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.

The pub across the road from us had a huge bonfire in the garden (Wales, still under lockdown) and ambulance with blues and twos was there at 7.00pm.

I wonder if there will ne more injuries this year as people use them in gardens rather than going to a display?.

It's not the fact it's a surprise, none of us are saying we are surprised - we are exasperated that sale of explosives still hasn't been banned to the public.

Planned events are safer, easier to plan for, and happen on one day of the year. This we can deal with. They are usually away from houses on beaches/fields as well.

It's not reasonable to expect nervous people/animals to sit in their houses for an entire week jumping and being startled at constant but random bangs and pops. I can't imagine anything thinking that IS acceptable.

#banfireworks Heartbreaking trend on Twitter with people posting pics of their traumatised dogs and pets.

This barbarism has to stop in future (outside of limited, licensed public displays on, and only on, November 5th). Ban the sale of fireworks to the public. This is meant to be a civilised society, not one that promotes this kind of cruelty.

Really puts me on edge to see my dog so frightened.

@lovepickledlimes no it’s not just animals but I don’t see the issue in people having some small fireworks on one night of the year safely. Granted the ones at 2/3am or the huge rockets are ridiculous but the abuse people get for enjoying them is shocking.

It’s the same moan every single year

It's even worse with animals because there is absolutely no way for us to convey to our pets that this is temporary and it will stop soon.

Animals have such little concept of time especially when they are stressed beyond belief and fearing for their safety/lives.

It's so easy to say "oh it's only for one week once a year" because we understand that it will end. Dogs don't, and it's heartbreaking.

@TidyOmlette it's the same moan every year because, shockingly, every year thousands of people have to deal with their animals being traumatised and stressed. It doesn't magically get easier every year.

I think this year was always going to be older and more back garden displays than usual because of the whole lockdown 2.

People will feel like kids have already missed out on so much so will over compensate on the back garden displays.

[quote TidyOmlette]@lovepickledlimes no it’s not just animals but I don’t see the issue in people having some small fireworks on one night of the year safely. Granted the ones at 2/3am or the huge rockets are ridiculous but the abuse people get for enjoying them is shocking.

It’s the same moan every single year[/quote]
Many British people enjoy watching foxes get torn limb from limb, doesn't mean it's not cruel.

I’ve grown to fucking hate fireworks with a passion. The VOLUME!

I think there is a Venn Diagram of selfishness/I’m alright Jack where fireworks lovers co exist with Brexiteers, Trump supporters and covidiots.

Fireworks should not be on sale to the general public, they cannot be trusted to use them responsibly, not nowadays anyway. The sparkling lights and colours may be lovely, but there is absolutely no need for the noise. So many of them sound like bombs. (I’ve lived in war zones, I know what bombs sound like!)

Those suffering PTSD must be in hell tonight. Actually if it was one night, arrangements could be made, but they are randomly set off for weeks around Nov 5th, just because they can.
Trying to manage fearful pets is another unnecessary stress, I feel for the poster above who has driven miles to a lay-by to try and find some peach for her dog.
Not all children like them either, again, the noisy ones cause more tears and screams.

I have triple glazing in my house. And even with all inside doors closed as well I can hear them and feel the vibration. Sickening.

@TidyOmlette it's not just one night though. People start now 2-3 weeks in advance of the event etc

‘Peace’ not ‘peach’ 🙄

They've never bastard stopped round here for 2 weeks now I wish they would fuck off

Don't waste your breath op. People have been letting them off in our area all week. If you dare to complain on the community Facebook page you get called a fun crusher. People have even started making fun of the fact that dogs and children are being upset by it.

Ironically the morons who have this mentality are the same ones who complain vehemently at the least little inconvenience to their lives. I would happily put money on the fact that if they had pets or children distressed by them they would be on completely the other side of the fence. But this is the world we live in now, people are selfish, inconsiderate and only care about the things that affect them.

@TidyOmlette no not a dickhead to set low noise ones in your garden on the 5th. Like many others my frustration comes from what should be 3 set dates (Halloween never has fireworks associated with it when I was a child) to what has become three relentless months that seem to involve competitions who can be the most reckless.
Sensible people sticking to set dates I have no problem with. Guess the issue is this should be the first day of them but already 8 days in for where I am in London

They've been going off here for hours now, really bloody loud. Feel sorry for anyone trying to get a baby to sleep.
Fortunately my dog isn't bothered by them and my two boys have enjoyed being out on the street to watch some of the fireworks. We normally do a few ourselves with some sparklers but not this year.
My boys are even more thrilled that I've let them stay up to watch a movie with me as there is absolutely no point in them going to bed yet as the fireworks are still so loud and constant.
There will be a lot of tired kids at school tomorrow.

It's not 'a few small fireworks for a few minutes one day of the year' though.

So far here, rural suburbs, its been 5 or 6 hours of fireworks for the last 12 days.

One day, for an hour or two, fine by me.

Probably 2 weeks worth for 5 or 6 hours at a time, and much of whats being let off tonight is certainly NOT small garden fireworks but stuff that should only be let off as a display or in a much larger space... That's not fine, thats selfish, and distressing for both humans and animals.

What pisses me off the most is that i LIKE fireworks, I like the sort that produce a bang big enough to set off car alarms.. but I don't buy that kind of firework (or any) because I don't think my delight at a fucking enormous explosion trumps others needs to not be terrified to bits for weeks on end.

Third week of it here and third week of drugging my rescue dog. I hate them. I think you are ignorant and selfish if you are letting them off in your tiny back garden. Plus no thought for wild animals and birds.
No accounting for empathy nor intelligence where I live though.

Can we not have silent ones?

Those suffering PTSD must be in hell tonight.

There's no telling these people though the harmful effect their fun is having on others. They simply don't care and never will.

I don't know about the Covidiot/Brexit correlation, but would explain why governments won't ban fireworks because that's a huge wave of people they won't want to piss off.

Animal rights activists, parents with pets, SEN parents/, PTSD sufferers combined would surely overrun the malevolence of the firework lobby.

Well surely it was obvious this year people who like fireworks and aren't allowed to go a big display would have them at home?

Most animals that aren't livestock were bred deliberately for the pet market. Buying a pet feeds that industry. You know you don't live in an isolated property, fireworks exist and still chose to buy a pet. Therefore you should plan for it. Your animal will be distressed, your animals feelings aren't any more important than a humans feelings.

It is selfish to set off fireworks. It is selfish to own a pet. (Soo many times its been repeated the best thing for the environment is to get rid of all pet dogs and cats!)

Both you by owning a pet and the neighbour setting off fireworks are being selfish. You don't get to take the moral high ground on this one.

(Disclaimer- didn't have any fireworks, have guinea pigs as pets, just brought them indoors and accept its a normal part of pet owning in November in the uk)

I’ve just been out in the car and there are groups of kids in the streets setting them off and police cars sat around doing nothing (I don’t know how they would deal with it).

This is a really nice area too so I was surprised - I think because of stuff like this they should be banned!

"Every year an estimated one million animals, including deer, foxes, badgers, otters and squirrels, are killed on UK roads, with many more suffering fatal injuries but crawling away from the roadside to die. "

If you're concerned about small animals, your time might be better spent campaigning to make our roads safer.

@Premiumhaircut

Can we not have silent ones?

People have even started making fun of the fact that dogs and children are being upset by it.

Doesn't surprise me. As i've said, there's definitely a sadistic element to it.

@annabel85 and in what way was my private family display cruel? They lasted for 8 minutes and were all low noise. Ours happens once a year and all of our neighbours are fully aware of often watch from their houses. Not one of our fireworks involves a large booming rocket.

I do get to take the moral high ground when I rehabilitate rescue animals. Is this some sort of bizarre straw man argument now?