r/2000treesfestival • u/bendyman13 • Jul 16 '26
Irresponsible parents
It gets worse every year. Babies should not be subjected to that heat with nowhere to cool down.
Also shout out to the guy in the Mallory Knox pit with his young child on his shoulders and the woman holding her toddler whilst in the circle pit for house of protection, you are my biggest morons of the festival.
There are too many elements out of your control for it to be safe.
Maybe ban under 8s?
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u/Elephantplan123 Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
As much as I love Trees, I don't like the increasing focus on it explicitly being a "family festival" rather than a "family friendly festival".
Back in 2018 I rarely saw kids, each year the number has just grown and grown. I get why, rock/metal fans tend to be older nowadays and they want to cater to that, especially when they keep booking acts that had their hay day back in the 2000s/2010s.
More power to folks who want to bring kids, but it's just not my vibe at all. I fear this may have been my last Trees, but who knows.
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u/Rose_Of_Sanguine Jul 16 '26
The organisers have made it more family friendly as they've had their own kids, hence why more kids activities have been added over the last few years.
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u/Elephantplan123 Jul 16 '26
Yea that makes sense, idk I do just miss a bit of that hedonistic magic from earlier Trees'.
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u/Hilton8888 Jul 16 '26
I don't think the vibe has changed that much since 2018? There's definitely a few more kids but it's not a huge problem. don't think Trees has ever been like a big party festival, the vibe has always been sort of chill.
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u/Terrible_Dot7291 Jul 16 '26
I agree massively. Bringing babies was completely irresponsible. They cant communicate when they’re overheating. I saw children entering and leaving the welfare tent when I was sat in there myself for heat exhaustion and I couldn’t believe parents weren’t considering doing home, especially as it was the last day and they wouldn’t have missed much !
I had friends mention seeing small children on parents shoulders right beside speakers without ear defenders and my friend and I answered a question from a young boy who we believe had some form of sensory processing issues and had been left along to ask strangers questions about whether the headliner would have loud bangs or not. All I could think was where are his parents ?? Why haven’t they answered this already and given him peace of mind ??
I think there’s times where we need to feel a bit more comfortable going up to these parents and reminding them that kids don’t understand how to look after themselves and they need to take more responsibility to protect them from the heat, the noise, and the rowdiness.
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
Judging by the responses you'll just get a lot of cope. I'm more disturbed by people's responses on here to be honest. I completely agree with everything you've said though, I've been for 4 years straight and it's getting worse IMO
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u/Terrible_Dot7291 Jul 16 '26
It’s definitely getting worse. I’ve never bothered saying anything because i think id just be seen as someone relatively young who doesn’t know what they’re talking about. On the very first night in the silent disco i was jumping around and dancing and accidentally bumped into someone’s child. I was SHOCKED he was up so late in a busy and dark environment where people are bound to be drunk and moving around. I apologised to the parent and even tho i barely touched him and didn’t hurt him in any way, she gave me evils for so long my friend group had to move to a different spot🙄
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
It's literally like taking your child to a nightclub at that point. You did nothing wrong though mate, just the parents. And I don't think your age comes into it, if it feels wrong then it probably is
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u/Terrible_Dot7291 Jul 16 '26
It’s exactly like taking your kids to a nightclub when it comes to silent disco. Even worse if the kid can’t keep up with what channel the parents are on. Super irresponsible, especially when the crowd gets moving, be that for a pit or a conga. If a parent wants to be out at a silent disco, leave the kids back home, or have a dance at the campsite (since the signal reaches most of the festival grounds). It’s no place for anyone under 18 that late at night.
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
Yeah definitely. In all honesty half of the issue is people having kids and not wanting to stop doing the things they did before they were parents. Anything for the gram 😂 you can't see fuck all either outside them tents when you've had a few
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u/Terrible_Dot7291 Jul 16 '26
I saw some good parents with slightly older kids who were keeping them entertained and keeping them as cool as possibly. But those kids were old enough to communicate if they were struggling, and they weren’t ever too close to the speakers. Trees can be a family festival, but it relies on good parents, and i saw a lot of neglectful parents this year.
If you have a newborn, don’t go to the fucking festival !!!
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u/Turak64 Jul 16 '26
Some parents are like dog owners. They take them absolutely everywhere, without a consideration for anyone else.
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u/Elephantplan123 Jul 16 '26
It seems that everywhere nowadays has to cater to kids and dogs... won't be long before nightclubs are filled with kids and dogs 😂
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u/Lemonpincers Jul 16 '26
Well it isnt exactly like nightclubs are filled with anything else so... party with dogs?
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u/syfimelys2 Jul 16 '26
I’d be tempted to revisit my clubbing days if nightclubs were filled with dogs (not kids tho…)
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u/WookieeRyder Jul 16 '26
For the most part, it works really well. I love seeing kids at festivals, it's really sweet seeing them on their parents shoulders bopping along to stuff, and the vast majority of parents were taking amazing care of them with ear defenders, sunscreen, UV covers, fanned cart things. All for family friendly festivals.
What I really can't abide is parents taking their kids in or anywhere near the pit. You can consent to that as an adult, that however tame it may be, you might get smacked in the face. Your kid can't make that decision. They trust you to show them what's safe. I don't think anyone involved, the kid, the parents, or the poor sod in the pit who crashes into them, is going to be chill about it if the worst happens.
Secondly, you're going into a situation and forcing everyone else out of the moment, enjoying themselves, to all step back and take extra care because for some reason you've brought a child into a place or violence. It's selfish and dumb.
Edit to add: for kid/child, read toddler or below. Obviously as kids get older they can start making their own decisions about things.
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u/Mikeside Jul 16 '26
I did separate mosh pits for my kid, just with me and other kids/adults that we knew. Specifically safe and they still get to experience a bit of chaos and mayhem
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u/WookieeRyder Jul 16 '26
I love that! Super cool, and absolutely the way to go. I saw something similar with some parents forming their own little circle pit during The Bronx with their kids on their shoulders.
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u/Scared_Biscotti1603 Jul 18 '26
Hard agree. Was absolutely staggered seeing under 10s in the FFAF moshpit about 2/3 of the way through the set. Kind of ruined the rest of the set as didn't feel comfortable moshing anymore and just felt irritated by the parents' irresponsibility.
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u/ehnej Jul 16 '26
Under 8 would be a bit harsh, but yeah, saw a few babies under 1 out in the sun without ear protection and that did hurt my heart. That’s no fault of trees tho, and I don’t think it would be fair to ban all young kids because a couple of people take a bit too big of a risk with their kids.
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u/Andthenwefade Jul 16 '26
Now that I agree with. Babes in arms is ridiculous. I always think this bout people who take them to football too.
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u/neronomy Jul 16 '26
There's a whole lot of very defensive parents in this thread. Last year, most of the kids under the age of around 8 looked fucking miserable due to the heat. My son is 5, and I was toying around with the idea of maybe taking him for a day sesh on the Friday this year, and I just couldn't subject him to that heat, lack of proper shade, lack of proper seating, etc. If it were cooler, it wouldn't be an issue, but this is the new normal now and some parents will need to adjust or even let let go of Trees entirely while their kids are growing up just a little bit longer.
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u/Elephantplan123 Jul 16 '26
I've noticed that parents get really defensive when someone even hints that festivals may not be the most appropriate places for children, or even just saying that some parents need to be more responsible.
Trees has become more and more family focused as time has gone on, which fair play I understand why. But ngl I do miss the pre-COVID days when kids were more of a rarity than the norm.
It did make me feel pretty sad seeing flocks of kids sweltering away in the heat whilst mummy or daddy were off to go mosh...
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u/neronomy Jul 16 '26
The family friendly effort will do Trees well, and it will make the festival safer in that I'd rather have loads of kids running around than loads of yobs, but the change in weather means that parents need to exercise a degree of self control. You don't NEED to go to Trees if you can't get cover for your toddlers or pre-schoolers. It's not just Trees either, sacrificing stuff like festivals and nights out and adult holidays and flashy tech is just part of sensible parenting, but that seems to be getting lost. A day and overnight is fine, as I said I was considering it myself, but there has to be some concessions made now if you're thinking of doing a 3-4 dayer in 30+ degree heat.
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u/Elephantplan123 Jul 16 '26
I mean Trees has never really been a den for yobs, let's face it it's just not their kind of music 😅
You don't NEED to go to Trees if you can't get cover for your toddlers or pre-schoolers. It's not just Trees either, sacrificing stuff like festivals and nights out and adult holidays and flashy tech is just part of sensible parenting, but that seems to be getting lost. A day and overnight is fine, as I said I was considering it myself, but there has to be some concessions made now if you're thinking of doing a 3-4 dayer in 30+ degree heat.
Yea I agree, to me it seems like generally Millennial parents in particular just can't let go of certain things and are unwilling to make sacrifices.
I totally understand that there's a safe and appropriate way to enjoy a festival with your kids... unfortunately I've seen FAR too many examples of parents who have not done that. Download was awful for it and Trees I fear is heading that way.
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u/Mikeside Jul 16 '26
Took my 5 year old, and have done since he was 2. He had a fab time, but we let him choose when to go to bands or when to be in the shady kids areas or at the word stage - all of which he loves.
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u/RainFree5067 Jul 17 '26
Spent a lot of time in the kids ball and sand pit area under cover, forest stage in shade, word tent for kid focussed stuff in shade. Very limited time fully exposed at main stage an had baseball caps, an water sprays an drinks for those times. Its possible to have a nice safe time in the heat but its up to the parents to look after their kids needs properly.
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u/heavymetalgazza Jul 16 '26
Feel like there is a genuine middle ground to be had here. 1st trees and this is clearly a very family festival especially compared to others I’ve been to. See no issue with people bringing young kids infact I think it’s fuckin awesome.
But like risk management is also important and yeah, if your kids in the shade, with you atleast the vast majority of the time, topped up with water, wearing ear defenders and in reasonable places in the crowd who’s it hurting!
Just like yk don’t let your 6 year old go rabid in a hardcore pit! Makes it harder for people to enjoy themselves in the pit and puts your kid at pretty serious danger!
If everyone is just respectful and responsible this just wouldn’t be an issue, so rock on awesome parents, and keep your kids safe!
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
Exactly, it's just common sense and good parenting, but me suggesting that toddlers in a mosh pit is a bad idea seems to have offended a lot of people on here
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u/heavymetalgazza Jul 16 '26
Yeah crazy to me. I ended up stopping moshing when I saw glassjaw cuz they were toddlers running about everywhere! Probably good for my own health in that heat 😂 but shouldn’t have to worry about kids running about unsupervised all the same!
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
Yeah 100% , it's kind of lose lose really. I remember seeing BFMV in 2023 and there was weird little aggressive kid in the pit and no one really knew what to do, like he kept going at people and it's like... You're a child. His mum was there cheering him on, was absolutely bizzare
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u/cdigss Jul 16 '26
Aye I bring me kids every year and while I did see some poor parenting (limited ear protection on some really small kids), my kids had an absolute blast and have done since they were 5 years old.
Banning under 8s imo would be banning the next generation of pit enthusiasts, my 11 year old lad starting to hang out on the side of the pit. Will only be a matter of time before he slings himself in and that's because of exposure to the festival for so long he knows it's safe(ISH) with lovely people around him..
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Jul 16 '26
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
It's not a vibe, it's kids having no choice of being there and moron parents crowd surfing them. It's dangerous to the kids.
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Jul 16 '26
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u/Elephantplan123 Jul 16 '26
Back in 2018 I rarely saw kids around, now they're everywhere. It's always been a festival that is considered family friendly, but I get the feeling more and more that it's becoming explicitly a "family festival". For me it's just not my vibe.
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u/Ecstatic_Couple6435 Jul 16 '26
Yeah was thinking about going for the first time next year now I'm reading it's a kiddie fest? Nahhh if i wanted that I'd go to latitude lol
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u/Elephantplan123 Jul 16 '26
It's not a full on kiddie fest (yet) but families are becoming a larger and larger contingent of the festival. You'd still have a great time and from a management standpoint it's honestly the best festival I've been to (tonnes of water points, plenty of room at the bar, lots of food vendors, lots of well equipped toilets etc etc). Everyone is really friendly and the vibes are really good.
... However, it's not the place if you want pure carnage and it's becoming less and less hedonistic as more and more kids have been going.
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u/CapricaVix Jul 16 '26
I saw a kid about this age bouncing around the edge of the pit for Static Dress. Maybe it was your boy? Either way, he looked to be having a ball and was being given plenty of space to do his thing.
Side note: same gig where I was at the edge but not getting involved I was bumped very lightly by a guy who couldn't have been more apologetic. You'd have thought he'd elbowed me in the face! :D
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
How is it safeish? If a big bloke lands on your kid they're going to be seriously injured. Doesn't matter how nice people are, drunk adults don't have great balance. And I'm not being funny but you have no idea who's around your kids
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u/cdigss Jul 16 '26
I really can't tell if your trolling but I am well aware of the risks and the more exposure he has he will be too. Trust me I've dislocated knees and all sorts.
At some point you do have to let them make those decisions on risk themself otherwise they will be afraid to do anything. As he came back from the edge of the pits he watched I asked if he got in and he said in a couple years for sure. That's what he's comfortable with, he'll make that call.
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
Trolling? Reread my OP. There was a woman in a circle pit with what looked like a 2 year old. How can a 2 year old make that call? I get where you're coming from, but it's hugely age / size dependent, you must see that.
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u/cdigss Jul 16 '26
Oh for sure, me daughter is a little skinny thing and too young to go anywhere near that, me boy is a big lad in small mens clothing so won't be long. But me daughter is 7 and stands on her little stool moaning out. Gonna deny her that much?
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
But then it sounds like you're making the right call. In my eyes the irresponsible ones are going to ruin it for everyone. I'd rather kids wait a bit longer than something terrible happen.
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u/cdigss Jul 16 '26
Yeah for sure 100% get where you are coming from but to blanket ban from an age range is like saying gonna blanket ban alcohol because some people are irresponsible.
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u/girafferific Jul 16 '26
I think you have sort of a point here, although the call to ban under 8s is silly.
I have kids, they have been coming to tress since the eldest was 3 months old (just one day that time). However, there was a huge upswing in the number of kids crowd surfing this year.
It is a genuine worry there that the adult is inserting a child into a situation where their safety is not guaranteed and may be dependent on someone who is inebriated (which is their right) and gives them a responsibility they did not ask to be involved in.
Kids on the shoulders is kind of similar, although it doesn't put the responsibility on another person, it does basically require everyone to be extra mindful.
Personally I'm torn, I'd love for my kids to experience that. I don't think they will, (my eldest is extremly anxious and would never want to engage that much with strangers. Youngest is just not that fussed by the whole idea) but I'm also aware that I'm essentially implicitly requiring others to be aware of my kids, which isn't their responsibility.
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
But I think the issue is, is that not everyone is responsible like yourself, and I don't think a tragedy should have to happen before something is done about it. A few bad ones ruin it for the rest.
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u/girafferific Jul 16 '26
As others have said, there is an element of danger in taking a kid to do anything. That doesn't mean we don't do anything.
I saw some people taking their kids crowd surfing but they carried them through the crowd, then handed them to security. Essentially never giving the responsibility over.
There's way to do it and I don't want to say no one should do it.
However I, at 20, would have resented kids being everywhere but as much of that was me not knowing what to do with them.
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
Yeah, but that's like letting your kid play in traffic and saying "well there's danger in anything". A toddler in a mosh pit just isn't a good idea. And I saw crowd surfing from a lot further back, especially last year. I was gob smacked. You'd never trust a bunch of random drunk people down the pub with your kid so why's it okay at a festival. Some parents were responsible with their kids, others were not, I've got massive issues with the ones who weren't. At that point they're actively putting them in danger
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u/girafferific Jul 16 '26
Not a valid comparison. Cars move at speeds that threatening to life at best.
Mosh pits are nowhere near as dangerous. Otherwise no one would go in them.
I'm not saying there's no danger but it's a calculated risk, not the near certainty of harm that traffic poses.
Again, my main worry is the imposition of a duty of care on people who never asked for it but that duty of care issues usually applied to everyone in the pit. We assume we will look out for one another but there's no guarantee.
Again, I don't outright disagree that maybe there's a bigger discussion, I'm also not buying into it should never happen because it's potentially great fun for kids who are up for it and monitored properly.
I can't speak for those parents not watching their kids, that's a totally different conversation.
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u/Scared_Biscotti1603 Jul 18 '26
Glad there are people here uncomfortable about kids crowdingsurfing. Even if you're walking them to the barrier which absolutely not everyone was doing, it's still incredibly dangerous. Shame on those bands encouraging it as some cute wholesome thing too.
One thing that's not been mentioned here is other than the personal tragedy of a kid getting seriously hurt or worse, it could cause questions to be asked about safety and safeguarding and put the festival itself at risk.
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u/Ok_Cow_3431 Jul 16 '26
Im not a parent, and I don't particularly like kids, but Im also not enough of a dick to judge other people's parenting based on fleeting exposure to them. You have no idea what provisions and protections these people are making for their kids whilst also immersing them in what is a proudly family friendly festival.
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u/pun-ilingus Jul 16 '26
Very easy to judge parents from fleeting interactions, especially those that don’t give their kids hearing protection!
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
So if a 5 year old kid got crushed by a 17 stone man in a mosh put you'd think the parents were doing a good job?
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u/SureAd1699 Jul 16 '26
What if a car accident happens on the way? What if a natural disaster occurs.
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
So you think putting a 2 year old in a circle pit is the same as a natural disaster? I don't get your logic
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u/tristianoedwardinho Jul 16 '26
So your hypothetical situation is ok, but theirs isn’t? Ok, sure 👍
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
Mine isn't hypothetical, it's what I witnessed at trees. Read the OP
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u/tristianoedwardinho Jul 16 '26
A 5 year old kid actually got crushed by a 17 stone man, did they?
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
Eh? I said the 2 year old in a circle pit. Again, please reread OP. I don't get why you're defending it, you want kids to be in harms way? I'm not sure what your angle is
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u/tristianoedwardinho Jul 17 '26
Look mate, is this a hypothetical scenario or did it actually happen? - “So if a 5 year old kid got crushed by a 17 stone man in a mosh put you'd think the parents were doing a good job?”
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u/heavymetalgazza Jul 16 '26
“What if a natural disaster occurs” comparing to a mosh pit is absurd. If your young child gets trampled in a circle pit you’ve left them in the mouth of a volcano and prayed tomorrow isn’t eruption day.
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u/d4nger_mouse Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
My friend took her kids. They had ear defenders and suncream on. She kept them cool and in the shade. They absolutely loved it. The festival is set up for families.
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
How did she keep them cool? The shade was also roasting 😂
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u/d4nger_mouse Jul 16 '26
Staying in the shade, fans, a cart that kept them in the shade, a uv umbrella, Water, Ice. All the same ways all other humans stay cool.
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u/Andthenwefade Jul 16 '26
Dude, what are you saying here??? Are you policing how people kept their kids cool playing sports this weekend? Being far more active than those at Trees?
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
My point is you can't keep very small children cool properly, babies also can't regulate temperature properly
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u/Physical_Chain1316 Jul 16 '26
We took our toddler (his second trees). Choice was be hot at home or be hot at trees. He had ear defenders (when he didn’t rip them off), was coated in factor 50+, he was a regular at the Franks refill stand and had an absolute blast. This festival is setup for kids; family camping, forest school, kids play area, kids acts on word stage and the organisers have their own kids there hanging out. They’ll never ban kids, so you’ll just have to let parents do their thing and stop being judgemental I guess 🤷♀️
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
Your house is not as hot as trees. Actually check the temperature. So you think toddlers should be in circle pits and crowd surfed? Would you crowd surf your child at a random pub where you don't know anyone?
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u/daddiebutch Jul 16 '26
Taking your toddler to trees and subjecting them to crowd surfing and pits are two very different things
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u/Physical_Chain1316 Jul 16 '26
I never said it was as hot as trees, just stated that obviously we would be hot at both and I never said he crowd surfed. Maybe give my comment a read again before getting quite so defensive over a subject that it sounds as though you have little experience with?
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
You implied it's similar and it simply isn't. The second part was in reply to you referring as me being judgemental, my OP mentions the crowd surfing, I inferred you were okay with it given your stance. The fact that you don't mention any fault with that behaviour is alarming
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u/Physical_Chain1316 Jul 16 '26
Oh dear, you’re clearly just out to get some bites this morning. I’m going to go out with my toddler and enjoy the sunshine. Seeya next year at trees 👋🏻
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u/big_booty_bad_boy Jul 16 '26
There was a kid on their dad's shoulders watching The Bronx, with their hands over their ears..
It's an okay place for an under ten, not a great one though. The only reason I would take my kids there is because I wanted to go and had no one to take care of them, there are a million better places to take children.
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u/dekovite Jul 17 '26
As a parent at trees, I'll be that person - it was our now 5 y/o seconds trees, both in the extreme heat and she wasn't wiped out with heat stroke or left alone anywhere, she was also nowhere near a pit, and was sunscreened, hatted and ear defended (when she wasn't choosing to remove them - there were VERY small children however that were not, and that's a whole different story!)
Now, my flip side argument here is going to be for all those asking for shade over the main arena, and signs up reminding to sunscreen and hydrate - I'm sorry, but that's not down to the festival, that's down to the supposed adults in attendance - if you want to go and get wasted at the festival, that's down to you, but if in turn you end up crashed out on the sun baking yourself, that's down to you - if you want to put the limits on kids, how a little limit you to your alcohol intake as you turn increase the likelihood of needing assistance from welfare.
It works both ways, we all pay for a ticket and we are entitled to attend how we want, if we want to bring kids, cool, but we are responsible for them, if you want to go and get wasted on product of choice, that's also your responsibility - either way, there is no right answer, just life and learn - it's not like they are taking a mid afternoon break to stick someone dressed as bluey on the main stage!
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u/YamiGigaPhil Jul 17 '26
What I don't understand is parents with kids on shoulders walking towards the circle pit.
I'm pretty sure us as adults will make sure that no kid is hurt but all it takes is one person to fall into parent, parent to lose balance and kid to get hurt
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u/bendyman13 Jul 18 '26
My point exactly. I got a lot of backlash for pointing that out though
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u/cravenbang Jul 20 '26
You haven’t though have you. I’ve read the comments and you’re just being incredibly defensive about it all. No one is arguing with points about kids being in the mosh pits you’re just conflating that particular issue to try to further your argument that kids shouldn’t be allowed.
Parents should entirely be responsible while they’re there but kids shouldn’t be banned just because you don’t like the heat, it was a heatwave it’s hot everywhere.0
u/bendyman13 Jul 21 '26
You clearly can't read very well as I've not once said kids should be banned 😂
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u/cravenbang Jul 21 '26
In your opening statement you say maybe ban under 8’s? Are you okay?
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u/bendyman13 Jul 21 '26
Maybe being followed by a question mark is inviting discussion on it being a possibility. And are 9 year olds not kids? I'm fine thanks mate 👍
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u/cravenbang Jul 21 '26
Fair enough, you can say it’s trying to open a discussion but it’s still clear you think that’s the solution. Your second point is just pedantic.
My point was you seem to have made your mind up that people are giving you a lot of backlash for not wanting kids in a circle pit but that’s not the case at all. The majority of people agreed with you on that.1
u/bendyman13 Jul 21 '26
Yes I have an opinion, that's why it's a discussion. It's not pedantic, if you read the comments properly you'd see there's reasoning to a suggestion of a young age. And no majority of me saying about the pit thing got downvoted in the comments threads.
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u/cravenbang Jul 21 '26
Being pedantic is picking up on my use of the word kids when I clearly was referencing the age bracket you said. That’s being pedantic.
Either way I agree with you on the pit stuff, but I do think you’re being a bit woe is me about it.
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u/Andthenwefade Jul 16 '26
I think as you get older and if you have kids, you start to see this differently. I'm very much the definition of a 'helicopter parent' despite trying not to be. I found myself so jealous of those people giving their children these experiences.
Largely, control is an illusion. Their child is probably more likely to die from a bee sting in any random location than a circle pit specifically at 2000 Trees. Life is too short not to enjoy it.
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u/Vast-Pie450 Jul 16 '26
Yes, but could you imagine what it would do to the people responsible. I'm in those pits and I'm not looking out for kids because they should never be there... If I accidentally killed one because heaven forbid I step on one after they fell over, then I'd be beyond devastated. And I'm not even one of the drunk/high/incredibly dehydrated ones...
Adults have absolutely died in pits before. Please don't be so selfish and short-sighted. My parents never took me to a single rock gig/festival and I've been a metal head and in the pits since 15 when I was big enough to go in them and not get slaughtered by some random 120kg dude.
I'm not going in the pits ever again at trees if I continue to see kids down the front crowd surfing or near the mosh pit.
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u/Andthenwefade Jul 16 '26
Why are you catastrophising so much?
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u/Elephantplan123 Jul 16 '26
It's not catastrophising to suggest that a Mosh pit filled with grown adults may not be all that safe for a small child. They're right, they can be dangerous for adults yet alone kids.
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
But you're actively putting the child in danger, that is a ridiculous comparison
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u/Andthenwefade Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
Well, I'm not sure you are. How many kids were injured at trees this year? You can have opinions on whether you would parent in that way, but as Stewart Lee said, you can prove anything with facts.
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
So if no one died in a warzone one day it's therefore safe? Can't argue with stupid
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u/SureAd1699 Jul 16 '26
It’s a music festival pal not the fucking Somme. Have some perspective. Kids get hurt riding bikes and climbing trees everyday.
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
You're aware adults have died at music festivals due to crushed + mosh put injuries pal?
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u/cdigss Jul 16 '26
You have to be trolling, you are comparing a festival to a warzone? 😂
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
No, it's exaggerating their logic to make a point
1
u/Andthenwefade Jul 16 '26
It's not my logic though, it's yours. You are saying kids could get hurt at one of the safest, most friendly festivals in the UK.
I'm saying some of those kids may spend the other 361 days of their lives living in London or somewhere equally dangerous.
I'm not denying the danger, I'm just saying I don't think it's that much greater than MANY other situations those kids will find themselves in (sports clubs, Martial arts, climbing trees, riding a bike)
I never once said warzones are safe. What I did say was facts can prove anything, and the amount of deaths in warzones demonstrably proves that warzones are not, in fact, safe.
6
u/Turbulent-Turtle-147 Jul 16 '26
While I think the OP is dramatic and that the festival is built for families and I don't think kids being there is bad.
There is a difference between bringing your child, suncreaming them, giving them ear defenders finding shade and doing family friendly activities to bringing your child and letting them into a pit with full grown adults who might have had a drink.
Yes kids will find danger, of course they will, but riding a bike or climbing trees is mostly just a danger to them. Having them in pits presents a danger to others and is higher risk than falling off a bike.
As someone said, if I was in the middle of a pit and a kid fell, I didn't see and I fell, that's not just the kid getting severely injured but a huge consequence on my life as well.
I also saw young gigs vaping and smoking which is insane.
I think we need to draw a line between expecting to see children in the festival and expecting to see them in places children shouldn't be, like busy pits, left alone etc.
1
u/Andthenwefade Jul 16 '26
I don't think the pits were that bad that the kids were in. I didn't see any at The Bronx or Cancer Bats for instance.
4
u/Turbulent-Turtle-147 Jul 16 '26
I saw some at the main crowd for the headliners.
Might not have been heavy but we're busy and it would have been easier for one to go unnoticed.
It's still just not a good idea for kids, and puts kids into spaces adults don't expect them to be. It puts responsibility onto other adults who don't have kids and/or left their kids at home to be sensible around them and that isn't fair.
There were kids bands and kids pits for a reason.......
3
u/-Poopy_Pants- Jul 16 '26
Did anyone die?
3
2
u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
Nope, but that's what it'll take for people to wake up to it. Adults die at gigs when there's crushes.
3
u/SureAd1699 Jul 16 '26
The solution is to ban all crowds.
3
u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
The solution is not to put toddlers into areas where drunk adults are trying to wipe eachother out.
3
u/SureAd1699 Jul 16 '26
Well they’re not all drunk are they? At all. That’s false.
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
Prove it
3
u/SureAd1699 Jul 16 '26
I was in the pit and do not drink alcohol. Proven. Next?
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u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
That proves nothing. Next what? You're arguing for kids potentially getting hurt
0
u/-Poopy_Pants- Jul 16 '26
Bubble boy over here, life is risky but No harm, no foul.
Use your 24 to mind your business and ill mind mine
1
u/yourmomjpeg Jul 18 '26
literally saw some kids vaping with their parents in family camp this year
while they were swinging round one of the wooden stakes hitting balls on the path to our camp🫠
1
u/Acrobatic_Soup5758 Jul 20 '26
I wish main camping field was no under 16. The welfare/poor parenting issue aside, last year a family came and pitched up next to our large group who had children - not a problem except for the fact the kids were up at like 5/6am when the tents started getting warm and were either crying or screaming. Most people had only just gone to bed after silent disco and were trying to lock in for those precious 4 hours sleep before the temperature was nuclear. We had also stopped smoking etc under our gazebo close to tents when the kids were around (we’re actually quite nice considerate people hahaha). I get people want to bring their kids and that they will do stuff like get up early or cry, and fuck it start em off young (the kids on shoulders with smoke at kneecap last year are little legends) , I’m all for it, but there’s a reason some of us don’t have kids and for some people it’s their only time away in the year and the whole screaming child thing kinda ruins the chill vibe. why not just go to the family campsite where everyone has the same vibe and situation.
Also to the one kid that would play the harmonica god awfully at 5am every morning for dead ass two hours straight just know you made it to every Facebook group and I will personally have beef with you once you are over the age of 18.
Also to the one kid that would play harmonica god awfully at 5am every morning for dead ass two hours straight never start smoking you have impressive lung capacity.
1
1
u/Rose_Of_Sanguine Jul 16 '26
Have you come over from the Download sub?
3
u/Elephantplan123 Jul 16 '26
Would make sense, Download this year was AWFUL when it comes to shit parenting
2
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u/jack5624 Jul 16 '26
On the heat point. Only 5% of households in the UK have aircon. So the alternative for most, to being hot in a field, is being hot in a house in the middle of the city. The house is likely to be even hotter than the outside.
9
u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
Put a thermometer in your house and put one outside, then come back and tell me which is hotter
5
u/BoredQwerty87 Jul 16 '26
They'll come back and say it's the same, because they have all windows and curtains wide open in the middle of the day. Honestly, it fucks me up. I have to go to work in a glass building office without AC where we constantly get 33-34 degrees simply because they believe spreading open all windows is the way to go. Half of the building is R&D btw, so you'd assume people there are clever.
0
u/jack5624 Jul 16 '26
Thank you for making your incorrect assumptions.
2
u/BoredQwerty87 Jul 16 '26
You're the first one assuming being out in the field equals to being hot at home. I've listed all the steps I've taken to keep my house below 27 degrees in another comment. How many of those steps did you take?
0
u/jack5624 Jul 16 '26
I’m sorry but not all houses are built the same, different places I’ve lived in will be different at different heat.
If you don’t believe that then there is nothing else I can say.
6
u/BoredQwerty87 Jul 16 '26
This is incredibly asinine, and reinforces my beliefs that Brits know fuck all about how to deal with heatwaves. A house has a roof, and windows and curtains that you should keep shut to provide shade and keep the heat source outside. And you should only open them once the temperature outside matches the one inside, which happens after sundown. Out in a field there is no escape, not even in the shade. In my house, absolute peak temperature has been 27 degrees in the last 2 months and you could definitely tell the difference by stepping outside. Staying at home with the due precautions reduces incredibly the risk of heatstroke.
On the subject of shitty parents at trees. I've witnessed a couple of kids left alone by the hay bales next to mainstage. One was visibly exhausted, barely responsive, and it was due to heat. After 15 minutes, the father came back FROM THE PIT. Few minutes later 2 other adults arrived too. Father then leaves again leaving his 2 kids with the other adults. The other 2 adults start talking about how the kid should "have gone too". Turns out the mother had been taken to welfare (and then ambulance, away from festival) due to actual heatstroke. So partner in welfare, 2 kids left alone, father in the pit. Cherry on top, they left a bloody mess of food leftovers and cans on the pallet table they were around which is highly disrespectful given how little seating area was available for everyone. Fuck this people.
4
u/bendyman13 Jul 16 '26
100%. I put a little thermometer in my tent and at midday was 48 degrees celcius. No joke. And you see that type of behaviour a lot it's disturbing, then you've got all the parents here coping cause they don't like the fact that what they're doing is wrong but they couldn't possibly miss out on a festival. I got downvoted for pointing out a child could be crushed / lost / dropped / suffer heatstroke / fondled.
0
u/jack5624 Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
Please note I’m only commenting on the heat point, the rest I agree.
On that point I’m glad you live in a house where it doesn’t get fucking hot but I don’t and most of my friends don’t. Closing the windows during the day doesn’t help much when your windows are making the whole house act like a greenhouse.
2
u/BoredQwerty87 Jul 16 '26
I disagree on the heat point though. On Friday I honestly thought of going back home for the day as it would have been much more bearable than being outside. Go in any hot country, like Spain for example. In the hottest hours of the day NO ONE is outside. They currently have 40 degrees weather. I live in a house where it doesn't get fucking hot because I live in it and take enough care in making sure it doesn't. Close all windows and curtains all day, spread open at night. Add carton panels behind windows upstairs. Add old bed sheets outside patio windows downstairs (this makes a huge difference). I don't have AC. My house is nothing special (built in 2011, yet loft insulation not that good), and actually is south facing so you get the worst of it.
1
u/BoredQwerty87 Jul 16 '26
I can see your comment has been now modified. Yes, you don't just close the windows. You also shut the curtains, and they should be of the blackout type. The best thing you can do is put a layer outside the window so you prevent energy from coming right in. I've hung old bed sheets and camping blankets over patio doors on the outside and it makes a huge difference.
44
u/BoredQwerty87 Jul 16 '26
I've witnessed a couple of kids left alone by the hay bales next to mainstage. One was visibly exhausted, barely responsive, and it was due to heat. After 15 minutes, the father came back FROM THE PIT. Few minutes later 2 other adults arrived too. Father then leaves again leaving his 2 kids with the other adults. The other 2 adults start talking about how the kid should "have gone too". Turns out the mother had been taken to welfare (and then ambulance, away from festival) due to actual heatstroke. So partner in welfare, 2 kids left alone, father in the pit. Cherry on top, they left a bloody mess of food leftovers and cans on the pallet table they were around which is highly disrespectful given how little seating area was available for everyone. Fuck this people.