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

[flashbac]

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.

When I saw on the news they’d released 400 balloons at a vigil I felt sick. There are flowers and tributes all over the city centre, understandably so, it’s an awful situation and one that has deeply shocked everyone, but why, why, why just send loads of plastic and litter up into the sky as a tribute? Only to wash up on the beaches, river, fields, woods and cause hazards to animals and plants? How is that fitting? I wish people would think before they do this. I wish it had never become the thing to do to remember someone. There are others ways to do so.

@heathspeedwell

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.

Agree, luckily my family know that I would hate them to do this and my children love nature so I wouldn’t do it in their name either.

Is this is response to people on the news releasing balloons for Arthur Labinjo-Hughes? Is that really the big concern that you took away from that story?

@NeverTheHootenanny

Is this is response to people on the news releasing balloons for Arthur Labinjo-Hughes? Is that really the big concern that you took away from that story?

You do realise it’s possible to be concerned about more than one issue at a time?

@heathspeedwell

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.

Christmas must be fun at your house. We try to stay away from discussing our own deaths over the festive period!!!! 🤣

@Sirzy yes I do, but balloons certainly weren’t at the top of my list of concerns when hearing about that story. I think this whole thread is really callous and poorly timed.

Whenever Sky lanterns are mentioned I think of the Zoo disaster in Germany.

Balloons haven't caused such a big event... yet. But they have killed animals on a small scale. What goes up, must come down.

I like the ideas of blowing bubbles or planting flowers.

@Christmasiseverywere

Is this in relation to little Arthur if so YABSU

Did the balloons released in his memory not pose the same threat to animals then?

It's not disrespectful to raise this issue. If he was anything like any of the 6 year olds I know, there's absolutely no way Arthur would have wanted to see a wild animal or someone's pet or livestock choke to death or die an agonising death with bits of rubber wrapped around their insides by litter that was dropped in his name.

There are far better ways to honour loved ones. It's shocking that people think being bereaved gives them the right to cause completely avoidable harm to living creatures.

@Nanny0gg

Who the hell are the 13% that think the OP is wrong??

People who think killing a donkey through stupidity is a suitable tribute to the deceased.

I also thought that. People who do this must be entirely stupid. Why not light a candle instead?

So when is the time to mention it? It’s such a thoughtless and basic thing to do, and has no long-lasting affect on anything other than wildlife.

[quote NeverTheHootenanny]@Sirzy yes I do, but balloons certainly weren’t at the top of my list of concerns when hearing about that story. I think this whole thread is really callous and poorly timed.[/quote]
The problem is no matter when people try to have this discussion someone will always come along with a reason why it's not a good time to have the bloody discussion. When do you propose would be a good time for the topic to be discussed?

Yeah it’s not great but how many of you posters drive 4x4s……

Is today really the day to squabble over this JFC.

YANBU it’s basically releasing litter.

@Fet2021duejuly2022

Yeah it’s not great but how many of you posters drive 4x4s……

I don’t drive at all, HTH

@PinkWaferBiscuit how about not off the back of a news story about a murdered six year old

Arthur isn't the only child to be "commemorated" with a balloon release this weekend - there was a release for 12yo Ava White too.

2 children lost their lives under tragic circumstances and action needs to be taken to prevent them happening again but potentially harming/killing wildlife won't help them.

There will always be a family grieving and many of those will continue to release balloons in their hundreds. When is the right time to discuss it exactly?

It's not disrespectful or "dickish" to state facts!

I'm with the people who say they can't believe this is still a thing. On my local FB I see many posts from home run businesses who supply balloon arches - including for 1 and 2 year old's birthdays. I can't understand the selfish thinking behind it. We've got to get a grip and get with the programme.

Farmers have lost barns full of hay because of chinese lanterns, that's a pretty "big event" to them. Cattle are valuable creatures, and they die through eating balloons (so do other animals of course). And here is an example of what an animal suffers when a lantern sets fire to them www.brentwoodlive.co.uk/news/14828092.warning-upsetting-images-horse-burnt-by-chinese-lantern-at-stables/

@Fet2021duejuly2022

Yeah it’s not great but how many of you posters drive 4x4s……

So you can't care about animals dying or the huge amount of plastic waste if you happen to drive a big car?

FYI I don't drive not that it would preclude me having an opinion on the matter, such stupid whataboutery.

@Thesearmsofmine I don’t own/drive a car either nor do I release balloons but I think most people on here will doing more harm by driving around polluting the air

There was a balloon release here today I saw it on Facebook a young woman was murdered by her boyfriend last weekend . Her friends wanted to do something for her and the dc left behind, do you think somebody should have said something to them about it ?

But it’s such a cheap emotion isn’t it? “Oh balloons are so pretty, floating into the sky!”It’s ducking ridiculous and simplistic. How does it benefit anyone? It doesn’t it just kills things.

[quote NeverTheHootenanny]@PinkWaferBiscuit how about not off the back of a news story about a murdered six year old[/quote]
How do you know it's even about that? I doubt his was the only balloon release planned this weekend. We had 2 local to me. There is likely to be a tragic event every day that is being commorated in such a stupid way so by that logic we can never have the discussion.