I too observe the 2 minute silence, but not only for fallen soldiers but for my lost loved ones (one in particular) and out of respect for observers in my general vicinity. Costs me nothing. But I can see that the "enforced" 2 minute silence for the sake of some and not for others lost is a bit presumptious.

Another herd experience in which I could no longer comply once I realised what was happening to the crowd and me. I was in the audience at a hypnotist's show at the college where I worked. At first I was drawn in as the others in the audience to the antics of subjects on the stage. Suddenly it hit me, those subjects are unknowing victims and the audience was a mob being entertained by this victimisation. Then it hit me that not only the subjects on stage were victims but the audience too had been sucked in. We too were being exploited. It was then I got up from my seat and walked away from the show.

In later years, 2 of my children ended up being subjects in the same hypnotist's show at different schools. Both told me how awful they felt afterwards. How weird, disconnected and even agitated and angry. They both were warned pre show that they may feel this way after.

Does preparing subject in this way make it ok to exploit? What of the audience who were given no warning or chance to decline participation?