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

[musemusemuse]

to not understand the appeal of music festivals.

I hear that music festivals like Leeds are a right of passage for teenagers, I never went to one as a young teen myself and I don’t remember any of my friends going either. Is this a right of passage, did I miss out? Or AIBU to think they are not really a right of passage.

I went in the 90s and it put me off for life. Absolutely hated the toilet/ sleeping/ showering situation that goes with staying in a tent. Also got totally sick of being around people non stop for an entire weekend. But I’m quite an anti social soul.

at least I’m not a troll

HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh! haha!
No I left school before Leeds started.

I can assure you my state comp. was no finishing school. Ended at 16 and I was working full time at 16 too.

Aren't you dear?

YABU. It might not be your experience but it's a perfectly reasonable thing for teens to enjoy. For context 1 of mine did, the other wasn't bothered. I love festivals. It's bateshit to dismiss because you're not interested.

I never went myself. There was only one festival in Ireland that I could have gone to (Féile - the trip to Tipp) but I was an impoverished student and couldn't afford it. Only one of my friends went to it. Music festivals weren't so much of a thing back then.

Electric Picnic is all the rage now and most young people I know are there this weekend. DD and her friends have all gone, as has my nephew and his girlfriend. God love them, it has rained solidly the entire weekend. I'm delighted they're making the most of the opportunities and I'm sure in the years ahead (when they're tied down with kids or busy with their careers), they'll relish the memories and the photos.

They did have some gear stolen one year. I think there were a lot of reports of thefts that year. But it didn't stop them from going back the following year.

I was chatting to a young girl in the supermarket and I mentioned it and she said she wouldn't be into camping or getting wet or going without showers etc. So clearly it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Really?

I’m not dismissing festivals at all. I just can’t see how they can be a rite of passage, although some posters have kindly explained some reasoning to me.

Are you the magaluf poster?

This seems a strange thread. Surely if your kids loves live music they will want to go to a festival, if that’s not their thing then they’ll pass.
I guess there will be some who just see Reading etc on SM but don’t get what the experience will be like. It certainly seems the case that some young people don’t really get it, if you look at Tik Tok!

My 16 year old is there. She’s camped loads before, we have been to festivals and we go to gigs a lot. Shes taken some alcohol but obviously can’t drink in the actual arena. Shes hopefully wouldn’t take drugs; we have had many conversations about that and I hope I have equipped her with the wherewithal to refuse and be on her guard.
She absolutely loves live music, doesn’t give a monkeys about being wet and cold and listened to me about taking waterproofs and how to stay warm. No issues with makeup and hair; she couldn’t care less! She’s having the absolute time of her life and has seen so many of her favourite artists.
Watching SM it is definitely not the festival experience I’d want! My eldest feels too old to go at 24 but loved it in Y11 and 12. Live and let live I think- can’t wait to see her tomorrow!

This post has given me a flashback to Reading ‘97. My mum wouldn’t let me in the house until I’d stripped off and left the clothes I’d been in for 5 days in the greenhouse. Good times.

what? No.

Do you not understand that the concept of a ‘rite of passage’ is entirely subjective?

‘Rite of passage’ is merely a turn of phrase. It’s not an official designation. Something can be a rite of passage for one person but not for another.

Why does this matter to you? Are you trying to prevent your teenager from going to one because you’re over-protective?

I think festivals for young people can absolutely be a rite of passage. Usually it's the first holiday they arrange themselves with their mates. Some will do festivals, some will book a holiday overseas with their mates. It's the fact they are making arrangements themselves (even if their parents drop them off and pick them up) thats the passage. When you change from other people deciding and arranging your holidays and then you start doing it for yourself.

It's considered as a rite of passage because it's generally the first time kids are without their parents, they enjoy freedom, fun and consequences of their decisions, with other kids.
After that, for some of them it'll be college / uni, and a foot into early adulthood.
For some, it's music festival, for others it might be first ski trip, spring break, or a trip to South America during a gap year.

Kids are leaving childhood to get into adulthood, simple as that.

I don’t have a teenager.

If not your bag, then fine. My friends and I were big into the live music scene and would go to gigs most weekend so Leeds and Glasto was really good fun.

Thanks, that makes a bit more sense.

I think in recent years (and by recent I mean around 30-40 years ago) they're fairly a middle class thing. Not exclusively obviously because there'll be tons of posters now trying to be the exception to the rule, but when you read on this site of things like this being a rite of possage, its because kids in those MC families tend to have the money or time for it, when some will be needing to work or just wont have parents who can afford it or facilitate it.

I have been to tonnes of concerts in my life starting as a teen but never ever wanted the hassle of a festival. I’m not a happy camper and it just looks cold, wet and miserable. Never felt I missed out honestly!

My teen has no interest. Finds festivals stressful. I wonder how much is parental pressure to ‘do the festival’ particularly mums who wish they were there.

This maybe why i don’t get it.
I was working full time at 16. I was confused how a festival at that age or older can be a rite of passage.

I think 25 plus is the perfect age for a girl to go to a festival. Not just turned 16.