That's a very honest, well written article Simon, and Thanks for it. And of course, the people who go to these events, both exhibitors and public are enthusiasts who go, hoping for a great weekend. But sadly, as you illustrate, that's often not the case.
My wife and I used to belong to a National Metal Detecting Club, and every year we would join groups of from between a few dozen to well over a thousand other detector enthusiasts at various locations all over the UK. often camping for a full long weekend. But we dropped the big meetings.
The big meets were always the problem. And always in the evenings and through the night. Once the booze came out.
We've had guys pissing against tents, falling over guy ropes, completely comatose, vomiting everywhere, swearing, shouting between tents at 3 in the morning, and even drunken fighting. Portaloos tipped over (30 of them once) spilling excrement over farmers fields, the very farmers of course who were kind enough to give huge acres of their land willingly. Noise and ridiculously loud rave type music going on until 4 and 5am, and generators buzzing away like chain saws often for the whole weekend. And the more people drank, the worse it became.
Taking dogs, or children is fine for the day, at these sort of big events, but certainly not an option for any longer, and it's a pity, because families should be able to enjoy the weekend together too.
We just don't go to things like that anymore. And JAE sounds similar...... So thanks for the warning...... For next year.
Keith.
