From: robert@askinc.ask.COM (Robert McMullen)
Subject: Seat Hogs (THE END, Please?)
Organization: ASK Computer Systems, Inc.
Distribution: world 
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 19:20:13 GMT

Steve Harris (steveha@sco.com) writes:
 >"Act like we were at any other show..."

I meant as far as seating--nothing else.  Jeez, man, get defensive.  And,
from reading the rest of your sniveling, you sure like to read imaginary
messages into things...you're flaming me for stuff I never said.  Read:

 >Pop concerts ---
 >                We should all scream a LOT.  Especially when the
 >                band is PLAYING.

No, we should all just sing along while the band is playing, so loud that
the people next to us hear us over Jer/Bob.  *That's* okay, right, dude?  

 >Rock Concerts ---
 >                Everybody get really drunk and hyper...accidentally
 >                hurt other Deadheads...good idea!!!

I take it you don't spend much time at Shoreline, or for that matter
any of the few venues the boys play where alcohol is served.  Granted,
no one fights, but I've seen it come close a few times as drunks stomped on 
each  other in the dark up on the lawn, or spilled beer on someone.  Not 
everyone shrugs that kind of stuff off and goes about their biz.  You
must know that.

For the last three years, I've only mailordered seats for "the Dump" for these
reasons (no part. order):  1)  Nobody kicks or steps on me or my friends
because "they didn 't see us" (a valid excuse, actually--it's dark); 2) Nobody
kicks over *my* beer or coke or whatever;  3)  My beer or coke or whatever
doesn't roll down the hill...at $4 a pop!     ;-)

 >Symphony --- Sit quietly (VERY QUIETLY) and enjoy the show...yelling
 >                only the VERY OCCASIONAL "Bravo!" or "Encore!"

Who cares?  I meant *rock* concert.  And at least "Bravo!" and "Encore!",
which I've heard at Dead shows, aren't as dopey as "Jerrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeee,
I *lllllooooooovvvvvvvvvve* you!!!!!!!!!!!!" or "Who's got kind buds?"

 >Jazz -- Sit quietly and whisper a bit...funny how friends save each
 >                other's seats at these shows, too, huh?  So I guess
 >                this one is out.

Who cares?  I meant *rock* concert.  ;-)  Really though, I'll take your word.
I've never been to a Jazz show.

 >Seriously, though, I have other problems with Dead shows -- too loud,
 >too rowdy...volume of the audience hurts the quality of the sound...
 >...apathy of the audience ruins my appreciation of the music.  But the
     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Maybe (as you say to me later) you shouldn't go.......

 >seat thing, ESPECIALLY at OAKLAND, is due mainly because of the tightness
 >of friends in the area.  It is better than it used to be...you might try
  ^^^^^^^^^^
Gee, I must not be very tight with the twenty or so close friends of mine
who attend every show, huh?  We're just confident we'll run into each other
in the lot, or in the show, or not at all, who cares?  I thought we go to hear
the band primarily.  There is no excuse for blocking off more than a 
couple extra seats.  It seems to me that lots of people save seats, with
good intentions, for friends who never find them, or decide to dance on
the floor, or whatever.  And that screws others.

 >politely discussing someones saved seats...if it doesn't work, could be
 >worse...you could have missed the show entirely.
 >
 >No trying to flame you, brother, but the Dead Shows are unique and they
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yeah, then why start a comment with the disclaimer, *brother*?

 >are what we make them.  If you don't like people saving UMPTEEN seats,
 >tell them...kindly.  If you don't like them smoking, tell them...kindly.
 >If you don't like them screaming, ask them kindly to stop screaming.
 >If they are drunk...remind them about how hard it is to enjoy the music 
 >with their drunkenness in your space.

I think you and any of the others who got so defensive about my post need
to look at yourselves and realize that you live in a dream world
and that, even at Dead shows, we need to keep some bearing and respect
for others just like in day to day life.  Unless, of course, *you* don't
have any bearing or respect for others...

Also, it was just my opinion.  I thought it was liberal to allow others
to have opinions of their own.  Apparently not, unless it's the same 
opinion, huh?

 >BUT--if you are going to have the attitude of "Why isn't this place like
 >everywhere else?" or "I can't have fun with these people."  Then bite your

Why read into what I said?  I did *not* say "why isn't this place like
everywhere else?" nor did I say "I can't have fun with these people".   I
have had some of the best times in my life at Dead shows all over the 
place. 

I simply tried to make an analogy to the way people treat seating at
other concerts.  That's it.  What the hell post did you read?  Did you
think I meant Dead shows would be better with mosh pits up front, too?

 >lip (toungue?) and stop going to Dead Shows because obviously, they are
                     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Well, I didn't find your post too annoying until that statement, you holier-
than-thou *&*$^$%W#.  I can't even reciprocate that snot-nosed comment
because at least I don't try to worry about who should or shouldn't *be*
at a Dead show.  Jesus.
  
 >not your cup of tea.

The band is definitely my cup of tea; you, my bruthuh, are a obviously a
different case.

 >--Steve Harris (the Real one)

PS--judging from the ton of positive response/similar stories here on
    the net, you're the minority opinion.  ;-@

PPS--*Can we all* just end this?  I posted an opinion; many others
     have as well.  If one person, who saves lots of seats unnecessarily,
     sees all these messages and changes their ways, then there's enough
     seats (maybe) for those of us who bitched at the next show.  I in NO
     way wanted to start a flame war over a topic I can't control.

============================>Robert McMullen<============================

    The opinions expressed in this message in no way reflect those of   
   ASK Computer Systems, Inc.  Flames welcome, but highly uncalled for! 

=========================>robert@askinc.ask.com<=========================

Newsgroups: rec.music.gdead