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What's up with Comfest this year

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Started 2 years ago by Coach Rich
Latest reply from Snarf

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comfest

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Coach Rich
Harrison West
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I just signed up for a volunteer shift at Comfest like I try to do every year. However, in the conformation email I received, there was some cryptic message which could mean lots of different things. Part of the email read:

******CHANGES FOR COMFEST 2010******
1. There will be a increased presence of police officers at ComFest 2010.
2. There will be a stronger enforcement of all laws. ComFest is NOT A Ã‚â€œfree
zone.Ã‚â€ Period!
3.ComFest will be closing earlier this year. Friday at 11 pm, Saturday at
10pm and Sunday at 7 pm.
4. The South Park Street Barricade at Swan Street will close to re-entry at
9PM each evening.

Obviously, this could mean the party's over. But it could also mean lots of things as well. My personal opinion is that they are taking measures to appease the suburbanites who, more and likely, aren't coming to Comfest anyways. But I'm not an insider. I'm just a guy who enjoys forgetting about work and the stresses of life for 3 days a year in a mellow and peaceful environment. If there is anyone with an inside scoop and knows what we should be expecting this year, I'd love the info.

Posted 2 years ago #
Patch
Schumacher Place
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Interesting, my confirmation e-mail didn't state any of this.

Mine came out on the 22nd, when did you get yours?

I should also say that I don't have a problem with any of these new restrictions.

Posted 2 years ago #
Nitsud Regnifloh
Valerio Heights
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i dont think it has anything to do with the suburbanites...i am guessing it has to do with the increased population in the park during those mellow, peaceful 3 days. and the increasingly drunkenness of those attendees.

Posted 2 years ago #
ohiojimmie
Westgate
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Nitsud Regnifloh wrote >>
i dont think it has anything to do with the suburbanites...i am guessing it has to do with the increased population in the park during those mellow, peaceful 3 days. and the increasingly drunkenness of those attendees.

and that a college student died one late night last year

Posted 2 years ago #
groundrules

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http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/comfest-2010-cancellation-rumors

Posted 2 years ago #
Snarf
Dystopia
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Bout time we had ANOTHER comfest rumors thread. Yay!

Posted 2 years ago #
0Angle
A brewery or my kitchen or my bicycle.
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This was worthy of The Onion

Posted 2 years ago #
Roland
Clintonville
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I've heard that this is going to be the year they start cracking down on BYOB. Serious. This year.

Posted 2 years ago #
arualpalm

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Patch wrote >>
Interesting, my confirmation e-mail didn't state any of this.
Mine came out on the 22nd, when did you get yours?
I should also say that I don't have a problem with any of these new restrictions.

Ditto on no problem with the restrictions. Why should this festival get a free ride?

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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0Angle wrote >>
This was worthy of The Onion

Why thank you. ;)

Posted 2 years ago #
lisathewaitress
SoHud
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drat! does that mean no more getting paid in shrooms at the beer tent? i have a lot of friends who are going to be very disappointed.

The bottom line is, no matter where the people are coming from, you can't have that many people gathering without more problems. When Comfest wasn't so widely-attended, it was different. But for the past few years it has been so packed it just isn't as good anymore. Heat + tons of people + booze = bad things just waiting to happen. It's a fact.

Posted 2 years ago #
TaraK
probably at the coffee shop
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From my one, measly Comfest experience, "booze" didn't seem to be the substance that these changes would most affect. Am I wrong?

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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TaraK wrote >>
From my one, measly Comfest experience, "booze" didn't seem to be the substance that these changes would most affect. Am I wrong?

My understanding is that closing earlier and increasing security/safety measures is trying to combat the "stay all day and get blind drunk/high" crowd.

Posted 2 years ago #
rus

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TaraK wrote >>
From my one, measly Comfest experience, "booze" didn't seem to be the substance that these changes would most affect. Am I wrong?

Don't think you're wrong at all.

Posted 2 years ago #
0Angle
A brewery or my kitchen or my bicycle.
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Started volunteering after Don Pavelcik's death in '99, because the Jazz Stage didn't have anybody to make it happen. My role grew, then shrank when I had kids. Never went to a meeting and this will be the first year I use the intertubes to sign up. IMO Comfest doesn't need to pacify anybody, except their neighbors, the Law and the planet. If somebody doesn't go because there is no place to park, no byob or no tolerance for illegal behavior, it is no loss to Comfest. It sure doesn't need to be any bigger. Again, only my opinion.

Posted 2 years ago #
lisathewaitress
SoHud
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TaraK wrote >>
From my one, measly Comfest experience, "booze" didn't seem to be the substance that these changes would most affect. Am I wrong?

I don't know - I do think they're targeting the non-booze products here, but I have to argue that if they replaced all the booze with the most prevalent illegal substance at Comfest, it might go back to being happy, mellow and peaceful. It just seems misguided to come right out and say you're going to the smackdown on something that doesn't cause violence. It's booze that contributes to things getting out of hand.

Posted 2 years ago #
0Angle
A brewery or my kitchen or my bicycle.
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lisathewaitress wrote >>

TaraK wrote >>
From my one, measly Comfest experience, "booze" didn't seem to be the substance that these changes would most affect. Am I wrong?

I don't know - I do think they're targeting the non-booze products here, but I have to argue that if they replaced all the booze with the most prevalent illegal substance at Comfest, it might go back to being happy, mellow and peaceful. It just seems misguided to come right out and say you're going to the smackdown on something that doesn't cause violence. It's booze that contributes to things getting out of hand.

A question would be "How does Comfest (or the city) allow an (unreasonably?) illegal activity in public?" Public intoxication is also illegal, but usually not as distinctive in smell....

Posted 2 years ago #
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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lisathewaitress wrote >>

TaraK wrote >>
From my one, measly Comfest experience, "booze" didn't seem to be the substance that these changes would most affect. Am I wrong?

It just seems misguided to come right out and say you're going to the smackdown on something that doesn't cause violence.

weed = illegal
beer = legal

not really placing the smack downÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ more of upholding the law IMO.

Posted 2 years ago #
CheeseFoodie
Harrison West
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Oh well, have to leave the pipes at home and dig up the one-hitters... easier to hide... just kidding, sort of.

Posted 2 years ago #
GW_Justice
Grandview Hts.
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As mentioned upthread, the issues of crowds/drunks and problems created for the people who live in the area is the reason for the warnings. You can't keep packing an ever expanding number of people in a limited space. If you are just going to ComFest to get wasted, you will find it not as friendly this year.

Also, there are new police policies in effect. Did you think there would be no consequences for the death last year?

Posted 2 years ago #