Armistice Day

[THECORBYLOON]

ABE will there be a Two-Minute suspension at 11 a.m. GMT on Armistice Day?

[bernardo]

No

[THECORBYLOON]

Why do you say that bernardo?

[bernardo]

Because it is none of the Editor's business to dictate to us whether we should do a two-minute silence or not. If we want to do it, we can and will do it for ourselves, regardless of what other people are or are not doing on ABank.

[dotjhawkes]

But bernardo, the Ed might find this a worthwhile and valuable thing to do, can we just await the ed's response? Whilst you personally may not feel it appropriate to honour as a nation the scarifice of a previous generation, maybe the Ed and many of the subscribers to this site do, therefore we shall wait and see eh? It won't harm and certainly noone will suffer, so a little tolerence eh?

[netibiza]

Hear hear dotjhawkes. Well said

[kags]

I don't think bernardo said he personally chooses not to "honour the sacrifice of a previous generation", he just said it was a personal choice.

I have to agree with him. I think it would be appropriate for there to be a notice inviting people to take part in the silence if they choose, but I don't agree with a suspension of activity

[smudge]

That's a very nice, caring suggestion TCL.

I for one will be honouring the men & women who fought for us & our country in WW1 & WW2 - but maybe not on AnswerBank - I may be elswhere at the time........

[smudge]

*elsewhere

[AB Editor]

Hi All,

In short, we are not going to have a 2-minute suspension. We hope that ABers will reflect upon the day in their own way.

AB ED

[AB Editor]

Hi all,

We are sorting out a banner to link to the British Legion site. Stopping the site would have given the Techies an apoplectic fit.

A thread in News exploring people's feelings and memories would be nice for the day. Hint hint.

AB ED

[bernardo]

dotjhawkes wrote:

But bernardo, the Ed might find this a worthwhile and valuable thing to do, can we just await the ed's response? Whilst you personally may not feel it appropriate to honour as a nation the scarifice of a previous generation, maybe the Ed and many of the subscribers to this site do, therefore we shall wait and see eh? It won't harm and certainly noone will suffer, so a little tolerence eh?

I take exception to this remark. As a matter of fact, I will be attending my local war memorial on Friday at 11am to remember and honour the dead; and I intend to go to join the crowds at the Cenotaph on Sunday. The reason that I presumed to answer the question on behalf of, and in anticipation of, the Editor, is precisely because of the reasons given by myself and others. The fact that the website will not be suspended for two minutes was completely obvious, without even waiting for the Editor to say so - quite apart from any technical difficulties in doing so.

[dotjhawkes]

OK Bernardo, stop shouting at me, I'll remember my place in future.

[THECORBYLOON]

First, can I first say a "Thank-you" to those who supported ma request for a Two Minutes silence on Armistice Day. to-day and on ma previous Question.

ABE, I realise the decision of the "Techies" is outwith your control but a few weeks ago, you warned us that due to improvements being carried out on the site, we may not be able to post as normal (for a few hours as I recall) As it happened I think there was little or no disruption. The "Techies" were willing to make improvements and accept the risk of disruption then but when a suspension is requested, the answer's "NO!"

In The Great War, almost nine million British and Empire troops fought and there were 3,200,000 casulties including 908,000 killed. To put it into perspective, that is more than 100 deaths every hour of every day in the past 12 months.

Out of the 525,600 seconds in a year, it has been decreed it is not possible to suspend posting for 120 of them.

I know many members will be paying their own silent tribute to the many who fell, the many who were buried unidentified and whose gravestones are marked with the words "Known Only Unto God" and I realise that in the great scheme of things this wee gesture would have been nothing more than that, a wee gesture.

It may have taken a lot of arranging but would that not have made it all the more worthwhile?

It makes me weep.

[bernardo]

525,600? Do you mean 31,536,000?

[THECORBYLOON]

bernardo yes I did, which makes the 120 seconds an even smaller fraction than I indicated.

[smudge]

What's a minute in a man's life time?

(That's how the saying goes isn't it?).

[THECORBYLOON]

smudge If that man is one of the "Techies," one minute may be nothing but if it's two, that's a different matter.......

[smudge]

Mmmm TCL - Well it's nearly 11:00am, so I'm off for the two minute silence & to reflect. God bless.