Poppy Wearing on TV......

[ELVIS68]

Is it really necessary for everyone who appears on TV to wear a poppy?

I get the impression that anyone who goes infront of the camera is told to wear a poppy whether it be on X Factor, Strictly, Match Of The Day, Newsreaders etc

To me this cheapens the cause that they are wearing them by force.

Don`t get me wrong I have every respect for every soldier that has put his or her life on the line for this country in past or present conflicts but every year it gets worse and is turning into a gimmick like red nose day

[LoftyLottie]

I can't understand why when giving to charity you are given a badge, etc. Is it to make you feel good?

[jake-the-peg]

I think that's it Lottie - it's also to make you feel part of a group

Especially in this particular case - people who support this cause see those who are not part of the group as wrong or even traitors

It's a nasty sort of jingoistic mob mentality - I think that what Jon Snow (who's a Channel 4 presenter by the way) objects to and is thinking of when referring to poppy fascism

[LoftyLottie]

I just think that if you give to a charity there shouldn't be a need publicise the fact. Not wearing a poppy doesn't mean you haven't given and if you haven't so what. We don't all support the same charities. Quite honestly when I was young and the war was still very much in our minds we didn't make so much fuss about wearing poppies. It seems to be a modern idea and doesn't mean a great deal in my opinion.

[jackthehat]

I've always regarded my financial contribution to be actually purchasing the poppy itself, rather than being given one in exchange for my coins.........

[ummmm]

Lottie.....I think it's to advertise it.

[LoftyLottie]

How much do poppies cost to product. Are they funded from the proceeds people give to the Charity? Wouldn't a little stick on paper badge be cheaper?

[sometimesit]

One reason why 'suddenly everyone was wearing poppies, but not the day before.'
Is probably because they get delivered in a big box to the organisation each year and most people who wear poppies tend to buy them when they appear on sale as it is a yearly thing they do. So they suddely appear.
Personally I don't like wearing any charity badge or sticker but I do support charities direct and through just giving.

[fredpuli47]

The BBC must have it as policy and they have everyone on camera here wear one from the same date. I am assuming that to be so because the American comedian Reginald D Hunter wondered aloud what it was for. He was on Have I Got News For You one year when he asked why the assistant had pinned one on him as he came on to the set. You might guess the nature of the replies. They were centred on Americans being so late in arriving in the Great War.

One year there was some controversy because the newsreader on BBC World wasn't wearing one. The BBC said then that it was not policy on that service, apparently because it would puzzle foreigners who didn't follow the practice in their own countries!