AIBU to feel angry about Notting Hill Carnival behaviour?

[ProudBlackMomma]

Any other London folk mortified by the Notting Hill carnival? Hundreds of arrests, lewd behaviour, vulgarity and litter. It does not represent my culture. It’s an embarrassment.

I come from the carnival area where I still live.

Generally it feels less violent or threatening than in the 80s for example. I think the lewd behaviour just looks stupid to be honest. People get drunk or stoned or both and behave in weird ways.

What does concern me is the possibility of a crush and mass casualty event. My daughter was caught in a crush a couple of years ago and a work colleague was badly shaken after being trapped and nearly trampled. I think it is sheer luck that it hasn’t happened so far.

Yes, do hold onto that to justify your preconceptions. Facts be damned.

I live in the middle of the carnival route. Yes it’s noisy but it’s two days out of the year. Yes it’s messy but it gets cleaned up overnight. Looking out of my window today there is absolutely no trace of the carnival - my road is as clean as it can be given the constant stream of daily visitors and the sun is shining.
There were a few stragglers at about midnight who clearly didn’t want to stop partying but overall other than that it seemed to be pretty good. Dh kept looking out of the window saying he thought it wasn’t as busy this year. We went out for a walk in the morning and it was happy people having fun. On the whole people are good - the very few that spoil it shouldn’t taint carnival. It belongs here.

They bung them in the first aid tent, plus they aren't stabbing anyone.

Plenty of tourists go to NHC. I do think it needs to be converted into a different format now though. Too many attendees, I have friends who live there who move out for the weekend every year and their yards are covered in shit and piss on their return.

I once went to meet a friend for an hour and got stuck there in utter chaos for over 5 hours. It was not enjoyable to be in the area.

There are some smaller events slightly out from the main carnival which are really nice though. Steel drummers, reggae, dancers and similar. Nicely organised.

You’re entitled to your opinion

Plus all that arse jigging.

Not defending criminal behaviour (although I don't agree with current drug policy but that's a seperate thread) however the vast majority of people were having a joyful, friendly, good time. Even the police were enjoying it. I was there. It was beautiful.

Law abiding people don't just turn criminal because of festivals/ football matches. The causes of crime are deep and complex and need tackling without destroying cultural events.

Who told you they feel unsafe?

why would it be moved out of the area when it’s a celebration of the area?

I do think the funds raised at carnival should contribute towards a clean up fee post event though. Much as the whining from non-attendees is just noise I ignore - I think it is fair that residents should not be stuck cleaning up mess.

Oh I take it back - I was not aware of the clean up crews overnight. That’s good to hear!

Yeah that seems reasonable. There's room for sensible discussion about how the impact of large events is best managed.

I just read about the stabbings. Normally I am very laissez faire about risk but that has actually made me think. Not sure I would attend tbh.

Yeah I have been once, and that was enough. Really awful experience. (Went about a decade ago) with my friend, and her daughter (her DD was 14 at the time,) and some of the behaviour from some people was repugnant. Aggressive, shouty, confrontational, people arguing, and shouting at one another and anyone who looked their way. Whole place stunk of cannabis, people were setting fire to things, people were fighting, the works....

Scared all 3 of us, and it took us nearly an hour to get away. The closest tube stations were closed and no-one was allowed in, so we had to walk an hour to find one that was open. (Would be half an hour walk normally, but it was so crowded, and people were packed in like sardine, so we struggled to move at some points.)

At one point we were around 40 people deep in every direction and there was no escape as we were all packed so tightly in. My friend had a panic attack, and said 'gotta get out gotta get out gotta get out!' 😖Several girls around her said 'where the fuck you think you're gonna go, there's 1000s of people packed in together. Get over yourself'

We managed to wriggle through eventually, and got to a side alley, (about 2 minutes walk down it,) but when we got to the other side, it was just as bad. I approached a policeman and asked if he could help as my friend was having a panic attack, and he kindly allowed us to go down a route that had been closed off, and we managed to be free of the huge, tight crowd(s.) Even so, a bit further up the road it was still very busy, but not packed in so we couldn't move.

Still had to walk for an hour from that point to get to an open tube station. Never EVER would I go to the Notting Hill Carnival again. Worst experience ever. I have been to loads of concerts, festivals, carnivals, (including several 'pride' ones,) and outside music parties with 10s of 1000s of people around, and NONE of them were as bad as the Notting Hill Carnival. Nowhere near.

It really needs binning off...

I thought it was much more mellow this year? Incidentally-what’s your culture?

"Obviously it's not as big as Notting Hill" - why is this obvious?

Why would you even think that residents clean up after?! Do you think it’s not organised or something?! The local authorised have carnival down to a t

Yabu two million people attend Carnival, and there were five hundred arrests. Put it into perspective. All festivals have crime, but not all get as much publicity of the crime stats. And we all know why a certain group of people like to focus on the crime stats at Carnival, don't play their game.

You don’t think it’s obvious at Paul’s carnival in Bristol isn’t as big as Nottinghill carnival?

That's a bit different though. People chose to go to Glastonbury festival, it's in it's own area, not on the doorstep of where someone lives/works

It's great fun if you can actually do it 😉.

I mean, women and young girls walk practically naked all day, every day. Asses are hanging out from under school uniforms- in clothes paid for by their parents; but ass jigging is offensive? Kmdt.

even though the arrest rate per person is lower than some smaller festivals, calling it comparable/ or a smear campaign ignores the facts about how much more serious the crimes actually are.

She doesn’t seem to want to say.

You again.

I have been to Carnival but not for over 25 years. Middle class white people like me tend not to go in our 60s.
Which unlike some of the 'tedious suburban matrons' (TM from another thread) of MN I am open minded, have a sense of perspective, understand that others have different entertainment tastes etc.
Due to work connections I actually went out with one of the Mas bands for about 4 years - it was such fun, and a privilege.
About the 'it doesn't bring people together' - well the band I went with was very inclusive. While the design of carnival costumes and the music is Trinidadian-led the bands tend to be a mix of different Caribbean and black British communities - and welcoming of white band members. Certainly in my experience.
It felt safe - but then of everyone at Carnival the band members get some space and the road cleared.
I have 2 good friends / connections in Notting Hill, with homes on the route. One lot invite loads of friends round for a carnival party and watch from the windows having a great time , the others board up their gate and go to their second home in Montpellier for the weekend. And shrug rather than moan.
I enjoyed the happy crowds on public transport last night as I did when we had excited teens in pink cowboy hats making noise on crowded trains during the Taylor Swift concerts - it's part of London - a huge range of events and communities and interests.