Fireworks - why are they still a thing?

[landobroken]

Sorry to be a party pooper - but!

Surely they are horrendous for the environment?

Surely there are more environmentally-friendly options to replace them?

They're awful for pets, cost a flipping fortune etc etc. god knows how much the London NY show costs for example....

Not a party pooper by any stretch but I see people calling out things bad for the environment/COL all the time and yet this....

Anyway I'll go back to my scrooge self now 😅

No, loud bangy shite such as backfiring cars by knobheads and fireworks can go.

All hail 2025 the year of not scaring dogs and cats shitless and killing flocks of birds for 30 seconds of lights and banging.

Pets have a pretty big environmental impact shall we ban them too?

Yes this!
I would LOVE to repost this comment on my Neighbourhood facebook page!

I agree. I'm a libertarian. However, I think they should be banned. Dogs HATE them. Mine is frightened every time. They are not very exciting either.

Maybe at a professional display.

Not in a back garden with one per 5 minutes (mostly those massive house shuddering bomb types) as it's like playing a video game innit by the bloke setting it off.

I'd say mumsnetters have a way bigger environmental footprint than pets,with all their high flying jobs, business travel and let's not forget the methane produced from the bullshit they spout on MN.

I don’t think they should be sold to public no but to big company’s and displays yes

Because there is nothing (imo) as spectacular as a good Firework display. For me, fireworks are up there with a visit to a butterfly house, or a room full of My Little Pony. So much prettiness.

In my opinion dogs are worse for the environment, and I loathe the mess irresponsible owners leave, so if it was between voting to get rid of fireworks or dogs, I’d vote to make dogs illegal.

I hate butterflys, they are fluttery cunts. I would love to explode a few of those arseholes!

Yes adopt/rescue only.

Boring.

I’ve never heard a person call butterflies ‘cunts’ before. That’s a new one for me. I sort of enjoy the concept, although I think they are beautiful, flying works of art. Cats are cunts. I like cats, but there’s no denying it.

Yes adopt/rescue only.

That’s like saying just buy second hand cars. It’s not helping the wildlife is it.

Possibly the most depressing thread I've ever read on here. I knew there were cunts out there, but...

You could try to be less of one in 2025?

I hear you.

Our guinea pigs hate them. Literally between Diwali & nye we have to agree that one of us stays in after dark, no matter what. They are so common here.

We ended up with one piggy so scared he climbed UNDER his brother.

As a toddler parent and dog owner, I agree with you. We spent most of our nye comforting and distracting the dog and watching the baby monitor praying the toddler wouldn't wake up with each bang. It sucked. Maybe it only happens a few times a year, but last night it was so loud with woke me up with earplugs in!!! That's loud! And it was nearly 1am!!! Luckily toddler slept.

I guess maybe I'm only saying this because I'm trying to just relax in my home in peace and there are loud noises outside that apparently are okay because it's new year? Maybe if I were the one setting off the loud noises I'd be happier about it...

^ This

I’ve not heard any tonight thankfully.

Try living in London. They are a very regular occurrence here.

I did for 10 years. I don’t recall it ever being a problem. Maybe they’ve increased in use since then

Well obviously that’s excessive. I think it would probably be best to only have them at organised displays or to limit more rigidly the dates they can be set off. Ban them altogether though? No.

Because the world hasn’t gone totally crazy banning absolutely everything quite yet, thankfully.

"Fireworks: bad because I don't see the fun of them, and they scare/harm wildlife and pets, and litter everywhere"

"Pets: good, because I do see the fun of them, even though they scare/hurt people, scare/hurt wildlife and shit everywhere."

"Also, my poor dog/cat who I definitely got when garden-based fireworks were a thing, is terrified, but I take no responsibility for homing an animal slap bang in the middle of a world where these things exist, and everyone else should just stop."

For the record, I don't do fireworks, I do have a couple of cats who don't enjoy the firework experience, and will be getting a dog soon. But my preference isn't the point, my choices are my choices, and I have to take responsibility for them.

I don't expect the world to change to accommodate me, or judge others for liking things I don't, and who make choices that have no greater negative effect on the world than mine do.

Also, while cars are a necessity for many in a way that pets and fireworks aren't, they still kill/harm/scare/pollute more people, pets and wildlife than fireworks do, and not only because of entirely necessary journeys, and safe and considerate driving - I'm sure everyone who hates fireworks never drives when they don't need to, or just for fun and always take public transport when available.

Ok, I know some with a major dog phobia, people walk their dogs every day of the year, he is basically housebound as there isn't a time he can leave the house and know he won't have to encounter a dog. But hey! People love them

It's been so windy here overnight that anyone trying to let off fireworks is likely to have had them blow back in their face.

Not sure drones are more environmentally friendly but they are arguably just as brilliant a display without some of the noise problems. I saw one a couple of years back that was an immense experience and far more awesome than any firework display I've ever seen.

I suspect it's only a matter of time before private firework sales are banned, tbh. That seems to be the way things are trending. I can't say I'd be sorry to see it.