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!

Honestly, the sheer stupidity of some posters- earphones for a dog? What?! I said earphones- ie for humans to listen to music/ a film/ box set - and to acclimatise pets (a PP spoke very clearly about how she did this with both her dogs and cats).

It's one night, let people enjoy it!

Organised displays are something I can sort of get behind. But “garden” fireworks are fucking terrible. Aside from any Joe blogs being able to buy them and let them off anywhere, and anytime, the wildlife can’t be prepared at all. It must be horrible to be wildlife, from the fires and noises to discarded firework tubes and sparklers being ingested. And how many people actually teach their kids about the meaning of bonfire night? Not many I bet. Luckily my dog is fine with fireworks but really feel for those who have to deal with animals or children (even adults) who are scared of them.

@Puffalicious

So if I were your neighbour, I wouldn't say anything but I'd think you were selfish and a bit thick

This kind of comment is MN at its middle class, uppity best. I would find you a bit 'thick' for not making adjustments for one night of the year (earphones/ acclimatising pets).

You'd hate me as a neighbour: huge Halloween party usually, fireworks on the 5th, traditional summer BBQ for 50 people, Boxing day for 4 siblings and 13 DN and DNs. God forbid me for having fun and a life. Oh, and I have 3DC, an ex husband and a present husband so we have 3 surnames on our door sign, shock, horror!!!

I would. Luckily people like you can't afford to live near me*

*actually this is bollocks but I'm just running with your crappy stereotype

‘And how many people actually teach their kids about the meaning of bonfire night? Not many I bet.’

Maybe the OP’s neighbours will turn out to be Catholics with a hedgehog sanctuary and a terrified puppy, so we can hear about their response in the follow up thread.

I really want fireworks to be banned except in public displays.

But as they are not, you doing a few quiet fireworks on bonfire night is the least irritating way of using them.

I really want fireworks to be banned except in public displays.

But as they are not, you doing a few quiet fireworks on bonfire night is the least irritating way of using them.

We only do it in bonfire night. I think it's fine then but not on other nights. If the weather forecast is bad on 5th we don't buy them. This year might be tricky though. Even though the weather looks good I haven't actually seen them in the major shops this year. Anyone know which big chains are selling them? (Would rather not go for a pop up shop).

It’s a long standing tradition, and at the moment I think children really need their holiday celebrations. Fireworks on bonfire night are to be expected. Setting a few, low noise ones off in the garden when their won’t be any public displays seems reasonable.

Sorry OP but I find fireworks totally pointless, cheap thrills. They are dangerous and disturbing to wildlife and pets... Please don't do that...

Can't say I'm bothered. It's only for a few days and happens at night rather than sunrise to sunset. All throughout summer, there are 'outdoor' noises that occur from first thing in the morning until it gets dark that make my head hurt (misophonia) and I'm not asking for the source to be banned. Live and let live.

@CatsAndEyeliner

Two fireworks went off here at 7pm. My dog is still shaking.

Two fireworks and your dog is shaking over 2 hours later!

I'm afraid a ridiculously timid dog does not trump everyone else.

@ViciousJackdaw

Can't say I'm bothered. It's only for a few days and happens at night rather than sunrise to sunset. All throughout summer, there are 'outdoor' noises that occur from first thing in the morning until it gets dark that make my head hurt (misophonia) and I'm not asking for the source to be banned. Live and let live.

Indeed, killjoy central here.

@EmpressoftheMundane

It’s a long standing tradition, and at the moment I think children really need their holiday celebrations. Fireworks on bonfire night are to be expected. Setting a few, low noise ones off in the garden when their won’t be any public displays seems reasonable.

Absolutely

’I'm afraid a ridiculously timid dog does not trump everyone else.’

@TiersTiersTiers I’m not suggesting that - If you read the read of my post instead of just picking a sentence out of context you’ll see that I said I have nothing against public fireworks displays.

What about all the wildlife? Foxes, badgers birds etc?

They terrify animals and some elderly people and young children too. Ban the fuckers I say.

Birds?

Surely someone with a cat cannot claim the moral high ground on the negative impact on the bird population?

I hate them (as does my cat) but accept that on November 5th, there will be fireworks.

What I find somewhat disturbing, however, is that everyone here seems to be so concerned with the current pressure on the NHS yet still insist on setting off explosives in small spaces.

Fuck all the people or animals that people terrorise for your 'enjoyment' of fireworks then. It's ok as you are having fun and living life right?
How about think of others that have SEN, PTSD, dementia and poor animals that are terrified of them. And fuck animals especially wild animals that can't come indoors and escape the terror. Sick of people making so much noise and passing it off as 'fun'. It isn't fun for my DN who has a sensory processing disorder that they are so traumatised by the noise they throw up and no where they live it goes on for weeks not just one night so you never know when it's going to happen.
I am fine with people having fun but why does it have to involve making loud, unreasonable noise at the distress of others, oh right of course as they are selfish fuckers.

I accept they’ll happen on bonfire night but wish people wouldn’t set them off so late - it’s dark at about 6pm, there’s really no need to be setting off fireworks at 10pm or later at night. I have twins who are autistic and it wakes them and scares the crap out of them, they have no idea what’s going on, and often once they wake up in the night they’re awake for 4-6 hours. So yes, I wouldn’t dream of telling people not to, but I wish they’d do it earlier.

IMO the smaller, non very noisy fireworks are fine in back gardens. We always had them when we had a cat and dog. I used to put some soothing classical music on reasonably loud, to help mask any noise.

IMO the really big, mega-bang ones should def. be banned for private use (some houses near here let off a lot, and not just on Bonfire Night) and banning the very noisy ones altogether would be even better.

In my area people start setting them off on Halloween and do it every night at least until the weekend after bonfire night, sometimes longer. Absolute wankers. They were setting them off somewhere after 11pm last night.

Personally not a fan of fireworks at all. Professional public displays on Nov 5th, Diwali and NYE sure but garden fireworks should be banned.

I think they should be allowed in organised displays only. Setting them off in residential areas is the absolute height of selfishness.

Pets, wildlife, livestock, veterans, people with PTSD, people with dementia, people with autism and loads more - all of these made to suffer just so you can look at a pretty flashing light in the sky.

In addition, they are dangerous, cause litter and can even set things on fire when they land and that's before you even get to idiots who throw them at people etc.

It's completely unreasonable and I can't believe it's still legal to use them at home.

I hate them because of animals and should only be for organised displays. I have heard that you can get fireworks that don't bang.

I think that this is one of these things that in the not too distant future will be banned and no longer socially acceptable. Only official displays will be allowed. The vast majority of people now know and are fully aware that it causes distress for most pets, a lot of people with dementia, ASD, PTSD and young children who don’t understand what it’s all about yet but they selfishly go ahead anyway. I’ll be glad when we can stick to official displays only. I’ve seen too much distress and over the years horrific ways fireworks have been used to terrify pets and people (animals having fireworks tied to them and set off, families having fireworks put through letterboxes in racial or disability hate crimes etc). Then all the avoidable accidents. It should be illegal for them to be sold to the public.