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.

Agree, your suggestion is ridiculous, and ableist, my DF is completely deaf with poor vision, unless you were with him and knew how to communicate your message would be lost. Any act of remembrance is a personal choice based on individual views and experiences.

"a woman in her 50s"?
The age, or supposed age, is irrelevant.

Yep, everyone indeed has the right to be disrespectful. 🤢

I don’t disagree with that.

Clearly he's not choosing to disrespect it, there's genuine reason. As well as his conditions he's also a child. 👍

I don’t personally go out of my way to observe the silence or not but if I were in a place where it was being observed, I would do so, out of respect for the other people around me’s feelings.

I think that, if everybody decided that they were prepared to respect and observe other’s feelings, even if that incurred a mild, small inconvenience, the world would be a nicer place.

the responses on this thread “you can’t make me if I don’t want to” show why we don’t live in that nicer world.

It's not being silent, it's a time for reflection. All those young men (and now women) lost cross the world due to war. Look at the veterans marching and imagine your family members having gone through what they have.

The silence isn't meaningless.

Just shut up and leave others alone. It's 2 minutes. Two.

Freedom of movement 🤣

Jesus 🙄 If you're in a shop just think about not being a dick for two minutes 🤷

I once walked into a supermarket and everyone was standing still not talking, total silence. I think it was for 9/11. My first thought was some kind of alien mind takeover sort of situation 😬
I did quickly realise what was actually going on, though (sci-fi fan)

It's not compulsory and it doesn't stop you being silent. I hate all this you must wear a poppy and you must observe 2 minutes silence. I don't have to if I don't want to.

My great great grandfather fought in WWI my grand father in WWII, my great uncle was shot by the nazis and has a plaque where he was killed. Sometimes I observe the silence, most time I dont.

i dont need 2 mins of silence once a year to remember the sacrifices my ancestors made for this world.

so if I need to go shopping at this time or be out and about then I will.

i dont need anyone to be sanctimonious to me especially on that day.

In war the heroes of one story are always the villains of another. No one is innocent in the killing field.

Many oppose the gears of warfare (in all countries including our own) which have CAUSED untold death and destruction throughout history. Without those soldiers shooting at each other over fragile male egos we wouldn't even be having these moment silence 'for the fallen' to begin with.

If you remove the word 'war' its just government sanctioned mass murder. Many don't feel like celebrating those that take part in such acts which is their right to oppose or not celebrate that.

No one is stopping others, its not like they threw soup on you in protest they just carried on their daily activities as usual.

I agree but the OP says ..."if you are unable...". My boy is unable, others like him will be unable for a variety of reasons but they shouldn't be having to stay at home because they can't observe the two minute silence.

Nonsense - everyone should be free to do and behave how they wish within the bounds of consideration of others.

Clearly, actively disturbing the silence of another person in a rude manner is outside that, while going about your daily life as normal is not.

I used to work in public facing in a museum we put up a little sign by the tills in the shop etc saying 'at 11 we will be observing the 2 min silence, our service will be paused for this duration'. That was so that someone didn't need to break the silence if someone rocked up to the till and didn't realise what was going on.

We also dealt with groups doing tours of the museum - there'd be about 5 tours on the go at any one time. For those whose timing would cross the 11am mark at the beginning of the tour we would ask the group if they would like to observe the silence so we could incorporate it in and lead with the timing. Almost all said yes and it was fine, but I wouldn't have batted an eyelid if they said no.

Personally I do not agree with the national 2 minute silence, it feels authoritarian and I don't like the judgment when you don't observe it. As evidenced by OP. But I respect I'm in a minority and other (majority) feelings are perfectly valid!

I agree everyone has the right to choose not to observe it.

They can continue to shop or walk about etc.

However people must also respect that it is observed nationally. And that retail operatives will stop serving and the silence and observance will affect them in that way.

The OP has in jowly said those who can't understand or be quiet should be locked up indoors.

She has - rightly imo- suggested that if those nationally observing the silence is an issue for you you are best of avoiding public spaces where it's being observed.

The same way of you hate balloons you're best off avoiding a balloon festival!

I observe the two minute silence. I don’t wear a poppy. My Dad and several like him fought a war so that people could be free to choose how they went about their daily business.

The silence is meaningful to some people and not others. It’s not a legal requirement and some people will not observe it. That’s how it is.

True, but I'd argue partaking in the silence is, it almost falls into the ritual category. I don't mean that as any kind of judgment on thosewho choose to participate, but people should also be free to choose not to, otherwise it's not freedom.

No one should be forced or coerced into taking part in a ritual or practice against their will, and the threat of placing people on house arrest if they choose not to participate feels like that to me.

I think she chose the wrong way to express it. Unable isn't the correct word. Perhaps 'able but not willing' is better.

I would observe it if I happened to be out, because im not a total dick, but i privately think it's a meaningless display of virtue signalling.

It is meaningless if that’s all you do.

Theres no point in remembrance without action.

This may not be you. But it’s most people. Especially the ones who are most vocally performative about it.

Yes I agree.

Do you talk through funerals? How sad we used to show respect for others feelings if I'm in a religious environment I don't talk through others reflection or prayers. The country decided to honour its dead soldiers even the ones still dying today.

I don't talk through funerals, in religious environments or at Remembrance services. None of those things have ever taken place in an Asda though, to my knowledge.

I would never stop anyone else observing their silence but thankfully we all have the freedom to remember in our own way and in our own time.

I've not worn a poppy or donated since a Royal British Legion poppy seller verbally berated me in the street for saying a polite 'No thank you' when offered a poppy (Because I already had one that year).

It probably should be meaningful to everyone though.

I have no wish to encourage or glorify war in any way.

Also we are probably about to desert Ukraine anyway, so that just proves what a meaningless waste of life and money war is.