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.

[Jiggeriepokerie]

My FB profile picture has poppies on it at this time of year. I make no apology for it and my husband, who is still serving after 30 years and many, many tours doesn't consider it virtue signalling. So I'll carry on doing it and buy the poppy just in time for the service on Sunday.

I personally think that as a family we've more than done our bit and we can do 'remembrance' however we please.

[WorraLiberty]

I've also seen FB profile frames where when you click on them, they give a link to donate to the RBL.

So that's also a positive thing.

[LolaSmiles]

I don't see that as much offline, but that would annoy me too worra.
I don't like the ethos of drawing attention to tokenistic charitable issues. It seems to be all about the person taking a cause or issue that matters deeply to many and turning into a cheap badge of "look I'm a good person".

So someone wearing a badge for an autism / animal / children's/ cancer charity or sharing things for the charity online wouldn't bother me at all because we all have our causes, but someone who was always jumping around every 5 seconds between causes etc without really taking time to pay attention to any of them would annoy me.

[Pinkblueberry]

I have plenty people on my FB with the poppy profile pic - including my DH who used to be in the forces. I haven’t seen anyone with a duck face or bikini pic doing this - I don’t follow people like that. I think you need to go through your list and unfriend some people. They must do other things to annoy you too.

[PositiveVibez]

But your OP is virtue signalling.

You're saying 'listen to me. I use the poppy in the correct manner. People should be like me because I am respectful. I chose to marry someone who has sacrificed so much, therefore, only I understand the solemnity of it all. I know how to do rememberance the best'

[1Morewineplease]

I so agree with you @LolaSmiles

[WorraLiberty]

People jumping around between causes is annoying but even then, as long as they actually donating, it's all good in my eyes.

Donating and spreading awareness is what it's all about and the internet is the very best place to do that imo.

[Pinkblueberry]

Both my DF and DH were in the forces up until recently and I have two other family members who are still in. I don’t judge others for how they choose to commemorate and celebrate remembrance. There’s something slightly sad about some army spouses/family members who think they are the only ones and somehow special compared to the rest and are therefore in a position to judge others and tell them what’s right or wrong ... reading the rest of this thread I think you OP are quite the virtue signaller yourself.

[PurpleDaisies]

Interesting that poppy shaming has now spread from people not wearing poppies to displaying them inappropriately. So much for fighting for our freedom.

I don’t wear a poppy because of this.

[Iamnotagoddess]

I hate the “spreading awareness”.

We need to spread awareness of WW1 and WW2?

We need to spread awareness of Breast Cancer, Autism, Mental Health ffs all these things are shoved done our throats at the moment.

Brace the Shave is awful, my friend who did eventually die of cancer fucking hated it.

It’s everything Lolasmiles says but so much better than I do.

[Passthecherrycoke]

Poppies aren’t trendy

[Iamnotagoddess]

I don’t have an issue with the frames. If they actually mean something.

I do have an issue with the cause jumping - that’s what pisses me off.

[WorraLiberty]

We need to spread awareness of WW1 and WW2?

Christ almighty, yes of course we do!

We need to spread awareness to younger, future generations and social media is not only the best way to do that but also the best way to get instant payments/donations, as the RBL will testify.

'Lest we forget'.

I'm glad you're not in charge of these things OP because with your attitude, future generations would see nothing but the odd person knocking about the streets with a crumpled up paper poppy on their coat.

It's 2019 and there is nothing inappropriate about using social media, as long as people are donating and spreading awareness.

[Cocolapew]

I have poppies on my profile picture.
I buy and wear a poppie every year.
I go to the service at our Cenotaph.
I observe the silence no matter when I am.
My cover photo is my Dad sitting on rocks behind a machine gun in the Falklands.
But obviously you do solemn remberance so much better. Good for you

[Sirzy]

There was a discussion on good morning Britain this week about whether it was right to teach about Ww1 and ww2 in schools. It is the generation in schools who are the lost important generation to teach because they are the first generation who will likely have no living links to the wars. We need to make sure these things are discussed so what happened is never forgotten

[WorraLiberty]

I do have an issue with the cause jumping - that’s what pisses me off.

How do you know people are 'cause jumping' though?

Have you not read any of the posts on this thread from people who have lost loved ones, or are related to people in the services?

And how is wearing a poppy in RL not also 'cause jumping' to you?

[Iamnotagoddess]

I was being incredulous when I said do we need to spread awareness of WW1 and WWW2. Of course we have to.

Don’t be so fucking naive, of course people “cause jump”.

[Blistory]

I don't wear a poppy because I don't wish to donate to the RBL.

For me, it's about honouring those who sacrificed by remembering them and being grateful for what they did. I honour them by talking about what happened and ensuring that the next generation understands why we work together to avoid conflict where possible.

I take time to think about the bravery, the suffering, the misery, the pain, the determination and the human spirit and give thanks that my generation has largely been protected from the horror of war because of the courage of those who went before. And I remember also that war still happens and that people still sacrifice themselves for others and I include them in my thanks and rememberance.

If someone want to poppify their image, so what ? It just provides us all with another prompt to remember. Isn't that what it's about ? It's not about money or charity. It's about remembering and being thankful.

[Sirzy]

But if the cause jumping means they are giving some time to think about that cause, a charity is benefiting from the money they donate and they are spreading awareness to others is that really a bad thing anyway?

Or are you saying people need to stick to one cause and only ever mention or donate to them? In which case the whole concept of Remembrance Sunday becomes defunct

[Iamnotagoddess]

Have you not read any of the posts on this thread from people who have lost loved ones, or are related to people in the services

Have you read any of my posts on this thread, I an married to someone in the services, I live this live. I never knew my grandfather because he was killed in the war.

[ItsWitchingTime]

This really is a petty gripe OP, and your virtue signalling is phenomenal!

You say you have a problem with people using the poppy in their profile picture/sharing things, yet each year you share a young lads photo? That it's okay for you?
I'm just a mere mortal, pray tell where do I go with my solemn remembrance? Do I just drop some money in a tub then walk away? Only wear a poppy on the 11th? Or because I have links to the military through non direct family and friends am I allowed to wear it more often?

[WorraLiberty]

But people have always 'cause jumped' and they always will, including those like yourself who buy the nice pretty sparkly brooches.

There's nothing you can do about that and it's not just confined to social media.

The truth is you don't know and will never know who is cause jumping, who is donating, who isn't donating and who is 'doing it right' in your eyes.

As a PP said, remembrance is a very personal thing.