111 replies to this topic

[grumpyhack]

Flags have been banned from the Arena area at Reading.  Maybe they read this forum.

[jonnyisRFC]

no flags

[LusciousLucy]

Cant see it being able to be enforced at the G tho...maybe we may see some kind of announcements in the future before the shows start but banning flags aint prob going to happen at Glasto. Quite WHY it is so out of hand there I cant figure out but my personal bug is the shiteness of the flags...crap silly messages and national flags...meh!

[Troop Dogg]

amfy, on Aug 3 2009, 07:52 PM, said:

Theres no comparison between the things you describe.

People don't take flags for the purpose of "willingly and knowingly spoiling the enjoyment of others". Why would you think that? Really? Surely thats just a bit paranoid when you really think about it?

They take them to help them find each other in a crowd, to be sociable because other people come up and talk to them about their flag, and because they think they are part of the spirit of Glastonbury. Some may take them to "get on the telly". So what? Who is to decide that your need to "see" the artist on stage, rather than listen and enjoy the atmosphere, is more important than their wish to be on the telly?  

People who carry flags do not have a special force field that prevents their view being obscured. They can't see either. So I guess they believe the view of the act on stage is of secondary importance to the scene of the arena, which they have gone to effort of contrbuting to.

Banning flags would "knowingly spoil the enjoyment" of those who like to take them. Isn't this another, potentially just as valid, point of view.

I don't mind them, they are part of the scenery. I don't know if I would miss them if they weren't there because I've got used to them. So I probably would've voted "undecided" if it wasn't for the completely disproportionate response of the anti-flag movement.

Of course - a flag blocking your view of the stage is as bad as a cup of piss on your head. Well - I don't know about you, but I'm thinking I'd probably choose the flag every time.

What a load of absolute bollocks. Flags obstruct people's view which pisses them off. How can flags be a good thing? You don't see flags at indoor gigs. Why have them at festivals? Its selfishness. And pointless. And annoying. AND OBSTRUCTS PEOPLE'S VIEW OF THE BANDS.

[barrychuckle]

So people think it is impossible to ban flags in front of the stage at Glastonbury - as they hae done at Reading.

How to get flags banned in front of the stage at Glastonbury - all we need is a few people to bring some Nazi flags in 2010.

If these turned up, I'm sure that the organisers would work out a system to ban them by 2011 - particularly if it were made it look a little bit more like a Nuremberg rally in front of the stage.

The point being - if it becomes an issue (which in my opinion it already has) the organisers will find a work around to stop people bringing flags to the front of the stage.

Though walking round with a Nazi flag at Glastonbury is probably one of the most ill advised things you could ever do.

Edited by barrychuckle, 04 August 2009 - 06:32 AM.

[cejx]

I'm pretty sure this year there is a direct correlation between the number of flags and the fact they were selling flags on site!  Don't have that stall and I'm sure they'll reduce.

[amfy]

I hate this argument and I wish I didn't keep getting drawn back in.

lLke I say - the thing thats put me on this side of the fence isn't my love of flags (don't care), but the level of anger and hostility towards people who carry them. That makes me far sadder than not being able to see the band ever could.

[Cheesey]

amfy, on Aug 3 2009, 07:52 PM, said:

People don't take flags for the purpose of "willingly and knowingly spoiling the enjoyment of others". Why would you think that? Really? Surely thats just a bit paranoid when you really think about it?

I refuse to believe that these people don't understand that their huge flags aren't transparent. The fact that they know that means they know people can't see through them, and thus, they know that they are blocking other people's views. The fact that they bring them anyway means they don't care whether anyone else can see or not. They've weighed up the two sides and decided that getting themselves on telly is more important.

amfy, on Aug 3 2009, 07:52 PM, said:

Who is to decide that your need to "see" the artist on stage, rather than listen and enjoy the atmosphere, is more important than their wish to be on the telly?

Most people paid to watch the bands, not to see lots of people trying to get on telly. If I wanted to see lots of people trying to get on telly I'd go to a Big Brother eviction night.

amfy, on Aug 3 2009, 07:52 PM, said:

People who carry flags do not have a special force field that prevents their view being obscured. They can't see either. So I guess they believe the view of the act on stage is of secondary importance to the scene of the arena, which they have gone to effort of contrbuting to.

You make it sound like they're trying to do everyone else a favour by creating "atmosphere" i.e. that I should somehow be grateful for that? Glastonbury had plenty of atmosphere before the view of the stage was blocked by hundreds of flags. When I see the flags I see a load of selfish idiots trying to get on TV. You see "atmosphere". Clearly our views are at the opposite end of the spectrum.

amfy, on Aug 3 2009, 07:52 PM, said:

Banning flags would "knowingly spoil the enjoyment" of those who like to take them. Isn't this another, potentially just as valid, point of view.

You have to weigh up which is more important - the flag waver's enjoyment or the rest of the audience. I could use your argument to justify anything that the minority find enjoyable but the majority find anti-social - e.g. pissing in cups and lobbing them into the crowd. I'm sure the tiny number of people who do that find it hilarious. It doesn't mean that they're right or that we should allow them to do it.

amfy, on Aug 3 2009, 07:52 PM, said:

Of course - a flag blocking your view of the stage is as bad as a cup of piss on your head. Well - I don't know about you, but I'm thinking I'd probably choose the flag every time.

It's obviously not as bad and I never said it was. My point, which I'm sure you have the intelligence to understand, is that the principle is the same. In each case there is an activity that the perpetrator finds enjoyable, but the majority of everyone else finds unacceptable. Who's wishes are more important? I believe that the opinion of the majority is more important. You believe the opposite. There's probably not much point in arguing any further.

[parsonjack]

always felt that the flags add something special to the atmosphere on pyramid.  

this year however it seemed to go to another level and i have to admit they became annoying where previously i've been more than tolerant.  

begrudginlgy i think the time has come for them to either go completely, or be strictly limited in some manner which doesnt spoil the view of folks further back on the feild or who watch on the screens alone.

...at the very least ensure that f***er with the 'SAUSAGE' banner doesn't get on site next year....

[Alexi]

Chocscoffer, on Aug 1 2009, 06:25 PM, said:

That's what I thought!  However if you mean in front of the stages then NO!  They are fine further back and at the campsites but, when it's just to show your mates where you were in the crowd when watching the highlights  

I agree - in front of the stages no but around the site defo yes!  

[Budweiser]

millionaire, on Aug 2 2009, 01:38 PM, said:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Its ridiculous.

That's why they're banned at Reading. That's ridiculous, look at how many peoples views would be blocked after that.

[Jimmy Russell]

millionaire, on Aug 2 2009, 01:38 PM, said:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Its ridiculous.

There are only two flags in that picture which are OK - The South African and American flags as they are small and really high.  The I Love Sausages flag and the two similar flags to the right are ridiculous.  I was standing next to the I Love Sausages guy for Blur (it was a coincidence - he is not my friend) and he said it was so his friends could find him.  He also said that if it blocked peoples views then they should move further forward even though he was in the pit at the front of the pyramid.  That is so selfish.

I don't think they should ban them, but just make regular announcements that it is an obstruction to hold them towards the front of the stage.  When they started making announcements over people pissing in the bushes, it reduced the amount of people doing that by loads.

On a similar note people should not sit on chairs towards the front of the stage they just get in the way and are a bit of a hazard.  Also I don't think I saw one person sitting in their chair looking like they are having a good time.  They just sit there looking miserable and not being able to see a bloody thing.

[Billy09]

Jimmy Russell, on Aug 4 2009, 02:50 PM, said:

On a similar note people should not sit on chairs towards the front of the stage they just get in the way and are a bit of a hazard.  Also I don't think I saw one person sitting in their chair looking like they are having a good time.  They just sit there looking miserable and not being able to see a bloody thing.

I agree with this, but generally someone sitting down is doing so because they are knackered, and are probably not enjoying it as much as they would be after a rest.

It can also be tricky if a crowd increases in size, what was a position at the back where a chair is ok can suddenly become very crowded. A person sitting in a chair also doesn't take up that much more space, they're just a bit more difficult to see if you are trying to work your way through the crowd.

[Squall Moogle]

I just had an image in my mind of someone going around with Victorian clothing on and a v long pole with a flame on that forms an anti-flag as it were.  The length of the pole being extendable by quite away and the individual using it to set some of the worst sized flags alight then hiding.

[Billy09]

Squall Moogle, on Aug 4 2009, 03:46 PM, said:

I just had an image in my mind of someone going around with Victorian clothing on and a v long pole with a flame on that forms an anti-flag as it were.  The length of the pole being extendable by quite away and the individual using it to set some of the worst sized flags alight then hiding.

Hiding with a massive burning stick doesn't sound easy, or safe.

[Sam.]

I must admit the picture of the flags, in my opinion, is a beautiful sight.

However, for arguments sake (and 'cos I just thought of something...)  if you guys want flags banned, why not head down to Glastonbury with one of them flags where you have to have two people holding at either end, make it 50 yards wide and have "Ban Flags" written on it, and then proceed to the front of the Pyramid?

[mikeb]

Sam., on Aug 4 2009, 05:55 PM, said:

... why not head down to Glastonbury with one of them flags where you have to have two people holding at either end, make it 50 yards wide and have "Ban Flags" written on it, and then proceed to the front of the Pyramid?

Oh yes indeedy. Me likes that idea a rather a lot In fact I know I've suggested it before several times over the years. One huge F/O great banner slowly unfurled (Pink Floyd, The Wall stylee ) right across the full width of the stage and right down at the front by the barrier should demonstrate very nicely that excessive flags can be a right old PITA to everyone else unfortunate enough to be behind them. No one volunteered to assist last time tho ... can't imagine why !

Edited by mikeb, 04 August 2009 - 06:23 PM.

[Alcatraz]

grumpyhack, on Aug 3 2009, 10:47 PM, said:

Flags have been banned from the Arena area at Reading.  Maybe they read this forum.

That's probably so they can sell flags in the arena at the stalls

[dogwalkingteamaker]

I was dancing around watching Blur on the Sunday night (with a great view, by the sound desk). Then, in the distance, I spied a flag... Squeezed through the crowd until I arrived at it's base - and found some very good friends who I hadn't seen since last year. Had the most amazing night with them. That flag couldn't have made me happier.

Flags are great. Keep 'em small, keep 'em high, keep 'em funny and keep 'em moving.

Chairs on the other hand....

[Boris]

Sorry but I love the whole party-ness of flags.... So far they've never spoiled my view either...