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 😅

I think someone has been pulling your leg @EmmaMaria

I don't get the 'organised displays' argument Why aren't they bad for wildlife and frightening for pets?

There are some great tips about getting dogs used to fireworks, I used the blue cross advice when I had my puppy. He sometimes arches an eyebrow at a particularly loud firework but he's fine with them and will happily be in the garden with us when we are watching the fireworks go off. I don't set fireworks off myself, I'm too tight to waste my money like that 🤣

Don’t the street dealers round your way wave sparklers? I see loads of them. When drugs are available on bonfire night you can see just how young the dealers can be: some are primary school age. It’s county lines. Defo.

Not sure what you'd do re wildlife but in terms of pets re organised displays if its a couple of nights a year you can prep re sedation, music on etc. You just need to know but if its randoms on random nights eg little Chardonnay's 8th birthday, its a nightmare.

I don't get the 'organised displays' argument Why aren't they bad for wildlife and frightening for pets?

They're advertised so you can prepare yourself in anyone in your house is going to he triggered by them.

They last 10 - 20 minutes instead of 3 - 8 hours, and don't go on for evenings on end. There's no "oh let's save those last few rockets for tomorrow so the kids get an after dinner treat" going on.

They are managed by professionals who undertake risk assessments, and not randoms in a tiny garden setting off literal explosives.

People being injured by fireworks every year, that end up in A&E, are usually letting them off at home and are less likely to be injured at a display.

They are, but seeing as so many people seem to love fireworks then licensed displays a few days a year would be a compromise if the public were banned from buying them

Personally I couldn't stand and enjoy a firework display, knowing the trauma it was causing to wildlife. It's very selfish.

Of all the things that traumatise wildlife, picking fireworks is wild

Thanks Trixie I'll look that up.

Loving the idea of your pooch raising one brow Paddington Hard Stare style

I enjoy paying and attending an organised display. I think they should not be sold to the public. London NYE ones were OTT in the current economic climate. Save that money for the supposed black hole £

Wasn’t aware we had to pick one thing.

No but it feeds into my theory that no one really cares that much irl but get hyped up enough to go wildly aggressive on internet forums about them 😂

I’m not sure how you managed to come to the conclusion that no one in real life cares much, what with you having no idea what any of us do or don’t do to address the problem.

This type of prannet just wants to moan about fireworks and they'll use any excuse available to pin it on. If people really cared about animals so much they surely wouldn't eat them.

well You don’t do anything to address the problem of other people letting off fireworks do you? Sign a petition or 2 maybe. It’s not like you can do anything else

I love a good organised display for special occasions (though with the tech we have now why do we still need them??) but I don't understand why people feel the need to set them off in their back gardens all the bloody time. Boy cat was so terrified last night he hid under the bed for hours before we could entice him out.

I don't understand why people who buy them privately don't just take a few twenty quid notes and set fire to them. Same result after all although arguably less explosive in our new 2025 incredibly volatile world...

And yes I sign every petition going to ban them privately.

Yes nobody’s letting fireworks off on the bus or on the train or in Asda. I’ve encountered dogs in all these places in the last week alone.

Dickheads were setting off extremely loud fireworks till 4am here. They should be illegal to set off after 12.30 on NYE, and 10pm any other night.

I appreciate some people are in sensory heaven but I personally like sleeping through the night!

Agree OP. People who let off fireworks in their gardens are massive dicks. Usually thick, ignorant types who don't give a shit about the impact on wildlife. They should only be sold for licenced displays.

Condescending. Nice. For scared read seriously disturbed, can't sleep for severaj nights, flashbacks, etc.
Patronising too.
I started on this subject in favour - lovely display in London last night.
But when I see what the others who like then argue like, I feel different.
Bring on the bangless.

This is such a weird post- It doesn’t really matter what you want since you don’t make laws. But also we can all imagine what a terrified person looks and acts like. We just don’t make decisions in our day to day life based on whether they might be impacted by them. That’s not normal, no matter what you want to think.

Our dogs are fine with fireworks too. We did the work early.

Because they are fun.

The vast majority of veterans aren't triggered by fireworks. PTSD is pretty complex and doesn't present as someone being perfectly fine, hearing a loud bang and suddenly being turned into a gibbering wreck.

Roping veterans into the argument is even worse than roping animals into it. If you care about veterans, donate to a military charity.

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