2 minutes silence

[RichardCranium]

Moose423956 - look away now while I do a [ QUOTE = sasguru ]

If you want to think about the war dead, you shouldn't have to be told when and how to do it by state diktat, IMHO.

I am inclined to agree with what you meant, but not what you said.

It was not state diktat that decided on this 11/11 remembrance business; it was a general feeling of "never again" and a need for communal mourning. Local communities, councils, social groups and others took it on and it caught on. The state followed.

To be reminded by the state is no bad thing. By legitimising it, it gives it credibility and stability and authority to those who wish to support it.

But for it to be enforced by law would be - I believe - quite wrong. And I think that is what you meant, sasguru.

(I made a point of ignoring the 3 minute silence for the Twin Towers anniversary. I found that distasteful, disproportionate and inappropriate. ClientCo ordered us to conform and implied there would be action taken against non-conformists. I chose to non-conform.)

I will NOT be told how to think by the state.

I will absolutely, definitely NEVER be told how to feel by the state.

[original PM]

meeting was paused for 2 minutes to allow people to pay their personal silent respects to those who died defending their country

no doubt some bean counter will be adding up all the 2 minutes and trying to present it as a way to increase productivity for the company.

fiserable muckers

[cailin maith]

meeting was paused for 2 minutes to allow people to pay their personal silent respects to those who died defending their country
no doubt some bean counter will be adding up all the 2 minutes and trying to present it as a way to increase productivity for the company.

fiserable muckers

All about showing a bit of respect IMHO... doesn't hurt, does it?

[original PM]

I think it is a great idea and should be observed

[OwlHoot]

I had a fag break during the two minute silence, which seems appropriate as most of the guys waiting to go over the top before battles like the Somme and Ypres would have been puffing away.

edit - I also bought a poppy this year, but had nowhere to stick it into my coat. They really are very badly designed for that.

[Churchill]

I had a fag break during the two minute silence, which seems appropriate as most of the guys waiting to go over the top before battles like the Somme and Ypres would have been puffing away.

edit - I also bought a poppy this year, but had nowhere to stick it into my coat. They really are very badly designed for that.

You didn't "buy" a poppy.

[minestrone]

Fairly pointless really, the big companies just do it so they don't upset someone who then goes to the press. I doubt more than 5% of the people are doing anything more than not talking for 2 minutes.

Of the 200 odd people in here most remained quiet but all still battered away at their keyboards

[TimberWolf]

Okay, hands up anyone who looks around looking for people not looking at the floor and without a sorry looking expression on their face?

I went to a memorial service on Sunday. It was quite interesting to see some of the military costumes and the way they move like automatons. Very tribal.

[OwlHoot]

You didn't "buy" a poppy.

I handed over some money and received a poppy in exchange, in the same way as I sometimes "buy" things in charity shops. What happens to the funds following these purchases is immaterial to the use of the word "buy".

[Wilmslow]

Silence was well planned at my place - they used the fire alarm for marking the 2 minutes.

A couple of people were in the coffee area clattering away.

However, most bizarrely - loads of Indian guys here knew nothing about this, jabbering away on the phone and to each other, looked at everyone else stood still and silent, and carried on with their phone calls!