Because I didn’t perceive a significant disruption to the event, I was mentally bucketing you with people I know who severely dislike children and would secretly (or not so secretly) prefer that they not attend events like this at all; or that they should do so only if able to remain silent (which in practice means not at all.) I suspect Anders_H had the same reaction I did.
Just to be clear, I did not attend Solstice this year, and I was mentally reacting to a similar complaint that was made after last year’s Solstice event. At last year’s event, I did not perceive the child to be at all noteworthy as a disturbance. From reading this thread, it seems that the situation may well have been different this year, and that my reaction might have been different if I had been there. I probably should not have commented without being more familiar with what happened at this year’s event.
I also note that my thinking around this may very well be biased, as I used to live in a group house with this child.
Without commenting on the merits and costs of children at Solstice or how they ought to be addressed:
Having attended the East Bay solstice both this year and last, it was my impression that there was significantly more noise made by children during parts when the audience was otherwise quiet this year than there was last year. My recollection is hazy, but I’d guess it was maybe three to five times as much noise? In terms of number of distinct noisy moments and also volume.
This year I was towards the back of the room; last year I was closer to the front.
Just to be clear, I did not attend Solstice this year, and I was mentally reacting to a similar complaint that was made after last year’s Solstice event. At last year’s event, I did not perceive the child to be at all noteworthy as a disturbance. From reading this thread, it seems that the situation may well have been different this year, and that my reaction might have been different if I had been there. I probably should not have commented without being more familiar with what happened at this year’s event.
I also note that my thinking around this may very well be biased, as I used to live in a group house with this child.
Without commenting on the merits and costs of children at Solstice or how they ought to be addressed:
Having attended the East Bay solstice both this year and last, it was my impression that there was significantly more noise made by children during parts when the audience was otherwise quiet this year than there was last year. My recollection is hazy, but I’d guess it was maybe three to five times as much noise? In terms of number of distinct noisy moments and also volume.
This year I was towards the back of the room; last year I was closer to the front.