An alternative to flags...

[fashionfound]

Sorry its another flag thread but its one with a difference.

Hows about organising something like this instead of flags? I mean, flags just block views and only benefit the one person who is holding it (if there is any benefit at all), whereas this idea at least gives a fun atmos and gets the crowd interacting instead of getting neckache trying to see past a flag.

Just a thought

[not worthy]

Let's have these as well...but never ever get rid of the flags.

The unique appearance of a Glastonbury stage with the colour and movement of the flags should not be lost. You would miss them if suddenly one year they weren't there and you just had a see of mobile phones to distract you.

It's a unique and special place - enjoy all of it !

[fashionfound]

True, I'm all for colourful and fun things going on in the crowd especially at the Pyramid or Other Stage as they are more party atmos.

Suppose you've got a point about the flags as crud mobile phone footage is just a complete waste of time although I still do think flags and beachballs etc should be at the main outdoor stages only were there is room for shenanigans like that.

[bexj]

Whats wrong with just listening to the music?

Balls are more annoying than flags, usually cos they bounce on your head just as you're about to swig a precious cider...

[fashionfound]

but just listening to the music and watching the performace aint ever gonna happen at the Pyramid, its too much of an iconic sight.

As much as I dont like flags I dont mind them in small doses but their main advantage is how great they look on TV.

if is come to the crunch I'd rather have nobody taking cruddy cameraphone footage (good cameraphone footage is fine) and just a few flags instead of so many that its like a wall to sight. if an alternative is that i can see the stage but may have the possibility of a light 10gram ball landing on my arm well i've got the strength to keep hold my cider so wouldnt worry.

dont want this to be a battle against the flag fans as thats been argumed year after years, just looking for an alternative.

[little_jim]

but just listening to the music and watching the performace aint ever gonna happen at the Pyramid, its too much of an iconic sight.

As much as I dont like flags I dont mind them in small doses but their main advantage is how great they look on TV.

if is come to the crunch I'd rather have nobody taking cruddy cameraphone footage (good cameraphone footage is fine) and just a few flags instead of so many that its like a wall to sight. if an alternative is that i can see the stage but may have the possibility of a light 10gram ball landing on my arm well i've got the strength to keep hold my cider so wouldnt worry.

dont want this to be a battle against the flag fans as thats been argumed year after years, just looking for an alternative.

[Hyphenated]

Whats wrong with just listening to the music?

Balls are more annoying than flags, usually cos they bounce on your head just as you're about to swig a precious cider...

[dentalplan]

Sorry its another flag thread but its one with a difference.

Hows about organising something like this instead of flags? I mean, flags just block views and only benefit the one person who is holding it (if there is any benefit at all), whereas this idea at least gives a fun atmos and gets the crowd interacting instead of getting neckache trying to see past a flag.

Just a thought

[fashionfound]

more little is a bad thing but its about educating people not to drop litter in the first place. the amount of cardboard cups the morning after from last year was the worst i've ever seen.

are we gonna prevent a new food outlet setting up a great stall at glastonbury because it will give the litter pickers things to pick up in the morning? are we gonna stop people camping in tents because idiots leave some behind giving the litter pickers things to pick up?

IMO education to look after the site is whats required and not stopping doing things because wreckless people cant be bothered to respect somewhere.

[Thearg]

text.''I'm over buy the yellow beachball''.

Received 3 days later

They couldn't possibly replace the flags,how on earth are my friends and family back home gonna know I was there without seeing my witty flag on the telly so that when I get back they've organized a home coming parade and I get that I'm so money supermarket feeling.Huh?

[tommyds]

I wouldn't miss not being able to see the stage - and sometimes even the screens - at all.

[Spindles]

Perhaps people should just wear different coloured versions of this:

I'm opposed to the view blocking properties of flags, inflatable toys, pacmen made out of cardboard and all the other wanna be seen stuff. It has the same complete lack of consideration by people who take golf/fishing umbrellas and use them in crowds at outdoor stages, giving not one toss that they are affecting the view of dozens of people behind them.

[airwaves]

Jeez - has you ever been hit in the face by a muddy one during a wet Glasto?

I have, more than I care to remember

[dentalplan]

Jeez - has you ever been hit in the face by a muddy one during a wet Glasto?

I have, more than I care to remember

[JGP]

I'd stick with the flags

[Ted Dansons Wig]

The only value of flags is they allow the identification of them that carries them so they can be mercilessly hunted down come the revolution

[grumpyhack]

For some years I've favoured an area well clear of the front of the Pyramid where sad people can congregate to wave at the cameras and do their "Hello mum, look I'm on the telly" and wave their flags.

Maybe there could even be a competition for the Pratt With The Most Wierd Flag.

[Spindles]

Seriously though, the reason you don't see so many flags on videos from the 90s was that back then people wore more silly hats and that was an identifier in the crowd. If you look at the hats people wear these days it is like festival fashion, with a sea of identical hats, making recognising your mates even harder..."yeah, I'm over here, the one in the straw fedora with the black band...."

[LondonTom]

Jesus I think I'd the flags than everyone trying to whack balls around.

If you don't like you know just watching and dancing along to the music for a bit, the circus fields I believe have plenty of similar activities you can take part in to whack a ball around!!

Just another one of those gimmicks to create "brilliant atmosphere" when brilliant atmosphere happens orgainically from people being in the moment.

[Mr.Tease]

Maybe a better alternative is to have a penned off area off to the side, surrounded by camera's pointed inwards at the folks penned within, broadcasting live and uninterrupted on channel 5, so that people who are desperate to be on telly and for people to look at them can have their wish fulfilled without ruining other peoples enjoyment.

[frostypaw]

This is a joke thread surely?

Peopleidiots bring the flags so they can identify where they are on the telly and so folk can find each other, rather than learning how to do it without a flag i.e. lazy wimps.

Beach balls would utterly fail in this purpose.

The flags are NOT an iconic sight. The band you have come to see are the iconic sight. What you are meaning is "It looked great when I saw it on telly so I like seeing it in person too" without a clue what the view was like before the flags and I can tell you it was fantastic - you could see the performance AND listen, surely you're aware how much better an actual live gig is than listening to a bootleg? How a band's performance matters? Part of the incredibly clever positioning of the pyramid means you can see the band on stage from everywhere in the field

Sorry, I mean USED to be able to see the band. The flags might look great on telly but Glastonbury would do well to heed the money paying ticketholders who came to see bands, not what someone found in the flagshop. Someone will quote the survey - but that was open to non-ticketholders too so useless - the event is for ticketholders, we are NOT paying to be performers in a tv show. Those who like the look of the flags get something better - the view of the stage and the band they came to see so they're not losing out either. Would be cheaper and easier for the BBC if they didn't have to flagdodge with cameras too, and more excitable crowds would make up for loss of waving obstructions. It's win-win-win. I cannot fathom why they still allow them

[Rumblestripe]

I "heart" SAUSAGE

[maninkilt]

A true alternative to flags would be simply jumping up and down, waving your arms and screaming ME ME ME ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME ME ME ME.

And slightly less anoying in my opinion.

[grumpyhack]

I think that's a "No" to flags and beach balls then (hopefully).

[russycarps]

when did this flag cancer actually start anyway?