Today's "What Gets My Goat" - NO POLITICS!

[YamFazFan]

You know what's getting my goat right now?
BREXIT?  Well yeah.  But something else is getting my goat right now, and its being doing so this time each year since 2011..............
Poppy fascism..
Why does anybody have to explain not wearing a red poppy?  I mean what the fuck?.
Apparently a footballer I’ve never heard of has had to explain why he does not wear a top with a poppy printed on it. His name is Nemanja Matic.  I’m thinking – mmmmm – interesting name.  And guess what he’s Serbian.  Why would a foccin Serbian wear a red poppy.  How stupid can people get?
.
No, frankly I can't think of anything more tacky than premier league footballers with red poppies printed on their shirts.  This demeans and trivialises remembrance.  Quiet contemplation at at an English premier league football game – really? 
.
No longer is it good enough just to remember, but people today are more interested in being seen to remember.
Rant over.

You ask them what they actually know about either of the 2 World Wars and see what gems of knowledge are forthcoming .
I choose to wear a poppy. I want to remember. After all it was that sort of freedom to choose which was one of the things they were fighting for surely?.
I don't just wear one because I feel intimidated to do so by some dumb footballer that knows nothing about the war and has just jumped on the bandwagon '' 'Cos it's a respect fing ain't it guv?" or because someone else demands to know why I haven't.
To be meaningfull Remebrance has to be a concious, personal choice doesn't it?. Surely if it's just been printed on a shirt and handed to you without your request or knowledge it's meaningless isn't it??

[VNA]

To be meaningfull Remebrance has to be a concious, personal choice doesn't it?. Surely if it's just been printed on a shirt and handed to you without your request or knowledge it's meaningless isn't it??

Agree.  It's nonsense.  It's not just nonsense, it's stupid nonsense, which I find offensive.
And fair play to Nemanja Matic, who has worn such a shirt in the past, to stand up and say no.  It does not make sense for a Serbian to wear a red poppy.

Personally I choose to wear a white poppy.  I don't want to wear Lady Haig's poppy, but I do want to remember.  And in terms of ww1, I want as much as anything to remember those who were sacrificed, and all who lost their lives
People should be free to remember as they wish, that is if they wish.  It's a personal thing.  Poppies, red, white, purple or whatever, should not be subject to group think, peer pressure or the mob mentality.

[YamFazFan]

Yes. Well said.

[steve 10562cc]

Got my poppy from the local chemist the other day, poppies on display in a box on counter but no where to put any money for them. I asked where to leave my donation the lady produced the collection box from under the counter apparently they have to keep it there as the last one was stolen 2 days before. The chemists is next to the doctors surgery approx. 1/2 mile out side the town. There are some real sad ba**ards about  stealing from a charity. Really p*ss*d me off  scumbags

[fazersharp]

I think the BBC have a dedicated person who is in charge of making sure that every single person is wearing one

[YamFazFan]

They actually do have a box full in the studio that they keep ready to offer presenters/guests on the way in though don't they?.
Surely if you genuinely, sincerely wanted to wear one and remember you'd have your own on before you got there.
No one would just put one on for the benifit of the cameras would they? :rolleyes

[VNA]

They actually do have a box full in the studio that they keep ready to offer presenters/guests on the way in though don't they?.
Surely if you genuinely, sincerely wanted to wear one and remember you'd have your own on before you got there.

Indeed.  Absolutely. 

No one would just put one on for the benifit of the cameras would they? [img alt=:rolleyes]http://foc-u.co.uk/Smileys/efocicon/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Oh yes.
I believe it is an unofficial expectation that presenters wear one.  And it appears to be spreading to other channels.  Officially it’s their choice.  If you are in TV and you value your career you will wear one.  That gets my goat.  It’s plain wrong.


The other thing is we now have presenters and reporters abroad wearing red poppies.  How stupid is that?  The whole thing is becoming a joke.  It devalues what remembrance is supposed about.

 

[fazersharp]

They actually do have a box full in the studio that they keep ready to offer presenters/guests on the way in though don't they?.
Surely if you genuinely, sincerely wanted to wear one and remember you'd have your own on before you got there.
No one would just put one on for the benifit of the cameras would they? :rolleyes

Sure -don't display one its your choice But you will not be coming on air or invited (paid) to come back again.
Go ahead count the number of guests on BBC news / News-night / ect not wearing one.

[mtread]

Nemanja Matic has chosen not to wear a poppy because at the age of 12 he was bombed by NATO forces. He probably knows more about war than most.
I buy a poppy but don't wear it all the time. Actually I have some problems with WW1. Empire vs Empire, shell shocked soldiers shot at dawn, public schoolboys blowing whistles so that poor devils could run at machine guns. Lions led by donkeys. Not our greatest moments.

[nick crisp]

Actually I have some problems with WW1. Empire vs Empire, shell shocked soldiers shot at dawn, public schoolboys blowing whistles so that poor devils could run at machine guns. Lions led by donkeys. Not our greatest moments.

What has that got to do with remembering the sacrifices of those who died? It's not about remembering the generals, the politicians, who sent these men to the slaughter.

[mtread]

I completely agree. But it seems that some quarters use the poppy to celebrate nationalism.

[YamFazFan]

Nemanja Matic has chosen not to wear a poppy because at the age of 12 he was bombed by NATO forces. He probably knows more about war than most.

Errr, isn't that pretty much what VNA was saying?. Or have I missed something?.

[nick crisp]

I completely agree. But it seems that some quarters use the poppy to celebrate nationalism.

They're only deluding themselves.

[Frosties]

[quote author=mtread link=topic=17546.msg286532#msg286532 date=1541454820]Actually I have some problems with WW1. Empire vs Empire, shell shocked soldiers shot at dawn, public schoolboys blowing whistles so that poor devils could run at machine guns. Lions led by donkeys. Not our greatest moments.

What has that got to do with remembering the sacrifices of those who died? It's not about remembering the generals, the politicians, who sent these men to the slaughter.
[/quote]


To be honest I agree with Mtread - you need to experience being led by a donkey to appreciate it. Tens of thousands would have been saved if promotion was within the ranks.


Personally I wear a poppy, not just for WW1 but for ALL of our military conflicts.


And agree with the Serbian footballer comments....you either want to remember or you don't. Agree with BBC comments also which is a complete joke implemented for appearance sake - false / forced wearers can go get fucked.

[VNA]

Aparently a number of Irish football players in the English premier league have been booed.  Such behaviour is replusive.  It just the same stupid patriotic mob mentally that leads to war in the first place. 

I buy a poppy but don't wear it all the time. Actually I have some problems with WW1. Empire vs Empire, shell shocked soldiers shot at dawn, public schoolboys blowing whistles so that poor devils could run at machine guns. Lions led by donkeys. Not our greatest moments.

Indeed, I used to wear a Red Poppy.  Some of the stuff you mention there is why I now wear a white poppy.  Though no I don’t wear it all the time.  Just now and again in the lead up to remembrance, simply because the white poppy is very much mis-understood. 



And as for those who refused to fight.  Well I also have a great respect for them.  Those who objected during the first world war were treated appallingly.  And there were many who didn’t want to go, but you could say it was easier to go than to say no.


Aye and spare me the ultimate sacrifice pish when it comes to ww1, most were simply and needlessly slaughtered, even told to walk towards the enemy machine guns.


Aye soldiers shot at dawn.  And for a variety of reasons.  Some picked at random and shot just as an example to the troops.  Gee then up a bit with a random execution.  What what.

[mtread]

Errr, isn't that pretty much what VNA was saying?. Or have I missed something?.

Just adding what he actually said.....

[VNA]

<blockquote>Nemanja Matic has chosen not to wear a poppy because at the age of 12 he was bombed by NATO forces. He probably knows more about war than most.
</blockquote>Errr, isn't that pretty much what VNA was saying?. Or have I missed something?.

Umm no.  But that is a very valid point, an import point indeed.  My point is he is Serbian.  The Red Poppy Appeal represents 'our' war dead.

 

[Frosties]

Aparently a number of Irish football players in the English premier league have been booed.  Such behaviour is replusive.  It just the same stupid patriotic mob mentally that leads to war in the first place. 

I buy a poppy but don't wear it all the time. Actually I have some problems with WW1. Empire vs Empire, shell shocked soldiers shot at dawn, public schoolboys blowing whistles so that poor devils could run at machine guns. Lions led by donkeys. Not our greatest moments.

Indeed, I used to wear a Red Poppy.  Some of the stuff you mention there is why I now wear a white poppy.  Though no I don’t wear it all the time.  Just now and again in the lead up to remembrance, simply because the white poppy is very much mis-understood. 



And as for those who refused to fight.  Well I also have a great respect for them.  Those who objected during the first world war were treated appallingly.  And there were many who didn’t want to go, but you could say it was easier to go than to say no.


Aye and spare me the ultimate sacrifice pish when it comes to ww1, most were simply and needlessly slaughtered, even told to walk towards the enemy machine guns.


Aye soldiers shot at dawn.  And for a variety of reasons.  Some picked at random and shot just as an example to the troops.  Gee then up a bit with a random execution.  What what.

Well said sir

[YamFazFan]

led by donkeys.

That's mostly untrue. In the main they were experienced proffesional generals used to fighting small colonial wars. They had to adapt to a conflict on this scale fast.


https://www.express.co.uk/news/world-war...by-donkeys

[Frosties]

[quote author=mtread link=topic=17546.msg286532#msg286532 date=1541454820]
led by donkeys.

That's mostly untrue. In the main they were experienced proffesional generals used to fighting small colonial wars. They had to adapt to a conflict on this scale fast.


https://www.express.co.uk/news/world-war...by-donkeys
[/quote]


It still exists to this day - it's called Sandhurst ! No different to a Graduate Engineer who's thought process is "I can't do your job but my book says you're doing it wrong". Educated idiots the lot of them