Chinese Lanterns are Killers : Stop Buying them

happybiker

Just after this last New Years Eve, I went out to put something in one of my wheelie bins and found One of my house rainwater downpipes was melted and burned to about 4' up from the grid. There was the remains of a Chinese lantern in the grid gully.

I used to like them but I don't now.

shaun_from_Africa

Let's just carry on setting fire to their haystacks

I swa a couple of people flatten him, but I don't remember him being set fire to.

dickydonkin

wary wrote: »

I also agree that the Daily Mail is a disgusting rag. Can't shed any light on why anyone buys it though. Maybe it's a cheap alternative to bog paper?

There are some valid arguments for controlling the use of these lanterns and I certainly concede they do pose a risk, however, would actually banning them be a proportionate response to the risk they present?

You can see it in the Daily Mail can't you? - especially that self righteous little jumped up Littlejohn:mad: stating - "elf n safety killjoys ban Chinese lanterns".

But the same rag would call for an immediate ban if one caused a serious injury.

You just can't win!

Tiddlywinks

I was in The Works (book / stationery / craft type shop) today and a couple of kids (about 13 yo) were by the door debating whether to buy a pack of these lanterns as they were "only a quid".

If you can't see that as a problem - teenagers letting go of burning floating fire with no control over where it lands - then what is?

eamon

They are banned at many music festivals for the reasons already stated. Did see one get murdered at Glastonbury, a round of applause was heard.

grayme-m

Is there a safer way of using them, maybe insisting they are tethered on a short enough string to ensure they do not leave the confines of your own boundary?

matt987106

bingo_bango wrote: »

Smoking kills.....lets ban that too :think:

And cars, alcohol, cancer, red meat, idiots with guns, old age, reading the Daily Mail.......

Anyone know where this list ends?

shame this forum doesnt have a ignore button, then i wouldnt have to read posts like this again

arcon5

catkins wrote: »

I work in a shop that sells them and I hate selling them to customers. I have, occasionally, tried to talk people out of buying them and have succeeded a few times when I explain the risk they are to wildlife.

I know I shouldn't be trying to talk people out of buying them and would probably get the sack if the Manager knew but my conscience will not let me just sell them

Sorry to say... but you probably didn't talk them out of it, they probably just took their custom to a shop that actually wants their business.

As honorable as you are being... is it really worth you job? If my staff ever discouraged a customer to not buy a line of stock they'd be escorted straight out the door with their P45 in tail.

Saying that, I do agree with the dangers they pose and a couple of members have made some excellent posts.

arcon5

matt987106 wrote: »

shame this forum doesnt have a ignore button, then i wouldnt have to read posts like this again

erm

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/profile.php?do=ignorelist

dickydonkin

Sorry to say... but you probably didn't talk them out of it, they probably
just took their custom to a shop that actually wants their business.
As honorable as you are being... is it really worth you job? If my staff ever
discouraged a customer to not buy a line of stock they'd be escorted straight
out the door with their P45 in tail.

I agree.

There are many items available to shoppers I don't agree with such as cigarettes and the sale of fireworks over the counter.

They are both legal however, and some may suggest that shop workers should keep their own counsel when they don't agree with a customer's purchase.(Customer as in the person paying their wages)

Where do you draw the line?

A worker in McDonalds advising the mother of an overweight kid not to buy him/her a burger?