# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/21 "2003-09-25T20:21:45Z")
I remember when I went to go see Pantera at the Bronco Bowl in Dallas. They were touring for the album Vulgar Display of Power. That was, without a doubt the best concert I had ever been to. I think it had to do with them coming home to Dallas, and wanting to put on a good show for the home town crowd. The pit was awsome. It wasn’t brutal like some pits I’ve been in, and if someone fell, they were usually helped back up. I have been in pits where I was actually scared, and had to back out (I’m 6’2" and weigh in at 220). I think that a good pit can add a lot to the show for the pit participants. But going to a show like that, you have to realize that there will be a pit, and it may be in your best interests to plan your location ahead of time. There have been several times when I have had to help someone out of the pit, or help keep the crowd off of someone who just chose a bad location to watch the show. ---
**Author:** ![BethCro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@BethCro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BethCro)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/22 "2003-09-25T20:21:46Z")
So \*\* 7 up\*\*, did you have to lie to the parents to get to the concert, or did y’all work it out??? Glad you had a good time! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/23 "2003-09-25T20:43:28Z")
I pretty much go with **even sven** ’s take on moshing. I like some surging and pogoing and general dancing around, but i have no time for people who flail their fists and boots in a deliberate attempt to hurt others. Such people tend to be bullies and cowards who focus most of their energies on smaller people who aren’t even in the mosh pit. In the last couple of months, i’ve been to see a couple of great punk bands, and for the most part the moshing was energetic but in control. This may have had something to do with the fact that many of these bands’ fans are, ahem, getting older. The first band was LA punk group “X,” and the crowd was actually very tame, with little more than regular dancing going on. The other band was “The Buzzcocks,” from England. During one of the back-up groups, a few idiots started flailing around and trying to hit people, but once the Buzzocks came on, everyone pushed to the front and there wasn’t really enough room to wiindmill. One guy tried to do some stage diving, but after the first time the lead singer of the band kept pushing him back whenever he tried to get on stage. There was plenty of pogoing, and some big surges, but nothing too difficult to handle. I don’t know anything aobut the bands mentioned in the OP. But if there’s likely to be any serious moshing, then 13 year olds should probably stay out of the way. OTOH, if it’s really not a mosh-friendly band, and if most of the fans are kids, then i see no point in moshing just because you can. ---
**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, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/24 "2003-09-25T20:46:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by belladonna \* > \*\*Worst pit I’ve ever been in was at a Jane’s Addiction show. \*\* Wtf? See, that’s what I’m talking about. JA is not even really heavy music. What’s to mosh to? Those kids were just doing it to be doing it. It had nothing to do with the music. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/25 "2003-09-25T20:46:57Z")
I’ve never liked mosh pits and try stay out of them when they get too rough for me, which is fairly early on. Of course I haven’t been to a concert where there was moshing in a long time 😛 Last one was when Everclear came through and I was fairly near the middle until they came on, then it got way too rough for me especially when a surfer came by a clipped me in the head with their foot. I wear glasses I didn’t need to lose them! I got out pretty quick after that. The next day I even found out someone got a broken leg! That one they didn’t have set seating instead they had the whole place open, the back was a beer garden (for the adults) and the sides were stacked seating. You could find a place to sit or you could mosh near the stage or whichever you wanted. I like going to concerts like Great Big Sea where people dance but it doesn’t get too rough. Of course every GBS concert I’ve been to (usually at the stadiums) they have limited floor seats and they keep the _whole_ floor open so you can be right in the middle or stick to the edges and there is still plenty of space for people. Glad to know the concert was worth it for you! 🙂 ---
**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, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/26 "2003-09-25T20:51:02Z")
Again, EVERCLEAR??? How do you mosh to pop music? I…just…don’t…get…it… ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/27 "2003-09-25T20:56:06Z")
lol… I don’t know… believe me I don’t know. I was confused about that myself as I was just there for the music and to dance a little. ---
**Author:** ![bloodytoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@bloodytoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bloodytoe)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/28 "2003-09-25T21:43:20Z")
I was at a Weird Al show once and people were moshing… Rev Bloodytoe ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/29 "2003-09-25T22:27:27Z")
Indygrrl, nothing worse than being exclusionary about who you can or can’t mosh too. Best pit i was ever in was at a Moby gig. He was playing support for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. played loads of metal (live, with full band, off his Animal Rights album), got the crowd really going, then said he “had to do some dance stuff”, Launched into “Feeling So Real” and the crowd wend fucking ballistic. Was completely mental. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/30 "2003-09-25T22:35:39Z")
Great Big Sea is THE BEST. I had to say it. I just saw them Sunday night and they were FABULOUS! Um…I’d avoid a mosh pit at all costs, myself. Eek. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/31 "2003-09-25T22:52:02Z")
whiterabbit you were lucky… they had to cancel the last of their tour because the opening band cut out. But yeah I love going to see Great Big Sea… [whine]But why do I always end up in the section where no one ever dances?! I really need to get floor seats next time…[/whine] I saw them last time they came through… a year ago on the 5th. Always a fun gig.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/32 "2003-09-25T22:56:47Z")
I think it’s hilarious to watch people are going wild and trying to circle pit to some poppy band. I was at this show with a few bands that had a more hardcore sound and one that was comparatively light–I would have understood hardcore dancing to a couple of them but flailing around during the far less heavy music of Coheed and Cambria just makes you look like a big ol’ stupid-head. It’s just looks so… inappropriate. I know you’re excited, but Jesus. I usually stand on the outskirts of the mosh pits since I’m terrified of getting trampled, what with being 5’ 3" and all. In the proud tradition of Sid Vicious, I pogo dance simply because I can’t see anything otherwise. At the last concert I went to, though, there was some dickstain near me, attempting to play human pinball with everyone around. Don’t be that guy. Sure, you inevitably run into people in mosh pits, but you don’t have to _try_ to knock people over. Ass. Not terribly germane to the OP, but my pet peeve. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/33 "2003-09-25T23:01:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Indygrrl \* > \*\*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. \*\* I’ve never had respect for it since I found out people were moshing to “Glycerine” at a Bush concert in '95. ---
**Author:** ![Quack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e99b99/32.png) [@Quack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quack)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/34 "2003-09-25T23:54:10Z")
Call me crazy, but when I go to shows, I like to be on the pit rim. You get all the energy and contact of the pit, but you aren’t flinging yourself around with some big drunk jerk. I’ve been personally thanked by a few people for taking hits on the rim that they would have taken if I wasn’t there. It’s not some perverse sense of chivalry, it’s just courteous. I’m also the kind of guy who just likes to chill out in the back and watch the band, too, so I think going to a show like that contains two real experiences: hearing the music you came to hear and enjoying the energy and loudness and people. As for the OP, I agree. If you can’t handle the pit, jump out. Quickly. At most of the shows I’ve been to, the moshers are courteous and will help people up so as to avoid trampling. Some bands will stop playing, too, if they see someone go down and ask people to help them up. That’s a great sense of responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/35 "2003-09-26T01:02:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tars Tarkas \* > \*\*The White Zone is for loading and unloading… \*\* The red zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only, there is no stopping in the white zone. ---
**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 26, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/36 "2003-09-26T01:19:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Um, no offense dude, but its Sum 41, they are a pop band. > \ > 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. Once again, I want to say that I didn’t go for Sum 41!! I went for treble charger!!! Sum 41 being there was just… “oh hey, Sum 41… okay then, I guess I’ll stay for it.” > [@](#): > > So 7 up, did you have to lie to the parents to get to the concert, or did y’all work it out??? Glad you had a good time! To follow up on that… I decided that telling them that I was doing a project was too far fetched, so I told them the morning while my friend was driving that I was going to sleep over at her house that night. My mother grunted, said okay, and that was the end of that. She didn’t know I was going out of town, or for a concert. Just thought I was at a friend’s house. Worked perfectly. Next time, I think I’ll do the same thing 😉 > [@](#): > > Wtf? See, that’s what I’m talking about. JA is not even really heavy music. What’s to mosh to? > > Those kids were just doing it to be doing it. It had nothing to do with the music. So…? What’s wrong with moshing for the fun of it? It doesn’t matter what you think is hard enough to mosh to. What matters is that the people at the show thought it was hard enough to mosh to and did it and had fun. \*\* Indygrrl\*\*, I know I’m a bit behind on this, and I wouldn’t mention it if it wasn’t for my friend who strolled up behind me and started reading over my sholder on this thread, but now that he has, it’s bugging me more and more that I want to say something. > [@](#): > > I don’t find myself at shows such as Sum 21, or whateverthelatestcrapassbandis. For a community dedicated to fighting ignorance, I don’t think you’re doing very well here. To show that you think Sum 41 is a crappy band and you don’t care about them by misspelling their name is… well disgustingly annoying. Sum 41 had been mentioned three times yet you DILIBERATELY misspell their name? Hardly fighting ignorance, now is it? > [@](#): > > Sure, you inevitably run into people in mosh pits, but you don’t have to try to knock people over. Not sure if I really have to defend my position here, but the moshing started when people who came in after a while started trying to push their way into the front. Obviously, people in the front want to stay in the front, so when I get pushed and shoved around, it’s only my defense mechanism kicking in when I push and shove back. > [@](#): > > As for the OP, I agree. If you can’t handle the pit, jump out. Quickly. At most of the shows I’ve been to, the moshers are courteous and will help people up so as to avoid trampling. Some bands will stop playing, too, if they see someone go down and ask people to help them up. That’s a great sense of responsibility. Of course. That’s what security guys are for. Plus, when the crowd surfing started, a couple of people were on the verge of falling, but a whole bunch of us would make a quick grab for the person if we saw that happening. Plus, in my case, Sum 41 did say something about looking out for the fellow concert goers. Us, moshers aren’t total animals, we just enjoy some roughing up. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/37 "2003-09-26T02:58:32Z")
Some of the most fun I’ve had was in a Pit at one of the Lollapalooza tours during the Ramones’ sset. Plenty of good-natured running into people and yea, I got the shit knocked out of me (knocked to the ground ass-over-teakettle), but it wasn’t violent and I was helped back up by the guy who knocked me down. When the pit is good, it’s really good. ---
**Author:** ![Elysian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@Elysian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/38 "2003-09-26T03:23:38Z")
When I was sixteen and went to see NIN, I was way up in the front (could see up Trent’s nose) and it was pretty awesome. It was crowded, yeah, but there weren’t any mosh pits yet and there wasn’t any shoving. Well, the guy next to me pushed me, and when I said “Stop it,” he elbowed me in the ribs, hard. Now, realize that he was the only person doing this. It wasn’t because people behind him were pushing – it’s because he was trying to start a mosh pit and decided to start hitting me, a little sixteen-year-old girl. I hit him back and yelled at him again, loud enough everyone around me could hear it. Now, get this – even though the guy was assaulting me, he thought it was “okay” because I should have “realized” that this kind of music foisted that sort of behavior, and I shouldn’t have even gone to see the show if I didn’t want to get hurt. I am paraphrasing his next comments, btw. WTF??? Come on, I don’t even know how much money I spent to get in to the concert. It’s not even like I voluntarily jumped into a pit, either – I was just standing there. What kind of moron thinks that just because you like NIN you are open to all kinds of physical abuse? It’s the SAME THING as being raped because you’re wearing a short skirt and then being blamed for it! Thankfully people around me heard me and stepped in, because I seriously think his next move would have been to backhand me or something, and that would have been very bad for him because I would have broken his arm (I’m a brown belt in karate). Moral of the story – not everyone goes to the shows to get hurt, and don’t think you can hurt them merely because they’re there. Wankers. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/39 "2003-09-26T03:52:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Cynical \* > \*\*The red zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only, there is no stopping in the white zone. \*\* Look, don’t start up with that white zone shit again. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769/40 "2003-09-26T04:17:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > \*\*Look, don’t start up with that white zone shit again. \*\* Oh really, Vernon, why pretend? We both know perfectly well what it is you’re talking about. You want me to have an abortion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosh-pit-is-for-moshing/203769.md?page=3)