Wearing a poppy at job interview

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AIBU to wear a poppy on my shirt when I go to a job interview? I have two interviews lined up this week, one on Tuesday and one on Friday.

My sis says I shouldn't wear a poppy for an interview and certainly not after the remembrance day e.g. on the Friday.

Wear it on your coat on Tuesday and nowhere on the Friday.

Agree with this

@Blahblahblahallthetime - Let’s talk about the IRA blowing up soldiers, police officers, men, women and children.

Which is exactly why I don't wear an Easter Lily, an emblem originally designed to commemorate those who fought for Irish freedom but has been appropriated by the Republican movement.

Rather a sad argument on your part though, that the atrocities committed by British forces are acceptable because others also committed atrocities. Personally, I think atrocities should not be committed full stop. State sponsored atrocities are particularly abhorrent as the state is meant to protect its citizens.

You just have to look at the way James McLean is treated for not wearing a poppy to realise that, for many, the poppy is not about respect.

On Tuesday, yes. On Friday, no. It’s conventional not to wear them until the 11th and not after the 11th. I admit I’m mildly judgey of people who keep them on their coats after the 11th: I wonder if they know about the armistice on the 11th and that Remembrance Day has taken place.

I wouldn't give it a second thought!

I meant conventional to wear until the 11th...

@speakout

Don't! Poppies are becoming a bit of a hot potato- for lots of reasons.

Stay neutral.

Oh fuck that.

I would wear one

@Jellycatspyjamas

I can question the ideology of war, and recognise war as a political act while also commemorate the lives lost in war, it’s not an either/or. I wear a poppy in recognition of men and women who chose to serve their country and in doing so protected the right I have to live in freedom.

If people are offended by that, I really don’t care.

Perfectly put.

Can someone explain if there's an issue with wearing a poppy ?

@NC249

Can someone explain if there's an issue with wearing a poppy ?

You only have to go back about five posts

@Bvop

On Tuesday, yes. On Friday, no. It’s conventional not to wear them until the 11th and not after the 11th. I admit I’m mildly judgey of people who keep them on their coats after the 11th: I wonder if they know about the armistice on the 11th and that Remembrance Day has taken place.

Yes I do know about the Armistice and Remembrance Day and if I choose to wear the poppy pin on my coat afterwards what difference does it make? Do you think that we should only remember on 11th November and poppies should be hidden away the rest of the year?

It's an interview at a secondary school by the way, if that makes any difference. I will probably wear the poppy on my coat on Tuesday as i normally would but not on Friday as it might be perceived as inappropriate.

I think it will only be perceived as a positive (presuming you are not in NI) in a school. I don't think it's a big issue wearing it on the Friday if you have a strong preference to.

Suit jacket rather than outdoor coat.

Best of luck.

If you have any connections with any of the people that were being fought, surely it obvious why you wouldn’t want to wear one?. It can’t honestly be beyond you to understand that Irish, afghan, Iraqi, German, Italian, etc etc might not be comfortable supporting British veterans?

I associate them with pro military people. Who I strongly dislike. There's a cult of poppy wearing at this time of year. So if I was interviewing you I'd judge you for it. Sorry but true.

@Fischliweiss I would be happy to fail a job interview if you were in any way associated with the role

I associate them with pro military people. Who I strongly dislike. There's a cult of poppy wearing at this time of year. So if I was interviewing you I'd judge you for it. Sorry but true.

there is a funny irony to this statement...

I associate them with pro military people. Who I strongly dislike. There's a cult of poppy wearing at this time of year. So if I was interviewing you I'd judge you for it.

Bloody hell. I'd rather hope you'd not be in a position to interview anyone but how would you cope if they were black/jewish/catholic/everton fan/whatever other irrational prejudices you have?

Have you only just moved to the UK that you think it's a cult which only 'pro military' people participate in?

[quote baubled]@Fischliweiss I would be happy to fail a job interview if you were in any way associated with the role[/quote]
Well said.

You have a right to wear if you want but also be respected if you choose not to wear it.

However, whether anyone agrees or not, the very fact that the poppy is being discussed shows it is divisive.

I completely understand 100% why some people are so passionate about it, however, if you have no idea why anyone would not want to wear a poppy shows that you have never been on the other side of the British Army. But that's a whole other discussion....

In short, everyone has the right to wear it without anyone being offended, likewise, anyone has the right to NOT wear one without being offended.

I'd wear one on a suit jacket on Tuesday, if you're not wearing a suit, I'd leave it in your coat I think. Then not on the Friday.

PinkSparkly I think there's difference between a pin and a paper poppy — the first I wouldn't think it was odd to wear all year, the second (which I presume is what the OP has) I would. I think of the paper ones as seasonal, partly they're sold every year, and because it isn't that easy to keep them looking nice for more than a week or so!

Some people are odd about them. I was spat at in Edinburgh for wearing an English, rather than Scottish, poppy.

I would wear one, but then that's just me. My father lost a leg in WW2 at the age of nineteen so people like us could have a decent life and have choices. One of those choices is to wear my poppy with pride for as long as I bloody well like.

@ WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants

BashfulClam
You shouldn’t wear it after the 11th. I’d wonder why you were and I wear mine until the 11th.
Would you like to explain your statement that you shouldn't wear one after the 11th? Would you like to explain to the British Legion why your opinion is more important than theirs?

Well I’ve already worn it for two weeks until rememberance day. I wear a Scottish Poppy so do you meant the British Kehion Scotland? Why would they give a shit what I wear and when. As long as I have worn it and shown my respect that is my business. Also as someone who has stood on the street selling poppies in my skate time as a cadet, I have raised a lot of money for them. Have you done that? How many poppies have you sold?

I wear a poppy in recognition of men and women who chose to serve their country and in doing so protected the right I have to live in freedom.

worth pointing out that not everyone that served and lost their lives chose to do so. Many were conscripted.

We all have our own reasons to wear a poppy, or not. For me, Remembrance Day is about taking time to remember all those who lost their lives to the horror that is war. I don't differentiate based on nationality as, regardless of which country they fought for, they are all victims of the senseless scourge of war.

People that judge poppy wearers are making a serious logical flaw. They are judging based on what they themselves think the poppy symbolises, in total ignorance of what it might symbolise for the wearer.

Interesting about wearing after the 11th. Where I grew up, you placed your poppies in a basket at remembrance services and parades to be resold the following year (made of velvet and plastic, not paper as here) so wearing after the 11th was a sign you didn't go to the service/were being cheap and saving your poppy for the next year. Maybe where the convention came from?