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.

You don't have to but it is polite to not deliberately ruin the silence for others

It’s hard for it to be meaningful when it’s no longer just about remembering those who were forced to fight and sacrifice in the World Wars but celebrating those who fought in the wars and invasions by the UK that should never have happened.

That's much better

I'll admit that years ago it completely slipped DH and I's mind and we happened to walk into a shop talking to each other at 11.00, or 11.01 or whatever. So we'd missed the announcement and it took us a minute to twig that everyone was quiet and glaring at us. That wasn't deliberately disrespectful, but I'm sure we are in people mind when they talk about horrible disrespectful people.

Remembrance Sunday isn't a huge thing for us. I'll respectfully take part on a silence if I am somewhere one is happening, but I do sometimes think people should be going to services and remembrance events if it's a big deal to them, or staying home and watching events on TV, not shopping! I realise the staff don't have that option though, so yes people should respect businesses who choose to take part, and stay outside for a few minutes if they can't / won't. I don't think they need to stay home though!

But I don't think enforcing poppy wearing and silences once a year is the best way to remember war dead personally, and I see so much virtue signalling and hypocrisy around it. I think of my grandad and how sad I am that that gentle man had to fight very often. I think of how my fil never even met his dad because he was killed in ww2 the same time as he was born. I think of all the horrific things happening in the world right now, and the civilian deaths, and how little some of the people who bang on most about poppies and silences seem to care about that. I don't think I need to be wearing a poppy or standing silent in a supermarket to care or be respectful.

There are awful wars going on at the minute. No amount of remembering and reflecting has stopped them. So I don't feel inclined to join in with the performance poppy wearing and observing 2 minutes silence,

I haven't been doing it for 100 years.
Some people clearly have learned, and while wars still happen much effort us expended in the name of diplomacy and cordiality between nations.
It's not hypocritical to give thanks to those who sacrificed their lives or who lost family members.

What a daft suggestion,of course businesses don't close.There was no service for 2 minutes that's all, customers were free to go to the other sandwich shop in the town, though they also observed it. It's just 2 minutes.

Whilst I'd never ruin someone else's silence, I do wonder why they can't remember and reflect without being silent.

It just seems so silly and meaningless. 2 minutes silence doesn't teach us anything. It doesn't bring anyone back. It doesn't achieve anything.

It just seems so performative to demand it's done in public and that everyone joins in. It's harmless, but utterly pointless. The atrocities of war arnt fixed by silence. Maybe 2 minutes of non-stop ranting of why war is awful and is a needless loss of life would be more helpful actually...

I agree. Carry on shopping or whatever it is you are doing but do it quietly. Don't expect others to break their silence to serve you.

"It probably should be meaningful to everyone though."

Why though? Its meaningful to me and I do always observe it, but I also know that others don't find it meaningful for many reasons. I, maybe disagree, but I respect their right to different opinions.

I'm not celebrating the politicians, I'm celebrating men and women willing to sacrifice their lives and well being.

Maybe lots of people don’t feel the need to set aside a specific 2 minutes every year and can be thankful and reflecting more often than that.

I hate ‘forced’ silences and detest the performative nature of it all. On strictly imagine if someone didn’t wear a poppy; they would be crucified on social media. It’s fine to remember any way you want. Or even not at all, if that’s your view about the wars.

But of course I would never disrupt anyone’s silence. That would be disrespectful to others doing so.

I am often working in the hospital though. So there have been occasions where I have had to talk. Or if I am honest, have been rushing between wards and simply forgotten.

I think, as a society, we have to question why people are so selfish that they see no meaning in it.

I observe the silence, and I wear a poppy. I think it's important to reflect on the cost of war for future decision making.

But the freedom to live and express ourselves as we please is one the rights we fought for. If people choose for whatever reason not to observe the silence they should be able to go about their day as normal.

(But there is a balance, the woman shouting about fags in the op was clearly very rude)

Exactly this ^^ The excuses here are pathetic, as is the reasoning. The silence should be observed if you’re in a public place. That doesn’t mean you have to think about Remembrance if you don’t want to, but it’s respectful to stay silent for 2 minutes. It’s not much of an ask, is it?

It’s nothing to do with having your freedom restricted 🙄 It’s about respect. As an example, I was walking through the town centre and saw a large group of teens pausing two or three metres from a fountain. My route would have taken me right between them and the fountain, as I was heading for a particular shop. But, as I got closer, it became obvious that something was going on, something solemn. So, what did I do? Did I barge through tutting? Did I get out my phone and start a loud conversation with my mum? Of course not! I silently walked a respectful distant around them with my head down.

I later found out that they were paying their respects to a friend who’d died. I had no idea who they were or who the poor teen who’d died was, but it was respectful to respect them in their moment of remembering him. It’s the same with Remembrance - pay some respect to others even if you’re not affected, don’t care or aren’t interested. It’s common courtesy. Purposely interrupting their moment is unnecessary and rude.

As for ‘performative’, I’d apply that to the rude people continuing to talk loudly and barge their trolleys past people in supermarkets who’ve stopped to pay respects.

For those who say “it s 2 mins”, “it s to be thankful of the fallen” etc.

women and men have fought wars for the freedom we have now. They have famililes who have letters, photos and other mementos of their sacrifices for the greater good.

i am thankful in how the great great great grandchildren in our family know History, know their stories and know the sacrifice they made. That s how you remember the fallen. By talking through the choices they made when they volunteered, the fear they experienced when they receive the letter for enrolment, the letters you may have received long after because it was lost and realise how scared and hungry they were in the trenches somewhere in the Somme….

As descendants, my cousins and I are humbled to know that. To have read those letters. One has a mark and my grandmother said it must have been a tear.

so stop with rhe 2 mins once a year. Dont be disrespectful but dont tell me what to do.
if you re in a church or at a remembrance event, participate. But if i m shopping it a because i need to that day and couldnt go before or after.
and no I dont and wont wear a poppy.

It serves to remind us at a time when the world is getting ever more dangerous, that peace is a fragile thing.

If you really cannot STFU for 2 minutes, you ought to have a little think to yourself about why that might be.

And as usual: i am on board with stand if you are able, and keep silent if you are able. It's not a stretch to think that people who genuinely can't manage this are not being disrespectful

She didn’t say the politicians. She said “celebrating those who fought in the wars and invasions by the UK that should never have happened” and she’s right.

So much attitude on this thread.

OP is saying you should respect those who are observing the 2 mins silence and I’ve never seen anyone not doing so - even small children in schools manage this.

You don’t have the right to interrupt someone else.

You have no idea of their thoughts or feelings and you certainly don’t get to demand what you need.

If we were at war we certainly wouldn’t have shops selling useless tat and she’s have to get her fags on the black market. Something she should be grateful for.

It's not either or.
It's also not hard for most people to observe.
Exceptions exist, such as medical staff, children, adults who don't understand etc.

It is, but everything starts with "it's just ...." saying someone cannot go about their normal lives or out in public at a certain time because they don't share your beliefs is not a path I would be comfortable starting down.

So you are going to be deliberately disruptive while other people are observing the silence?

And that's what consideration for others looks like. Thank you.

Don't be ridiculous 🙄 you know exactly what she means.