R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow isn't wearing a poppy until 11th November. Should people who work on TV be falsed to wear one? I think it's upto the individual if they where one, and those who work in TV shouldn't be falsed to pin one on somewhere to look good.

ColinB · Guest

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

The tradition was always to wear the poppy no earlier than All Saint's Day, so folks can wear it anytime from then till Nov 11.

I noticed BBC presenters wearing poppies in October. Yes I know their wearing is meant to remind/encourage others, but wearing them in October is too soon, kind of devalues their intention.
_________________
-
John W

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Yes John wearing poppies too early seems to be a growing trend just like Christmas starting too early
They should be worn in my view no earlier than 1st November for the reasons you state
Of course the wearing of poppies should be voluntary since otherwise again it devalues the whole exercise which should be a personal matter like donating to charity
The wearing of a poppy is not part of a news presenters uniform it is a one off expression of that individual's feelings or at least it should be
_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?

littlepieces · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 1098 Location: Lowestoft

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

Yes, wearing poppies in October does devalue the idea. They should be worn from early November till the 11th.
I remember Jon Snow saying about six years ago that he'd refuse to wear a poppy as he didn't want to be forced to wear one. I suspect he is a bit anti-Establishment like a lot of Channel 4 types, and it will be interesting to see if he really does wear one nearer the time.

ColinB · Guest

I think the issue is with programme editors who hand out boxes of poppies to on-air staff and say "Here you go, wear this". You can see this in practice by the fact that all BBC News presenters and journalists are wearing poppies in almost uniform fashion.

I quite agree with the stance that Jon Snow took a few years ago - it's a matter of personal preference whether one sports a poppy or not, and certainly not too early.

It's the broadcasting equivalent of retail employees having to endure Jingle Bells in the shops where they work from October onwards.

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

The BBC and ITV seemed to have pinned everyone up with a poppy. They don't want to be accused of not supporting those heroes.

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Just heard Helen's e mail on the Jeremy Vine show
Totally disagree with what was said but nice to see Helen is obviously still a person of influence on the show
Well done Smile

_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

That's your right Ruddles.

I did add that IMHO the wearing of them starts too early, but that wasn't read out.

What he does in his personal time is his own choice but I think it's disrespectful to take the stance he does every year knowing that it annoys so many.

H

PS Forget the influence, I send in far more that aren't read out than are!
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Blondehedgehog · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 286 Location: UK

I am with Jon Snow. The trouble is when I buy a poppy I lose it....will that mean I do not support the appeal
_________________
I like hedgehog crisps

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I think the important thing is that people should wear a poppy on actual Remembrance day
How soon they choose to do so in advance is a matter of personal choice and for me I think 1st November is about right
If Jon Snow chooses to wear his only on the actual day that's his personal choice which people should respect
If broadcasting organisations didn't try to impose their will on presenters then I'm sure Jon might feel it appropriate to choose to wear a poppy earlier through his own choice
_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?

Rachel · Guest

I’m with Jon Snow on this one. I wear my poppy, only when outdoors; only on a proper coat and only in the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday, and on the day itself of course.
It looked ludicrous last night on Country File, people were wearing them on T-shirts and sweat-tops and you could tell it had just been hastily put on there for the programme.

You must separate the act of selling poppies, which is a vehicle used to raise money for the British Legion’s charities in the weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday, from the wearing of a Poppy on Remembrance Sunday to show that you have joined the nation in remembering the fallen. It is a much greater honour to our fallen to save your poppy and wear it with pride on the day that is set-aside for that very purpose. Otherwise why restrict it to just a few weeks- why not wear your poppy all year round? If it’s dishonouring our fallen not to wear a poppy on the 6th of November, what about the 28th of November or the 17th of January or the 5th of April?

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Fair enough Helen
It really annoys me when only extracts are read out from listeners e mails
This can give a totally misleading impression and very different from what the writer intended
People on this forum know what was said because we know you and you have told us but the average listener does not have this advantage so they might not understand the full context
I totally understand your position and sorry if I appeared a little off in my previous posting
_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

It was only the last line that wasn't read out. This was the whole of what I emailed in:-
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I think Jon Snow is wrong not to wear his poppy before November 11th. His job as a newsreader puts him on public view and rightly or wrongly the poppy at this time of year is a form of uniform in the same way as wearing a tie is. Would he turn up to work not wearing a tie? I very much doubt it and this in my view makes him disrespectful.

I do think they are worn too early though, November 1st being the date when wearing them should begin."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just my thoughts on it!

H
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Thanks for that Helen
I still think the omission of the last sentence made a very big difference as to how listeners would interpret what you were saying
It would have taken no more than 2 seconds to read out the extra sentence so ask yourself why the BBC did not do it
Because they wish to exercise editorial control over what listeners say without making it clear to the audience that this kind of thing actually goes on
Its rather like when tabloid newspapers string together quotes from people they are writing about leaving out any words which do not suit their agenda in any given case and thus giving a misleading impression of what was actually said
That is why it is best to say nothing since otherwise they will twist whatever is said by using these kind of methods
The BBC are little better
_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

I think it is up to him to chose whether he wants to wear a poppy or not and actually it is meaningless if it has simply been pinned there by a TV producer which I'm sure in most cases it has.
It has got to ridiculous levels at the BBC with folks on Countryfile wearing them while doing all manner of tasks.

ColinB · Guest

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

The poppys were even pinned anywhere on the dresses on Strictly, which looked really awlful. They don't have to be pinned to everyone who appears on TV even with a 30 second interview. It's gone over the top.

ColinB · Guest