People feeling under pressure to wear a poppy.

[schroeder]

Yesterday on the bbc news a very interesting conversation about the increasing pressure people feel to wear a poppy seemed about to start, but was cut short. It was something to do with football shirts I think.

I feel this is a conversation that should be had. I work with the public and feel uncomfortable every year when it is expected of me to wear one.

It's not the wearing so much that bothers me, but that in doing so I am supporting a charity I would not support otherwise.
Surely we should not all feel forced to give to this charity whether we like it or not?
I do not think even the British legion woud want poppies to be compulsary?

[meglet]

I always buy one but without fail I lose it within an hour or so. They don't stay on.

The dc's bought theirs yesterday, both lost / fallen off before we got home from town.

[knitknack]

I'm tempted to say well it's better than being FORCED to wear a swastika which was so very nearly the case... but that would be flippant

... but why the bother? Just don't wear one if you genuinely don't feel thankful for the millions and millions of men that gave their lives so that you could live yours.

[schroeder]

I am not saying I cannot make the choice, I just resent personally feeling under pressure to wear one. The white poppy is very contentious and it would be a brave person who wore one (plus I have no idea where to get one).

I also I think that people in the public eye being pressured to wear one is a serious issue, that should at least be discussed.

[coccyx]

I wear one and thats out here in the Middle east.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

I don't like to wear them and don't like the pressure. My family now is full of people who found on different sides and I don't feel comfortable wearing something which, to me, will always evoke WWI because it is so visually associated with that.

[noddyholder]

Can I ask why those who feel the pressure feel that way? I don't feel it at all.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

noddy - a fair few people simply assume 'everyone' wants to wear a poppy or that if you don't have one you've 'forgotten' it. It feels as if it's ceased to be a choice and become a social obligation.

I think it's great that something some people feel passionately about has become so successful, but no-one should feel they deserve to lecture you iyou don't wear a poppy IMO.

[Pixel]

I don't get where the pressure comes from tbh. Poppies are available to pick up from the shop when we buy a newspaper, or there may be someone standing politely outside a supermarket with a tray but that is as demanding as it gets. Being told to wear them at work is obviously wrong but if you refuse what can they do? Employers would be on very shaky ground if they tried to sack or otherwise punish someone for 'poppy refusal'. IMO someone would only feel pressure if they weren't totally secure in their decision, maybe they feel deep down that they should be wearing one so are over-sensitive to others' possible reactions. If you are sure of your reasons for not wanting to wear one, then just don't wear one. You don't have to constantly justify yourself, most people won't even notice whether you have one or not.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

I think I have very different experiences of people's reactions from yours, pixel.

[shesparkles]

I'm proud to wear a poppy, I actually wear mine all year round. I have access to the metal badges, which I wear pinned to my ID lanyard at work....I now have 5 and wear then all the time, as do a very large proportion of my colleagues

[exoticfruits]

I wear one-before it drops off and I lose it. I can't see why there is any pressure. Don't wear one if you don't want to, but there is no need to make a big deal out of it.

[ZZZenAgain]

I cannot personally understand anyone having a problem with wearing a poppy in rememberance of those who fought in WW2. Where would we be without them fgs? And if you someone has a problem with military, how about sparing a thought for the fact most of these people were conscripted. How ridiculous can you get. I am not a war-mongerer by any means but this one I totally don't get

[noddyholder]

You don't need to get it. It is about choice.Those who want to can I have no problem with other people wearing them

[Memoo]

I dont agree with a lot of the things the British military have been involved with

But I always wear a poppy because I know there are a lot of people in our country who have lost a loved one, young children who have lost their Daddy or Mummy, patents who have lost their child.

So for a few days each year Im sending a message to those people that I am sorry for their loss.

[ZZZenAgain]

about choice
about a huge lack of respect

[Memoo]

parents

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Oh, yes, I have no problem at all with other people wearing them.

I just don't want to myself.

[noddyholder]

It is not about respect. I feel the govt should acknowledge and provide for anyone who puts themself out there on behalf of their country. I don't want to wear anything on my person that says anything about things that are personal to me.

[Pixel]

"I think I have very different experiences of people's reactions from yours, pixel."

That may be so. All I can say is I've honestly never ever had anyone so much as comment on whether I'm wearing a poppy or not, let alone be judgemental about it.

[zippadeedoodaa]

Jon Snow I believe (channel 4 news reader) declined to wear one not because he disagreed with the poppy apppeal but because there is in some circles a dergree of compulsion and judgement regarding the wearing of the poppy. Just because someone doesn't chose to wear a poppy doesn't mean they don't appreciate the sacrifice of others, and that sacrifice was to allow us to continue to live in a democracy where personal choice is allowed. If we go down the route of compulsion are we really better than those dictators that these brave individuals fought against for our freedom.

[Moln]

llouis walsh and what's her name irish girl ff x factor, would have been asked if they wanted to wear one, they can say no, daragh o'brien said no before (but then re-thought his opjections) the poppy is on sale in ireland too, plently of irish me fought in the wws.

Don't think there's a presure to wear it, thought there oes seem to be a lot of peole over thinking the wearing of them.

Mind you it has become more of an issue because, as with anything, when on end becomes more extreme, such as burning poppies, the the other end becomes more apparent, more exreme too.

[noddyholder]

Agree zippa.

[meditrina]

X Factor have been part of the pressure though - what they do (eg releasing the "Heroes" single) is very close to cashing in.

Jon Snow made those comments in 2006. They remain a cogent view.

[mayorquimby]

"I cannot personally understand anyone having a problem with wearing a poppy in rememberance of those who fought in WW2."

Don't the funds go to British veterans of all wars, not just WW2? In which case there may be good reason why many don't want to wear them.

" Where would we be without them fgs?"
Possibly in some horrible soceity were people didn't have the freedom of choice to not wear such symbols, or didn't have the freedom to hold views which the majority did not agree with.
Thankfully they did die for the freedom of others to make such choices.

[cory]

Most of the servicemen who fought in the World Wars are dead now, aren't they? Surely the last one from WW1 died some time ago? Doesn't a fair bit of the money go to servicemen who have fought in more recent wars? It seems strange to have marched against these wars on the one hand and then give money on the basis that they were fought for our freedom on the other hand. But if I am wrong and all the money does actually go to WW2 soldiers, then I shall stand corrected. But not expect the need for the appeal to last much longer.

As for more recent servicemen, I think it is a scandal that the government that sent them out -against the express will of a large part of the nation- did not provide better for them; they owed them proper care and it is disgraceful that they should not be getting it.

I always send money to civilians damaged by war on Poppy Day. But if there were to be another war where I genuinely feel British servicemen are fighting to save democracy, then I shall certainly send money to their cause. There hasn't been one recently.

I have no problem standing up to pressure, but it was quite hard for my dcs when they were younger and also anti-the more recent wars.