Hello concert-going girls, you young ones who were dropped off by parents who didn't care enough to come with you even if they hung out in the balcony, who trusted you to represent your families in the manner in which you had been raised, who didn't realize that you could be so rude and disrespectful.
Yes, I'm writing this to you. You know who you are.
I'm thinking we might need to review the rules for General Admission shows:
1. Pushing is never acceptable. If you want to be in the front row, get there early. Really early. Slamming the people in front of you into the stage/barricades/speakers/whatever is kind of the same as assault.
2. Breathing on someone's neck is just plain creepy. And disgusting.
3. Reading someone's cellphone over their shoulder is the same as stalking. Stalking is illegal.
4. Continually shoving your arms and phones/cameras into the faces of the people in front of you ruins their experience. They stood in line just like you--but longer. That's how they attained the front row. Do you see how that works?
5. Screeching is not the same as singing. We all like to sing along. We all do sing along. But when you are simply yelling lyrics at the top of your lungs while barely attempting to find the tune or the rhythm, it ceases to become a musical experience and you are just making noise. Make noise at a Bieber concert.
6. How does screaming at the artist enhance your experience? Did you not come to hear the artist sing? Obviously you respect the artist enough to have bought a ticket so it appears as though you're interested in the music. Oh wait, your parents bought your ticket so you have no actual investment in the experience. My bad. I'm sorry you missed much of what was truly great about the music while your deafening high pitched machinations to get the artist's attention went unnoticed by the artist as that person was engaged in doing what she or he does best.
7. Dancing at a concert is fun. Gyrating against the people in front of you is nasty. And disgusting.
8. Having loud conversations during the opening acts, including unkind remarks, is mean-spirited. Those folks are just starting out often; they're working hard to get your attention. It wouldn't kill you to be a little more attentive. You don't have to go and buy their records or download their songs if you don't want to. But think about how discouraging it must be for them to watch you dissing them while they're trying their best. Is that how you'd like to be treated? If you'd rather talk than listen, take it to the lounge or the bar.
8. Having loud conversations during the opening acts, including unkind remarks, is mean-spirited. Those folks are just starting out often; they're working hard to get your attention. It wouldn't kill you to be a little more attentive. You don't have to go and buy their records or download their songs if you don't want to. But think about how discouraging it must be for them to watch you dissing them while they're trying their best. Is that how you'd like to be treated? If you'd rather talk than listen, take it to the lounge or the bar.
I sincerely hope you understand the rules better now. Basically, we're talking about common courtesy here. Both for your fellow concert-goers and the band that is performing. It's really not too much to ask--that you enjoy what you came for while allowing others to do so too. It's not a solo experience, you see. You can have that with your iPod in your room at home. Selfishly thinking that you can do whatever you want, whenever you want, isn't how society works best. Considering what works best for the group that you find yourself in, makes life run a lot smoother. When you can share experiences in common with other people, mutually enjoying the moment at hand, helping to enhance one another's good time--that's how awesome memories are made. I feel sorry that you don't understand this. You'll always have an incomplete experience until you do.
Sincerely,
One Who Wishes You'd Grow Up
(and I'm sure you will ... I'm positive you'll turn out to be awesome young adults who will look back on your current behavior with embarrassment. But it will be a life lesson learned ... one you can pass on to your own kids.)
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Okay. This is totally uncharacteristic for me. But I decided to put it out there so I can let it go. Off my soapbox now but totally cognizant of the fact that I'm bound to run in to these girls again or rather, girls just like them. I wonder when "good of the order" and politeness went out the window.
Or has it always been this way? Am I just intolerant? Should I have to tolerate that behavior? I can recall those old newsreels of girls screaming when the Beatles landed in New York, how they played but no one could hear a note. Even when I was a kid, I wondered about that. Wouldn't you have wanted to actually hear them if you were lucky enough to have had that chance?
Sending questions to the cosmos ... with no expectations.
Thank you Katherine for posting this. I doubt that the people that need to see it will recognize themselves. But if just one does then it was worth it.
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