Is it strange to think children's football teams should not need to wear a poppy?
Posted by Broad-Attention-6133@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 543 comments
My son's in an under 8 football team, and the club is selling Poppys for the players to wear on their shirts this weekend. When I was growing up, remembrance was a solemn act and buying a Poppy was voluntary. Children did not wear them.
brushfuse@reddit
Jon Snow called this sort of social pressure Poppy facism. I kind of agree that it’s no one else’s business if someone wears it or not.
JamesJe13@reddit
The point of poppies is that it's a donation to charity and you get a little thing to wear to say you've supported that charity and as a visible way of remembering the cost of war.
People have now decided to connect poppies to patriotism and now the gesture of charity has become politicised.
brushfuse@reddit
Yes, it's definitely subverted into a nationalist symbol. I hear it's very difficult to work in TV presentation, for example, if you aren't wearing it in November. The owners will essentially demand it be worn.
DufflessMoe@reddit
We used to always wear poppies from a young age at primary school. Big fundraising etc. Was always voluntary
foxjon@reddit
Stopped when it became mandatory. Just another form of Jingoism now.
Eky24@reddit
I’ve certainly donated to the poppy appeal as it is for a good cause - but I wouldn’t wear a poppy because of all the “poppy police” enforcement involved.
HyderintheHouse@reddit
Why do you think it’s a good cause though? Is it even an effective charity?
Big-Bag-571@reddit
I used to donate, until the charity funded furniture and carpets for my convicted child rapist father in law. Not any more
Eky24@reddit
Even though I see the U.K. as a negative force which has done a lot of damage across the world, I see the ex soldiers as people, many of who have been badly shafted by the government they fought for. Some of the old guys who live in Erskine hospital would be much worse off without the support they get there.
sookietea@reddit
Erskine is a charity in its own right and would no doubt welcome your donation.
Eky24@reddit
Erskine also benefit from poppy development nations, and there are several similar places that do so - it’s a way of donating to them all.
GreggsFan@reddit
I’m the opposite. Wouldn’t have a problem wearing a poppy if the cash didn’t go towards the fellas who brought us Bloody Sunday and one million dead Iraqis.
SwimmingAdeptness110@reddit
Your ignorance is staggering.
GreggsFan@reddit
Ignorance? Are you suggesting the money doesn't go towards those chaps?
foxjon@reddit
I_up_voted_u@reddit
When did that come in?
Curiousinsomeways@reddit
It's a fantasy people love rehashing to get attention. At best we have tabloids picking on people in the public eye to get clicks.
bushcraftbobb@reddit
I got a written warning at an old job for wearing a white poppy, the manager of the shop eventually got a face full of fucks off his manager because of it but the self appointed " Poppy police" has very much been a problem since the mid 90s if you work in a public facing job.
plasticface2@reddit
Whats a white poppy about?
bushcraftbobb@reddit
Its in rememberance of all victims of war, started in 1933 as an alternative to the red poppy.
plasticface2@reddit
Oh ok. I wear my poppy as a remembrance to all victims of war as well. Oh well, I suppose its exactly the same thing.
bushcraftbobb@reddit
Pretty much only difference being red poppy is for soldiers only while the white poppy includes refugees and is a commitment to peace.
Curiousinsomeways@reddit
Of course you did.
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Why not my gran whose dad died in ww1 never wore a red poppy because of the haig fund and what it represented !
bushcraftbobb@reddit
Oh bless, so certain in your own narrative you cant accept someone elses experiences as anything other than scary horseshit.
UnhappyAd6499@reddit
We had a business in a building whos staff put up red poppies everywhere including on ours and we got in trouble for replacing it with a white poppy. Its a form of jingoism, nothing to do with innocent victims a century ago.
DistrustPilot@reddit
These days...
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
When I was young I think it was one of those things that was theoretically voluntary, but in practice if you weren't wearing one you got picked up by teachers for it. So it didn't really feel voluntary.
SnooStrawberries2342@reddit
I was never picked up by my teachers for it. That would be wrong.
SpecificAlgae5594@reddit
They cost whatever you wanted to pay. There was no set price.
SnooStrawberries2342@reddit
I don't remember them being given for free
RPG_Rob@reddit
When I was a child in the 70s, we always bought them. You put 1/2p, 1p, or 2p in the pot and take a poppy, usually stabbing yourself with the pin when putting it on.
Dependent_One6034@reddit
Pretty sure they have always been available for free (You can literally order an entire box of them, for free with the assumed proviso donations would be sent to them). It's a donation box, but donate what you can if you can sort of deal. They don't specify you can take them for free, they also don't say you can't have 1 for free, but the more people who wear them (even if taken for free) pushes others to get one, so it's a net win overall.
If in a school, yeah they probably would be stingy and make sure a donation is made. I mean, they used to make us pay 50p or a quid to wear our own clothes on mufty. Where did that money end up?
williamsiilophs@reddit
If you consider most schools have around 1500 kids that £1500 probably went towards 1 new computer or a meal deal or something
verycoldpenguins@reddit
One year I remember them saying in the TV the average donation worked out to be 2.2p 😞
Impressive_Ad2794@reddit
That seems suspiciously low, I think there must have been a mistake.
Last year they distributed 32 million poppies, total raised was £51 million.
Super_Ground9690@reddit
At my children’s school this week they asked for a ‘recommended donation’ of 50p, I think most parents gave £1 so the kids whose parents couldn’t pay could have one for free. When I was a child (late 80s/90s) it was the same, sometimes I was given one for free because my mum was skint.
Choccybizzle@reddit
Same now, when I bought one last week and asked the price the man said ‘whatever you wish to pay’
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
Yep, it was wrong. But there you go. The idea of not wearing one is controversial now, let alone in the late 90s to late 00s!
DotComprehensive4902@reddit
It's virtue signalling
PsychologySpecific16@reddit
If you didn't pay a donation yes. If you did, well it's not signalling. You've actually put your money where your mouth is.
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
Which, wearing or not wearing one? You could make an argument either way.
This is why virtue signalling is such an empty term imo. You can make anything virtue signalling if you want.
DotComprehensive4902@reddit
Wearing one and criticising those who don't
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
I honestly don't think it is value signalling in the vast majority of cases.
PineappleFrittering@reddit
I think it certainly is, in the most literal sense! But that's not altogether a bad thing.
geeered@reddit
In the same way showing support for any cause is virtue signalling.
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Absolutely agree 👍
don_tomlinsoni@reddit
When I was at school (in the '90s) some of the teachers tried to give us shit for not wearing them.
My grandad was an RAF pilot in the war, and he had a very low opinion of people who wore the red poppies - considered it to be shameless virtue signalling by people that had no experience of war/didn't know what they were talking about.
He liked the white poppies though (donations go to the same place, but with a much more explicit anti-war message).
Kernowder@reddit
WHERE'S YER POPPY?
Dan_Worrall@reddit
I got in trouble for wearing one at my school. Granted I'd written "smoke me" on it.
AntagonisticAxolotl@reddit
Yeah all through secondary school we would be told in no uncertain terms that you had to donate and wear a poppy from the start of November until the day after the Rememberance assembly. And you would absolutely get a bollocking by the teachers if you were seen without one in the corridors.
In hindsight I'm sure it was all technically "voluntary", and there wouldn't have been any actual consequences for refusing. As far as I remember nobody ever tried it out though.
semicombobulated@reddit
How the hell were they allowed to get away with that?
plasticface2@reddit
Its a made up story.
RedEyeView@reddit
I was at school 40 years ago. I don't remember this. It was a big deal at Cubs because we were part of the remembrance march to the war memorial. But that's all.
People being really intense about people wearing poppies is a very new thing.
AntagonisticAxolotl@reddit
Realistically because it's something minor enough in your life to just put up with, rather than deal with the negatives of disagreeing.
It was similar at my first job (local government), we were strongly advised by the management to visibly wear one when entering or leaving the office, because people would make formal complaints about council employees not wearing them. Of course nothing would come of it, but it's easier on everyone to just avoid the drama.
Left_Web_4558@reddit
Fucking cultish.
saccerzd@reddit
That's what WW2 was fought for - the freedom to not get a choice whether you wore a poppy or not 🤣
Voeld123@reddit
WW1?
InexorableCalamity@reddit
I thought the poppy was for all British soldiers?
Reactance15@reddit
It is now but the poppy symbolises the battles fought and lost in the fields of Belgium where poppies are famous. Flanders Fields.
Voeld123@reddit
I just meant the poppy was (not saying is) a symbol that came from WW1.
RealLongwayround@reddit
Odd.
I had several teachers who had lost relatives in the war. Nobody ever criticised those of us who did not wear a poppy.
andycoates@reddit
If anyone had bullied me for not wearing a poppy, I'd probably remember to buy and wear a poppy more often
itsfourinthemornin@reddit
We never did big fundraising events but we always had a poppy, our teachers usually gave them out when I was very young. Even as I got older, some would give them out regardless to those who didn't have them.
My own is about the same age (10). There was mention they were doing activities for it but no push on poppies. My kid's year group (Y6) went to the local church for the morning, had their minute silence as a group, made wreaths, heard stories, etc. Y6 get to do that each year whilst the younger ones learn at school. We picked up a few pieces on Thursday (they now have keychains, snap bands and other items) and donated, we passed again on Friday and they gave us some more! Very kind and kid is very happy with his poppy 'merch'. We've popped his wreath in the window!
No_Room_3932@reddit
Same here
Odd_Jellyfish_1053@reddit
Here too but that was in the 70's when everyone had family members who had direct involvement in the war
movienerd7042@reddit
I grew up in the 2000s and kids wore poppies
Alternative_Week_117@reddit
We never did, it was seen as a joke thing that old people wore. You would have been singled out if you did wear one.
Academic-Key2@reddit
People are forgetting how important their sacrifice was - I think it’s good we make the kids aware it’s important
Broad-Attention-6133@reddit (OP)
You can remember and understand without needing to wear a poppy.
TugMe4Cash@reddit
But without the poppy you wouldn't be talking about it. And if you dont talk about it, the kids wont know. So symbols like this are important I think. It's not like it's mandatory
Academic-Key2@reddit
These people can’t get past their ideological hatred for being proud of being British. It’s hopeless
WowzersTrousers0@reddit
They have been pumped so full of Russian Agitprop here.
Half the problem is that Reddit is a known promoter of tyrannical regimes and even terrorism.
Nice_Departure3051@reddit
…are you not embarrassed, posting things like this?
WowzersTrousers0@reddit
You don't think people know what's going on in social media? - Everybody knows where you people come from, we know what you're doing.
If you are just a normal user, why would you absorb and regurgitate the vocabulary of the worst people in the world?
It is not difficult to spot you lot around here, doing your daily brigading.
Nice_Departure3051@reddit
what are you talking about.
Academic-Key2@reddit
Yeah “these people are trying to divide our country, fuck all of those stupid British people”.
They’ve literally invented new slurs for white people in their pursuit of peace and unity
WowzersTrousers0@reddit
Their vocabulary is how you spot them, often enough.
They have a set routine of words and phrases they all have to parrot.
Nice_Departure3051@reddit
this is delusional. all we are taught in school is about the world wars (and not, for example, the british empire or the troubles). everyone is forcibly required to talk about it, year round, every year.
justinhammerpants@reddit
How much and how often would you be talking about it without the poppy?
viridianvantage@reddit
But it should be a choice if you want to support the legion (which has its own problems) and to decide on your own stance on the matter
Academic-Key2@reddit
You can try, but to oppose the poppy is as anti-British as I’ve ever heard.
Only in 2025 could a poppy to remember fallen dead be controversial
Hyperbolicalpaca@reddit
Ahh, we’re at this point of the discourse…
“If you don’t support this charity, then you’re basically a traitor…
Imagine if people started trying to say that about a different charity, like day, stonewall
Academic-Key2@reddit
It’s always been poor taste to not wear a poppy.
Imagine being this ideological that a piece of red paper to honour world war 1 has you questioning what British society has become.
Cheap-Rate-8996@reddit
It isn't just to "honour world war 1". You're being a bit disingenous here. The poppy appeal is a fundraising campaign for the RBL, which supports British veterans of all military conflicts. Buying and wearing a poppy is not a politically neutral act.
It's completely understandable why someone would not want to condone British military actions in Ireland, Kenya, Afghanistan, or in many other places around the world, or help financially support those responsible for said actions.
Academic-Key2@reddit
Of course it’s not a politically neutral move - if you support it, you support the British armed forces on the anniversary of one of our bloodiest wars.
If you oppose it, you don’t. It’s really that simple.
I’d rather just pay the £ and realise that freedom isn’t free.
Eskarina_W@reddit
I think there's also a difference between opposing the poppy and not wearing one. I don't assume people who aren't wearing a cancer ribbon oppose cancer research.
Academic-Key2@reddit
Of course, but if there’s an annual day dedicated to the remembrance of those who died from cancer, and you actively decide not to participate - you can’t claim to give that much of a fuck.
You’re being obtuse over such a simple and noble tradition that it’s firmly driving the point home that it’s now racist to be British.
If you need any examples of people who definitely oppose remembrance, just check the other replies I’ve had to these comments.
The “unity is our strength” crowd seem to throw a lot of unnecessary hate at a very specific type of British pride.
Eskarina_W@reddit
I think about those I have lost to cancer every day. We all mourn and reflect in our own way and not everyone chooses to do so with public displays.
Yes there are people who speak loudly against the poppy appeal but you can't assume that everyone NOT wearing a poppy is vehemently against remembrance any more than you can assume all those wearing it support every action of every member of the British military.
All I'm saying is, if people wear one, that's ok and if people don't, that's ok.
Academic-Key2@reddit
I don’t assume that?
But to make an ideological stance how you won’t for political reasons is disgusting.
This behaviour wasn’t the norm before the idealists decided hating anything British was the new way to fight division
Eskarina_W@reddit
Apologies. I clearly misinterpreted your point earlier.
I don't think a poppy is about loving or hating Britain or British things at all though.
Most people who wear the poppy aren't doing it out of national pride. That wouldn't really make sense since it was originally adopted as a symbol of remembrance by a number of the allied forces, not just Britain. From a nationalism point of view, the poppy is more associated with Poland than the UK (it's their national flower).
While the poppy isn't intended to be a political symbol, it is sold to raise funds for a charity that supports the soldiers and veterans of an active military. For some, there are actions that have been carried out by the military, or by members of the military while on active service, that they feel impossible to ignore. That's not disgusting or hating British, it's just a different perspective that finds it difficult to disassociate war from the politics behind it.
Cheap-Rate-8996@reddit
So it is a symbol of British nationalism and an endorsement of the actions of the British Army. I'm glad we've established that.
Personally, I'm not comfortable with blindly providing that support and object to any notion I should be compelled to do so. Because I very much do understand that the British Army do not have a clean track record, not even close to home across the Irish Sea.
Academic-Key2@reddit
If you think news journalists/footballers are all being nationalists for wearing it you’ve got a screw loose
Cheap-Rate-8996@reddit
No, not because they're all nationalists. Some of them are wearing it because the guidelines of their employer compel them to. Others do so because they're trying to avoid harassment and intimidation. Look at the abuse James Macclean received when he refused.
Academic-Key2@reddit
So it’s NOT nationalism? You’ve clearly got enough of a brain on your shoulders for me to say you’re just being obtuse to oppose reform. Way to distance yourself from good honest British traditions.
Definitely proving them right though 😂 (I’m not a reformer)
Cheap-Rate-8996@reddit
You're acting like you've found a glaring contradiction in what I said. I said that people wear them either because they support the actions of the British Army, or they feel compelled through social pressure from those who do. I'm sure we can both agree that compelled speech is not a genuine reflection of a person's beliefs?
Academic-Key2@reddit
It is a glaring contradiction. You’re making gross simplifications of what the poppy means to our country. You’re implying that football teams are all wearing the poppy to say they support whatever bombing campaign is currently happening - which is not the purpose of remembrance.
Flanders fields is a very critical point in our history.
Enjoy your life politicising such a noble tradition, I’m sure your anti-military stance helps you sleep at night. But idealism is something nobody cares about, armies need to exist.
Cheap-Rate-8996@reddit
Hence why the RBL does not support veterans of modern conflicts. Wait a minute...
Academic-Key2@reddit
The innocent men who get used in war are the problem now?
viridianvantage@reddit
I know plenty of veterans who have actually decried the RBL as they wouldn't provide support, I've not got a very high opinion of them in all honesty
Hyperbolicalpaca@reddit
What the fuck does World War One need honouring for?
It wasn’t a fight for freedom or anything, it was a small group of the elites from several different countries, who had been looking for an excuse to try out their new weapons, and do a bit of colonisation on the side
It wasn’t a war of freedom or anything, not a war to prevent genocide, it was a war caused by some stupid and paranoid people, with ordinary people dying by the millions to protect those stupid and paranoid people, and their reputations
Academic-Key2@reddit
Hahahahahaha “why do those fallen dead need remembering”
Yep - anti-British
Hyperbolicalpaca@reddit
What’s the point of remembering them? They’re dead, they’ve been dead for over a hundred years, no one is still mourning the dead of the napoleonic wars, or the crusades
It was a stupid war caused by the hubris of the leaders at the time, where millions of people got caught in between, but those people weren’t fighting for any ideological reason, they were fighting because their leaders just couldn’t stomach the idea of the other winning.
If be a bit more receptive to the whole thing if it came alongside a health dose of “what the actual fuck were the people behind this on” an actual focus on why these people were sent to die, not because they were particularly brave, but because their leaders were cowardly
But it doesn’t come with that level of reflection, does it?
schuhlelewis@reddit
I think the problem people have is not what the poppy originally represented, but the nationalist symbol people like you are co-opting it into.
Academic-Key2@reddit
What are you talking about?? It’s always been a nationalist symbol to honour the nations fallen dead.
The problem is, national pride triggers you now.
schuhlelewis@reddit
It started in the USA, got popularised by a French woman, and is a symbol used in many countries.
National pride (of any nationality) is about the lowest IQ thing ever. Be proud of yourself. You didn’t make your country.
By saying people should wear one or it’s anti-British is the thing the people you claim to honour died for.
By all means wear a poppy btw. You’re triggered by people opting out of that. :)
Academic-Key2@reddit
Imagine feeling ashamed to be proud of your country.
I feel bad for you buddy, must be rough hating the very ground you walk on.
I’m not triggered at all haha I’m amazed there’s people who think they’re the good guys by opting out of Remembrance Day
schuhlelewis@reddit
I don’t feel ashamed. Nor do I feel proud of things I haven’t done.
Academic-Key2@reddit
Sounds like you weren’t taught the importance of remembrance.
It makes sense why you feel no shame
schuhlelewis@reddit
Sounds like you’re triggered
Academic-Key2@reddit
Triggered? Nope, just observing how the “unity is our strength” crowd acts when they’re the counter culture.
The last time poppies were controversial was when those Muslim guys burned them 20 years ago, funny they’re back under the limelight again now of all times.
schuhlelewis@reddit
Sad you have no pride in yourself so you can only find it in others.
Academic-Key2@reddit
lol what does that even mean 😂 you feel pride in having none for others
schuhlelewis@reddit
I guess what I’m saying is that once you have any pride in yourself, you’ll no longer need nationalism. But also I don’t want to continue to enable you to embarrass yourself.
Academic-Key2@reddit
You think it takes pride to stop caring about Remembrance Day?
You parents must be so proud of you for rejecting tradition like the free thinker you are!
jiminthenorth@reddit
"Anti-British".
Racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, and prejudice of all kinds is anti-British.
Opposing it is the best of British.
Opposing those who would make you wear something is the same.
Freedom of choice is British. If you want to wear one, great. You do you. If not, the same. It is not for anyone to force people what to wear.
Academic-Key2@reddit
Imagine thinking the poppy represents hate.
Shameful take
jiminthenorth@reddit
And there you go. Trying to shame people because they have a different opinion from you. Funnily enough, racists say the same things when I pull them up on that, but anyways.
The poppy apparently represents all wars. So this includes shameful episodes like Bloody Sunday, the Suez Crisis, the Mau Mau Rebellion, among others.
The very worst of British imperialism. It doesn't represent hate, but it apparently represents oppression.
Academic-Key2@reddit
The very worst of British imperialism was the trenches of ww1?
Ridiculous statement
Nice_Departure3051@reddit
average GB news reader intelligence
jiminthenorth@reddit
I didn't say that, did I?
You're making stuff up and ridiculing me for it.
Why are you lying?
Belle_TainSummer@reddit
Your position is exactly why I refuse to wear one these days. all this talk of "anti-British" bollocks betray your political ideology.
Academic-Key2@reddit
“I don’t honour the dead to own the libs”
viridianvantage@reddit
"Left wing MAGA" - are you heading yourself right now?
Right wing ultra nationalists are so dense lmfao
Academic-Key2@reddit
Bro calls people he doesn’t like gammon, hates his own armed forces and any remembrance of them and spends all day spreading hate about half his own country.
MAGA idealists - dumb and knee jerky, but even worse because they think they’re morally right
viridianvantage@reddit
I'm a woman but ok 😂
You sound triggered, maybe take a nap old man xx
Academic-Key2@reddit
Aye well have fun opposing the poppy - you sound like you fundamentally want to do the right thing for this world, like rejecting cultural remembrance to own the libs!
That’ll show em!
viridianvantage@reddit
You seem not to be understanding anything about this at all LOL
Have the day you deserve :)
Academic-Key2@reddit
No I understand it. This wasn’t a debate before the anti-reform league started weaponising anything remotely British as hate speech
Sean_13@reddit
It's always been controversial as some don't want to support it on the chance it supports the current armed forces and what it's done, which was more controversial when I was a kid.
Its not that anti British. I think trying to force people to wear them is anti British and goes against what they are supposed to represent. I would think something like people using the British flag to promote their "stop the boats" agenda is far more anti British and disrespectful.
viridianvantage@reddit
Maybe I don't like military propaganda and think doing something performatively is dishonest? I say this as someone whose grandads and dad have all served in armies
Academic-Key2@reddit
Military propaganda
Jesus Christ buddy.
viridianvantage@reddit
What are you not understanding? I don't want any children of mine under the impression that war is a glorious thing and that they should serve in any armies. It's important to remember people who have made sacrifices but it's been turned into something it's not
I know exactly what kind of person you are lmao
Academic-Key2@reddit
Glorious??? It’s not a celebration of war it’s a remembrance so it never happens again.
Imagine thinking veterans are glorifying massacres
Prestigious-Garbage5@reddit
Kids should indeed learn about what happened in both wars and yes, the sacrifice they made is important to understand. But this should not be forced on 8 year old kids playing a game of football. Also, It's a sport, and from a practical point, I've no doubt some poppies could get knocked off on the pitch.
Academic-Key2@reddit
It’s a red circle with a black circle to never forget the horrors of history.
Why do kids learn about American slavery in school but they can’t wear a poppy?
RealDoraTheExplorer_@reddit
Comparing slavery to remembering soldiers is weird….
Icy_Painter_8835@reddit
Could we say how "significant" the sacrifice was? Whilst also remembering that for many it was not a sacrifice that was freely made, but rather something forced upon them.
Something about the word important makes it sound like it was all for a good cause, but mostly the causes have been territorial expansion, geopolitics, economics and in maybe 2 or 3 cases preventing/halting a genocide. Generally indifference or hate.
Academic-Key2@reddit
That’s why it’s even more important they remember?
The lesson learnt is that war never ends well and the best people suffer the most unwillingly.
Football is a community building event - it’s good these kids are a part of remembering those who helped keep it all possible
Broad-Attention-6133@reddit (OP)
Sorry it's a quite ridiculous comment to suggest that football would be impossible without people having died in wars previously.
spinynorman1846@reddit
The Germans have been on the losing side of two wars and are famously terrible at football
WowzersTrousers0@reddit
You think tyrannical dictatorships allow people to congregate and socialise like that?
You are living in cloud-cuckoo land and need to read a bit more.
Academic-Key2@reddit
So we’d just have the premier league if Hitler won?
SnooStrawberries2342@reddit
Are you suggesting the Nazis didn't have football? They did.
Academic-Key2@reddit
Well it would be the premier wundersleagues if they had their way
DangerousDisplay7664@reddit
How is forcing someone to wear a poppy going to suddenly make people understand “how important their sacrifice was”?!
Kyster_K99@reddit
Does the post say the kids were forced to wear a poppy?
jamesdownwell@reddit
Could this be a regional or age thing? I’m in my forties and when I was young, kids absolutely did wear them. I remember a school assembly where it was explained to us but an emphasis was made on the solemnity. It looks like the poppy has become performative today.
DangerousDisplay7664@reddit
I’m in my early 40s and we never wore them as kids. I think I was in comprehensive school when I did start wearing one. Haven’t worn one now for about 10 years as the flag-shaggers jumped on it and tried to make it something it was never meant to be.
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
Not just them. The Legion itself and the government moved it to be a symbol of support for the armed forces in general, rather than just in the two wars. Makes it inevitably political.
NoAnteater8640@reddit
The poppy has always been political, it's a fundraiser for the Royal Legion and purchasing/wearing it is a political statement of support for that organisation.
Randomfinn@reddit
Is the Royal Legion officially connected to the Forces?
NoAnteater8640@reddit
Yes and No, the British Royal Legion is a registered charity with it's own board. It is not part of the Armed forces or the state, and only 1-3% of it's annual funding comes directly from government grants.
That being said, the organisations purpose is to aid and advocate for the members and families of the British Armed Forces, they are politically active within their remit and have vast official and unofficial institutional integration. The monarch is always the Patron, senior military leadership are always represented on the board. A huge number of LGA have for a long time granted the organisation freedom of their regions, and government bodies such as the NHS and BBC have long standing relationships with the organisation.
The organisation was founded out of both a recognition of the debt owed to the soldiers of WW1 as well as a very real fear of the working class by the aristocracy, and today centers the idea of the Military Covenant, a debt the Government and Society owe to individuals who have participated in the Armed Services
All that to say, they are a long established and institutionally supported charity that has a quite a specific view of the relationship between the British government, British people, and the British armed forces.
Ok_Put_8262@reddit
It's been evolving that way since its inception. There was no big "let's now include all the wars" moment.
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
Iirc, there was actually a specific moment where the RBL recommended that remembrance services should become for all who have died in military service.
Googling it now, looks like it was 1979.
earnasoul@reddit
Which in turn has come to include all those who were involved in military action in places like Northern Ireland or pre-free state Ireland (which came about after WW1 which is a specific part of the poppy remembrance).
68_namfloW@reddit
Someone is making a lot of money off it, so they want to keep it relevant.
SwitchBig7980@reddit
I always thought they should have given it up on the century anniversary. Most people aren't remembering what they are supposed to remember, it's just nationalism now. War Christmas. I don't have anything to do with it because I don't want to be associated with that stuff
moreidlethanwild@reddit
Yup. Nearing 50 and I’d be given 20p to buy a poppy at school, every year.
charley_warlzz@reddit
Im 24 and we definitely wore them as kids. The two minutes silence was solemn, but the poppies werent really- we knew what they meant but we were wearing them most of the time.
lapodufnal@reddit
We didn’t have them on football kits or in PE because they were exclusively the type with the single pin to hold them in and those pins ended up everywhere
ToriaLyons@reddit
That's what I was thinking - the proper poppies need pins. Definitely shouldn't be allowed on kit. I have to question whether these poppies are proper, or some grift?
Broad-Attention-6133@reddit (OP)
I'm in my 40s
paulruk@reddit
It's silly, it's a sport FFS.
I work in football and years ago we interviewed some players from a premier League team. They'd just finished training and weren't wearing a poppy. So, someone came in and attached poppy's to both players...like fans were expected to think they'd just trained wearing them.
Such is the fear of not being seen to respect poppy day
EdmundTheInsulter@reddit
Is it enforced?
franki-pinks@reddit
We wore them at school as kids but it was always voluntary.
StonedOldChiller@reddit
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tv/article-15252617/loose-women-charlene-white-disrespectful-decision-poppy-itv.html
Fuck these flag nonce fascists.
RevolutionaryDebt200@reddit
Yes, it's voluntary but if you don't encourage it, youngsters will not come to appreciate what was sacrificed for later generations. If everyone stops wearing poppies, and I believe it is a habit that it developed early in life, future generations will forget. Before you know it, we have another blood bath like WW1
wildeaboutoscar@reddit
Educating people about it at school is the best way to do that. Paying 20p for a bit of paper doesn't teach you much. Obviously the two aren't mutually exclusive though.
wildeaboutoscar@reddit
No, nobody should be forced or obligated to wear a poppy. Particularly for a kids football match. It should always be a free choice.
Icy-Meaning1801@reddit
I am not english, don't get me wrong, but shouldn't the state be taking care of its soldiers instead of leaving them to charity? Don't we already pay enough taxes?
wildeaboutoscar@reddit
You are correct. Charities like this exist to help supplement that though as government support is often not enough.
Picticious@reddit
In my opinion children should be encouraged to learn and think about remembrance.
Millions of European men gave their lives so that these children could grow up and play football matches in peace.
It’s such a tiny thing, and people still want to make it a problem, there was a whole generation who wished they could have worn a flower instead of seeing all their family members die.
Cheap-Rate-8996@reddit
The poppy appeal isn't just about commemorating the World Wars, though. This is a common misconception. The money raised by the RBL supports British veterans of all conflicts. It's reasonable to point out that we were not always the 'good guys', especially in more recent conflicts.
just_some_other_guys@reddit
Us not being “the good guys” in recent wars is down to the politicians, not the soldiers, and it’s not fair to dismiss the suffering of our veterans because the politicians we elected were shit.
glasgowgeg@reddit
The soldiers willingly signed up for the more recent wars, they weren't conscripted.
wildeaboutoscar@reddit
This is the key difference for me. I have more respect for those who were conscripted than those who weren't, purely because they were put into a position they never necessarily wanted against their will.
justinhammerpants@reddit
So because you don’t think them to be “the good guys”, they don’t deserve support and help, in a lot of cases going to those suffering severe mental and physical trauma?
Meronkulous@reddit
"it's such a tiny thing and people still want to make it a problem"
Agreed - it is a tiny thing, so stop throwing a tantrum when someone chooses not to wear one.
Hazeygazey@reddit
It wasn't just men who gave their lives And it definitely wasnt just European men
neityght@reddit
Yeah but do you think under 8s can or should understand the sacrifices? Or maybe its OK to let kids be kids without them being told millions died for your right to play football without the capacity to understand what that means? It's just bullshit virtue signalling from the adults.
justinhammerpants@reddit
I guess you did not have war veterans and holocaust survivors who came to your primary to talk about it.
neityght@reddit
Honestly I don't remember, that was a long time ago. But even if they did, I doubt I, as a child at 6 or 7 years old, really understood what they went through or meant. It was probably just a chance to do something different.
PreparationWorking90@reddit
Encouraging children to think and learn about remembrance is good. Talking to them in school and teaching them about the wastefulness of war is a good thing. Encouraging them to reflect on this is a good thing.
Making them line up to stick a paper flower on their shirt for a football is a performative and meaningless act, though it is broadly in line with the way that Remembrance Day has moved.
Optimal-Room-8586@reddit
Precisely.
Ok_Aioli3897@reddit
So what symbol do you wear for the aids crisis?
Picticious@reddit
My grandfather wasn’t forced to fight in the aids crisis, he didn’t lose his four brothers to the aids crisis, my father wasn’t forced to grow up in a home with PTSD because of the aids crisis.
Everyone in Britain was affected by the war, even the animals, wasn’t like that for the aids crisis was it?
Hyperbolicalpaca@reddit
And not everyone has grandparents who fought in the war, yet they’re still expected wear poppies…
Picticious@reddit
Because without our grandparents you wouldn’t have a Britain to live in!
Hyperbolicalpaca@reddit
I don’t get this implication that I dont have great grandparents who fought in the wars…
Just saying that not everyone did…
Ok_Aioli3897@reddit
A whole generation lost people they loved in the AIDS crisis which was your justification.
But I get it it was just mainly about gay people so people like you don't care
Plastic-Impress8616@reddit
we have a whole month celebrating Pride, if the gay population want to spend some of that month talking about the aids crisis they have ample time to do so.
Ok_Aioli3897@reddit
And june is armed forces month but people like you don't seem to know that
xxMegaBabexx@reddit
A red ribbon
Ok_Aioli3897@reddit
I didn't ask what the symbol was I was asking that specific person what symbol they wore
xxMegaBabexx@reddit
Why did you delete your comment? Now you can reply to me and make it look like I was in the wrong. Classless mate.
Impossible-Disk6101@reddit
The poppy isn’t just about the soldiers who died in the World Wars; it represents all wars, without distinguishing between those who suffered and those who caused suffering. The man it was named after helped send thousands to their deaths through arrogance and class privilege, yet he’s still woven into its story as a hero.
What often gets lost is that the same symbol celebrates the evil done in Ireland, India, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond, all under the same banner.
Remembering “everyone who served” without facing that reality creates a version of history that’s comfortable, but not honest.
If we’re teaching kids about remembrance, we owe them the full picture: empathy for the ordinary young men who were victims of their leaders, and truth about the violence carried out in the name of empire.
orange_fudge@reddit
Yes - remembrance is important.
Yes - children should learn about it.
And perhaps it used to be a tiny gesture… but… the way people bully others into poppy-wearing is not something I can celebrate. When the Daily Mail was knocking at my door and suggesting in the newspaper that I was a traitor for standing up in a public meeting to say that poppies should always optional, that did not feel like a tiny thing.
neityght@reddit
Agree whole-heartedly, and fuck the Daily Mail.
Willeth@reddit
Wearing a poppy is no guarantee of thinking deeply about remembrance, we see plenty of examples every year.
bannanawaffle13@reddit
It's down to flag shaggers and the like who have politicised it, I wear a white poppy and the LGBTQ poppy, to pay my respects as a LGBTQ veteran but also to piss off the flag shaggers.
CamWatanabe@reddit
If the police can have their own version of the union flag with the blue line, we can have alternate versions of the poppy. It's got exactly the same intent, but arguably has more meaning to the wearer.
bannanawaffle13@reddit
The thin blue line is really problematic too, it literally is about not snitching on other officers not crossing that line and yeah exactly why is it only right wingers who can use flags for their purpose.
Ok-Salary3550@reddit
That's just... not what "the thin blue line" means:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thin_blue_line
jflb96@reddit
I mean, ‘Your choices are the law or total chaos, and the police are what separates the two’ isn’t exactly a philosophy without its questionable aspects
marsman@reddit
It's far less problematic in a UK context where it is also linked to the whole 'The people are the police and the police are the people' thing and policing by consent from Peel,
jflb96@reddit
Yeah, not so sure how much that is currently actual British policing theory and how much it's a remnant used as a pleasant-ish veneer over the standard 'The police are used to keep the people in line with the laws imposed for the good of the ruling classes' modus operandi
marsman@reddit
I think there was a bit of that in the 80's but it really doesn't feel like that now by any measure does it? The police generally aren't used to 'keep people in line' at all, and the rules (in terms of criminal law) don't seem particularly predisposed to the ruling classes, not to mention that a lot of the fundamental ones are quite old.
Ok-Salary3550@reddit
Which is an arguable point, but also nothing to do with what that person said it was.
Throwaway91847817@reddit
Ok-Salary3550@reddit
Yes, that is indeed one line in that article, which otherwise is about the far more common and far more historically grounded meaning cited.
Throwaway91847817@reddit
Historical meaning often takes a backseat to current usage. Most people today upon seeing a flag like that and hearing that phrase would probably associate it with the far right.
marsman@reddit
I doubt that most people would, and I'd suspect that those that do would likely also be the same people who associate the union flag, or the flag or St George with the far right (although at least with the latter one, there was an attempt in the UK to create that link, by those groups..).
Ok-Salary3550@reddit
I'm not sure they would, outside a relatively small number of people who already dislike the police on principle.
marsman@reddit
And if this were the US that might be more relevant, but we really don't need to import all of their political fuckery at every moment surely?
CamWatanabe@reddit
Despite the tangerine in chief's best efforts, we aren't America just yet. I don't have much of an issue with the police wearing that particular flag here, mostly because they're not gun-happy lunatics and it doesn't really signify fascism yet. I'm sure that could change, though.
bannanawaffle13@reddit
If you actually read the article and the controversy surrounding it, it may not be what the flag actually was designed to mean but is often how it's seen nowadays as a us Vs them, so yes I apologise literally was not the best word to use.
marsman@reddit
Again though, in a UK context, why is there such a need to jump to the worst possible conclusions? In a UK context it is the symbol of a charity, that the police and families have generally used to show solidarity, remember fallen officers, and support those charities.
Yet somehow we have imported a US centric position (That doesn't really make a huge amount of sense in the UK) and as a result it is seen as a massive negative by some.
SwimmingAdeptness110@reddit
No it isn't. That's utter bollocks.
Stop importing American politics into the UK. The British Care of Police Survivors charity, which looks after the families of murdered police officers, was founded years before the blue line stuff happened in the States.
As much as you'd like it to be the opposite to give you a tower of righteousness to stand upon, British Policing whilst far from perfect is significantly different to that in the US and that is a good thing.
bannanawaffle13@reddit
How do those boots taste?
CamWatanabe@reddit
I'm going to weigh in, it can be used in a problematic sense much like any flag or symbol. I however, have multiple members of family in the police who do wear blue line patches, all of which are (outside of work, because they're legally not allowed to show bias) very much left wing in nature. Generally speaking it's a little nuanced and means something different force member to force member.
I'm not going to say every police officer wears the blue line version of the flag for a solid reason, some just make it political.
Scared-Room-9962@reddit
Is dressing to irritate others not exhausting?
orange_fudge@reddit
This person is a veteran, I think we should maybe let them whatever sort of poppy they like?
Scared-Room-9962@reddit
Never said they couldn't. Seems exhausting dressing to annoy others though.
glasgowgeg@reddit
Why would the white/LGBTQ poppy annoy others?
MoodyStocking@reddit
Seems exhausting commenting on reddit to annoy others as well, and yet here we are
Belle_TainSummer@reddit
The desire to constantly make sure other people don't show ideas which you don't like, seems far more exhausting to me. Why so much effort to try and keep others down?
Scared-Room-9962@reddit
They can do what they want, I just asked if it was not a bit exhausting getting dressed with view to annoy people you don't like.
BorderlineWire@reddit
Way less exhausting than getting dressed in a way that is not who you are.
jiminthenorth@reddit
Sounds like concern trolling to me.
boojes@reddit
Seems exhausting making everything into an issue. If you're annoyed by what someone wears, that's on you. Not them.
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
It doesn't take a lot of arm strength to pin a poppy on
Scared-Room-9962@reddit
🤓
rustyb42@reddit
Banana waffle seems to be wearing a poppy as a symbol of remembrance
Scared-Room-9962@reddit
With a side of pissing off flag shaggers.
They can do what they want, just seems sad to me.
bannanawaffle13@reddit
Seems sad your so offended by what way I decide to show my respect as someone who served (albeit for a short time, due to bullying for being LGBTQ and being waterboarded by other soldiers in a hazing ritual ehichl eft me with PTSD)
Scared-Room-9962@reddit
Im not offended mate. I just don't understand why you'd want to annoy strangers with a pin you wear (Your sentiment not mine).
I've no time for any of it, be it poppies or flag shagging.
Does seem to have a similar intention to roundabout painting though, just aimed the other way.
bannanawaffle13@reddit
Because if I went through life trying to protect the feeling of flag shaggers I wouldn't be able to wear anything, my pride flag, my pronouns badge or even go outside a trans person because it would offend someone it's not the intended effect to piss people off just a side effect of it and not a unpleasant one.
KeremyJyles@reddit
It is an admitted intent, by yourself
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
So in fact the opposite intention, spreading a message of acceptance and kindness rather than hate.
KeremyJyles@reddit
nah
Belle_TainSummer@reddit
You seem pissed off by that.
gibbonmann@reddit
Appears their secondary intentions are paying off
Sean_13@reddit
When you're LGBT, simply existing irritates and offends others. A rainbow poppy is not going to be more exhausting than that.
bannanawaffle13@reddit
Yeah exactly thankyou, if me just existing is going to piss people what is a flag going to do but upset those who don't want me to exist anyway.
Sean_13@reddit
Yep, definitely. I pass for cis-het most times but it would still be more exhausting to hide who I am. To constantly censor myself or be careful what I wear rather than bring myself. If me including a rainbow shows that I support LGBT, can make another LGBT person feel safe around me and then piss off a homophobe/transphobe, then win, win.
bannanawaffle13@reddit
Yeah exactly I'm aro ace and trans I never saw anyone like me as a kid, never saw anyone wearing a pride flag, I hope be being so out and proud that maybe one day a young version of me will see that and know maybe it'll all be okay and for me that's worth any amount of hate or stares.
bannanawaffle13@reddit
No, because I am not wearing it as the primary purpose to piss people off, I wear it to show support for LGBTQ veterans, including one a served with tried to kill himself due to the horrific bullying he faced, people being pissed off is just a side effect, is it not tiring being constantly offended at what I decide to wear?
justinhammerpants@reddit
I hope the Etherton report was helpful to your friend.
bannanawaffle13@reddit
It was in 2015 I served so after etherton report, it was great to see the memorial opened at the arboretum
Scared-Room-9962@reddit
Not offended mate, just wondered if you ever get tired dressing with the intention of riling up strangers.
CptBigglesworth@reddit
You sound offended, and looking for more offence.
jiminthenorth@reddit
You seem to be grasping onto this question for dear life, almost to the point of sealioning.
Hyperbolicalpaca@reddit
Is putting a different colour poppy on really that tiring?
I didn’t realise pinning something to your clothes could be…
Scared-Room-9962@reddit
Pretending to not understand is peak comedy, but someone already beat you to the punchline.
CryptographerKey4658@reddit
We seem to live in a world now where performatively wearing a poppy, rather than paying respects is some kind of a badge of honour. I pay my respects by educating myself on the history of the world wars rather than getting upset over who has or hasn’t got a bit of red paper pinned to their chest. Forcing it onto kids’ football kits is just a way for their parents to feel good about themselves.
rustyb42@reddit
Poppy's have been performative nonsense for almost a decade.
sanehamster@reddit
I hate the political aspect and the social pressure. But the RBL do good stuff and annual pause to remember that not blowing up other humans is generally good.
GreggsFan@reddit
If not blowing up other humans is generally good why is it “good stuff” to support the people who volunteered to do exactly that and got boo-boos from people defending their countries?
llamafarmadrama@reddit
Because an unfortunate fact of life is that sometimes doing things the nice way doesn’t work and the only way to get people to stop being rotters is to blow them up.
Y’know, people like this lot, or these shits.
charley_warlzz@reddit
Thats not fair, some of them just shot people- no explosives involved!
glasgowgeg@reddit
They also do recruitment campaigns, which is less "good".
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
Where did you get that image from? Is it actually anything to do with the RBL?
glasgowgeg@reddit
It was part of an official event they done years ago.
Here's the archived tweet of them posting the image.
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
Thank you. I'm very surprised.
glasgowgeg@reddit
I'm not.
A dwindling number of WWI/WWII veterans means they need to pivot into something else when it comes to raising funds and staying relevant as an organisation.
That means pivoting into Americanised celebration of current troops, glamourising war, and encouraging people "do their duty". Especially when they have competition from the likes of Help For Heroes.
_Monsterguy_@reddit
It's a lot longer, certainly back to the 00s and probably the 90s.
RevolutionaryEgg1312@reddit
No one NEEDS to wear a poppy. It's not a legal requirement.... Just a symbol which has been politicised by jingoists who completely forgot what the poppy represents.
llamafarmadrama@reddit
What pisses me off is the trend over the last 5 years or so to do shit like this and this. It’s not a competition on who can remember the most, and these tacky displays cheapen what IMO should be a somber occasion (not to mention that it’s all money that would be much better spent as a donation to the RBL).
If you want to wear a poppy, wear one. If you don’t, don’t. But the performative bullshit can fuck right off. The “WhErE’s YoUr PoPpY” shit can fuck right off. The “my poppy is bigger than yours so I’m remembering harder” shit can fuck right off. And worst of all, the people peddling all that wouldn’t give me or my colleagues a second glance for the other 50 weeks a year. They’re certainly not in the habit of donating to charities that support veterans or the armed forces community.
JamesJe13@reddit
Fucking hate those banners, they look shit and make the whole event look like some victory parade. I'll accept the crochet things people put on mailboxes since those look pretty nice and clearly have a bit more thought beyond putting up the banner.
llamafarmadrama@reddit
Honestly, in my neck of the woods I give it about 2 years before they’re having a “big Poppy Day lights switch on” every year. It’s fucking ridiculous.
When did 2 minutes silence and laying a wreath at the local war memorial stop being enough?
JamesJe13@reddit
When everyone realised you could make remembrance stupidly performative. I remember when they did that big thing of planting all. the poppies at the Tower of London in 2014 and I wonder if that led a bunch of people to realise they could make a whole event out of it and then inevitably you get the companies realising there's profit to be made from this.
epiDXB@reddit
It's not just that. Some people do still wear them genuinely to remember the war dead.
RevolutionaryEgg1312@reddit
Absolutely they do. But it shouldn't be compulsory and no one should ever have to explain why they don't wear one or chose to commemorate in another way. (White poppy for example)
epiDXB@reddit
So don't claim otherwise.
It's not.
They don't have to but they can if they want to. You are making a fuss over nothing.
LeftyTimStoutheart@reddit
Yeah they are strangely selective with the whole "lest we forget" part
campbelljac92@reddit
They can't forget what they never knew, the irony that they are behaving exactly like the white feather movement who routinely harassed soldiers freshly home from the trenches because they wrongly assumed that they were not doing their part would be entirely lost on them.
RevolutionaryEgg1312@reddit
Never again! "No not like that"
Leonardo_Liszt@reddit
A symbol that has been politicised? I’m sorry but that’s fucking disgusting. It’s a symbol to remember those who have died in battle and we absolutely need to bring the importance of it back to the forefront. People seem to forget how easy we have it in the grand scheme of things.
RevolutionaryEgg1312@reddit
The importance of the symbol or the importance of reinforcing that wars are terrible and shouldn't be promoted as a source of "patriotism"?
Leonardo_Liszt@reddit
The meaning of a poppy is clear, you’re the one that’s trying to politicise it.
marsman@reddit
I suppose the point is (much like with union flags, or the St Georges flag) that the jingoists can fuck off, and we can wear them, or not (or white poppy's) for whatever reason we feel we need to. The idea that we bin off things that people are positive about, or mean something to them because others are twats just seems off to me.
RevolutionaryEgg1312@reddit
No one is saying bin it off but like many things it shouldn't be used for people with unsavoury agendas to axe grind and froth about.
marsman@reddit
And I don't disagree with you, it has been politicised by some groups, what annoys me is that a significant proportion of people (Certainly reading this thread..) then seem to buy into that narriative, essentially grinding that axe for them.
bluejackmovedagain@reddit
A few jobs ago I had a public facing role where we would be given a poppy and told to wear it. HR had to intervene when a manager attempted to give three of us formal warnings for not wearing one. One of the guys who refused was from Belfast and offered to do a presentation about Bloody Sunday for anyone who would like to know more about why he didn't wear a poppy.
RevolutionaryEgg1312@reddit
Management can really overstep can't they!
peppermint_aero@reddit
Absolutely; there's a lot of "can't distinguish between company policy, law and personal preference" out there
JayR_97@reddit
Yeah, some people absolutely lose their minds over it. Its weird.
Azyall@reddit
Born in the '60s. Poppies were sold in schools, and kids wore them. Don't know if this has fallen by the wayside, but it certainly used to be common. Doubly so if you were in the Scouts/Guides etc.
Jeffuk88@reddit
I always remember children wearing poppies. We all did at primary school in the 90s
OGSkywalker97@reddit
Who cares just wear it even if it means nothing to you. Not gonna affect your son at all and it's simply to honour people that have died in horrible ways on horrible wars, so I don't get why some people have any issue with them.
Hampshire-UK@reddit
It’s become a massive wank fest now sadly. Used to be just a respectful way to remember the fallen and raise money for service people and their families.
batch1972@reddit
we always wore them at school. Parents usually bought them. Bit stupid wearing them on a footie pitch though. screams lawsuit if someone falls and gets injured by one
tokyo2saitama@reddit
We always bought poppies at school… why wouldn’t children wear them?
Hyperbolicalpaca@reddit
Because they have free will?
And it’s to support a charity, I don’t think people should be forced to support a specific charity, thats what taxation is for…
Hunter037@reddit
Offering them to buy at school isn't forcing kids to wear them. You don't have to buy one
Broad-Attention-6133@reddit (OP)
No, but a football club asking parents to buy one so the team could have a photo wearing them pretty much is
pullingteeths@reddit
It's a quid for charity get a grip
Broad-Attention-6133@reddit (OP)
It's not about money
Defiant_Put_7542@reddit
Like asults, some children have a strong internal moral compass and don't want to glorify war - let alone financially support people who choose murder for a career.
Hot_Primary_640@reddit
It depends how you look at it.
I’m not a huge fan of the military. Mainly because the military makes a big fuss about how great it is to serve, then creates a bunch of veterans with PTSD and health conditions in need of long term support. Then leaves them because veteran charities and services lack the funds needed.
But I still think those that serve (regardless of their actions due to contract and orders) should be commended for their service. They go through so much and so many regret their service. It’s important to acknowledge and educate on the past to not repeat it.
So to answer your question, no I don’t think it’s strange but is still an act that brings people together to honour a tragic mutual history.
SwitchBig7980@reddit
Yes it is hilariously ridiculous
appleorchard317@reddit
It is genuinely absolutely strange and unacceptable how the UK fetishises the poppy and forces people to wear it regardless of circumstance. Especially dissonant given it claims to remember the dead/not want other wars while the British Army organises recruitment drives at this time
Msihc@reddit
I have seen a lot of discourse about jingoism and performative patriotism related to the poppy campaign and wearing of poppies this year. What I haven't seen is actual evidence of said jingoism.
You claim the UK fetishises the poppy, could you provide an example of what you mean here?
I'm not asking to disagree with you, I am being genuine and trying to figure out what I'm missing, who's saying it and where.
Just as an additional disclaimer, I wear a poppy every year for remembrance, tradition and respect for those who died and continue to fight for our country, something I don't know if I would be able to do. I agree that it's an entirely personal choice and am typically on the left of the political spectrum.
Thanks in advance!
Wonderful_Discount59@reddit
To add to that: I always buy a poppy, but I usually then lose it (or just forget to wear it). And I've never got shit from people for not wearing it.
Now, I'm not saying that there aren't people who randomly give people shit for not wearing poppies. (There are plenty of arseholes in the world, so I'm sure there are some who people who will be arseholes over that).
But I strongly suspect that most people who get shit for not wearing poppies are those who have made a big thing about the fact that they are not wearing a poppy (and especially those who have implied or stated that wearing a poppy is a bad thing).
appleorchard317@reddit
In 4 'well where I live we don't' - public figures are relentlessly hounded if they don't and lots of city councils are incredibly obsessive about it - just festooned everywhere. Extra point for the weird places - buses' front grids etc
Normal_Meat_5500@reddit
It's a mark of respect and age is immaterial. We all know that if it wasn't and isn't for these brave people, we would not be enjoying the freedom we have today. Buy one and teach your son about all the people who gave their lives for us.
VladamirK@reddit
Equally, they fought for our right not to wear one, justifiability or not.
Broad-Attention-6133@reddit (OP)
It's not a mark of respect from a child that doesn't understand it and is made to wear it. It is also not necessary to wear one to respect war dead.
Normal_Meat_5500@reddit
That is why I said to explain it to him
PsychologySpecific16@reddit
I always wore alone as a child as I do now. Maybe it depends where in the country you are?
Electrical-Curve6898@reddit
It's not mandatory to wear a poppy and it never has been.
Collymonster@reddit
We always wore poppies as a kid in the 90's, we took it very seriously. I have taken my children to every remembrance sunday since they were born, they've taken part in the parade for the past 4 years with our scout group. Ive always taken it serious as have the schools in our town, the y6's at ours have been selling poppies. Its important to remember.
springsomnia@reddit
The gatekeeping of poppy wearing is weird to me. Anyone should feel free to wear or not wear a poppy without harassment. And wear whatever type of poppy too. (I wore a purple poppy for the animals once, and got a lot of odd comments.) If kids don’t want to wear a poppy, or do, then that should be their choice and it shouldn’t be dictated to by anyone else. Making poppy wearing a requirement or turning it into a contest of who can wear it loses sight of what it’s actually worn for.
ExcitementKooky418@reddit
Seems like an especially stupid idea if they're being made to wear them while playing, assuming their pinned to the shirt in the usual fashion
JohnCasey3306@reddit
No, because who are they wearing it for? ... Do the kids themselves care? Almost certainly not -- or not many of them anyway. It's all just to satisfy a few adults that feel they should be wearing them and because they believe it must be obeyed.
Tall-Nectarine-5982@reddit
Absolutely not. It’s voluntary, and should never, ever be forced on anyone.
deadeye-ry-ry@reddit
I'm in my 30s and I remember most people in class wore a poppy
DreadLindwyrm@reddit
FIFA would not approve of the teams being asked to wear a political symbol.
But I *do* remember it being rare that children would wear them, and certainly not as a "team" thing.
Agitated_Ad_361@reddit
I don’t wear one, haven’t done since I was about 15.
jarvi123@reddit
No one needs to wear one it is optional.
PlaneWar203@reddit
When did you grow up? They used to sell them in school
johnnyjonnyjonjon@reddit
It's been a while since I had a traditional poppy... Are they still held on with pins?
If they are I wouldn't have thought having that on your shirt while playing football is a very good idea...
dexington_dexminster@reddit
No, the RBL poppies are entirely made of paper now, stem and all.
DelightfulMethHabit@reddit
They still sell them with pins. I saw a tray of them in a pharmacy today with little cardboard holders full of pins to hold them on with.
johnnyjonnyjonjon@reddit
How do they stay on?
Outrageous_Sand6076@reddit
They have a sticker on the back.
Current_Scarcity_379@reddit
Not all. Some either need a pin or poking through a buttonhole or eyelet.
dexington_dexminster@reddit
Haha, so far they don't. Gravity? You need to wear something with an eyelet to stab the stem through and then hope for the best
johnnyjonnyjonjon@reddit
Which presumably these kid's football shirts don't have... So going back to OP, if they're sticky pads like others have said then it still seems phenomenally daft to sell them with the intention of them being worn while playing... Unless they use the strongest adhesive known to man 😂
DangerousDisplay7664@reddit
Little sticky pad
cari-strat@reddit
Yeah that was my thought too. Surely anything like that, be it a pinned paper poppy or a badge kind, could be an injury risk?
No_Judgment_5004@reddit
Honestly you’d think no child had ever survived anything ever.
Veflas510@reddit
Yes children are obviously coddled. We should let them run around playing football, falling over and running into each other whilst all wearing barely secured sharp pins. If an eye gets poked then it’ll just toughen them up.
No_Judgment_5004@reddit
No one’s getting their eye poked out. That’s just the phrase used by parents everywhere since the dawn of time to get children to settle down and not throw staplers at each other. We all wore them all day at school and threw ourselves around at break time playing red rover for gods sake. It’s no wonder that everyone under the age of 20 is horrifyingly anxious when they’ve been treated like china dolls their whole lives. There’s absolutely no reason a child cannot survive the same things as all the children before them.
johnnyjonnyjonjon@reddit
I hate this kind of lazy 'back in my day' nonsense. There's a difference between over-cautiouness and common sense.
It's common sense now, and would've been common sense then, that deliberately sending kids out to play a contact sport with sharp pins attached to their single layer football shirt, is a stupid idea.
That's not the same thing as dicking about in the playground for 20 minutes whilst still having your poppy on from the rest of the day.
No_Judgment_5004@reddit
You don’t know what red rover is do you? All I’m saying is the reason that there is such a ridiculous amount of anxiety in people under 18 is because they’ve been told their whole lives that everything is dangerous. You’re raising adults, a pin prick will not kill them.
Routine-Rub-9112@reddit
It might not kill them but it will hurt. It's just common sense.
Veflas510@reddit
Are you sure you mean school and not the textile mills?
Ok_Finance_2001@reddit
Back in my day we used to play football barefoot on a field of poppy badges
_Adam_M_@reddit
Luxury. We used to have to get up in the middle of the night and lick the poppy badge field clean with our tongues.
lapodufnal@reddit
It’s just common sense though, those pins drop out easily and they’re sharp enough to pierce skin easily. Would also be pointless since they fall off super easily, they’d all be missing by the end of the first half. Sticker makes more sense for a football match
Broad-Attention-6133@reddit (OP)
No, it's a sticker thing now
Hullfire00@reddit
I once had to turf a bloke out my pub on bonfire night for being too pissed up. He got a big aggro and started kicking off, when I bear hugged him (my version holding a small person at arm’s length), his poppy pin went right into my bastard cuticle and I dropped him on the fireplace (unlit).
I’ve been run over by a car, hit by a truck, shot in the arse with a metal bb gun, fallen into a bramble bush, taken an elbow to the head when going up to catch a cross, taken a goalpost to the head going up to punch a ball away and been voluntarily waterboarded and I’d go through all those again to avoid getting a poppy pin into that specific part of my body.
beeurd@reddit
That was my thought too. I've only seen them for sale in one place so far and they still had pins.
justinhammerpants@reddit
I saw a place yesterday and they had a sticker on the back.
Antique_Historian_74@reddit
I always buy and wear a poppy because of my grandfather who served in WWII.
But ever since 2003 I think the whole "never forget" stuff is complete and utter horseshit and I just straight despise anyone who tries to pressure other people into wearing them.
WoodSteelStone@reddit
I wear one because of everyone else's grandfather's who served. I keep my poppy each year to put on our Christmas tree, to remember their sacrifices then too.
1901pies@reddit
My grandpa was the Hodges to your grandpa's Mainwaring then!
pullingteeths@reddit
This is just nonsense, kids have always worn them
thepioneeringlemming@reddit
At my school it was very much compulsory... although in WW1 essentially an entire school year had been wiped out. There was a huge memorial in the playground.
Playful-Gazelle5491@reddit
Wveryone seems to be forgetting the importance of the war and the sacrifices soldiers made, especially with a lot of kids now days not being taught about it properly or caring I think its important to keep up the symbolism and show respect
NoAnteater8640@reddit
That's what the white poppy is for. The Red poppy is explicitly q political statement in support lf the Royal Legion
peppermint_aero@reddit
I don't think you really believe that anyone in Britain has forgotten the big wars.
Sharp-Canary5995@reddit
Absolutely agree. Remembering their sacrifices shouldn’t just be a once-a-year thing.
DangerousDisplay7664@reddit
Poppies and the poppy appeal are military propaganda. It is absolutely possible to remember and respect the people who gave their lives in past wars without publicly displaying a poppy about your person.
Jamie2556@reddit
I always think that on Remembrance Day. I have read all of seigfried Sassoon memoirs about four times. Pretty sure I’ve done a lifetimes worth of “minute’s silences” thinking deeply about the war and its impact on the soldiers. At actual minutes silence I get distracted and am not really thinking about it, don’t think anyone is.
Cheap-Rate-8996@reddit
But it isn't just about commemorating the veterans of the World Wars. The RBL and the poppy appeal is about supporting British veterans of all conflicts. Including the ones where (for lack of a better way of wording) they were not necessarily the unambiguous "good guys". Ask the Irish why they aren't keen on wearing poppies.
People who might have been victimised by the British Army or had friends or family members who have should not be expected to "show respect" for them.
robster9090@reddit
I had no idea poppy’s offended so many, I’d heard of it but assumed it was bollocks. Seems I was wrong
NoAnteater8640@reddit
No one's offended by Poppys. Theres legitimate discussion around how the choice to or not wear one is portrayed.
Certainly when I was younger anyone in a traditional position of state authority (Politician, police, head teacher) was informally expected to wear one, to the degree that it was considered to be either a political statement or failure of character if they weren't.
As the war generations are almost entirely gone from positions of power, that expectation has rapidly become less socially enforced and the Iraq war was a big hit in moving the impression from support for a generation of heros, to association with Bush style war hawking.
KKMcKay17@reddit
You are wrong. They offend nobody. That you’ve chosen this odd interpretation says more about your desire to be outraged than anything else.
robster9090@reddit
Literally posts on this thread saying so…
KKMcKay17@reddit
There are literally posts on this thread saying that poppies offend them? Really?
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
Nowadays, you can be arrested and put in jail simply for saying you're English!
peppermint_aero@reddit
Nobody has said they are offended. People have said they would choose not to wear one. That's not the same as asking other people not to.
That's the really great thing about choice; you can choose one option and I will choose another.
Electronic_Cream_780@reddit
We always had poppy collections from Primary school through to high school. It was always voluntary.
Adam-West@reddit
I think it should be voluntary but I also think it’s good to teach kids about these things from a young age. It teaches empathy and it’s a safeguard against one of the worst thing to ever happen to the country from happening again.
jamespter@reddit
Does it? How many poppy wearers are reform voters?
Adam-West@reddit
You think because somebody votes reform that they don’t understand the importance of avoiding a world war?
jamespter@reddit
Not one caused by fascism.
Optimal-Room-8586@reddit
Yes, but the empathy and historic perspective comes from learning about wars and their consequences; the poppy is just a symbol.
Ancient_times@reddit
I wish that was the case, but these days it doesn't seem to be the message any more.
Icy_Consideration409@reddit
Most children seemed to wear them when I was a kid in 1970’s and 1980’s Sheffield.
It was always voluntary, but most kids were keen. 5p for a poppy was a pretty common thing to do.
feebsiegee@reddit
I'm an army brat, and I always had a poppy. It didn't last long, as I'm very accident prone. And that's back in the 90s.
7ootles@reddit
I'd have thought wearing a poppy was unsafe during sports, considering pins can work out and then stick in people.
NoRequirement2846@reddit
Support veterans please
TeetheMoose@reddit
Not strange. No-one should be forced to wear a poppy.
badger906@reddit
I don’t think people should be given a choice! You should be forced to buy a poppy. So that everyone remembers the sacrifices the men and women of this nation made for us, so we can have the luxury of kids football..
Every part of our lives is thanks to them. I don’t think the country does enough.
7148675309@reddit
It is all performative. Cookie Monster once had to wear one!
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/bbc-viewers-baffled-as-cookie-monster-wears-a-poppy-on-the-one-show-a3389846.html
worldworn@reddit
It is strange, I don't understand why someone would have an issue with children learning about, and showing respect for, those that died, fighting for others.
No one I know is forced to wear a poppy, but it is a good cause and should be encouraged.
ClumsyandLost@reddit
I would prefer my child not to wear a poppy whilst playing a sport because of the risk of injury.
MDK1980@reddit
Lest we forget.
veb27@reddit
It's just mindless traditionalism at this point. Half the people wearing a poppy couldn't tell you a thing about WW1.
Bulky-Bullfrog-9893@reddit
No one has to wear one. It is an individual choice and should be respected as such.
Pizzagoessplat@reddit
In the eighties we always wore a poppy in primary school
Sorry-Programmer9826@reddit
I've never buy a poppy because of this huge pressure that you have to buy and wear one. It has always made me very uncomfortable
marsman@reddit
Oddly, I always buy one (or a few), and generally wear one, as in the paper poppy. I arguably find the reusable pins, the really big ones and so somewhat problematic (although each to their own). At least with the paper ones you are giving something to the charity (as its not like they survive the year and you reuse them) and they are relatively small and discrete, it is a sign of solidarity. Some of the broach style, massive ones (some with sort of red jewel things encrusted on them) just seem like a huge 'Look at what I'm wearing' and a little disrespectful..
Alternative_Week_117@reddit
Yep. I used to give money but not take a poppy but I’m uncomfortable with the whole help for heroes flag shagging thing it’s become. I now live in Northern Ireland and it’s basically are you a prodestant or are you a Catholic, depending on whether you wear one or not so it’s deeply a political symbol here.
Realistic-River-1941@reddit
Help for Heroes is nothing to do with it, it is a British Legion thing.
Optimal-Room-8586@reddit
I'm exactly the same. The more pressure there is to wear one, the less I want to.
orange_fudge@reddit
Exactly! My great-uncles who actually are under poppies in Flanders fields fought for freedom, not so that we could bully people into wearing a symbol.
Reesno33@reddit
Just get the poppy and be glad you're not in a muddy trench. State of some people.
TheAlbaStoner@reddit
Sorry. Im not stupid enough to fall for propaganda so ill pass
Reesno33@reddit
Jesus Christ I hope you're trolling
TheAlbaStoner@reddit
Not at all. Google the definition of propaganda if your so confused. Its a pretty easy concept to grasp. May as well look up jingoistic while youre at it and you will have a pretty inclusive look at what that poppy represents.
If you are still struggling to grasp why people dont like poppies, i suggest you look at ireland,india,malaya, afghan, iraq or anywhere else the british armed forces go. There is pain and misery that follows fhese fuckers around the globe
So if you really support soldiers or people affected by war, stop wearing fucking poppies and demand that your governments keep them safe and sound. Do notallow them to thrust our people into pointless conflicts. Tell them to send their own children for a fucking change. These cunts should all be held for crimes against humanity, not put on a fucking pedestal
I_will_never_reply@reddit
Innit
Indigo-Waterfall@reddit
Being a child is the ONLY time I’ve worn a poppy.
Over-Cold-8757@reddit
I don't think anyone should wear poppies.
There seems to be some latent idea in people's heads that the money is somehow going to WW2 veterans, those 'good old boys who saved us.'
They're all dead. The money goes to military service personnel but those needs should be paid for by the military. Why are the armed forces outsourcing this to charity?
Poppies have become performative. Nobody cares where the money goes. People buy them and create unnecessary waste in order to keep up appearances.
I'll buy a poppy again when they change where the money goes. Give it to mental health charities or something.
Don't get me wrong I believe veterans of modern wars should be looked after, but that should be an expense of the military I pay for in my taxes.
peppermint_aero@reddit
Actually I agree. The military should not be a charity in the same way that the NHS should not be a charity. Not funding these things is a failure of the state.
We already pay taxes. Nobody should be guilt-tripped into paying twice.
Kyster_K99@reddit
We always wore poppies in school 15 20 years ago, it's a way to raise money for the royal British legion who do some great work. People are getting riled up over nothing
Defiant_Put_7542@reddit
I mean, some people just don't like the idea of fawning over state-sponsored muderers who freely choose to make a career out of maiming and killing others.
Each to their own, I guess.
afcote1@reddit
Poppy fascism is a thing now
Bennjoon@reddit
There’s no reason why kids shouldn’t recognise the horrors of ww2
The fact that the Nazis are coming back in the form of reform shows us we have been too negligent in memorialising their crimes.
Stinkinhippy@reddit
Always worn poppies since i was like 5... dunno where the kids not wearing them in your area came from, but it's not a nationwide thing.
Impossible-Disk6101@reddit
The poppy isn’t just about the soldiers who died in the World Wars; it represents all wars, without distinguishing between those who suffered and those who caused suffering. The man it was named after helped send thousands to their deaths through arrogance and class privilege, yet he’s still woven into its story as a hero.
What often gets lost is that the same symbol celebrates the evil done in Ireland, India, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond, all under the same banner.
Remembering “everyone who served” without facing that reality creates a version of history that’s comfortable, but not honest.
If we’re teaching kids about remembrance, we owe them the full picture: empathy for the ordinary young men who were victims of their leaders, and truth about the violence carried out in the name of empire.
KKMcKay17@reddit
“The man it was named after…”
Poppies are named for the poppy flower. Not a man.
hdhxuxufxufufiffif@reddit
The charity was originally named after Field Marshal Haig. I'm old enough to remember when poppies still had The Haig Fund embossed on the black thing in the middle.
KKMcKay17@reddit
I remember those too, you’re quite right.
Guess your original post is just worded a little confusingly.
callisstaa@reddit
It did read as though they were named after John Poppy.
roland_right@reddit
Imo it's strange to think anyone should wear a poppy. Fair play to anyone who wants to but there's a little too much compelling and shaming for my liking. Each to their own.
Reesno33@reddit
Probably due to the fact that 100 years ago you HAD to go to fight in an actual World War, so really its pretty amazing that people will moan about putting a poppy on to remember the millions who died.
thebusconductorhines@reddit
I don't wear one because the british army killed some if my family in Ireland...
Necrodancer90@reddit
Isn't the point of them fighting in a war was to allow our freedom?
glasgowgeg@reddit
I can remember those who fought without wearing a physical representation of it.
corobo@reddit
They fought for our right to moan tbf
roland_right@reddit
Moan about being forced to. There's a difference.
Forward-Slice3836@reddit
i have worn a poppy every year since i was old enough to understand the significance of it, using my pocket money to purchase my own from the age of 5-6
Skylon77@reddit
I wore one as a child. Rather disrespectfully, I would keep them from one year to the next!
Meronkulous@reddit
It's strange to think ANYONE should need to wear a poppy.
It should be voluntary only.
Melodic-Towel-7633@reddit
Having previously worked at The Royal British Legion for many years. It's such a shame to see how politicised wearing the poppy has become. The poppy signifies remembrance but it's origins come from being a fundraiser for injured soldiers. Funds raised from poppys today do genuine good work with supporting a lot of veterans who really are in need. Please do not not donate purely on the basis of gammons and flag shaggers making it political
FarCanary@reddit
With the current government actively involved in an ongoing genocide, remembrance day is a bit of a farce.
chase___it@reddit
in my primary school the poppies were completely voluntary, but we did a lot of schoolwork revolved around it which hyped them up so pretty much every kid wore one because they wanted to. we also used to fight over who got to carry the tray and sell them at break times. it was one of the coveted jobs, alongside toast monitor
thebusconductorhines@reddit
They don't need to surely? They just can?
dani-dee@reddit
I’m in my early 40’s and wore poppy’s at school, you could buy them from reception!
I read about the Poppy badge on football shirts the other day, Leicester City came up with the idea to put the Poppy badge on the shirts used for the remembrance weekend game back in 2003, their opponents, Blackburn Rovers agreed and had it on theirs too.. it then became a thing.
I wonder if wearing them on kits (even for kids) came from that?
Mr_Bumcrest@reddit
I wore a poppy as a child in the 90s. I see no reason for them not too
DangerousDisplay7664@reddit
Yeah, that’s really strange of the club to expect kids to wear a poppy at any time tbh. It’s not their place!
That’s one problem with poppy wearers though, they like to try and force their poppies onto everyone and try to make out like you’re some kind of traitor to your own country if you say “no thanks”
PowerfulIron7117@reddit
Poppy fascists are the same people who were out judging nurses coming off a night shift for not clapping during Covid.
Mikeymcmoose@reddit
Spot on
OK_Cake05@reddit
Why does one need to be worn while playing a sport. Specially if it has a pin!
Njosnavelin93@reddit
I'm not sure it makes a difference.
nacnud_uk@reddit
The thing is mate, if you don't give young kids the propaganda about war and all that, then you don't breed enough cannon fodders minds and killer drones. And if you don't have those, as a government, it's really hard to conduct the business of war. So you have to get the propaganda in early. Then the mindless drones that glorify war, even if they have never "served their killing gov", will push the idea on to everyone they meet. And the cycle continue. Business as usual.
Fuck glorifying war and "remembering". Let it go. Note it that it was a really bad thing to do, all round. I mean, humans seem to be fucking idiots, on the whole, around war; they did WW1 and thought...hmm...WW2 sounds like a good idea.
So, your kid getting indoctrinated, to never forget, is just part of that puzzle. Keep them so aware of the war and wars and the glory and how they will be remembered and what "heroes" they were, that the feed of mindless desperate soldiers keeps getting born and raised and killed on some foreign land.
And don't give a fuck when all the old people say, "back in my day we had poppies"...yeah, so what? You were fucked in the brain by the propaganda machine, and now you want to do it to the next generation? This is called generational abuse.
Maybe, must maybe, war is not to be remembered or glorified?
"Children do not wear them". I don't either mate. You're very right to try and protect your kid from the propaganda.
I know I'll get down voted for this, as there's far too many "soldier lickers". They are like boot lickers, but they also encourage their children to go and kill for "their government". Makes me sick to even think of it.
Chilled-Fridge@reddit
I feel like people wear the poppy these days to say "hey look at me, I care more than you" so it has lost almost all meaning unfortunately. Personally I don't know or have a connection with anyone that fought in WW2, and I'm sure as hell sure your son doesn't either so I'd disagree strongly with anyone trying to force him to buy and then wear a poppy.
Hour-Cup-7629@reddit
The point of democracy is choice. You choose to wear one or not. Both are correct. I don’t personally wear one because Ive realised Ive lost it within an hour. So I dont bother. Wars were fought to preserve democracy. Well thats what we are told anyway. In which case my poppy, my choice.
Such-Enthusiasm-69@reddit
I personally think it's stranger when people don't wear them around Remembrance Day. It's to recognize our fallen; it's OUR BRITISH history.
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
Why did you put "OUR BRITISH" in capital letters?
NotJacobMurphy@reddit
Who gives a fuck mostly virtue signalling anyway
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Keep it for the next year- we have a box with stuff like children in need ears, red noses, poppies valentine hearts cardboard easter eggs halloween lights etc.
Entire-Sentence-9379@reddit
Poppymas is upon us. The weaponised nostalgia is out of control in this country. It's not uncommon where I live (Harlow) for people to decorate their houses and cars with those soldier shadow things. Just another sign of the population's inability to recognise how we're manipulated by the press, mostly.
I really feel that the way we glorify war but learn nothing from it means that we should stop this OTT saturation of poppies and remembrance, but I can't see that happening for another couple of generations at least.
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Guides and scouts always wear them - must dig ours out for church parade tomorrow!
puggydmalls@reddit
it's indoctrination
pinkpuffsorange@reddit
I’m coach for our local youth side…. Literally just got back from our game. We always observe a minutes silence before the match but poppies are not required. Don’t know if different areas do it differently but it’s certainly not a requirement under FAW
peppermint_aero@reddit
I'd be concerned about peer pressure and kids wearing them because they feel they have to. It's a big thing to symbolise and everyone should have the choice and also the capacity to understand what it is.
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
Yeah, when I was at school there definitely was a lot of peer pressure to wear one. No real discussion about it being a choice, just an assertion that you need to wear one.
peppermint_aero@reddit
That's totally unfair and should not have happened to you.
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
It is, but not uncommon in the 90s to early 00s, I'd imagine. Attitudes to it have shifted a lot during my lifetime. Even today, there's still a significant number of people who really don't like or respect people choosing not to wear one.
And this attitude was way more widespread back then.
peppermint_aero@reddit
Oh I believe you; I was around at the same time. I just wanted to validate that if it is wrong now it was wrong then, even if nobody recognized that.
Otherwise_Koala4289@reddit
Indeed. Though I do think in an odd way it did have the unintended impact of making us actually think about what the poppy is and what it represents. Because if something feels like it's being imposed on you, you naturally end up thinking about how you feel about it
(Once you get old enough, obviously).
VPutinsSearchHistory@reddit
People have gone completely mental with poppies. You do not have to buy one.
Delicious-Cut-7911@reddit
It's called poppy bullying.
corobo@reddit
If everyone has to wear them it renders them worthless. It becomes "wear a poppy because we all wear poppies in November" rather than any actual messaging.
Eskarina_W@reddit
Absolutely true. I'm living in the UK for over a decade but have never worn one. It's not something I grew up with and would feel completely performative to me to join in. I observe the commemorative silence and I have been awed by the thought-provoking poppy display at the tower of London. I didn't buy one of those poppies either, because I don't feel connected to the poppy tradition. I am not opposed to the poppy itself and other peoples' choice to wear one. It's just not for me.
I have never had any conflict in my daily life for not wearing one, though a couple of English poppy wearing friends have asked me about it over the years (out of genuine curiosity). I am a little anxious that this year might be different, due to the current political climate and rising anti-immigrant sentiment in the country, but me wearing one out of fear of harassment would just cheapen a symbol that holds a deep meaning to so many people.
WowzersTrousers0@reddit
This is a barefaced lie -
Every year we wore poppies in school - This would be in the early 80's onward.
Big-Spinach-5173@reddit
We didn't in the 70's not once. London based so I was
DameKumquat@reddit
Surrey, but we had them in the 70s. Most people gave 5p, but 1p to 10p was fine.
I stopped wearing them as a teenager after a presentation at school when the RBL guy said they were to celebrate the victory of peace over evil in WWI. Guess which side most of my family were on?
Wore them as an adult because fallen lives are worth remembering, but not much in recent years since they've become a fashion item and more politicized - and often there's no sellers around.
SaluteMaestro@reddit
70's midlands we always wore them.
JBobSpig@reddit
I'm sorry but what are you even complaining about? When young we all wore poppy's, your family might not have done it and that speaks more about you and yours than it does other.
If you have an issue with the poppy there are many other countries you could go to, why not go find somewhere than showing a bit of love towards service personnel who have died protecting their countries isn't a thing, I've heard north Korean is nice this time of year.
You're a horrible little cretin.
Forged-Signatures@reddit
It's understandably a difficult topic, close to many hearts for different reasons. I am roughly aware of the thoughts of some who are against poppy wearing, and of course aren't wearing a regional equivalent, so can possibly elaborate a little.
People don't often disagree with the support for the remembrance of WW1 and WW2, those that disagree tend to cite the expansion of remembrance to soldiers in other, more controversial, conflicts we participated in (Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, etc) where some read reverence as tacit approval of Britain's presence in these conflicts.
JBobSpig@reddit
Disapprove of politicians actions, never disrespect our soldiers.
Anyone who does needs to go fight and find out just how fucking horrible it is, they sit in their safe country, in their safe homes, hiding behind a screen chatting absolute shite all day, the least they can do is support
Ok-Friend-5304@reddit
My mum always bought me one but me being a kid it got ripped/lost/ruined in a day. Can’t imagine they’d fare well in a football match?
Djinjja-Ninja@reddit
My abiding memory of poppies as a kid back in the 80s was also of them being ruined in very short order.
I remember the cub pack leader having to have a big bag of spare ones for the remembrance sunday parade because we were always losing them.
There also wasn't this pressure to wear them at all times. You rarely saw anyone wearing them outside of actual remembrance celebrations, and certainly not weeks before.
ThePhantomBacon@reddit
There’s companies now that sell iron on patches. Feels like rampant consumerism to me, but I haven’t looked into it too hard to find out
Western_Sort501@reddit
They also do pin badges, bracelets and snap bands more durable than the paper poppies
Upstairs_Two_180@reddit
It's a shame that the focus has shifted from the solemn, voluntary act of remembrance to what feels like a performative obligation.
20Kudasai@reddit
Poppy culture has become deranged
UnhappyAd6499@reddit
Poppies are military propaganda. You'd be justified in making a HUGE fuss.
mainukfeed@reddit
Eugh no
UnhappyAd6499@reddit
Please elaborate on your thusly eloquent take.
Belle_TainSummer@reddit
I refuse to wear them these days just because of all the Jingoism around the poppy.
It used to be about remembrance of the dead, support for the survivors, but it has turned into something ugly in the last couple of decades.
I will never wear a poppy until that ugly boasting version of jingoism is decoupled from the Remembrance.
Cheap-Rate-8996@reddit
The amount of increasingly over-the-top displays I see this time of year come across as tone-deaf and vulgar. Real examples of "commemoration" I have seen this year include giant model Spitfires, knitted post box toppers of soldier's heads, and goofy, football mascot-esque Poppy costumes.
I saw someone else say Remembrance Sunday is turning into "War Halloween" and I was struck by how accurate that feels.
Belle_TainSummer@reddit
It is turning into a celebration of war, not the condemnation of the need for it and the horrors derived thereof.
Rusty_M@reddit
I've felt that for a long time, so I tend to donate to veteran supporting charities, take time to remember those killed in the name of their state, but not to display a symbol.
UnhappyAd6499@reddit
Perfect summary. They've never been about remembrance anyway.
Pleasant-Address-535@reddit
Found the bellend
UnhappyAd6499@reddit
Yes mate, its you. Go back to Facebook.
Afraid-Priority-9700@reddit
I always wore it as a kid in the 90s-2000s, on school uniform, sports kit, at Brownies etc. Never seen it as too solemn for children.
Richard__Papen@reddit
Enforced virtue signalling. If you don't wear a poppy you're a bad person. It's just ridiculous.
Lopsided-Camel1114@reddit
Playing sports with a pin on your shirt seems pretty unthought and dumb tbh??
accordionshoes@reddit
it's just another thing for people to be pretend outraged about. This idea that not wearing a poppy is a calculated effort to mock the war dead is just fucking nonsense.
eveniwontremember@reddit
I object to having poppies printed on football kits and the whole team wearing one. A minutes silence before the match, OK. I could accept players being allowed to buy a poppy armband to wear but as soon as it becomes compulsory it becomes meaningless.
Livewire____@reddit
I feel like, the further time goes on, and the fewer WW2 veterans there are alive, the more the war and their involvement in it is mythologised.
In my granddad's day, they were soldiers doing a job.
In my mum's day, they were respected.
In my day, they were heroes.
Now, they are legendary paragons, fighting the good fight against evil.
Their "sacrifice" is now used to justify everything going, from supermarket prices, to schooling, to politics. Everything.
My grandad was in the Paras. He was at Arnhem. He never, ever referred to himself or any of his mates as heroes. He never began a sentence with "we fought and died for......"
He would be mortified if his and his mate's names were invoked for half the things they get invoked for nowadays.
I've worn a poppy every year for him and his mates. That's it.
SwordfishMundaneOsis@reddit
There’s lots to support about the poppy, but irrespective of its good intentions and beginnings, I think it’s good to be aware of the authoritarianism that’s built up around them. I’m thinking of the social pressure to wear them (which frequently overlaps with the concept of “patriotism”), to the extent that eg we are used to well known people being castigated for “breaking the rules” (not wearing them, not wearing them often enough, not being effusive enough in their praise).
My immediate thought to this story is exactly that. The team shouldn’t be forced to wear them. If they want to, that’s great. If they don’t have a choice without facing down some angry faces, that’s not.
But in general to me it’s a lesson about why vigilance against authoritarianism is really required, since it frequently co-opts socially aware concepts to legitimise itself. When people aren’t given a choice to support, the support loses its meaning.
The people who insist on others wearing poppies do more to kill the movement and charity than those who refuse to
Upper-Level5723@reddit
The only time I've seen or wore a poppy was as a child at school ! I don't avoid them as an adult , just never see someone with a box of them in the wild
TheDayvanCowboy_@reddit
Remembermas is getting far too politicised for my liking.
Will-Least@reddit
I have lived in the UK all my life I have never felt any pressure personally to wear a poppy and mostly don't bother. I have however done countless minutes silences and the like.
spectrumero@reddit
When were you growing up? It was certainly a thing in the early 1980s when I was a kid.
SnowflakeBaube22@reddit
I’m 30 and my primary school sold poppies every year and we would all wear them. I don’t think I’ve worn one since school though.
scottyboy70@reddit
It is precisely this sort of garbage that is one of the main reasons I never wear a poppy anymore. Every year I donate to the collecting tin at work. I never take a poppy in return. I have zero interest or intention of joining in with this performative nonsense of having to have a poppy shoved in your face on every item of clothing at every second you are in public from the start of October to goodness knows when. Children playing footy for an hour and a half have to now plaster a poppy on their strips? Get in the actual bin with this guff.
Loose_Acanthaceae201@reddit
Leaving aside whether it's a good thing to support the Poppy Appeal, and whether it's a good thing to have explicit or formal remembrance, this is a question about whether children should wear a poppy whilst playing a football match.
I don't think they should, no. They shouldn't have pins attached to their clothing, nor be wearing slap bands or the plastic bracelets.
When the Queen died, my children played their next matches in black armbands (stretchy, like the cuff of a hoodie). Do they make bands like that with poppies on? That's the only style I would think appropriate for a football match.
My children have between them four football matches this weekend. They won't be wearing poppies but I think it very likely there will be a minute's silence before each kickoff.
feathersmcgraw24601@reddit
They're stickers, rather than pinned ones
Loose_Acanthaceae201@reddit
Thanks: I hadn't encountered them.
In that case I think they're harmless.
MolassesInevitable53@reddit
I don't remember kids wearing them in the sixties through to the nineties. Only adults. In school it was only the teachers.
ProfPMJ-123@reddit
You’re going to be at least my age or a bit younger if you have an 8 year old.
When people my age were kids we absolutely wore poppies.
I suspect you’re more interested in online engagement than anything else.
Jamericho@reddit
It’s a way to raise funds.
miemcc@reddit
Please explain more. Are the players actually required to wear poppies as a membership requirement? Or is the club just making a Poppy Collection box available?
I did 16 years Regular service and 14 years Reserve.. wearing a Poppy is a no brainer for me. But it is a PERSONAL decision.
Perhaps the club should organize a Battlefield Tour - take the kids to the Menin Gate, Thiepval, Ulster Corner, Tyne Cot, etc.
Learning that kits 5 to 10 years older than them died within minutes, and that entire towns and villages lost their menfolk on single days.
It is up to the clubs to step up.
painteroftheword@reddit
When I was younger 30 odd years ago I don't recall it being the culture wars issue its become, albeit kids aren't always aware of these things.
I suspect that's in no small part to many of those who fought in WWII still being alive. It's more difficult for the far right to appropriate something when there are still people alive to remember fighting a war against them.
InfiniteBeak@reddit
Yes it's absolutely voluntary, don't let the flag shaggers browbeat you
TheNoGnome@reddit
I hope they aren't selling the ones with pins. Health and safety...
To answer your question, a kids football kit is a bit over the top. On a school uniform, kids should be offered the chance to. It's a nice traditional thing.
IhaveaDoberman@reddit
Unless they are telling you your child has to wear a poppy, I think you're looking for ways to be aggrieved.
Because if they aren't, then all they are doing is providing you with the choice to get one.
I've had a poppy to wear pretty much every year I can remember.
Also, why shouldn't children be involved in an occasion of solemn rememberance? Especially one with this significance. Engaging them with it at a young age is the best way to make sure no one ever forgets, that we as a culture hold on to the importance of remembering.
mumwifealcoholic@reddit
It’s become fetishised.
And frankly has lost any real meaning.
Emergency_Mistake_44@reddit
Pretty sure my Sunday league team wore poppy stickers, this was 2002-2004 I'm thinking. I can't remember if it was mandatory but it was just expected I guess. No recollection of anyone objecting, either on my own team or opposition. Quite a multicultural group of us too if that's worth mentioning.
I don't wear one now.
Oldsoldierbear@reddit
I remember wearing a poppy bought at school from 1970 onwards. it was very much a thing. An older pupil came round each classroom with a tray of poppies and a collecting tin.
the_uk_hotman@reddit
Personally I'd nit buy one fir a child to wear on the child's football shirt every chance of them getting hurt with the pin. If they were to wear a wristband that'd be totally fine but no when we were children we never had to wear a poppy totally voluntary started to in seniors but again it was still if you wanted to.
AdonisCarbonado@reddit
I don't know.. 80's early 90's we had all types of bades & pin ons for all types of reasons. Any chance the school could squueze in a non uniform & get a donation for whatever badge day it was.. We went on visits to old peoples homes around now with the brass band & went & sat with the old folks & got told stories... that lingering low tone of cacked pants & the high tone of freshly toasted bread. Memories.
Opposite-Mediocre@reddit
God the poppy is the new flag situation.
99% people wear them in good faith the others don't and everyone (mostly on Reddit) now has a massive issue with wearing poppies.
They have always been around and when I was a child it was all over our school.
MurderousButterfly@reddit
It should be up to the child, but I would worry about them having pins on their kit while playing, sounds like it could cause an injury.
Realistic-River-1941@reddit
When I was at school in the 1990s we did, but it was very much optional. This predated modern poppy fascism, and it being optional was part of the point.
BusyBeeBridgette@reddit
'80s born and raised. Everyone having a poppy, even local boys footy team under 8s were a thing back then.
PossibleGlad7290@reddit
I’m 43, and 100% we wore a poppy at school.
NigelFarageBarmyArmy@reddit
Was a big thing in my primary school. Nothing wrong with a bit of respect for those that have fallen.
KlutzyMcKlutzface@reddit
I think it becomes a problem when not wearing one is being equated with not having that respect.
Pristine-Bet-5764@reddit
My sons football team have never wore a poppy for the 10years they’ve played, they do the minute silence the remembrance weekend though. Think it’s pointless in my opinion to wear them during a football match they would likely fall off
Realistic-River-1941@reddit
People didn't fight a war so that their descendents would have the freedom to choose... oh, hold on....
Roundkittykat@reddit
Poppies were pretty much obligatory when I was in school. You would be called out for not wearing them. We had assemblies where they passive aggressively said they'd noticed not everyone had one and they'd need to all have them by the 11th. It was a nightmare as they fell off and got lost constantly so everyone had to buy multiple poppies to ensure they still had them on by the day itself.
I grew to resent it as I got older. It doesn't mean anything if it's forced on you. I bought a poppy this year as a personal choice but obviously it should be a choice not an obligation.
I'm 35 and from London, for context.
WobblingSeagull@reddit
Shit bait like this is what happens when mods don't bother enforcing the rules.
How can they deny this sub is under attack from brigaders and their spiritual leaders in Russia and Iran when threads like this happens every day now?
Pleasant-Address-535@reddit
Kids should absolutely be wearing poppies and making a huge fuss over it. We should remember all those who had the courage to go and fight.
Cheap-Rate-8996@reddit
Kind of funny that you're getting angry and swearing at people who point out the poppy is military propaganda and then you post this.
Pleasant-Address-535@reddit
Make it make sense mate.
Cheap-Rate-8996@reddit
The poppy is not a politically neutral symbol. It's a fundraising initiative by the RBL to commemorate and financially support all British military veterans.
The problem there is that WWI and WWII are not the only wars the British Army has ever fought. It's fought in many wars - including some quite recent ones - where its role and actions could be considered questionable. If you're Irish and lived in Belfast in the 70s and 80s, you might have a rather different impression of the British Army than "brave heroes who had the courage to go and fight".
bahumat42@reddit
You don't even have to go to the 80's
Many of our interactions in the middle east in the last couple of decades have been questionable.
Pleasant-Address-535@reddit
Same could be said for people waving certain flags around and are allowed to be openly hateful towards a group of people, even provoking a lunatic to go to a supposed place of safety and murder people. Yet we allow that in fact encourage it and speaking against it makes you a genocide enthusiast
Fun_Gas_7777@reddit
Even when playing football?
Nice_Back_9977@reddit
In the two world wars there wasn't a choice for a lot of the soldiers, especially WWI
DrRuckus74@reddit
How can you play a football game with a poppy on that’s insane
bahumat42@reddit
Nobody NEEDS to wear a poppy.
If its not voluntary then it doesn't show support of anything.
candyflossgal@reddit
I hate what this has become. The poppy has always been a sign of remembrance to those who gave their lives and it was never political. I wore one as a kid to school. Maybe for a football game poppy stickers would be better so the pins don’t cause injury.
Temporary_Ebb9486@reddit
I still wear a poppy, but I do believe it’s important for the next generation to move on.
beckyann35@reddit
Most professional teams have them printed on shirts as it will be a safety issue when they come off and get caught not to mention the pins cutting someone so while playing a contact sport would be a no but other times yes if they want to and we can teach them what they stand for and why we have remembrance day
Optimal-Room-8586@reddit
I don't wear a poppy though happy to donate. I dislike the way it's gone from remembrance to nationalistic jingoism.
dazedan_confused@reddit
Surely they'll just fall off while playing football?
No_Judgment_5004@reddit
‘80’s child from Newcastle here. Poppies were always a big thing and we all bought them to wear. They were like 10p at the time and all crumpled by lunch time. But yeah poppies are common.
Macshlong@reddit
We wore black armbands made from mums old clothes or something.
Question anyone who tells you it’s not a choice.
DarthSpireite@reddit
Nobody should need to. Things of this nature should remain firmly in the voluntary column.
Fun_Gas_7777@reddit
Not really. If they're playing football, they dont want to have pins on them in case they fall/ball hits them and theres a pin related accident. This seems common sense
Danuk9455@reddit
It should be voluntary. And jeeez leave the kids alone and just let them play. Introduce it in schools if respect needs to be taught
purpleflavouredfrog@reddit
Sounds dangerous to me, they aren’t designed to be worn while playing football.
ImABrickwallAMA@reddit
Are you being forced to wear them? Are kids being excluded from taking part for not wearing them?
No? Well then, we just found another big non-event. It’s evidently still voluntary, the football team is just fundraising.
neityght@reddit
Nah fuck that
Groxy_@reddit
You didn't wear poppies at school?
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
Yeah ridiculous. On sports kit?
Fine to give them out/sell them at school, if the school thinks it is appropriate. But on sports kit seems insane.
dobber72@reddit
I don't think wearing a poppy should even be an ongoing consideration. If you wear one, great, if you don't wear one, fine.
palpatineforever@reddit
i am nearly 40, poppies were worn with things that had uniforms, generally this applied to scouts etc, but i can see how sports clubs would also be included.
The club cannot tell you how much to dontate for the poppy though.
Wooden-Bookkeeper473@reddit
I guess it's because the professionals wear them all kids want to copy that.
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