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?

It's just that the op seemed to be saying that they personally hate fireworks, so let's use all of the people currently caught in conflict as an excuse to ban them. It feels disingenuous

yep!!!

I do get your point

@Moonmelodies

inthink you're onto something there!!

I don't think they are intentionally bad taste no. I do see what you mean though, and having watched the news recently I don't think I'll ever
be able to enjoy them in the same way. I can see how they might be triggering for some people.....

Yes. Because of the terror it causes animals if nothing else.

I bloody hate them

Thanks for all the responses, some good points have been made.

I haven’t actually said fireworks should be banned altogether I guess it could read that way. However I do fully agree with the posters who sensibly suggest that domestic fireworks are a complete menace ( and what bother me most). A well organised public display set to music doesn’t rely on massive bangs to provide entertainment. And restricting fireworks to a few days around each celebration would make sense. Where I live they go on for months and yes, it can feel like a war zone.

For those saying it’s traditional well yes, but the practice of letting off random rockets throughout the night for any occasion whatsoever isn’t. And traditions can and do change- I haven’t seen a guy being thrown on a bonfire for decades. Why has that changed? Quite possibly because it’s poor taste to pretend to burn another person.

@savannahowl not really so very’how Mumsnet’. I haven’t suggested replacing the evening with a night of algebra and turnip crafting.

@BrieHugger good plan.

The ‘it’s tradition’ argument is wheeled out for so many shitty, selfish and pointless things we do. Bonfires can kill wildlife, as when the wood is gradually stacked they wander under for shelter. Fireworks terrify domestic animals and wildlife and can be fatal. Fireworks leave litter scattered around and of course fireworks bought by irresponsible folk injure and are used to terrify neighbours if you live in the wrong area, I grew up in one where lots taped their letterbox shut. But of course people prattle on that it’s their right and as none of these things affect them then why should their rights be trampled on, I think fireworks have had their day.

When I was a child, back garden fireworks were much more the norm - small rockets stuck in a milk bottle, small Roman candles, etc - hardly any really big bangs. Big displays with mega-bangs were a relative rarity.
I used to adore Bonfire Night.

Nowadays it’s (sadly IMO) been overtaken by Halloween, and I’m sure that’s very largely down to the vast amount of black and orange tat in the shops. Apart from fireworks and sparklers, there was no ‘merchandising’ (money-making opportunities) for Bonfire Night.

It’s tradition and brings in a bit of light and happiness. I imagine it would feel very glum to ignore Guy Fawkes night.

I think sales of fireworks (other than sparklers) to the public should be banned.

But I'd hate to see us losing the tradition of Bonfire Night

There have been a very few years since 1800 without a war in some part of the world.

War and Peace - Our World in Data

We didn't stop the British tradition during the wars when the Former Yugoslavia fell apart - which was much closer to home and involved a British deployment. As we could carry on then, I think we can carry on now.

Yes I have a vivid memory of the Catherine wheel my father lit shaking the fence. We thought we were done for 😂

Yes, they are always in bad taste, not BC of war but BC they are horrible and incredibly harmful to pets, wildlife, people with PTSD, etc etc. But of course there are always going to be twats out there who put their own 5 mins of pleasure above another creature or person's suffering so it is what it is.

Oh the joy police are out in force again. 🥱

One thing social media has made very clear is that if it were up to some people, no one would have any fun ever again.