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

Obviously if you wouldn't enjoy it anyway it isn't?? Don't think you can decide for others. You don't "send" 17+ adults to anything.

Festivals are viewed as a rite of passage, depending on where you live.

I did Reading (before it added Leeds as a venue) post GCSEs in 1997.

I wasn't massively enjoyong it.. I'm not a great camper anyway but sleep was impossible, thefts were rife and by the last night it was unsafe in camping areas and a lot of people stayed awake to keep safe. As transport was a rickety old coach from Reading to Manchester we couldn't leave early.

I think generslly behaviour at festivals is worsening, there seem to be large reports of sexual assualts, thefts etc.
I dont get the feeling of them being a safe envirobmemt for females, younger people or those not in large groups where there is safety in numbers. I think the rite of passage of fun, freedom fron study, parents etc is outweighed by other risks.

My dc went camping with friends after exams and loved just hanging out, swimming and relaxing with friends.

Mine aren’t that age yet so it’s hard to say. I’d be nervous I think but depends on how sensible a 16yr old she is. Would she be camping? I think a day visit would be worth considering, if you think she and her friends are fairly sensible.

Loads of DSs friends went after their GCSEs and most of my friends current teens have also gone after finishing GCSEs or A-Levels. Thankfully DS wasn’t interested. I’d have been a nervous wreck with him there all weekend.

Rite of passage seems like a decent way to describe it, told DS's friend not to take anything he cared about and expect to come back wearing various other peoples urine.

Does it matter?

Depends who your friends are and what kind of music you’re into. My dc have both been (Ds17 is at Leeds right now) and I went to loads, but later when I was at uni - it certainly wasn’t a thing after GCSEs when I was that age - I don’t remember anyone going and my mum definitely wouldn’t have let me. Dh didn’t go to any but he was a raver and in our day festivals were solely bands.

Being in a crowd, listening to shitty music far from the scene. Experiencing bad weather, mud, mosquitobites while smelling foul odours from other teens. Peeing and pooing outside, walking in other people's pee, poo and vomit. Hardly sleep because of cold and noise. Drinking beer and eating shit. Try drugs. Getting hit on by various drunk punks.
I had friends who did this when younger and they told me all the above and yet they were decided to go year after year. You would have had to pay me to go to something like that but then I have always liked being comfortable 😊

Concerts I’d say yes but festivals I’d see as an older thing-20s on

It wasn’t for me. I used to go to gigs when I was a teenager but I was never interested in going and getting mucky and taking drugs for three days. Never wanted to camp so I wouldn’t have done it at a festival.

Of course they are. Virtually all the kids ending y11 around here go to Reading or Leeds. They are the gateway festival drugs for all the other ones.

They were for me and the people I know, I was born in the mid 90s. It was probably the first taste of independence for us, to stay away from home with our friends. I was 16 when I first went to Leeds festival but went to other local ones first.

My son drinks alcohol but not at gigs. It means you are more likely to need the loo and as a result lose your spot! I am the same.

I expect most people who do drink will do so at a festival as it spans a longer period. That said sitting about in the sun with or without a few beers, with friends, listening to live music is a very lovely thing. It doesn't have to involve getting drunk and I don't think non drinkers enjoy the experience any less. I have attended both while pregnant (so not drinking) and still had a great time.

I went to Reading 7 years in a row from aged 18 and it was some of the most fun weekends of my life. I'll encourage my kids to go.

This must depend where you live because I don't know any of my son's cohort who went to Leeds or Reading. A few went to Y Not which is closer but by no means is it the majority.

Sounds like some of you have never actually been to a festival! They are actually great fun you know!

If you’re into music, it’s a rite of passage - I went to Reading after A levels (back in the 80s when it was good and not full of idiots). DS and his friends are all looking forward to going to Bloodstock. I’ve played in bands since I was 13, DP and DS are also in bands. Music, both playing it and listening to it are huge parts of our lives.

My DD is currently at Reading with loads of others from her year group. For them it feels like a rite of passage - that's how it was sold to me anyway! She's having a great time.

I didn't start going to festivals until I was in my 20s. I loathe camping, but I went to Reading for one day every year for a decade - just bought a wristband from someone outside who'd got wasted and was leaving early. I used to go in, buy MDMA, listen to the music, dance and have fun, then toddle off home and tuck myself into bed. Didn't drink of a drop of booze! 😉