To think people will expect fireworks to be let off on bonfire night.

[j101112]

Bought a few fireworks for Thursday night. Mainly garden type fireworks, not rockets. Meant to be lower noise.

We live in fairly large village and it’s been said that many dogs, cats, horses etc don’t like them and people have complained about them being let off.

Aibu to think people should expect them on actual bonfire night though?

I get that they are annoying on other nights other than bonfire night.. I do think that people should try and just do them on 5th November or NYE and proper advertised displays.

Don’t want to upset my neighbours!

@KiposWonderbeasts

Not this year.

Our local council has been putting notices up asking people not to hold displays or bonfires in their gardens because of the burden on the fire service and A&E.

If even a fraction of those tens of thousands who normally go to the big displays have private event, there will be far more accidents and burns across the city than the emergency services can handle. The one nearest me has 70,000 people on a quiet year, 120,000 on a nice dry night.

For that reason alone, I won’t be celebrating bonfire night this year other than sparklers. Which is a shame, it’s one of my favourite events.

I live adjacent to a fire station, close enough to hear it come and go. I'm surprised there's any rubber left on the tyres to be honest, the frequency they've been out has increased a lot in the last 2 weeks. At all hours. Of course I don't know what every call out is but if previous years statistics and the great big poster in their window pleading with people to use fireworks responsibly is any indication, I reckon that the increase is a lot to do with what's now basically fireworks month instead of Guy Fawkes night. Which isn't even until tomorrow. And the tradition is Guy Fawkes night, not fireworks night. I wonder how many who celebrate this tradition actually know anything about it other than it involves fireworks? Without using Google yet spout about how it's a tradition. Someone upthread exhorted pet owners to be honest about their reasons for not liking them, I'd think that those who are in favour regardless of anyone or anything else also be honest and admit that it's got shite all to do with tradition and is just because they want to and don't care who their actions effect, while expecting others to respect that that is what they want to do.

MN can be baffling at times, make a noise before 12 on a Sunday morning or have a fag in your garden and you're akin to the devil, people accused of poor parenting and neglect for 'too much' screen time or taking their kids to McDonald's.
But want to set off explosives in your most likely unsuitability small back garden around your kids - well it's tradition and fun, so that's ok, and the effect on others doesn't warrant a thought.

It's almost as if different people on MN have different views on different topics...

Fwiw, I think making noise in the garden before 12 is fine but not before 7am, giving your kid the occasional McDonald's is a nice treat, screen time is fine so long as it's not to the detriment of anything else and letting off fireworks in my reasonable sized garden on bonfire night when it is dark is fine and to be expected.

I have no issue if people stick to the 5th and NYE.

The problem is when everyone lets them off when THEY feel like it, which here has been from the 28th October and every night since and probably for another week at least, and then again around Christmas and new year, randomly.

It is the random nature of fireworks that makes it SO hard to desensitize anyone (pet or human) to them - you can desensitize anyone to practically anything IF it is predictable.

You could go for silent fireworks.
You could if not, at least avoid the screamy type of rocket that animals find particularly distressing.

My current dogs aren't scared but one is struggling with the unpredictable nature and is now very whiny and stressed and if I don't work on classical conditioning he could easily become fearful. That means every night this week instead of working ive had to sit here pairing sounds with treats.

I really feel for the humans with PTSD or otherwise, for whom fireworks are deeply upsetting and in some cases, terrifying and have a serious detrimental effect on their lives for much of the winter months.

Personally, much as I enjoy a really good fireworks display, I can live without them if it saves other people and animals such fear.

On November 5th, New Years Eve, Diwali or even Christmas, it's fine, as people with animals know it's coming and to prepare.

On other days? No, it's selfish and massively unfair.

*Surely, ultimately it come down to this. There are some things we ban and some we don't - it's not an all or nothing scenario and never will be. We, as a society, ultimately get to decide what makes the banned list and what doesn't.

Enough people want them banned = off they go

Enough want to keep them = here they stay*

Exactly this.

I'll be doing fireworks tomorrow night with 3DC- one with SEN- and the neighbour's little ones will.watch from the window. As will many others. You have no right to call any of us 'idiots' for exercising our preference. People are so precious it's ridiculous. Earphones, people!

Just saw a piece on the news about a woman who has been hit in the eye by a firework.

That alone would put me off going to a private firework display.

[quote OhhCarolina]@Jakie7700 I'm willing to bet my left big toe that most of the people giving it "think about those poor saps with PTSD" have any experience of it either personally or at close quarters. It's just a handy little trope that's grown up around the discussion on fireworks that people weaponise to make themselves look caring and thoughtful.

And yes there are lots of things that people do that could inadvertently cause distress to others and harm the environment - again, dogs definitely fit this. Plenty of people get distressed being around dogs, often due to past negative experience or sensory issues. And they totally cause much more harm to wildlife than fireworks do, as do cats. It's all back and forward, and there won't be equilibrium until you ban everything - fireworks, dogs, cats, cars, planes etc etc.[/quote]
I don't have PTSD, but I do have a phobia of fire, which results in me being terrified of fireworks being let off in back gardens because explosives + unsuitably small spaces + densely packed houses = risk of houses/sheds/othes buildings being set on fire. I can cope with organised displays, and have even occasionally been to them, because they are at a known time, for a limited length of time, they have all sorts of safety precautions and aren't in the middle of built up residential areas.

I do not cope well with random fireworks being let off from people's back gardens for days or weeks prior to 5th November, from as soon as it gets dark until late into the evening. I have had CBT for my phobia, but with fireworks going off every few seconds for several hours, all the CBT/distraction/relaxation techniques in the world aren't enough to prevent the panic I feel. I often end up in tears, shaking like a leaf, saying please please stop towards the window. And I wouldn't say it is inadvertent distress being caused - people on this and other threads have been made aware of how terrified some people and animals are of fireworks, and yet they say they are going to go ahead with their back garden display regardless. They plaily don't giv a shit.

I am ok with organised displays, but have no idea why it's acceptable for the general public to be able to buy and set off explosives. It's illegal to make a home made bomb, why the hell is it fine to buy and use fireworks?

They've been going off all evening here predictably because lockdown starts tomorrow. My pets are staying in and let's hope a stray firework doesn't injure anyone or anything. And that I don't have to spend tomorrow picking bits of spent firework out of my garden

I've been sitting here holding my frightened dog for over an hour now because of the explosions around us.

Every so often she's thinks they've finished and she'll get off my lap but then they start again and she asked to be picked up again.

I need to make myself something to eat and I'm desperate to pee but I can't put her down until she feels safe.

It was the same last night, it just didn't last so long.

I don't care if people set off fireworks. I don't buy them personally as they're a waste of money.

There have been various petitions to Parliament regarding their ban all have been rejected.

This board is full of moaners.

it’s fine. if you choose to have a pet you do so knowing that bonfire night is a thing that you will have to deal with. my son screams and shakes when dogs run up to him, now your dog can tremble and soil your shagpile instead.

@Puffalicious
Yes I think I do have the right to call a idiot a idiot. I am pretty sure if your SEN child was so upset by them they were physically sick you would not be doing fireworks unless you are a even bigger idiot.
And as for exercising your 'preference' people like you are the problem with the world do what you like and fuck everyone else.
Yeah I am sooo precious that I dislike people and animals being terrified. And sooo precious not to want the emergency services having more pressure on them during a pandemic.

The reason people want a ban isn’t because of home displays. It is because of all the kids throwing them at the public, fire brigade, police etc.

This board is full of moaners
I am not moaning. I am terrified.

it’s fine. if you choose to have a pet you do so knowing that bonfire night is a thing that you will have to deal with. my son screams and shakes when dogs run up to him, now your dog can tremble and soil your shagpile instead.
I didn't choose to have a phobia, just like people with PTSD didn't choose that. Are you pleased that I am sitting on my sofa feeling more and more panicky, scared and distressed as the fireworks go on and on and on this evening? Do I deserve to feel this way?

You've chosen quieter ones and no rockets, it sounds fine OP. Hope you enjoy your evening.

it’s fine. if you choose to have a pet you do so knowing that bonfire night is a thing that you will have to deal with. my son screams and shakes when dogs run up to him, now your dog can tremble and soil your shagpile instead.

So by that logic surely it's your responsibility to ensure that your child isn't scared of dogs, and entirely your own fault if you choose to have a child knowing they could be scared of dogs and some people don't train or control their dogs properly which may result in them being approached by a dog and shaking and screaming. And absolutely no responsibility falls to said dog owners who don't adequately control their dogs?

I may dislike fireworks but I can also see that it's unreasonable for someone not to control their dog and cause fear and alarm in someone. No wonder we are where we are as a society with this tit for tat who gives a fuck attitude.

No wonder we are where we are as a society with this tit for tat who gives a fuck attitude.

Agree. It's just so bloody depressing and nasty to see it all the time.

The reason people want a ban isn’t because of home displays. It is because of all the kids throwing them at the public, fire brigade, police etc.
Unless people really do have enough land around their property to ensure a safe distance is kept between their fireworks and all nearby properties then home displays are an issue for me too.

A few years ago one went off and skimmed the side of our house. That neighbour's garden and surrounding area was not safe for a responsible display.

I'd be quite happy making fireworks something you need a licence to buy and approval for a display based on the area, proximity to other properties, nature of the display etc.

@LolaSmiles

The reason people want a ban isn’t because of home displays. It is because of all the kids throwing them at the public, fire brigade, police etc. Unless people really do have enough land around their property to ensure a safe distance is kept between their fireworks and all nearby properties then home displays are an issue for me too.

A few years ago one went off and skimmed the side of our house. That neighbour's garden and surrounding area was not safe for a responsible display.

I'd be quite happy making fireworks something you need a licence to buy and approval for a display based on the area, proximity to other properties, nature of the display etc.

I agree.

The power of the ones now sold to the public is rediculous. Very few people have space big enough to safely let them off

@LolaSmiles

The reason people want a ban isn’t because of home displays. It is because of all the kids throwing them at the public, fire brigade, police etc. Unless people really do have enough land around their property to ensure a safe distance is kept between their fireworks and all nearby properties then home displays are an issue for me too.

A few years ago one went off and skimmed the side of our house. That neighbour's garden and surrounding area was not safe for a responsible display.

I'd be quite happy making fireworks something you need a licence to buy and approval for a display based on the area, proximity to other properties, nature of the display etc.

Yes, I'd add to that insurance too so if a stray firework should cause damage then the person who ends up with the results of the stray firework doesn't find themselves out of pocket for someone else's fun.

Considering the impact it does have on others that would be a sensible compromise.

I'd also add I'd like to see dog licences brought in too with mandatory dog insurance. I've had vets bills from dogs not controlled properly.

Problem with both those things is how to police them.

Out neighbours let off a huge firework last year. The ash fallout burned holes in our kids’ trampoline 😡

Maybe if there was a charge for calling out the emergency services for firework related injury, with the charge being applied to the person who set them off obviously that would also help. Or injuring someone with a firework be made a criminal offence. You know, like driving without due care and attention that sort of thing. With a hefty fine and a lifetime ban on buying fireworks.

After all, plenty of people are in favour of dog owners being charged if their dog hurts someone, so this is no different.

Personally I think the sale of them should have been banned altogether this year to reduce the impact on the emergency services.

I would support a ban but, while you can legally buy them in supermarkets, I guess people will buy and enjoy them.

There will be more this year as the big organised displays can't happen.

@AlternativePerspective

Maybe if there was a charge for calling out the emergency services for firework related injury, with the charge being applied to the person who set them off obviously that would also help. Or injuring someone with a firework be made a criminal offence. You know, like driving without due care and attention that sort of thing. With a hefty fine and a lifetime ban on buying fireworks.

After all, plenty of people are in favour of dog owners being charged if their dog hurts someone, so this is no different.

Personally I think the sale of them should have been banned altogether this year to reduce the impact on the emergency services.

Of course it's different, we PAY for the use of those emergency services in our council tax! They're not free.