I recently came across a video in which a group of admittedly very rude girls get absolutely dropped during a Dada Life set. I have to say, at the very very least, I’m disappointed, borderline disgusted. You can watch the video below, and you probably should, before reading any further.
As someone who has worked and been in dangerous environments and has an OSHA certification, I’m incredibly disappointed that this situation arose, and how this event transpired. Firstly, it was incredibly rude and irresponsible for those girls to have put themselves on top of unstable trashcans to get a better view to everyone around them’s detriment. Obstructing their fellow festival-goers’ view was the least dangerous thing that happened in this occurrence. However. Everyone in their vicinity had an undeniable right to be angry, but no one, and I repeat, no one had the right to forcibly and dangerously remove them from that situation. Laugh all you want, tell me I’m overreacting, but fatal falls have been documented from heights less than four feet, despite the fact that these people were wearing hard hats and protective gear. Judging by common sense, high-waisted shorts and flowers don’t qualify as protective gear.
Kicking the trashcans out from under them was a deplorable way to deal with that situation. Sure this sort of selfish behavior has no place at a festival, but escalating the situation to near violence is disgusting. Those girls could have been seriously and permanently injured, or even worse, killed. Even if the fall wasn’t fatal it could have left them permanently paralyzed or facing other lifelong disabilities. Talk all you want about how they “deserved it,” no one deserves to live the rest of their lives with that sort of injury or disability.
Usually we have to bring up the issue of drugs and harm reduction at EDM events, but now it’s a high time to talk about your physical safety and that of others at live events. If you even adhere to the slightest to the values of PLUR or common human decency, you know that you have a distinct responsibility to watch out for your fellow humans and ravers. Your failure to do so can result in terrible outcomes. Serious injuries and deaths falls on the heads of our culture’s image, and is nearly always a direct liability to the event organizer. Think about that absolute brainless imbecile, Greg Tecoz, who climbed the tower at TomorrowWorld. He not only endangered himself, but he endangered those below him. In the event of him falling, hitting someone on his way down is not only plausible, but very likely that they would have been killed. His behavior was not only wildly selfish but completely asinine and this is coming from a twenty-two year old who has done his fair share of jumping off of roofs and other childish behaviors. Remember what happened at Creamfields Sydney 2012…
Just like the EDC fence jumpers, all of these people didn’t fully understand the consequence of their actions. You didn’t build the safety riggings, you don’t understand their operating loads, and most likely, you are too caught up in the moment to realize what could happen if your actions we’re to result in a structural failure or a serious fall. At the very least, those dumb trashcan girls could have fallen and sprained an ankle. But all it takes to turn a minor fall into a life altering event is a couple degrees of rotation and some bad luck. Damn right I’m mad about this. You all should be. I’m not a huge fan of involving any sort of authority figure whether it be the police or event staff, but the proper thing to do in this case would have been to grab a security guard and have them handle the situation. This sort of DIY justice could have ended in absolute tragedy. It only takes one broken neck to have your ass sued into oblivion or even face criminal charges.
So for everyone out there cheering on the gentlemen who so bravely kicked the trash cans out from under those girls, grow up. Accidents happen and sometimes with very serious results. Be conscious of your safety and the safety of others. As much as it may kill your vibe not climbing scaffolding towers or trashcans, doing so endangers you and others around you. We’re all there to have a good time, so please take the time to realize that it can happen to you and your buddies. Don’t be a fool; party hard, but god damn it, party smart.
This stuff didnt happen back in 2010 when these festivals were full of music lover and only music lovers, blame the artists who went commercial and brought this trash in with them.
Totally being an obnoxious, elitist linguist here – but in the first paragraph under the Dada Life video, you write “…a better view to everyone around them’s detriment.” This might sound better as “to the detriment of everyone around them.”
Besides that, I completely agree with everything you’ve said. At HARD Day of the Dead 2012, Kill The Noise and Knife Party had to repeatedly halt their sets to tell people climbing scaffolding to Fuck Off or ruin the night for everyone by stopping the music. People need to realize that their actions have repercussions on everyone around them.
Brett I really do agree with you people are really stupid and they really shouldn’t be doing that stuff. I personally think that all festivals and EDM events should take way more precations and do more drug checks and stuff like that. But, people are also responsible and they should just grow up. enough said.
The last part of PLUR is Respect and a lot people seem to forget that respect is earned not just a god given right. standing up there was a dick move. kicking the cans out was a dick move. they didnt necessarily deserve it but I have zero sympathy for them.
Actually, those cunny little bitches shoved several people off of the barrels they flipped over. The people unfortunately stuck staring at those flappy pancake asses asked them several times to get down as they were completely obstructing the view. PLUR, the girls argue, what, we’re supposed to respect your right to be a selfish twat? I think not.
And anyone who’s doped out enough to climb scaffolding or endanger themselves in some other Darwinian fashion deserves what’s coming to them! Survival of the smartest, yo.
i can dig it
Sometimes it takes a fall to learn that, just because you’re daddy’s little girl and he let’s you get away with whatever you want, doesn’t mean you’re hot shit and everyone else will let you step all over them. Time to end this stupid rich pampering bullshit that’s fucking up our generation
The scene used to be about unity, good vibes, and everyone getting along sharing an experience. Now its bunch of bitches (male and female) taking up valuable space. When those twats fell off the barrels I thought to myself… ‘that was awesome’. I must be a horrible person. Am I alone on this?
Would you stop your kids from playing at the playground because they could kill themselves? Or forbid them from mountain bilking or skateboarding? You’re being overprotective here.