AIBU to not see music festivals as a teenage rite of passage?

What do you understand the phrase 'rite of passage' to mean? I ask because I'm not seeing why this is confusing.

A rite of passage is typically defined as an event that marks a transition from one stage of life to another. Surely it's pretty obvious why lots of people would view a teenager's first trip away without parental/adult supervision (and, in many cases, the end of compulsory schooling post-GCSE and a move into further education or employment) as that type of transitional event. Teenagers are generally also rather keen on popular music (and have been for around 70 years, since the 'invention' of rock & roll in the 1950s).

So for many people a non-parentally-supervised trip to a music festival post GCSEs is regarded as a celebratory, transitional event between one stage of a teenager's life and another ~ i.e. 'a rite of passage'. What's confusing about that? It might not be something that you'd be interested in or that has featured much in your personal experience of the world, but it's surely not difficult to understand that lots of people have experiences/viewpoints that differ from yours?

Op… do you have kids?
how old are you?

I doubt you’ll answer either

Can you still get free tickets of you volunteer? Me and my friends went to one when we were younger where we got free weekend tickets in return for 4h litter picking each day.

I’m old enough to have been to the first Isle of Wight festival, as a young teen, with a group of mates😳

I had a great time, with no problems, but I wouldn’t say it was a rite of passage - my kids never went to any. Neither have my grandchildren. Their choice though.

Surely festivals the absolute opposite of responsibility! That’s kind of the whole point! I suppose you bear the consequences of your decisions. Mum says take the camping chair you don’t you can’t sit with your mates in the day etc.

Do you have kids? Teens? @musemusemuse ?

Do a lot of things in life confuse you @musemusemuse ?

Well no, I’ve heard many people say that the festivals are a learning experience that kids should do, as though it’s a way to experience responsibility.
Can't say I'd understand that POV either but I've never heard anyone claim anything similar (and I've read many a festival thread on here, and was a festival-going teen).

I think you're arguing against a proposition that hardly anyone would agree in the first place.

Ahh yeh meant to say reading!

I’ve never wanted to go to one. DS went to Leeds and left early as stupid lads were throwing deodrant cans onto fires and he said it felt dangerous.

Me and my DH have been to two in our entire life’s, can’t say they are something I enjoyed even in my 20s and my DS who are 22 & 19 have never been to one. So I guess not everyone is that fussed? I can’t think of any of their friends that go and the general impression I get is that the try hard types go so they can chat about refining etc. It’s just another each to their own event.

Such an odd thread. Why the festival hate? Both mine are at Reading having an absolute blast. They both paid for their own tickets via their Saturday jobs. They better flipping bring my quite decent tent back!

If you don't live near or on a good public transport route surely at 16 parents must have to take them there and collect them, often many miles, which would probably stop many going.

They are for some - usually those who live near one! And not for others!
I’ e heard this at lot this weekend as many friends teens went to Reading, I also know many who didn’t including my own.
They cost a lot of money. A LOT.
Tickets, transport, camping gear, food, drinks etc so there are literally 100s of thousands of teens more not going than going.

I think this thread accounts for more than half the times I have read the phrase "rite of passage" in my life and I can still barely work out what the point of the thread is.

I doubt anyone means the below type comment in the literal sense...

"Is little DD16 too young to go to Reading?"
"No, its basically a rite of passage!"

It's a simple turn of phrase to indicate its very common.

Thats every festival sadly. It’s the same people who leave their drinks and food all over the place at concerts and the cinema. I live by the sea and the state of the beaches at the end of the day is unbelievable- some people are vile.
I’ve taught my kids some basic values about cleaning up after themselves and being respectful. After Harry Styles both my daughters collected other people’s crap on the way out, to help the cleaners, they do the same after a film.

All you can do is hope you’ve instilled decent values and, in terms of festivals etc, talked to them seriously about drugs and personal safety. There are so many under 18s at Reading and they cannot get served alcohol- no one’s walking an hour back to the tent to get any drink they’ve been able to smuggle in. It’s 4 days- they can’t have hauled that much booze in inside their rucksacks.
My daughter has had the time of her life, just as her sister did. If it’s not for you, you won’t go and hopefully if you do, you’ll be picking up your own shit and following basic manners!

My girls have been a total of 7 times to Leeds festival between them. Most of their friends have been. I would consider it a rite of passage.