# The mosh pit is for moshing **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 25, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769 "2003-09-25T15:45:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![7\_up\_yours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/919ad9/32.png) [@7\_up\_yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7_up_yours)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/1 "2003-09-25T15:45:13Z")
So, I finally got to see my favourite band last night. My friend drove four hours there and four hours back, but it was worth it. The only unfortunate thing was that it was an all ages show. That meant thirteen year old girls who don’t know what going to a rock concert is about. It’s not like there weren’t seated sections available. But no, these thirteen year old girls who don’t know the first thing about rocking out at a concert decided to buy floor so they could be closer to “their band” [insert high pitched squeal]. So, the band starts playing, people start rocking, people in the back are wedging their way in. I don’t like it so I start pushing back, then the people from my side push, and whoo hoo, the moshing has started!! Moshing at a concert is the best part of it. Unfortunately the girl standing next to me didn’t understand what it was and kept looking at me and saying “What the hell?!?!” Pffff. As if I was going to pay attention to her. Then, when it got a little rougher, she said to me “Can you please stop pushing.” But by this point, it’s not just ME who’s pushing, it’s everyone and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it but enjoy it. Now, moshing isn’t for everyone, just the ones who can stand it. But next time, you fucking thirteen year old teeny bopper, if you don’t want to mosh, buy a fucking seated ticket. P.S. Best. Concert. Ever ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/2 "2003-09-25T15:57:28Z")
“Best. Concert. Ever.”, and you don’t even supply a BAND NAME !? I hope the little carpet-creep stepped on your toes. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/3 "2003-09-25T16:20:43Z")
I support your right to mutually frotter sweaty strangers with questionable personal hygiene. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/4 "2003-09-25T16:37:20Z")
Yeah, those Andy Williams gigs can get pretty rough, can’t they. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/5 "2003-09-25T16:52:35Z")
I would agree with you if I KNEW WHAT BAND IT WAS…sorry. Assuming it was somewhat of a hardcore band, I think moshing is assumed. My only disagreement is with people who try to mosh at ANY concert, or try to start moshing 100 ft from the stage. That’s just plain weird. So did she play “Whoops I did it again?” ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/6 "2003-09-25T16:54:54Z")
Now that people are moshing to Avril Lavigne and the like, I’ve lost respect for it. It’s obviously not for the hard core or punks anymore. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/7 "2003-09-25T16:57:24Z")
I think it all really depends. There is an almost ritual organization to most shows. I’ll lay down the rules for small to medium shows… Most shows involve some moshing. For shows where people might want to dance, it is inappropriate to most heavily (like where you are actively hurting each other) or for the mosh pit to take up more space than the number of people interested in moshing warrant. The first three or so rows of people are there to see the frickin’ band, and should be left alone by the moshers. If your moshing in the front, your wasteing space for people who want to pay attention to the band, not the 300lb guy whos about to slam into them. Around three rows back the pit starts. The pit should be well defined, and take up the central part of the venue. People around the pit should realize that they will be hit, and be stand sturdily for that eventuality. If you are a sturdy person, it is very gracious to try to shield less sturdy people around you from an errant hurtling humans. However that does NOT mean it’s okay to hurl yourself at anyone outside of the pit at full force, even if they are ringing the pit. It is NOT okay to throw anyone into the pit. Even if they are danceing or moving vigourously. The pit is strictly volentary and I will get PISSED OFF at anyone who trys to hurt people who are obviously not up to that. Likewise, if someone obviously weighs half of what you weight, you need to notice that and respect that. If you way less than 120 or so pounds, it is appropriate to double up when going into the pit. If you weigh more, it’s not. I’m built like a small skinny bird, and although I’ve been holding my own at shows since I was fourteen, I WILL get hurt easier and more severely than most of the people involved in mosh pits. That means I hang out to the right or left of the pit, hopefully with someone large buffering me. I did pay money to see this show, and I do want to bounce around quite a bit, so I’m not going to be okay standing in back with the head-nodders. Usually it works out fine. But every once in a while there is some DRUNK FUCK who insists on throwing himself full force at me, which could easily crack a rib. Or else there is some DRUNK BASTARD that thinks it’s cute to throw me into the pit, or try to turn a portion of the venue that is happily danceing away into more pit. And that is so not cool for words. There is a difference between having fun and letting go a bit, and actively trying to hurt little girls half your size. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/8 "2003-09-25T17:00:08Z")
It’s dumb, you paid money to see a show and all you did was run around and bounce off sweaty, angry dudes, then how was the show? You don’t know for sure cause you weren’t watching. Admit it. Oh it sounded great but I tripped and landed in that dude’s armpit. Make it stop. Moshing is dumb, always has been. I’m a bit older and it seems there was almost ALWAYS someone in every pit with something to prove. A field day for meatheads. It wasn’t truly about respect, that was only if you’re friends and maybe some decent people were there. It was about SELF gratification, about making a spectacle of yourself in spite of the show, about ATTENTION SEEKING BEHAVIOR. Oh, and repressed sexual tendencies. ---
**Author:** ![EVO95](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@EVO95](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EVO95)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/9 "2003-09-25T17:00:55Z")
_sigh_ I miss slam dancing. ---
**Author:** ![7\_up\_yours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/919ad9/32.png) [@7\_up\_yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7_up_yours)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/10 "2003-09-25T17:02:33Z")
Okay okay… clearing the band thing up. It was treble charger with Sum 41. I don’t care for Sum 41, but was there for treble charger, which not everyone was into because they’re old(er) and the teeny boppers were there for the younger Sum 41. _sigh_ Anyway, they’re (treble charger) isn’t the poppy punk pop that we know of Avril Lavigne. IMO, treble charger is one of the best rock bands out there today. ---
**Author:** ![carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrot)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/11 "2003-09-25T17:19:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Indygrrl \* > **It’s dumb, you paid money to see a show and all you did was run around and bounce off sweaty, angry dudes, then how was the show? You don’t know for sure cause you weren’t watching. Admit it.** I disagree. Some of the best times I’ve had at shows were when I was in the pit. I sure didn’t want to pay a bunch of money to stand around and watch. If I’d wanted that, I could have stayed home and watched music videos. > [@](#): > > \*\*Moshing is dumb, always has been. \*\* You’re entitled to your opinion of course, but I disagree. I **like** pits, and the dynamic is something that I’ve seen nowhere else. That said, this: > [@](#): > > A field day for meatheads. seems to be getting more and more true. I grow discouraged as I watch the pits at the shows I go to now and see idiots who are there to fight. > [@](#): > > \*\*It was about SELF gratification, about making a spectacle of yourself in spite of the show, about ATTENTION SEEKING BEHAVIOR. Oh, and repressed sexual tendencies. \*\* Now you’re just being bitter. You are of course, free to not participate in the pit, but insulting the ‘repressed sexual tendencies’ of those who do? Please. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/12 "2003-09-25T17:32:00Z")
Ah, the sexual tendencies thing was a joke. Personally, I don’t care who moshes and who doesn’t because I don’t find myself at shows such as Sum 21, or whateverthelatestcrapassbandis. I’ve just been to a lot of shows in the past where I had to fend off idiots jumping around in order to see the band. It’s not like I don’t move to the music, but it’s ridiculous when you can’t get close to the stage without getting pummelled by some sweaty behemoth. I go to shows for the MUSIC, which, I realize, is not everyone’s motivation for going. Whateva. ---
**Author:** ![7\_up\_yours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/919ad9/32.png) [@7\_up\_yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7_up_yours)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/13 "2003-09-25T17:48:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Indygrrl \* > **I don’t find myself at shows such as Sum 21, or whateverthelatestcrapassbandis.** Pssst… treble charger, not Sum 41. Anyway, I think I did mention that there was seated tickets available. So if you WERE to be there just for the music, you could purchase one of those and not have to put up with the “idiotic moshing”. I realise not ALL shows are set up like this, but a good majority of them are. Also, if it was for the music and ONLY the music, there’s no problem with standing in the back eh. Btw, I don’t go just for the music. I go for the whole event. The atmosphere, the throbbing of the speakers when you’re standing next to it, running out as soon as the band leaves so you can hopefully catch them backstage, and yelling at your friends because you’ve become deaf from standing next to the speakers. It’s the whole package deal for me. And… > [@](#): > > they’re (treble charger) isn’t :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: Still too early for me eh. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/14 "2003-09-25T17:49:37Z")
I’ve also noticed the tendency of bands to mosh at near anything…I considered it pure luck that no one moshed at the latest Dashboard Confessional show! (They moshed during all 3 opening acts, and the Carrabba groupies were threatening a riot before Dashboard came on if anyone moshed, which may have influenced things.) What’s worse is the tendency to mosh _between acts_.:eek: Two concerts before that, it was Something Corporate (about where I’d draw the line on mosh-appropriate bands,) and several young, drunk fools saw fit to slam themselves into their neighbors during and between acts. What’s more, they weren’t organized and did it all over the floor. At least at Dashboard, they were restricting their activity to the center of the floor (probably to avoid security as much as anything else. I think the combination of 9/11 and Great White made places crack down more.) Now, on the other hand, I don’t think even show security will be able to stop the floor from moshing when I see the Dropkick Murphys in 2 weeks. I plan on purchasing thick goggles…the rest of me can heal 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrot)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/15 "2003-09-25T18:26:59Z")
Ah, the Murphys. Actually, the last time I saw them (and no, this is not related, really), I saw a guy get nailed in the head with a thrown Budweiser bottle. And not just thrown, either. Somebody _whipped_ it, end over end, out of the pit (it looked like back over their shoulder), and it hit a guy about 10 feet away from me in the temple. Other than the cut, which I hope he got stitches for, he was okay, but it was still pretty scary. ---
**Author:** ![Brad\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8dc957/32.png) [@Brad\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brad_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/16 "2003-09-25T19:01:50Z")
Um, no offense dude, but its Sum 41, they are a pop band. I love Sum 41, but you gotta realize, there are gonna be little girls there to see them and get the whole “punk” experience. If you want a real pit, go to a real show. The Pop-punk bands are more Pop than punk. I’m not coming down on you for going to see them, I want to see them when they come around too, but just like the little TRL fans need to know what to expect, you need to too. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/17 "2003-09-25T20:12:06Z")
Worst pit I’ve ever been in was at a Jane’s Addiction show. I am not a small girl, but I was getting thrown around like a ragdoll. I saw 250 lb guys laying on the floor while people obliviously stomped on their heads. My roommate at the time went with me, and she _was_ a small girl. She ended up getting pulled out unconscious by a kind-hearted mosher. The main problem was that, like **even sven** pointed out, no one was respecting the boundries. People all the way at the back of the club were pushing forward, pushing forward. People in the front could only go so far before they were on top of each other. It really made me understand how people get crushed to death at some shows. As it was, JA ended up cutting the concert short (only 45 min. and no encore :mad:) because so many people were getting seriously hurt. I love the band, and I dug the show but it was scary–which made me mad because it didn’t have to be. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/18 "2003-09-25T20:13:36Z")
The White Zone is for loading and unloading… ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/19 "2003-09-25T20:16:52Z")
damn you, :)! Damn you all to hell! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_the\_CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_the\_CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_the_CC)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/20 "2003-09-25T20:17:37Z")
Heh, I think non-moshers (like myself) would accept it if it was done on rhythm. As it is now, moshing really has nothing to do with music. That’s my problem with it anyway. But it should be noted the only shows where I’ve been around moshing were both Warped Tour shows and the moshing was prevelant enough to, during several performances, push me irratatingly farther from the stage in an effort to avoid the pointless (to me, but obviously not pointless to the moshers) activity. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769.md?page=2)