31 replies to this topic

[ekim]

Phil-itfc, on 30 June 2010 - 04:05 PM, said:

they look great but I think it'd be better of people did it while on someone elses sholders to help ensure the flare doesn't get waved straight into someones face.

You say that, but I witnessed someone with a hand-held one on someone's shoulders. Was swinging it from side to side in such an arc that he was close to putting it directly in the face of the person next to his friend. I think he got a good shouting at for it too.

Were they being sold on site? Seems rather reckless. There was one point I thought one of the ones which fires in to the air was going to hit one of the lanterns, that'd have been a recipe for disaster.

[mikeb]

Wax flares: not for me but just fine when used sensibly in appropriate places. Wandering round packed markets is NOT a good place. Wandering around and/or waving the things about in a crowd at a stage is NOT a good place. Wandering round the campsite dripping paraffin wax all along the side of Ye Olde Tent is NOT a good place. Blah, blah, blah.  I saw some girl actually get her hair set on fire by one in the markets a couple of years back.  I've also had wax dripped on me more than once and almost got poked in the face by one as well.  It's all very well carrying one and keeping it safely away from yourself but PLEASE try to remember that it's sticking out so that when you suddenly turn round without warning, it's going to whack someone behind you right in the face and all that !

As for marine distress flares: bad news and more than a bit stupid really I would suggest. Last year one came down in the Pyramid crowd literally just a few metres away from me. I can assure you it was very much still alive when it hit the deck ! Fortunately, enough peeps saw it coming and warned those in the likely drop zone to get the fcuk outta the way.  This year, on Sun night I think, one came down somewhere over the back of the Pyramid Stage after being set off at way to low a trajectory. Again, there was little doubt in my mind that it was *very* much alive when it landed as it had only been burning for a very short time before it came down. A small plume/cloud of smoke followed shortly after it disappeared from sight.

Intoxicated peeps and fire - not exactly the best of combinations really are they - but not really any significant problem when firey things are used reasonably sensibly AND in appropriate places tho.

Edited by mikeb, 30 June 2010 - 05:17 PM.

[rexclark]

Great up at the Stone Circle but not for just wandering around with.

[Flip]

Seen a marine type malfunction and take out a tent at the top of Pennards in the late 90s, very scary!! No-one was in the tent but it freaked us out loads..

The hand-held big candle on a stick type are fine if you are up in the greenfields but again, over the years I have seen some very mullered casualties staggering around getting hot wax and flame all over the place..

[commandlinegamer]

Distress flares most definately can kill:

http://www.independe...ch-1505057.html

You can argue people using wax candle flares or setting off the lanterns are misguided but anyone with a Very pistol needs to be expelled from the festival.

[Happy Chappy]

I was stood beside the bloke who let the two off during Gorillaz at the front of the crowd, this was the type that is handheld and burns like a roman candle not the type that fires something in to the air.  The first time round I thought it was really cool as I'd never seen one before, and it definitely added to the atmosphere, the second time a bit sparked off and burnt the lad in front of me on his arm.  I made sure he was OK, and then got other people to stand back.

Look great, but not so sure I'd be as keen to see 'em used in tight crowds again.

[LondonTom]

I am in that same brigade as they look friging awesome and add to the atmosphere but I wouldn't want to be near the intoxicated person holding it So in that case, I can't expect anyone else to be happy about standing next to them


The gun ones are just insane for anyone to be letting off, I saw someone do it at the stone circle and if I hadn't noticed it go off  I am sure it would have hit me when it fell but I was already giving it a wide berf (Shortly after a whole bunch of security appeared searching out the people who had let them off I think )

[Rossc88]

Can't see all the fuss to be honest. I've worn flares for years and never had any accidents or wrong doings?

They are definately this summers fashion must have.

[hedgepeg]

Rossc88, on 01 July 2010 - 12:10 PM, said:

Can't see all the fuss to be honest. I've worn flares for years and never had any accidents or wrong doings?

They are definately this summers fashion must have.

I always go for a more tapered trouser myself but each to their own as they say  

[Valka]

I was stood just in front of the guy with the hand held types at the front of the Muse, they definately boost atmosphere, i wasn't worried for my safety as the guy with it appeared to really conscious of the danger, they kick out heat though, felt it on back of neck before seeing light!

Definatelly against the gun fired ones, i didn't even see them (must have been too far forward)

[KaleidoscopeEyes]

I like them and even paid for one, when I went up the hill by the park on the Thursday night, the whole place was lit up! I thought there were loads and loads of lights up there until I found out they were all candles. When I got mine I was told 'no burning squirrels, thems the rules' by the guy that lit it for me

[quavers]

commandlinegamer, on 30 June 2010 - 07:54 PM, said:

Distress flares most definately can kill:

http://www.independe...ch-1505057.html

You can argue people using wax candle flares or setting off the lanterns are misguided but anyone with a Very pistol needs to be expelled from the festival.

I was at this football match. Flare was fired directly into the air, travelled about fifty yards upwards then suddenly changed direction without warning into the crowd. At that speed no one had a chance to move and ultimately it cost a man his life! Flares fired from guns should be outlawed as even in the hands of people "taking precautions" to fire safely the unexpected can happen!

On the flip side i do like the hand held red ones and think they certainly add to the atmos!