Poor taste: "NOOK Honours Remembrance Week"

[ShellShock]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is it really any different to the commercial exploitation of religious festivals such as Christmas and All Saints' Day? How many people who engaged in "Trick or Treating" last week considered that they were commercially exploiting All Saints' Day, so you think?

No it is not that different, which is not to say that it is right. I think Christmas is over commercialised, and I am an atheist!

[llcj]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is it really any different to the commercial exploitation of religious festivals such as Christmas and All Saints' Day? How many people who engaged in "Trick or Treating" last week considered that they were commercially exploiting All Saints' Day, so you think?

No, it's exactly the same thing and actually proves the point. Although it can be easily argued that no one knows of All Saints' Day much less All Souls' Day because our world is secular and not dominated by the rhythms of the religious calender.

[WillysJeepMan]

Originally Posted by ShellShock

Does anyone else find this commercial exploitation of the sacrifice of many men and women in poor taste?

I think your definition of "taste" is different than mine.

[CommonReader]

Originally Posted by ShellShock

Just had this email from B&N (NOOK UK): "In honour of Rememberance [sic] Week, NOOK brings you the best new Military History books in tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces, past and present." The email links to a collection of war and armed services books on the Nook web site.

Does anyone else find this commercial exploitation of the sacrifice of many men and women in poor taste? There is no indication that B&N will be donating any of the profits of this promotion to the appropriate charities. Is this all that remembrance means to B&N? Another chance to flog some product? In what sense is this "honouring" Remembrance Week?

War itself is in pretty poor taste and some people make a nice packet out of it. Flogging some books to the public while waxing about the dear heroic men and women who are kindly obliged to go and have themselves blasted to smithereens therefore seems to be entirely apt.

I don't know what's the matter with this poppy hysteria in the UK. It didn't seem to be nearly as strong e.g. twenty years ago.

[ucfgrad93]

Originally Posted by crich70

I don't think it's in poor taste to remind people of the true cost of the freedoms we do enjoy.

Neither do I.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by CommonReader

I don't know what's the matter with this poppy hysteria in the UK. It didn't seem to be nearly as strong e.g. twenty years ago.

The annual poppy campaign raises money for the care of disabled ex-servicemen and women. It certainly isn't "hysteria" - it's a very worthy cause.

[CommonReader]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The annual poppy campaign raises money for the care of disabled ex-servicemen and women. It certainly isn't "hysteria" - it's a very worthy cause.

A worthy cause, no doubt. It would be nicer if ex-servicemen and women received a proper pension and medical services from the State instead of having to ask for charity, though. That's where the UK is notoriously cheapskate.
The "hysteria" comes in when no public figure can appear in public without getting savaged by the press if he/she hasn't a poppy attached to the lapel.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The annual poppy campaign raises money for the care of disabled ex-servicemen and women. It certainly isn't "hysteria" - it's a very worthy cause.

I can't speak for anybody else but there is definitely a change of attitude with the poppy campaign in recent years in my opinion. Charity, no matter how good the cause, is voluntary. There certainly seems to be a campaign of demonizing anybody who doesn't wear a poppy nowadays. God help any politician or celebrity who appears in public without a poppy.

It's that attitude (which could be mistaken for hysteria) that sticks in my craw a bit.

[Rizla]

If Remembrance Day is cited, then a percentage of profits should go to charity, otherwise it is rank commercialism and exploitation of those who died.

In particular, I think any price reduction should apply solely to books relevant to the subject (i.e. war, and how awful it is).

[Catlady]

I really don't see the problem. But if you do, don't shop there.

[BeccaPrice]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is it really any different to the commercial exploitation of religious festivals such as Christmas and All Saints' Day? How many people who engaged in "Trick or Treating" last week considered that they were commercially exploiting All Saints' Day, so you think?

All Hallow's Eve was celebrated as Samhain long before the Christians got a hold of it. Trick or treating is actually a fairly modern custom (dates from the 50s, according to one article I read), but dressing up and making vegetables into lanterns is really quite old.

[ShellShock]

Originally Posted by ShellShock

No it is not that different, which is not to say that it is right. I think Christmas is over commercialised, and I am an atheist!

Just seen my first Christmas TV ad...two more months of this...how depressing.

[Tarana]

What better time to alert a customer that there are related books that s/he can pursue that are related to a whole WEEK devoted to the subject, especially more recent texts? I don't understand how this is offensive? Libraries regularly do this, but because it is a BOOKSELLER you object? The sacrifices made by the general population during the two World Wars were significant. How else would they discover what happened? What other sources would you suggest other than History Channel (assuming the household HAS History Channel, which is NOT free)?

We have similar events in the US during Memorial Day and Veterans' Day. Before the Internet, bookstores set out books in the front window that were related to the event. Sending you an email is no different, just a different store window.

[taming]

Originally Posted by llcj

I've been sitting here (in Canada) trying to think of an instance when some sort of commercial promotion has been done in association with Remembrance Day and I just can't come up with one. Remembrance Day remains largely a solemn event untouched by consumerism, jingoism, or boosterism. This is something I greatly appreciate.

The lack of commercialism around Remembrance Day very much impressed me when I moved to Canada. People wear the red poppy and stand in the snow for Remembrance Day outdoor ceremonies in Veterans Park.

[BelleZora]

I agree with Tarana. Amazon also sends out emails related to Memorial and Veteran Days and usually offer free ebooks and mp3s related to those days. I would much rather the booksellers acknowledge these special days than ignore them.