What I do want to comment on, though (not specifically with regards to this case, although many comments I’ve read on sites are good examples), is the annoying attitude that many Americans have when going to another country or speaking of another country. Completely unaware of other sovereign nations’ laws, customs, cultures, or morals, they stomp around like it’s their own backyard, and get all uppity when told they can’t do certain things that they are accustomed to.
It is a VISITOR’S responsibility to conduct his or herself with grace and dignity when a guest in a foreign land. Just because “this is the way pits work in Idaho” doesn’t mean that Prague has the same understanding or acceptance of such a practice.
Americans have a hard time putting themselves in other peoples’ shoes. Let’s just suppose, for the sake of argument, that slam dancing, stage diving, and so forth doesn’t exist in Prague. Or maybe jumping on stage to show love to a band might be ordinary and customary. Now let’s suppose you dropped your teenage boy to a music show because it’s a safe activity that you and your countrymen have all safely participated in before and there was no reason to have any hesitation ------ you find out later, though, that your boy has suffered fatal injuries at the hands of the band or venue’s staff. Are you going to just let it slide because “he should have known what he was getting into”?
ok,
my issue with this is not about how the legal systems differ, my issue is that this came out of nowhere, there was no warning, he wasnt contacted about these pending charges, and that he has posted his bail, but it has been contested, so now he (for the time being at least) is out 200 grand, AND his freedom. i am well aware that different cities, states, countries, regions, and even streets have differing laws and so forth. i am WELL aware of this. as are most people who have to perform overseas or wherever else. this case however, this case stinks of bullshit though.
also, to address the bolded part, i know you are just playing devil’s advocate and trying to resent the situation in such a way to make people think, but thanks to music videos, the mtv ‘in the pit’ thing in the 90s, youtube, and once again, the band’s own promotional live shots, no one who would be buying a ticket for this show would be surprised or taken aback by a pit.
i know what you are trying to say, and in general when people jack shit up in other countries the blame has to sit on their shoulders. in this case though, even if he did push the guy, (which the videos show he was not the aggressor in the equation) there is NO WAY to prove that the push is what gave the kid the head-wound. no way whatsoever.
and yeah, the GWAR guy sounds ignorant as hell. is anyone surprised?
