Given the world conflict situation are fireworks in bad taste?

[MatildaTheCat]

I will preface this by saying that I’m no fan of fireworks anyway especially domestic ’ displays’ consisting of endless huge bangs which scare my dog into a state of terror.

Watching the news recently it occurs to me that seeing endless bombings of innocent civilians, many of whom are children, is essentially what firework displays are emulating. Bonfire night was originally meant to celebrate the events of the gunpowder plot to blow up Westminster. Terrorism in other words.

Is it not just a monumental waste of money and in incredible poor taste to have celebrations of this sort as people are literally being killed by actual explosives and not so very far from us?

Is there a better way of holding an autumnal celebration without using explosives?

5th November. Guy Fawkes. Its our history not some generic, wishy washy Autumnal celebration. We burn an effigy of Guy on the fire so hardly a celebration of terrorism either.

Also I frikking love fireworks. And burning stuff. Yabu.

No I don't think it's in bad taste.

In all honesty, if we didn't have fireworks because there was a conflict somewhere in the world, then we'd never have them. Unfortunately there's always a war somewhere.

No. The use of explosives to kill people and the use of explosives to create pretty patterns in the sky to give people pleasure have about as much in common as the use of a knife to stab someone and the use of a knife to spread jam on your Granny's scone. I detest fireworks personally and wish there were tighter controls to protect people and animals from the harmful impact, but the link to war is so tenuous, well, there isn't a link at all.

I know loads of people will disagree with you but I totally agree. It may be a personal thing but when I hear those explosions (fireworks) it takes my mind straight to all the children crying and screaming with bombs going off around them. It's a reminder of everything that is happening right now and how horrendous it is.

I ❤️ that you care about this, OP. Too many people are indifferent and jaded.

I’m not fussed about the fireworks but I find Halloween tat filling the shops so depressing in its commercialism. And then from 1 November, Christmas tat will be everywhere (if not already).

It’s not out history, it’s pure commercialism.

Fireworks are awful for many reasons, I wish they were banned.

I think you’re over-thinking this.

I grew up in place and time of fighting. I used to enjoy fireworks but I think they changed over the last 10 years or so and seem to be more about the bangs that the fizz and light. They really distress me now, I suppose some might call it triggering (I don’t). I get that Guy Fawkes Night, Diwali and so on are important and fun for many people so I’m not going to sign any ‘BAN THEM’ petition. Just want to say to the OP, yeah, I get it, when I hear them I think about wars, mine and their’s.

No.

I don't really think it is in bad taste. Fireworks aren't a celebration of weaponry -- they aren't designed to replicate the noise and light of bombs and artillery. They are just designed to make an exciting noise and visual display, and have long been used in a wide range of cultures without any reference to warfare.

There might be other reasons for not doing fireworks (I'm not a huge fan of them), but I don't think this is one

I hate fireworks and would ban them for other reasons, but think this is a stretch...

So mumsnet

I loathe fireworks for their effect on animals, both those scared by sounds and those killed by them.

BUT.

Its an English tradition regarding Guy Fawkes night, and has fuckall to do with anything going on overseas, so in that respect - YABU.

@MatildaTheCat your history is incorrect - quite shockingly off piste in fact!

we celebrate because Guy Fawkes’ plot failed. We are not celebrating terrorism! We celebrate that democracy was (ahem) saved because his plot was foiled.

re fireworks, I’d have organised displays only at specific licenced venues. Not for sale in the shops and not to be used in everyone’s garden etc. I’m not too fussed but it seems to upset a lot of people and I understand why.

Very unlikely to admit this IRL as wouldn't want to be labelled a total fun sponge but I have gone right off fireworks. I always loved them growing up/as a young adult, but as I've become more aware of human impact on wildlife, pollution levels etc, and then additionally given consideration to what loud bangs and explosions may remind certain people of (PTSD etc) it now makes me uncomfortable on a multitude of levels. Not just at this time of year, but new year and other occasions too. Feels like one of those things where it's enjoyable to many, but at a cost to many others including a great many pets and wild creatures who spend night after night in a state of high stress just so humans can enjoy some pretty colours and loud noises.

Do think those saying if you weren't going to do them because of the current conflicts then it would be basically saying ban them forever because there always seems to be a war somewhere. That wouldn't be my main motivation to move away from them tbh. Not sure it would unite the masses.

It’s tradition, it’s fine by me.

Are you banning them for all celebrations or just English ones?

Ban the rockets and bombs so that people can enjoy the fireworks in peace.

I love fireworks, particularly the sound. I can feel it in my stomach and just love it. Yes I’ve had a dog that was terrified of them, but she was also scared of thunder and I couldn’t do anything about that either.

this time of year is bloody grim and it’s only broken up b Halloween, fireworks and, finally Christmas

I went to a proms in the park thing when I was a kid and a woman next to us was flinching at the fireworks - she was from a warzone. There’s always been war. I dunno.

YABU

No.

I'm not a big fan of fireworks but appreciate that they bring joy to many people and are part of specific celebrations of light.

I would prefer they stick to specific days though rather than a whole 'fireworks season' and I only agree with organised firework displays - not them being available commercially, but that's mostly a safety thing.

Do I think they should be restricted to proper displays and noiseless used only over a very particular set of days ? - yes

Do I think they are in bad taste - No, wars have been going on constantly since day dot whether they are televised to us or not.

Given the world starving situation, is keeping a dog in bad taste?

YABU to try to frame this as you have, when really it's about wanting to stop fireworks for your dog.

Yabu