the people who put poppies on facebook, don't wear a poppy outside, and give to the charity???

Indeed, people who DO put the poppies on their social media, are a bit more likely to give to the charity and wear a poppy outside, than those who don't put anything on social media.

Your comments are very odd, and presumptuous!

Actually, make that ...

'people who DO put the poppies on their social media, are JUST AS likely to give to the charity and wear a poppy outside, than those who don't put anything on social media.' (Not more likely...)

Can't edit my post!!!

I am not virtuous.

I just don’t like it.

Well thank God you don't run the RBL then.

What's the best way of continuing the poppy appeal and seeing that future generations never forget the sacrifices made for them?

Sticking a poppy on your coat and leaving it at that or...

Spreading the word to over 3 billion social media users?

Have a think about it...

worra
It could well be wearing a poppy as a little symbol without thinking. I'm no fan of poppy policing. People should be free to wear or abstain and I wouldn't read into it either way.

But for me the issue is less whether someone does/doesn't do the social media thing for poppies as a single cause, and more a personal gripe with those who seem to take the revolving door of social media compassion signalling for whatever event / charity etc is doing the rounds. So at the moment it's a poppy they're choosing, but in a month's time it'll be another charity, just like when there's pride month people with zero interest in pride suddenly have rainbow filters, or the aftermath of the Paris attacks people had french flags over their profile pictures. To talk to them, they know very little about any of the issues they seem to want to parade on social media. It seems quite crass to me.

I dislike the annual poppy circus and awful jingoistic stuff like festivals of remembrance with gun salutes, military fly lasts etc. There’s nothing solemn nor dignified about it.

I also deplore how the poppy charity and those who publicise the poppy never criticise the government who create the requirement for this charity and do not look after soldiers who have suffered.

It’s awful and I take nothing to do with it.

I think you're going to have to write your how to solemnly remember rules down op - with all the caveats about who can and can't post on Facebook about it.

@StreetwiseHercules

Cool story bro.

My partner is ex military.

We will be at the parade on Sunday.

We all have poppies.

I support him through everything that he is living through as a result.

My fb picture is us both with my DS.

And I have added the poppy frame to my profile picture. So it’s safe to say in my case your views are miles off

That's true Lola but again it's something that's also done in RL.

I work with people who have the latest badge, ribbon and lanyard for all occasions.

My take on it is it raises awareness, no some of them may not have donated but their 'trite' contribution might remind someone else to donate.

There are less and less servicemen who served in WW1 and WW2 these days for young people to know about it.

I don't wear a poppy except on parade on Sunday and on the 11th.