If you don’t want to observe two minute silence- don’t be out

[Mokel]

Every Remembrance Sunday and Nov 11th, when I worked at retail, we did a tannoy announcement with 5 min, 2 min before to inform customers that the store will be observing the 2 min silence. Then another to start it.

Every time there were customers who kept talking. Plus one time a woman in her 50s shouted “why can’t anyone serve me some fucking fags?” Everyone just looked at her. Some had the courage to say how disrespectful she was once the silence ended.

If you are unable or refuse to observe the silence at 11am today or tomorrow, please don’t be in a public place.

Why did your employer not prevent customers from doing this? There are so many ways that this could have been achieved.

Answer: Not that important to commerce.

The shop wasn't observing it. Nobody was back in the early 90s. That's why everyone else was confused. It wasn't the done thing back then.

Don’t be silly. I have personal reasons for observing it. Many don’t. Why should that bother me?

I’ve just come on here after being on Facebook where lots of people are changing their profile pictures to fields of poppies and sharing slightly accusatory memes along the lines of “remember they died for you, you ungrateful bastard.” Well, I know they don’t literally say that, but it’s kind of implied.

@Coconutter24 actually she said if you are unable or refuse to observe the silence then stay home.The second implies a choice which is what you're on about. The first, literally doesn't.

LOL 😂 "slightly accusatory memes", that's exactly what they are.

"I didn't die fighting the Nazis so you could chat in Tesco " .

Sunday trading laws started in England/Wales in 1992. Unsure about Scotland and NI. Scotland's shops there are no limits on opening hours though.

"Public place"
You can do as you please!!
Respect the people to find take part if you expect them to respect the ones that do.
Obviously shouting is a bit OTT but whispering it talking low is fine!

In my experience, most of the people talking during the 2 minute silences held in shops/businesses etc... are doing so because for whatever reason they're completely unaware as to whats going on.

I forgot that its today, because I have AuDHD, I've been busy, my sleep pattern is fucked and my regular work shifts have altered, totally throwing me off as to what day it actually is (I genuinely feel like its Friday!)... so IF I were out and about, I might well be thoroughly fucking confused as to why everyones just stopped and gone quiet and if I am a bit spaced out and overwhelmed at being out, I might well not even notice until I need to speak, THEN i realise everyone else is totally silent.

I don't think theres many out there who would wilfully try to wreck it (excusing the under 5s..) but plenty who would, for various perfectly fair reasons, be oblivious.

And no it isn't possible to determine if someone is wilfully being disrespectful, by simply looking at them.

It is also possible for someone to be oblivious AND also be a generally rude person, so that when they open their mouth, they're rude.. because they're always rude, not because they're trying to be specifically disrespectful in this particular moment.

Imagine honouring people who died fighting for our right to be free from dictatorship by dictating to others what they should or shouldn't be doing.

Pretty sure that is not at all what OP was trying to convey

Sorry to hear about your son's epilepsy

In response to someone who was hopeful that a chap with the nerve to rev his engine would be "getting a visit" from a copper it seems pretty accurate. 😂

The irony is mind boggling with this one!

People died for your freedom!! You must do x,y,z !

If your store is open, then people have the right to observe the 2mins silence or not. Whilst the lady was rude, perhaps she simply didn't care.

As the wife of a veteran, we are kind of feeling the same way as @ReignOfError . Remembrance Day has become performative.

If the government and Royals really cared all year round and not only on 11th November, they would be giving £millions to house the estimated
300-400 Veterans to give them homes that aren’t shop doorways.
The RBL wouldn’t be mismanaging poppy funds given to them by the public instead of helping Veterans…including paying very high salaries to a high number of employees.

I have a severely disabled DD I avoid going out until 11 on remembrance Sunday knowing she won't be able to be quiet for 2 minutes. She can't help it and doesn't understand what it's for. Those that do and can't be quiet for two minutes are disrespectful.

This woman and those who choose to ignore the silence should definitely not be out, I agree.

But disabled people shouldn’t be frowned upon for making a noise.

The 2 minute silence doesn't help me remember or reflect. The poppy petals falling at the festival of remembrance gets me every year. The sheer scale of loss breaks me every time.

Some people don't agree with war or want to honour members of the British military. If I was in a shop and that staff were observing it then obviously I'd be silent and wait. But you can't tell people they shouldn't leave their homes unless they want to observe a custom that might have nothing to do with their beliefs.

This woman and those who choose to ignore the silence should definitely not be out, I agree.

But disabled people shouldn’t be frowned upon for making a noise.

After all we fought WW2 against people who didn’t want them to exist.

Agreed with all of this

But this thread isn't about asking people to "pipe down" it's about telling people not to go out (see thread title)

So you mean surly as in rudeness or with and grace or did you mean surely?

The OP obviously meant people who can be silent but chose not to be. She was not talking about anyone with a mental health issue or disability then meant they can't be still or silent. Why are you looking for stuff that isn't there so you can feel as you want to.

No she didn't. Otherwise why add "or refuse to observe it". That's the choice option isn't it?

Don't call me Surly.