The fireworks tonight

[annabel85]

AIBU or are you probably just an anarchist or an arsehole to be setting off fireworks and firecrackers during a lockdown, when official displays are banned?

There's no excuse to be frightening animals either tonight. Don't be a dickhead.

@annabel85 you seem very confused at what it is you're complaining about.

Is it animals being frightened?

Emergency services being overworked?

Children getting free school meals?

People not social distancing (you've decided that the fireworks are not a family affair and people are having gatherings, based on your thoughts only!)?

Every year it's the same old thing, "fireworks should be banned", they're not and they will be being let off at new year as well.

As for the ouster on a FB group asking on 5th November was anyone going to let fireworks off..... we had one like you on our FB group (without the hamster), she was treated with much mirth also.

Stop being a fun-sponge.
This year has been shit!
Let people have what little bit of happiness/fun they can.
Ffs!

What a nasty piece of work you are OP.

We did fireworks in our garden for the first time ever this year, along with a ‘bonfire’ in the BBQ for roasting marshmallows! Lots in our neighbourhood did too from the sounds of it. Usual killjoys on the community Facebook page bitching about it but meh, our council organised display was cancelled which you can hear all over town so I don’t see an issue if people do their own little display safely on their own property. Not heard any thing before 9pm.

We had someone on our FB page claiming her dog was ok with organised display that could be heard but didn't like "personal" displays. What a cleaver dog, knowing the difference!

Probably because the organised display was further away, and therefore less noisy?

@Ginfordinner nope the organised display was very close, made much more noise than the personal displays.

Why are people ok with huge organised displays. Is it because they don’t have one of those near their house? Because the organised display near my house goes on for hours and actually makes my house shake because the fireworks are so huge, a few little garden ones aren’t a problem. Plus all the traffic which descends. And all the huge spent fireworks landing in my garden for my pets to eat.

I don’t care about this though. I also have pets. They also don’t care. And old grandparents. They also don’t care. I hate the blanket pet/old people argument.

Why are people ok with huge organised displays? Is it because they don't have one near their house?

Bingo! That's it exactly.

Kids have to have it all don't you know. Oh and free meals provided out of term time as well don't forget as all these things cost money.

That is a nasty thing to say.

@Bunkumum but that's the point isn't it, you don't care because your pets/grandparents are fine with it. I have nothing against fireworks personally but I don't like the effect they have on my dogs. Would you feel the same if your dog was fitting because of them? Or if your grandparents were in distress?

It's the I'm alright jack attitude I that struggle with here. I don't want to be a killjoy and if it genuinely was a few hours on one specific night I wouldn't even comment but it's been ridiculous this year and people just don't care about the effect on others so long as they are allowed their fun. The one good thing is that it's really highlighted the biggest twats on my local village page - one even commented 'I'm having my fireworks I don't give a shit about your dogs'...lovely.

@Anxiousannie32 my argument was that I don’t get why people who are against garden fireworks are still fine with huge, house shaking organised displays? If they are arguing that old people/pets are terrified then these huge displays like the one next to my house are far worse. Surely it’s got to be all fireworks or no fireworks?

@Anxiousannie32 and I don’t care about it because it’s one night a year. I’m indifferent to fireworks. I don’t enjoy them. Obviously I don’t want huge spent rockets in my garden but do you know what, I can pick them up. 100’s of people enjoy fireworks and that’s fine with me.

This thread is hilarious if a few fireworks in your back garden brings your family a little joy, go for it. Joy is in short supply at the minute.

And as a pet owner (cat, dog and hamsters) I agree with the poster that said if you get a pet knowing bonfire night exists, you're the problem. We didn't do garden ones because my kids are scared of them , but if someone told me not to because of their new hamster (which they bought just prior to bonfire night) I'd struggle not to laugh in their face.

I bloody love bonfire night though and I'm gutted my kids hate fireworks, so my answer may be slightly biased!

@Frazzled13

MN is weird. During lockdown people couldn't do anything without being berated for potentially causing themselves an injury that may need medical attention (e.g. "don't drive to exercise in case you crash and need to come into contact with paramedics/Drs"). But fireworks are totally fine.

Have you considered maybe it's different people.

Also, do you know what terrifies my dog and sends her into a quaking, terrified frenzy. Bells on bikes and micro scooters. She only has to hear a little ding in the park and she is a wreck. I’m not on Facebook ranting about those though because I know other people live in the world that don’t care about my dog.

Well judging by the parliamentary debate on fireworks on 2nd November, a vast majority of people agree that fireworks are dangerous and anti social, and hopefully they’re going to get banned apart from organised displays.

@Bunkumum Organised firework displays in my area are usually well away from residential areas in farmers fields or sports clubs that sort of thing. Those that are close to houses are just as bad, probably worse as they have the funds to buy the extra loud ones and go on for ages.

Yes you are indifferent because you don't suffer any ill effects but if you had a dog that was fitting or an autistic child that was upset (my friends daughter had to go to bed with ear defenders on and had meltdowns all through the night) you probably would feel less indifferent to them.

It's just awareness of people around you isn't it. If you choose to live in a community people's choices are occasionally going to affect you and I can live with that. I don't want kids to miss out on having fun. But people this year have used fireworks excessively and thoughtlessly. If they really must set them off in back gardens where their back door is approximately 6ft from someone else's then maybe get the quiet ones? Or keep it to less than half an hour? If you can't manage that then don't be surprised when people get pissed off at your inconsideration.

Are all the people shouting abuse about those who enjoy fireworks aware of how racist they’re being, or not?

fireworks are dangerous and anti social

That can be said of many things. Dogs included. 😂

I wouldb like fireworks to be limited to organised displays because they should have proper safety processes, there would be one or two locally on advertised dates instead of loads of different ones for weeks either side of bonfire night, they wouldn’t be going off after 11pm like some idiot near me decided was ok last night

Should other celebrations such as diwali be banned as well?

@Macncheeseballs can you not have a celebration without a firework?

@Anxiousannie32 maybe not everywhere is like where you live though. I live in a city. Organised firework displays here are held in the city too.

Just about everything you say about firework lovers can be equally applied to dog/cat owners. Except that their pets are around 365 days a year.

Should other celebrations such as diwali be banned as well?
Fireworks should be banned across the board for everyone, irrespective of race or religion. People can hire a licensed professional if they want fireworks.

@Anxiousannie32

Fireworks are a pretty integral part of Diwali. It’s the festival of lights. It’s part of how it’s celebrated, like Christmas trees at Christmas.