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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:
ThePoetsWife · 05/12/2021 19:04

A donkey foal died the other day after eating a balloon 💔😥

Roadshiner · 05/12/2021 19:04

@HeyFloof. Flowers

Fet2021duejuly2022 · 05/12/2021 19:04

Like I said I hate balloon releases they should be banned. I just hate hypocrites too

PlanktonsComputerWife · 05/12/2021 19:04

You’re all massive hypocrites driving your kiddies to school

Yeah, our household doesn't have a car, either.

HoldingTheDoor · 05/12/2021 19:05

It’s so funny how most reply’s are ‘ i don’t drive! 🤣 liars

Do you honestly think that everyone drives? I don't.Never have. No kids here either.

Just10moreminutesplease · 05/12/2021 19:05

It is really irresponsible.

I saw a Facebook post a few weeks ago from a local person advising that they were letting balloons off as they do it every year to mark someone’s death.

The post acknowledged that they knew it was seriously bad for the environment (and could potentially kill local sheep/horses if eaten… but demanded that no one comment negatively this year Hmm.

The majority of the comments said something along the lines off “don’t listen to miserable people hun! They should shut up and have some respect!”.

People just don’t care.

Shade17 · 05/12/2021 19:05

It’s no different to chucking a McDonald’s bag of the car window. Completely unacceptable.

VikingOnTheFridge · 05/12/2021 19:06

I know I already have, but shall we not feed the fuckwit?

Fet2021duejuly2022 · 05/12/2021 19:06

@DoucheCanoe I am perfect yes 🤣. I just think being mean to grieving families is wanky especially if you aren’t particularly invested in the environment to begin with. if you drive then you obviously cant give a shit about animals or the environment

DoucheCanoe · 05/12/2021 19:07

@PlanktonsComputerWife, don't be silly. @Fet2021duejuly2022 says you do so you absolutely must be a liar along with the rest of us

Outlyingtrout · 05/12/2021 19:07

@Fet2021duejuly2022

Like I said I hate balloon releases they should be banned. I just hate hypocrites too
Unless you live off grid and are completely self sustained then you are also a hypocrite. Which web browser are you using btw? I hope you've chosen a carbon neutral one. You are a ridiculous person.
Mummy1232016 · 05/12/2021 19:08

@Mrsjayy

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 ?
Yes
MattDillonsEyebrows · 05/12/2021 19:08

Totally agree OP. I have said in no uncertain terms to my friends and family that if let any balloons into the air for me once I'm dead, I will come back and haunt them until they do a beach clean to make up for it!!

Likewise flowers and other gubbins on the side of the road I die in a car crash. If they feel the need to do that to feel better, great, but don't do it for me, and whatever they do, do not leave the plastic wrapping wrapped around the tree, and once they're dead, or it's rained so everything looks a bit manky, tidy it up!

Fet2021duejuly2022 · 05/12/2021 19:08

@VikingOnTheFridge it’s ok to disagree and have different opinions for you. doesn’t mean I’m a fuckwit

BourbonScreams · 05/12/2021 19:09

YABU if you take plane journeys / drive unnecessarily etc. It seems like a shitty thing to focus on when there are plenty of worse things people to do the environment that aren't an effort to honour a lost loved one. But it's obviously not great.

Augo · 05/12/2021 19:09

Yanbu they should be banned, at best they end up littered across the UK or in the sea, at worst they kill wildlife. Quite the tribute.

DoucheCanoe · 05/12/2021 19:09

Which grieving family?

Who said anything to any of the families?

Mummy1232016 · 05/12/2021 19:09

They do, but that’s not what this thread is about is it? You could start your own about cars

Fet2021duejuly2022 · 05/12/2021 19:10

@Outlyingtrout calm down, it’s ok to have different opinions. I’m not perfect but at least I recognise that and don’t try to humiliate grieving families

VikingOnTheFridge · 05/12/2021 19:10

@DoucheCanoe

Which grieving family?

Who said anything to any of the families?

Nobody, but it's a useful strawman.
Fet2021duejuly2022 · 05/12/2021 19:12

@BourbonScreams THANKYOU

Leafyhouse · 05/12/2021 19:12

Geeky fact - did you know that all Helium leaks out through the atmosphere and into space? And it cannot be replenished.

It's very useful stuff, and in hundreds of years people will be astonished that we used to blow up party balloons with it.

PlumManor · 05/12/2021 19:12

I think releasing balloons is akin to fly tipping. It’s a terrible idea and detrimental to the environment. It should absolutely be banned.

SmellyOldOwls · 05/12/2021 19:12

@InPatagonia

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.

You can't see the obvious parallel between letting go of your loved one and letting go of the balloon? Both of them drifting away from you forever?

Fet2021duejuly2022 · 05/12/2021 19:13

@VikingOnTheFridge threads like this are intended to upset people. I’m sure there are many people who have done such a thing reading this thread.