Yesterday I took my children into Leeds city centre to do a bit of Christmas shopping. When I got there I noticed an unusual amount of military personnel milling around - sea cadets, TA volunteers etc - selling poppies for Remembrance Day.

As my eldest has been learning about WWII at school, I gave him 50p to go a buy one from a stand. As he was having his poppy pinned to the lapel of his coat, the two squaddies manning the stand asked me in an accusatory manner, "and where is your poppy, Sir?" I said that I didn’t have one. They responded by telling me about their colleagues in Afghanistan who were dying to save me. It got really quite intimidating and I ended up walking away before my son had managed to give his donation.

I was quite taken aback by this. I have actually donated to the British Legion this year through work, but I certainly don't think it is appropriate to judge or criticise people who choose not to wear a poppy. In my opinion it is the thought that counts, not the money or a piece of paper. I support our armed forces and observe my own quiet reflection each Remembrance Day. What happened yesterday was really quite wrong.

I've mentioned this to a few friends and they got all defensive and militant – “Why not just wear a poppy?”…… “Lest we forget about the fallen heroes”…….

When did Remembrance Day descend into a farce whereby everyone tries to 'out-respect' one another?

...or, you could have just got a poppy.

That's besides the point, nobody should be belittled like that just because they don't choose to wear one. I rarely do, but that doesn't mean i'm disrespecting our fallen soldiers.

Ok.

Or, he could give over trying to be controversial and just wear a fooking poppy.

I understand what he's saying but really, get over it. I also suspect there's a little more to his victim story.

They should when they are encouraging their child to buy one.

Is it wrong to wear a home made poppy ?

My guess is that the irony is lost on him (or not?). Especially this; " It got really quite intimidating and I ended up walking away".

PS I actually agree with Kirkstaller on this one, its a personal choice to buy or wear a poppy, if you've bought one then its not compulsory to wear it, "None of your business" would have been a satisfactory answer and if they want to get a bit y and speak of their friends out in Afghanistan then I too would not have given them my business, their "friends" out in Afghanistan are there through personal choice and FFS you're already offering to support the cause.

Another take..............[urlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11/08/remembrance-day-poppy-armistice-ted-harrison_n_2095394.html?utm_hp_ref=uk[/url

If people ask me I just say I don't wear any symbols or give to charities. No point engaging in debate with these types that are just trying to point score by showing how great they are by wearing a poppy.

Shame the poppy wearing debate is hijacked by total w@nkers like these.



I don't personally wear one either.

What have FIFA done?

Unfortunately post-Diana Britain seems to have picked up a certain scouse quality of grief culture, be it overly aggressively supporting charitable causes or being keen to be seen as being most upset at whatever event (it says a lot that all three England RL internationals have been preceded by a minutes silence including one for a woman who got run over ffs).

You're quite within your rights not to buy a poppy for whatever reason you choose. Whilst modern soldiers certainly put a lot at stake for the greater good they also do it out of choice. On Remembrance Sunday I think it's far more relevant to remember those who died without much choice in the matter, and buying a poppy doesn't make a blind bit of difference to their lives.

Some cr@p about no poppies on the England shirts last year wasn't it?

Can't say I've ever been pressured into buying a poppy. Its a personal decision and I dont think they should question anyone that declines to buy. But I dont think its a particularly common problem.

I've felt more pressured when telephones sales people ring or people knock at my door.

I've had far fewer poppy sellers or even double glazing salesmen put me under pressure than I've had religious nutters like kirkstaller trying to blag me.

I'm glad he felt uncomfortable, he'd be in even more discomfort if someone shoved his tambourine up his ar[is[/ie

Wot he says.

There's a lot of good points here – shame you ruined it by the anti-scouse thing. And I'm not even a scouser.

How many times? I'm not religious and I doubt the people you've had try to blag you are anything like me.

As others have said, it's a personal choice and no-one should be pressured into buying a poppy or be hassled for not wearing one. If I were Kirkstaller I'd complain to the Council about it.

Holy sh*t i could have sworn you'd have been with the sanctimonious poppy brigade

Wasn't the young kid from Sunderland the only Premiership footballer not to wear one this wkend?

Quote ="WIZEB"Wasn't the young kid from Sunderland the only Premiership footballer not to wear one this wkend?'" www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... poppy.html

Quote ="WIZEB"Wasn't the young kid from Sunderland the only Premiership footballer not to wear one this wkend?'" www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... poppy.html

Personal choice, correct.
Same as Rio not wearing the anti-racism t-shirt and Jon Snow declining to wear a poppy on C4 News.