Flags...

[AiiShotTheDJ]

Was that the half green/half blue flag?

[LondonTom]

As a frequent flag bearer I have to say I don't see too much of a problem with them.

Yes, they may block your view a little but my experience is that they only completely block the view of a stage once you are so far back that it's unlikely you could see much of the action anyway even if the flags weren't there. The big screens help out here so I don't see what the fuss is about.

[izcuje]

One woman was madly waving her rather heavy flag infront of the pyramid once and it hit someone on the head. Not sure what happened to the poor soul but the flag obscurely inched away from the crowd very soon after.

[Role Model]

I just hate them, very simple. Don't see the point, don't get it. Far more negatives than positives.

[fatyeti24]

flags at stages are a demonstration of a lack of consideration for your fellow festival goer. it's that same sense of entitlement that cropped up in the Noz thread "i've paid over £200 to be here, i have a right to do this" without thinking about the impact of your actions on the rights of others to enjoy themselves too. it's plain selfishness.

[WS_Jack_III]

My friend put it best.

"why would you carry flags around when you could have a tinny in your left hand and a tinny in your right hand too." haha

[WS_Jack_III]

the answer is for us all to carry Aerosols and lighters around and if you end up near a flag person, burn it down for everybody else. Just mind people's hair, cloths and faces.

[ThomThomDrum]

We bring flags with us. They are on extendable tent poles. The only time they go up is when we get a txt from a mate walking into the field we are in and the txt reads "put up the flag". It goes up for the 5 min it takes for them to find us and then it is taken down and folded up...........back in the bag. I personally find this use of a flag at a festival perfectly acceptable...........some feel even this goes too far. But if you are standing behind me your view is already blocked more than likely, as Im one of those annoying tall people too!

How someone can hold a flag all day and why you would do so is beyond me............

This year we relied even less on the flag for meeting up, as one of our group bought a bunch of cheapo walkie talkies and these proved handy to meet up without wasting credit, spending a bomb on roaming charges or using the flag too often etc etc........but they proved useless when any act was on stage............could not hear them at all.........thats when the flag would be handy.

Edited July 5, 2013 by ThomThomDrum

[EighteenSixty7]

It was bluey/green but the whole flag was a picture of Jimmy Saville with them words on- completely tasteless! It was quite near the front too- I watched The Stones back and the beeb tactfully (and rightfully!) manage to avoid it in every shot.

[Tr234]

Its been done to death the whole flag thing but a couple of observations we had were...

1- if your going to go to the effort of carrying one around all day then put some effort into the actual flag.. we saw some absolutely awful ones such as the word "pink" shabbily written on a yellow flag or a blow up pig half attached to a pole. Not good enough. Have some pride in your flag if your going to lug one about!

2- are they not to make it easier for people to find you? We spoke to a group that were marching around with their rubbish flag looking for a mate.. surely the idea is to stand still and they will navigate to said flag!?

We did rant a lot about flags over the week in our group to be fair. We even had a go holding one guys when we found ourselves walking next to him. Well heavy

[frostypaw]

We bring flags with us. They are on extendable tent poles. The only time they go up is when we get a txt from a mate walking into the field we are in and the txt reads "put up the flag". It goes up for the 5 min it takes for them to find us and then it is taken down and folded up...........back in the bag. I personally find this use of a flag at a festival perfectly acceptable..........

Edited July 5, 2013 by frostypaw

[pedmills]

Hate them, hate them, hate them.

I'm still none the wiser why people bring them - can only be a wish to be 'on' tv.

Glastonbury needn't ban them - they could just ask everyone nicely not to bring them, as with gazebos (I swear there were fewer this year).

[Spindles]

1- if your going to go to the effort of carrying one around all day then put some effort into the actual flag.. we saw some absolutely awful ones such as the word "pink" shabbily written on a yellow flag or a blow up pig half attached to a pole. Not good enough. Have some pride in your flag if your going to lug one about!

[dessie rascal]

That's great but I think my point stands. I also think having 2 in a group is a bit excessive!

[Spindles]

Oh, wasn't defending them. Personally I am all for a total ban at stages, but I respect that it was put to vote previously and a small majority was for them. I would like to see that vote repeated.

[dessie rascal]

Agree with you mate. They don't actually get in my way to be fair and if you wanna carry one all day then go for it but make it a good one! Like I saw another saying "chicks with dicks" I wouldn't want to have to explain that to a child!

[Spindles]

That's the thing, sometimes they are inventive (although should still be restricted from stages) but there are other ways you can be inventive.

This year at the South park longdrops someone decorated them with meme style game of thrones printouts on the Saturday night/Sunday morning, that made me smile as much as "God hates flags" and I would be all for seeing more of that again.

Participate, don't spectate, but do so with consideration for others.

Edited July 5, 2013 by Spindles

[ThomThomDrum]

Back in the before-time, the long-long-ago we got that text/call, they included the critical bit of information where they were coming from - we looked in the right direction and waved.

Never failed in the decades of my life without a flag. Ever. Occasionally we wave a torch in the right direction, like scouts/army/etc have for a generation.

This whole idea of them being 'needed' is really just a lack of thinking of a better solution, just plopping for the easy one that unfortunately also upsets other people.

I wouldn't consider taking a loudhailer to shout to my mates through or across a gig, Would you? After all, it's only being used for the few minutes of you finding each other so that's ok right?

As it stands at least you're a considerate flag user, but it's still utterly unnecessary especially if you're a tall fella - you wouldn't be missed waving a hand.

[bamber]

Virtually no flags at Public Enemy. Hip Hop heads are nothing, but we are not knob heads.

[YeOldeBassClef]

Flags put me off the Pyramid for much of the weekend. A few were funny like the seemingly infamous God Hates Flags and a lidl bag attached to a pole I saw during the smashing pumpkins. I know for certain though I certainly wouldn't miss afew funny ones for a clear view of the stage from wherever

[Pilgrim S]

Mf favourite performance of the weekend was Portishead, and they had amazing visuals, which as I was near the front, I was able to experience. Such a shame that every time the iPlayer coverage shows a full shot of the stage from a distance, when you could best experience the visuals, there is a flag right in the middle of the shot. I guess several thousand people at Glastonbury had the impact of the visuals ruined, as well as several hundred thousand watching on TV.