Cable Forum - View Single Post - ITV Newsreader gets racist and sexist abuse for not wearing a poppy.

**Damien** · 17-11-2013, 01:51

The thing is the Poppy has become entangled with patriotism. You don't see critics getting as feral if someone is not wearing a AIDS awareness badge, or a moustache during 'Movember' to raise awareness of prostate cancer, or even participating with Comic Relief and Children in Need. The Poppy invokes far more angry responses. So to a minority of people not wearing a Poppy is a sight against the country and therefore against them in roundabout way. Although I suspect for some of that small minority it's more about having the moral high ground over their fellow citizens and that they actually care more about the Poppy as a fashion symbol, a advert for the amount they care, than what it represents. It's quite a cynical view I'll admit but I can't see any other reason why people would be that angry about it if not for show or personal affront.

I mean can you think of a more symbolic everyday betrayal of what it stands for than abusing or demanding the firing of someone who doesn't wear one?

17-11-2013, 01:51	#19
Damien Remoaner Cable Forum Team Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 32,884	Re: ITV Newsreader gets racist and sexist abuse for not wearing a poppy. The thing is the Poppy has become entangled with patriotism. You don't see critics getting as feral if someone is not wearing a AIDS awareness badge, or a moustache during 'Movember' to raise awareness of prostate cancer, or even participating with Comic Relief and Children in Need. The Poppy invokes far more angry responses. So to a minority of people not wearing a Poppy is a sight against the country and therefore against them in roundabout way. Although I suspect for some of that small minority it's more about having the moral high ground over their fellow citizens and that they actually care more about the Poppy as a fashion symbol, a advert for the amount they care, than what it represents. It's quite a cynical view I'll admit but I can't see any other reason why people would be that angry about it if not for show or personal affront. I mean can you think of a more symbolic everyday betrayal of what it stands for than abusing or demanding the firing of someone who doesn't wear one?