It's going to be something like this that finally makes me snap. In the big picture of life it's meaningless, but maddening.

Have you ever seen people that stand and record a performance, usually something involving a child, with an iPad? Pretty sure someday I'm going to end up grabbing one from someone and smashing it.

Live rock concerts have always been havens for rudeness. I mean, when I go to a concert, I don't want to spend the next two hours on my feet, jumping up and down, trying to get a better view of the stage because everyone else in front of me is doing the same. I can't tell them all to stop dancing and sit down. So the addition of people trying to use their camera phones to capture their favorite songs, text and talk isn't going to make one bit of difference.

It's not just concerts. Behavior at sporting events has been getting worse and worse every year. In the early/mid-1980's and again in the mid-1990's I would go to 2 or 3 Seattle Seahawks games a year. The crowds were loud (we played in a concrete echo-dome) but they were fairly well behaved. I saw one fight in that time.

I finally got back up to a Seahawks game in 2010. Absolute world of difference. Basically, 60,000 drunken, profane dick-heads. Saw three fights as we were leaving the game. I might go back but I would never take a woman or a child with me.

My theory is that all those stories about horrible fan-bases like the Philadelphia Eagles and the Oakland Raiders have caused fans in other cities to try and copy that terrible behavior. Basically, almost all NFL fans want to be Eagles-type fans now.

Sporting events, gack. Once upon a time you cheered for your team. When, exactly, did it become acceptable to boo and whistle at the opposing team?

The violence in the stadium means that you can't lose yourself in the game - you have to stay aware, just in case there's some idiot next to you. There's also just too much vandalism and violence in and around the games: you no longer feel safe going to or leaving the game.

That said, the last game I went to was not part of any major tournament, just a friendship game between two teams. Small audience in an old stadium. That was still the old atmosphere - apparently the idiots are only attracted to big games with big crowds.

I loved rock concerts in the 1970's, but there were two problems.

1. There were always druggy teenagers hanging around who didn't mind puking on your shoes. (I was never one of them, but it came too close once or twice.)

2. It was obvious that a lot of the enthusiasm in these events was just celebrity worship, no different for a gifted rock star (and there were VERY few) than for a graceful ballerina or blessed soprano (of which there were many indeed). If you're not deeply impressed with the stuffy arts, you're not going to put up with the crowds at ballet or opera, either./blockquote>
And then I was taking a geography class in my sophomore year. I don't remember the professor's name, or even what the class was called... But at some point he casually said something which really hit the spot: "Americans love to be entertained."

He didn't mean it to be snotty, but it instantly cleaved my enthusiasms from the kind of amusement we all expect —and respond to— from mere show business. A LOT of things can entertain us... Jugglers, or mediocre comedians on a good night in a dark club with a busty date, or a basketball team that's finally figured out who their best players are.

But music meant more to me than religion, easily... Not manly rock stars wearing their mother's blouses under pink spotlights, but genuinely innovative pieces from the time of America's industrial (and automotive) dominance. Open minds, disciplined musicianship, experimental impulses, patience with dissonant improvisation, all that stuff.

So, like, yeah... I got to the place where Fletcher got, but I got there earlier, and saved beaucoup bucks on valet parking, and dry cleaning, and Ticketmaster fees.





Is the thing that means the most to you of all cultural things going to be offered to you as a consumer product?

I bet it's not. Truly gifted people are rarely concerned with industrial proficiency.




But Christ, this was a good night.

BLOCKQUOTE, Beeyotches!

Sorry. I feel bad.

I loved rock concerts in the 1970's, but there were two problems.

1. There were always druggy teenagers hanging around who didn't mind puking on your shoes. (I was never one of them, but it came too close once or twice.)

2. It was obvious that a lot of the enthusiasm in these events was just celebrity worship, no different for a gifted rock star (and there were VERY few) than for a graceful ballerina or blessed soprano (of which there were many indeed). If you're not deeply impressed with the stuffy arts, you're not going to put up with the crowds at ballet or opera, either.

He didn't mean it to be snotty, but it instantly cleaved my enthusiasms from the kind of amusement we expect —and respond to— from mere show business. A LOT of things can entertain us... Jugglers, or mediocre comedians on a good night in a sexy club, or a basketball team that's finally figured out who their best players are.

Music has meant more to me than religion, easily... Not manly rock stars wearing their mother's blouses under pink spotlights, but genuinely innovative music from the time of America's industrial (and automotive) dominance. Open minds, disciplined players, experimental impulses, all that stuff.

So, like, yeah... I got where Fletcher got, but I got there earlier, and saved a lot on valet parking and dry cleaning and Ticketmaster fees.





Is the thing that means the most to you of all cultural things going to be provided to you as a consumer product?

I bet it's not. Truly gifted people are rarely concerned with industrial proficiency.

I think the availability of headphones, and closed spaces such as hermetically sealed apartments, and sound proofed cars has made many people hypersensitive to distractions.

The more we wall ourselves off, the more hyper sensitive and ADD like we become.

The world is a noisy place. I don't expect any live performance to be as clean or distraction free as a set of Bose headphones.

If you do, you are going to be sadly disappointed.

I agree with Isab.

Before headphones I was totally okay with getting punched in the face by a drunk at sporting event.

Now it REALLY distracts me.

Mom kicked out of country concert for breast feeding her child:

http://www.10news.com/news/video-woman-claims-she-was-escorted-out-of-brad-paisley-concert-for-nursing-baby

Before headphones I was totally okay with getting punched in the face by a drunk at sporting event.

Now it REALLY distracts me.

Posted by: Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at July 12, 2014 9:25 AM

That would be, and has always been, assault. Glad to know you are fine with it, and would not press charges.

I like my peace and quiet too, but don't expect to find it at rock concerts, or sporting events, or really any other public place.

I stopped going to live shows not so much because of rudeness -- some rowdiness was always expected -- but because I find them too expensive (in price, time, and energy). Why spend $150 for a ticket to see the band from 300 feet away, with poor acoustics?

That said, rudeness is not only found in rock shows. I recently was invited with my wife to a fundraiser showcasing opera singers. It was lovely... until two drunk matrons at the next table over decided to sing along.