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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

FFS if you want to commemorate something don't be a dick and release HELIUM flipping BALLOONS!

263 replies

flashbac · 05/12/2021 17:01

No matter how sad the occasion is or how tragic the story. Releasing helium balloons into the atmosphere is a really dickish thing to do.

OP posts:
countrygirl99 · 05/12/2021 18:01

I assumed the news event was the baby donkey that died after eating a helium balloon.

BringMeTea · 05/12/2021 18:02

YANBU. It really isn't difficult to find a way to celebrate/commiserate/commemorate that doesn't fuck the planet even further. No excuse.

Hilda40 · 05/12/2021 18:03

Helium is a by-product of natural gas extraction, as we begin to phase out natural gas we will need to expensively extract Helium for its own sake.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 05/12/2021 18:06

I think balloons should be banned along with plastic bags and straws tbh. That's coming from someone who's kid loves them but they play with them for a bit, they go pop or deflate, and its in the bin. Still going to landfill even if its not floating off to murder wildlife.

As pp says bringing it up to a grieving family is not really acceptable, really it needs to be a campaign unrelated to any specific event, or a government initiative along with tackling other single use plastics.

HeyFloof · 05/12/2021 18:08

@Lime37

A family have lost a 12 year old daughter just before Christmas and you are choosing now to make a post to feel superior. You seem like a lovely person. Have a merry Christmas 🙄
I lost a daughter on Friday, it doesn't mean I have free range to shaft the environment and make wildlife suffer.
Seemssounfair · 05/12/2021 18:08

I agree 100% that releasing balloons is not good for the environment and dangerous to wildlife. It is something I would never do personally, but I certainly wont be saying that to, or condeming, the 16 year old girl in our town who lost her mum, sister and father 2 days previously in horrific circumstances and family arranged a balloon release in her mum and sisters memories.

Those bereaved arent being dickish. They are ill advised, struggling with grief and not thinking straight.

There needs to be more education (not in schools) of the potential damage, or promote alternative ways to remember those they have lost, to discourage people turning to balloon releases for comfort. Your op is insensitive and unhelpful.

Cieloazzurro · 05/12/2021 18:09

Couldn’t agree more. Plant a tree, scatter wildflower seeds - much nicer tribute

Doomscrolling · 05/12/2021 18:09

@HeyFloof I'm so very sorry for your loss

FrownedUpon · 05/12/2021 18:10

I agree, it makes me cringe. How can people be so ignorant about the impact.

It shows just how many people live in their little bubble, with no awareness of wider issues.

PinkWaferBiscuit · 05/12/2021 18:10

@Christmasiseverywere

Is this in relation to little Arthur if so YABSUAngry
Why does it matter what bloody event the OP is talking about? The principle is the same for all these events, someone has lost or wants to remember another person. It doesn't make any difference which event it is the statement is accurate about all of these events. Releasing litter into the sky is a very stupid thing to do and people should be allowed to say so without cries of being unreasonable just because these events relate to a death.
Sirzy · 05/12/2021 18:12

heyfloof so sorry for your loss Flowers

daisydaisy11 · 05/12/2021 18:14

Agreed. Please don't do this. It causes horrific damage to marine life. Should be banned.

HeadNorth · 05/12/2021 18:14

@ParkheadParadise

Every year on my dd's birthday I take balloons to the cemetery. I tie them onto the shepherd's hook that holds a lantern. Sometimes they blow away Sometimes people will take them I don't give a fuck what anyone thinks about it. 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
When I visit my son’s grave, I take mealworms to feed the birds.

Being a bereaved parent doesn’t entitle me to litter and endanger wildlife. Nothing helps the grief, so why make the world a little worse because you are unhappy?

StoneofDestiny · 05/12/2021 18:14

Regardless of the timing of the posting, balloon releases are often followed up by nothing of substance. It's a photo opportunity and little else.
Tree and flower planting is a longer lasting tribute, a positive thing that can be seen and enjoyed by all. How nice if money was collected for that instead of balloons that deflate and become hazardous litter - not a nice way to remember a child or anybody else.

ParkheadParadise · 05/12/2021 18:14

Ballons are big business.
Weddings, Christenings, Birthday Parties.
You only need to ask on FB and you'll get 10 recommendations for people making balloon displays in your area.
Recently I've had Halloween balloons, elf on the shelf balloons and I've ordered Christmas balloons.

EcoCustard · 05/12/2021 18:18

YANBU. Picked up my 3rd helium balloon this fortnight when litterpicking. All collected from fields with food crops. They are a hazard and an indulgence. Far better ways to mark tragedies, losses and remembrance.

user1471505494 · 05/12/2021 18:22

Helium balloons kill livestock and wildlife In horrendous ways. If you are happy to celebrate the life of a loved one by causing death what does that say about you

janj2301 · 05/12/2021 18:22

I never let girls have ordinary ballons as children, hemiul ones weren't a thing then. If a child bites a ballon the surprise will often mean they inhale and get ballon in their windpipe, not huge numbers but many children die every year from ballon inhalation. I was a real spoil sport when fast food places used to dole them out to children for free.

user1493494961 · 05/12/2021 18:22

I agree with you OP.

Kite22 · 05/12/2021 18:22

If this is about the story I think it’s about, starting this thread is also a really dickish thing to do.

This post is about people littering and harming all sort of wildlife, farm animals and domestic animals. It isn't about any particular story, but of course every time someone has been reminded to start this thread again it will be because someone else had behaved really poorly by sending litter up to float through the sky and come down somewhere where it will harm the environment and probably birds or animals.

ParkheadParadise · 05/12/2021 18:25

@user1471505494

Helium balloons kill livestock and wildlife In horrendous ways. If you are happy to celebrate the life of a loved one by causing death what does that say about you
I don't know What does it say about me?
PinkWaferBiscuit · 05/12/2021 18:28

Sorry for the losses of those who have posted as bereaved relatives and parents. However thank you for taking the time to post to show that being bereaved does not allow you the right to litter and endanger wildlife. It's important to have this discussion and sadly no day will ever be an appropriate day to have it on as someone will always be grieving.

Thesearmsofmine · 05/12/2021 18:28

YANBU I know of 3 separate releases in the last month, hundreds of balloons ending up god knows where.

heathspeedwell · 05/12/2021 18:34

It's completely understandable that people who are grieving may not make the best choices. This is why it would be good for local authorities to take the lead and ban the sale of balloons.

But in the mean time, Christmas is a good opportunity for us to mention to family members that if anything happened to one of us we would not like it if the event was marked by a gesture that is likely to kill innocent wildlife.