Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
IMO, there are going to be people at bonnaroo who have diversity issues. Not in terms of race, but more in terms of what social category people might be put into - if you peruse threads you will find many disparaging posts about "the MTV crowd" (I interpret this to mean younger people who only are there for popular bands that they have seen on MTV?) or "frat boys."
I think these and other issues stem from the fact that these social groups have a stigma of going to bonnaroo not for the music, but for the party or because it's "the place to be."
I don't imagine my post will be too popular, but after reading many other threads and hearing opinions against certain social groups expressed, I'd like to push this thread back up and hear some other opinions on this issue.
I have to admit, I couldn't believe that when I mentioned NIN favorably in a thread, I was tagged as some sort of unwelcome "NIN fan" - this is after dozens of posts about musical diversity and being excited about everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Blackalicious.
It continues to surprise me how some of the most supposedly laid-back people in the world have a few people that are startlingly conservative when it comes to a community of music lovers. I've rattled on too often about how Roo is about common respect for a diverse group of musicians at the top of their game, and I expected more out of some particular fan bases in sharing the love there.
Regardless, I think that the majority of Roo'ers are well-spoken, articulate fans of either most music, or a particular category with a willingness to learn and hear more. I'm hoping the few negative ones don't ruin the experience for the growing community. More people on the same page is not a bad thing.
I'm thinking that the type of mainstream bands that are there this year aren't the kind that bring a bunch of idiots. There's good mainstream and bad mainstream, and I think bonnaroo's been wise about making that distinction.
I can appreciate concerns over diversity... I am white and my husband is Eastern Indian & we live in a small, conservative southern town. we generally forget that we look different & I don't even hear his accent anymore. Especially after 9-11, more and more dicks seemed to 'come out of the wood work'- walking right up to him and asking if he is middle eastern or just giving us long nasty stares. We ignore it and chalk it up to their loss/ignorance. But I must say, we find the vast majority of people to be tolerant of our liberal philosophies and interracial marriage.
Despite intolerance and small mindedness we move on with life and ignore these things - these idiots are the ones with the problem, not us.
We have found these kinds of bigots in all US states - red and blue. People who pass judgement are everywhere. Roo will be no different. Just plan on coming and enjoying yourself, just like we plan to do... And pity those who come with preceonceived notions of right and wrong when it comes to cultural, religious, ethnic diversity. Or any other differences for that matter.
I had a similar concern about potential reactions I might get from the Roo crowd (though for a completely different reason as I'm not black), but the most common answer was that if you're worried about what a few idiots think you won't have a good time anyway.
This will be my 3 rd Roo. We are a gay couple and have had no problem at all with anyone at Roo. I guess the fact that we are straight acting, and not queeny help us. I think in general though, as long as you are cool, no matter what you are not going to get into any trouble. I think the crowds at Roo have been the most easy to deal with and the people also. I think once you all get in and set up you will see there is not much to worry about but to treat people like you want to be treated. That is the rule we follow mostly. Good luck.
As for someone from Chicago I think I can speak from an outsiders view of the south. I have been to Tennesse many times and have had a different experience wherever I went. Nashville and the surrounding area seems to be much more tolertant than the "real" south. I would not advise ever going to a place like Gatlinburg. I spent a weekend in Gatlinburg a few years ago and they really dislike people from the north. They still have not gotten over the Civil War and they let you know every chance they get. I am white and they definately did not treat us like the other "white" people. -- antnyd82 Junior Member
Gatlinburg is a horrible representation of the South. It is an ugly, garrish tourist trap. Please don't hold that against us. I was raised in Tennessee and we were taught to respect people, not to hold a grudge against yankees. Sure, there may be racism in the south, but it's just another flavor of your northern bigotry.
The most visible difference b/t north and south in my opinion: Southern people greet each other with a wave of the hand or a nod, whether stranger or not. You wave at a passerby in Chicago and he wonders what the hell is your problem.
I agree with you completely about Gatlinburg. But it's not even like REAL town....just a place for tourists to come spend their money.
But I have to say, about Nashville, I think they probably appear more tolerant b/c there ISN'T much diversity there. When I visited, all I saw were white people everywhere, and being from Memphis, I definitely felt like something was "missing".
I always refer to Gatlinburg as the "Myrtle Beach of the Mountains." If you have been to both of these places you will probably understand. Tacky, tacky, tacky. Total tourist traps. No diversity. Total commercialism. Bleck. Still, many people flock to both of these places year 'round. Just my opinion.
I agree with you completely about Gatlinburg. But it's not even like REAL town....just a place for tourists to come spend their money.
But I have to say, about Nashville, I think they probably appear more tolerant b/c there ISN'T much diversity there. When I visited, all I saw were white people everywhere, and being from Memphis, I definitely felt like something was "missing".
Oh, Nashville is missing a lot. Gang griffiti, rampant crime, urban decay, a corrupt city government, statues of Nathan Bedford Forest downtown.... everything it's missing is bad.
