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.

[IceAndASlice123]

I don't like it either.
Kind of feel that they are saying 'I'm such a good person to be acknowledging this day.' Might be being U but I always think that when I see it

[ItsWitchingTime]

Oh no wait, I think I get it! You're one of those people aren't you!

Only you can do xyz because you're the only one living through this, the only one who knows what it's like....

[Boom45]

What's the difference between "cause jumping" and just caring about different causes? And why is your specially selected and hand delivered poppy, along with 2 minutes silence and the parades not shoving things down peoples throats but a face book ribbon about mental health or breast cancer is?
I agree with pp this post is the biggest virtue signal I've seen in a long time. You don't have any more right to remember those lost in war than anyone else and you certainly have no right to dictate the correct way to do it.

[WorraLiberty]

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.

Yes I have.

You're married to someone who chose to join the services to earn their living.

You had a relative who died in the war.

Just like millions of other people.

You do things your way and they do it theirs. I don't understand why you think you're so right and they're so wrong?

[MidniteScribbler]

But OP, you are demanding that your way is the only correct way, and so are therefore making it all about you.

I have a lot of sympathy for soldiers forced into a war they had no choice in. I take time out on remembrance day to spend a little time thinking about that. I hate that current serving military and their families are demanding that the day be all about them. They chose their job, knowing what it would entail. Soldiers in WW1 and WW2 did not have that choice.

[Noodledoodledoo]

If you don't think we need to raise awareness then why do you wear an outwardly shown symbol? You don't need to wear anything to remember.

[Raphael34]

So you don’t like people posting poppies on fb because it makes it about them, but you post pictures of a dead person on your fb, because that helps people how?

[WorraLiberty]

Also OP, what did the Royal British Legion say when you complained about them encouraging people to use their official Facebook frame?

[Passthecherrycoke]

Cause jumping doesn’t make sense. That’s what charities are, and encompasses how they collect and get income. Mindlessly throw a quid in the box, move on. Why do you think they have coin collectors?

[Raphael34]

I also had a grandfather die in the war. And an uncle. My father served for 17 years. I buy 8 poppies every year, 6 expensive key chain ones that my whole family wears on their coat zips, plus one on the dogs collar. Plus 2 paper ones for my 2 eldest kids as they sell them in school. I post pictures on fb and also any related memes/quotes to promote awareness of Armistice Day and to show support to those still suffering. Get your head out of your arse and stop being so bigoted about how other people show support

[heath48]

I am an ex Army Officer (female).I am proud of my military service,my FB profile picture at the moment is my corps Poppy Badge.

What are you OP the Poppy Police,think your post is utterly ridiculous.

[Sexyfothermucker]

I have a poppy on my profile picture. My husband is ex Forces. My son is a corporal in army cadets and has been out the last two weekends selling poppies for his detachment. I have a family of four, all of which wear our poppies with pride. Every year. We are going to a remembrance service on Sunday which my son is a part of.
Assuming that "these people" don't wear poppies or contribute to our fallen soldiers is ridiculous.

[saraclara]

The further we get from the World Wars, the more they seem to be fetishised. It's really odd. The ridiculousness a week or two back because one of the Strictly contestants wasn't wearing a poppy, was just insane. She couldn't wear one because it would have been a risk in one of her lifts, but all the same, the internet went stupid about it.

The fact that a poppy is stuck on everyone who appears on TV from about 1st November makes it meaningless.

[inwood]

With utmost respect in this day and age I can't see the issue with people expressing remembrance on SM.

What annoys me is those who buy an enamel badge for a couple of quid and then roll the same one out every year.

[LizzieVereker]

Sorry @WorraLiberty, I disappeared for a bit, but I just wanted to answer your question.

For me, remembrance means to wear a simple poppy around Remembrance Day, to attend a remembrance service (although I appreciate this would not be possible for everyone) and to observe the minute’s silence, so it’s quite a quite, personal act. Glittery poppies and FB frames don’t feel right.

I suppose it also depends on the nature of your FB feed, but the discussion on mine is quite lightweight and innocuous in tone, my FB friends mainly talk about children, TV shows, funny clips etc. So within the context of that feed, in my opinion the poppy frame, especially if the photo in it is a holiday or celebration photo, it looks trite to me.

Having said that, this is just my opinion of what I see on my feed, and I have no right to tell other people how to undertake remembrance.

[LizzieVereker]

*quite a quiet

[Duck90]

What annoys me is those who buy an enamel badge for a couple of quid and then roll the same one out every year.

I get what you are saying, but I would prefer they stick with same one, it’s less damage to the environment to use the same badge for twenty years - rather than having 20 enamel badges. (Obviously they would still donate money each year, just less waste). Equally a FB sticker is less waste than a paper poppy.

[PurpleDaisies]

What annoys me is those who buy an enamel badge for a couple of quid and then roll the same one out every year.

How do you even know?

Is it worse up not wear a poppy or wear one and not pay?

[chuffincold]

I have the poppy boarder on my Facebook. I don't have a photo of a militarily family member to use as non of my family served in that way.
We all have pin badges for school blazers and work uniforms.
DS is on parade on Sunday, we will all be in attendance wearing paper poppies (as per squadron rules).
It is not a competition, it is a time of reflection & remembrance.
It doesn't matter how or where.
If Pouty McPouteface chooses to remember by putting a boarder on their profile pic that is up to them.
Least we forget

[etimram]

You do realiae you can get FB frame for anything? So why get worked up over the RBL or poppy ones?

I've got an RBL frame which is associated to our service. I also donate, I wear a broach poppy, a wrist band and have a poppy on my handbag. I also have an RBL poppy scarf. I don't always wear all of these things they are a collection over the years. I always donate every year.
In the past I have collected for the RBL too.
Last year I did a reading at our local remembrance service.

I can only speak of myself but hopes this answers your question.

I also have other temporary frames at varying times of the year.Some are for fun such as Xmas or Halloween themed frames others are for other charities such as certain cancer charities I support and have helped fund raise for in the past. Others are to show support such as the I stand with Manchester, after the bombings.

[JaceLancs]

I donate every year and buy poppy pins
Glittery and non glittery
Special editions etc
DF was ww2 veteran
My grandad was ww1 veteran
It’s always a very emotional day
This year will be even worse as my beloved Dad died last week
Each to their own

[Passthecherrycoke]

@saraclara it’s funny we were discussing this the other day - and came to the conclusion that as that generation die out, what can you do but fetishise it? Don’t forget a lot of that generation didn’t like to talk about what they’d seen in the war. My grandfather never spoke of it. But they’d all been through it together, to some extent so didn’t need to talk about it. Now, we don’t have anyone who has fought in our lives so if you don’t talk about it it’s forgotten isn’t it?


I have a friend, from a country not badly affected by WW2 (but did send troops to him the allied movement) who recently asked why people in the U.K. didn’t just get over WW2, that so many experiences of magnitude had happened in his continent and didnt get remembered in similar ways. If it’s not fetishised, it will be forgotten

[smsd33]

What is so wrong with supporting different causes? I don't understand?

[MintyMabel]

I bought an enamel badge a few years back and it is on which ever coat I have, no matter what time of year it is.

I gave DD a pound to get a poppy at school. But prefer to give money to other veterans charities.

I will remember in my own way and anyone who wants to tell me, or anyone else, that their way is so much more virtuous can piss off.

[MadgeMidgerson]

I can’t believe that anyone actually cares - let people remember or not as they wish to

If your shtick is ‘they gave their tomorrow for our today’ well that today includes duckface and other things you may find vulgar and incomprehensible

what does it take away from your own remembrance?

honestly who cares