Remembrance Sunday. Am I simply old fashioned or do standards matter.

[Deleted User]

Many moons ago whilst I was at university, we were allowed to observe the two minute silence but not if we were already on a call come 11am. It was surprising how many people seems completely oblivious to the fact it was 11am on Remembrance Sunday whilst ranting down the phone about not being able to log into their online banking after forgetting a password they themselves chose.

TBagpuss

I think standards are changing rather than slipping.

Bear in mind that not eveyone will own a suit or similar 'formal' wear, and that for many, leggings may be perfectly normal wear and not seen as remotely disrespectful.

If someone is willing to attend, pay their respects and lay a wreath, that's the most important part.

If the person you saw was there in an official capacity -e.g. the local Mayor or MP then it is perhaps more reasonable to espect them to have and to wear clothing which is a bit more formal.

In relation to the shops, I think it is worth bearing in mind that some people may have come into the shop after the announcement was made, or have not registered waht was said, rather than making a deliberate choice to be disresepctful.

And there may be some who are uncomfrtable with mandatory participation. I think f someone simply continued to shop, as oppsoed to deliberately disrupting the 2 minutes silence, then that is acceptable

TBagpuss

Lover_of_Lycra wrote: »

Many moons ago whilst I was at university, we were allowed to observe the two minute silence but not if we were already on a call come 11am. It was surprising how many people seems completely oblivious to the fact it was 11am on Remembrance Sunday whilst ranting down the phone about not being able to log into their online banking after forgetting a password they themselves chose.

I don't find that at all surprising. If they were not planning to attend or watch a ceremony, there's no particualr reason why they would be keping track of the time, or even necessarily remember.

I think that wile of course there have, sadly, been a lot of conflicts since then, the loss of the generation which remember WW2 does mean that there are far fewer people for whom it has a direct, personal relevance than there would have been even 10 0r 15 years ago (although even of that generation, not eveyone would wish to participate)

Mrs_Soup

I’m now in my 50s and I think observance of remembrance has significantly increased during my lifetime. It used to be that we had the nearest Sunday to 11th and that was it. In recent years we have restarted the 2 minute silence on the actual day as well.
I’m a cub leader so go to the local service with some of my cubs. Every year there are stupid discussions about how they should look smart and only wear uniform. Rubbish if they need coats and hats they should wear them if that means they are there, remembering. No one went to war so 8 year olds could freeze.

amandacat

Back in the 80s when I was a child I was in brownies and we had to attend a ceremony at church every so often. I remember it was the summer and I turned up in my browny uniform and the only sandals I owned, which were a fluorescent pair of cheap plastic sandals. My browny leader told me off and said they weren’t suitable for church. I told my mum when I went home and she said my browny leader was right and left it at that. Thinking back my mum was probably embarrassed and being so young didn’t want to tell me they couldn’t afford anything else. My bright sandals might’ve been frowned on but it didn’t mean I put any less effort into the ceremony or cared any less, I was just a product of that circumstance. That’s the same today, whether it’s affordability of clothing, the values the person has been taught or their own personal values. Being present and committed to the situation is all that matters in my mind.

Spendless

TBagpuss wrote: »

Bear in mind that not eveyone will own a suit or similar 'formal' wear, and that for many, leggings may be perfectly normal wear and not seen as remotely disrespectful.

Agreed. Having no idea what 'skinny leggings' are compared to 'leggings' I tried googling. I didn't find anything that confirms there's a difference.


My daughter 16 and at college owns leggings (many in black as she's a performing arts student) jeans and some skirts (all well above the knee!). She doesn't own any tailored trousers and it wouldn't have even occurred to me that wearing leggings would be unacceptable attire, it would be the most suitable bottom half wear of anything she has.

Sea_Shell

Leggings can look smart, if paired with a tunic dress and long boots. They're just like very thick tights.

Personally, I wouldn't wear leggings with a short top that didn't cover my bottom!

maman

Of course, no one is expecting children (or anyone else) to freeze just because they want to look smart. I'm sure the cubs putting on their uniforms even if they had coats on top realised it was a special and solemn occasion. I did notice that the Queens' Scouts who formed a guard of honour at Whitehall weren't wearing coats but (if they had any sense) they'd have had their thermals on underneath!:D

DH and I went to a village war memorial yesterday. I wore leggings:eek:

olgadapolga

maman wrote: »

Of course, no one is expecting children (or anyone else) to freeze just because they want to look smart. I'm sure the cubs putting on their uniforms even if they had coats on top realised it was a special and solemn occasion. I did notice that the Queens' Scouts who formed a guard of honour at Whitehall weren't wearing coats but (if they had any sense) they'd have had their thermals on underneath!:D

None of the "uniformed" children and young adults had coats on at my local ceremony.

My son's Sea Cadet unit weren't even allowed to wear gloves - my son said that he was grateful that he didn't have to carry the standard as his hands were frozen, along with his feet!

welshbabe88

I do tend to agree about standards slipping.

My sons have always had black attire and if going to a wedding or funeral part of the respect of going was also taking the trouble to dress appropriately.


I know the turning-up also shows commitment - but I think taking the effort to dress smartly is part of showing your respect too.

Though from another viewpoint went one year and a scout was wearing a beanie - which I thought bad form, only to see later that the poor lad was losing his hair - so maybe we are all too quick to judge.