>Surly people are everywhere.  I don't think it's so much a factor of terrorism or paying >too much money for tickets.  It's that there are loads of ill tempered people out there >that are focused on themselves. Here's an example.

Well, I'm afraid I have the view ( or rather, no view ) from the other side of the fence. I recently went to a local fesitival and much like you described I was seated in the front row at the fence that seperated the V.I.P. section.

Just like what happened to you when the main act hit the stage all these people who had just been milling about, drinking beer and having fun while I diligently and patiently sat waiting for the headliner, all these folks rushed up to the fence and stood there shaking their butts in my face. Someone a couple of seats down went up and reasoned with them, nicely, to no avail.

I packed up and left. Who is the jerk in this scene ?

Then there was the Damien Rice show, standing only. I stood on line to get in before the doors opened, found a spot close to the stage and stood there for a long, long time and finally when Damien came out all of these college kids who could't be bothered with common decency, pushed and shoved their way right past the folks who had stood there for way too long waiting. Frankly, I was in pain from standing and then I was really pissed too.( not drunk but angry for you over the ponders ).

I don't begrudge these young folks their fun but they just don't seem to care about anyone around them while they have a sticker on their car outside which claims "Mean people suck".