meh, I wanna see the band. Not just Bono. Bono running by isnt the same as getting to see Adam, Edge or Larry play up close. Isn't it bad for the vibe of the show when theres people so close who might not care about the band that much?

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If they cared enough to get GA tickets they probably care enough to appreciate being in the ellipse.

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maybe..but on this tour lots of super fans are in the back of the arena cause they couldnt get better seats. And rich people got their tickets from scalpers

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A lot of the people buying from scalpers aren't rich- they just really wanted to see the band. And even if they were rich, who says a rich person can't be just as big a fan? I'd be willing to guess that the rich non-fans would be more likely to want the comfy expensive seats, anyway. It's only diehards who want GA.

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I dont think thats true. I have been on the floor several times in Elevation and there were lots of people who didnt care much at all about the band. There was a girl near me asking me which one 'Bo-no' was. And she was amazed when she found out they'd been around for over 20 years. Now she has the right to be there..but she wasnt a die hard fan. I met several people like that in GA for U2 and other bands.

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Mmhmm.

Now this girl was near you? So she probably lined up at the same time? So how, exactly, did the line there help weed out fans like her?

There are going to be a few people like that at every show, whether the line up's first-come/first-served, lottery, or whatever other method you throw out there. But to suggest the majority of people on the floor are like that is mad. And if we're to accept that most of said people on floor are pretty true fans in one way or another, it becomes hard to say anyone 'deserves' to be in front more than someone else.

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I don't care if people "like that" are on the floor. If she waited the 12 hours in line like I did, then she deserves to be there. It's the effort people put in that makes the difference. I know most of the people on the floor are big fans. But there are people who aren't too.

The people that "deserve" to be in the oval are the people that put forth the most effort. You could only have heard one song, you you could have heard every song. As long as you wait in line you're cool by me.

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Then why say this?

I will be one VERY sad girl if I am banished to the back of the GA, far away from the boys I came all that way to see, and the guy who's swigging down beer after beer saying "Man Bo-no looks like CRAP" and wouldnt wait more than 5 minutes to see the band is up close.

Chances are, most of the people on the floor are big fans, and the ones who aren't wouldn't necessarily be out of the ellipse anyway.


Not everyone can line up the night or day before the show. People have kids. People have medical problems. People have jobs. People who may be huge fans, who will be sincerely moved won't always be able to make it. On the other hand, you have people who have already seen ten shows consistently taking up the space the above people could hold... and that's not fair any way you look at it.

You act as if you're going to be forced to the back of the arena because of this lottery. Not much has changed. If you line up early, you're going to get a good spot. Period. You may not be IN the egg but you will be on the rail, whereas people who show up five minutes before the show are still more than likely (except for the extremely low percentage who *might* get into the egg) going to be in the back.

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I said that because someone like that doesn't care about the show nor is be putting forth any effort to see the band. People go to shows for the atmosphere alot.

I know not everyone can line up before the show. But I made a lot of sacrifices to even go to the shows I am going to. They can chose to make sacrifices if they want. I did.

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But 'someone like that' did put in the effort, per your story up there.


And good for you. I'm glad you were fortunate enough to be able to. But not everyone can arbitrarily decide to do that. Once again, since you've made your sacrifices, you're going to get a good spot. So what is there to complain about?

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The examples were different. I was saying even non fans go on the floor. But someone dont want to wait in line.

If someone's not able to, I'm sorry. But I've worked extra hard to be able to go to these shows at all. And I know everyone showing up later didn't neccessarily do so.

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Are you one of the people who doesn't think they should have to line up to get a good spot? Are you one of the people who elbow their way up to the front through the people who stood in line and waited all day?

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Actually, no. I'm the one queuing three hours before showtime for a Frames concert at Vicar Street to be at the bar when I could've shown up half an hour before and made the same spot (The Irish don't queue). I'm the one who helped a couple of girls get their spots back when another rudely shoved her out of her place at a Damien Rice gig. I've randomly grabbed a bus to be at an instore hours away just because it's happening. I'm planning on a good forty hours without sleeping or eating for Croke Park. I'm one of the people who is *fortunate* enough to be able to line up early for a good view, and I do so, and I'm thankful that's the case. So don't be patronising, and don't insinuate that just because I believe that maybe, just maybe there are legitimate reasons for the band taking this step, that I am someone who hasn't or won't line up a couple of days before the show. I will, and am planning to. And if I don't get in the ellipse, I'll still get a killer spot, and I'll still see the show I was hoping to see by the band I want to see, which is what it's about, and why I'm going in the first place.

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word, Lis'.

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Yo.

**

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I chose ONCE to be on the outside of the heart and had two really ignorant girls squeeze thier way up to the rail and start slamming everyone around. They were violent. It really wrecked my experience. I could have been in the heart that night too. (Forever kicks self)

I am not happy about the whole lottery thing, but I guess I will deal with what I have to. I am not planning on being as "hardcore" as I have been in the past anymore. I've lost faith in U2 throughout this last round of bullshit surrounding the whole tour/tickets/etc.

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It only seems fair to me. One fan no better than the other.

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=/ yeah, but if we wait in line we're all equal then. Some people just try harder.

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Yeah, it's a really terrible idea. We were there the night before (after we saw that 100 people had already gathered in the parking lot), and while being there that early did at least get us right on the outside of the ellipse, it was still ridiculous that we couldn't get inside after having been there that long.

I really hope this system doesn't last...it's not about being better than other fans, it's just about putting in the effort.

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yesss. exactly. If someone cares enough to wait for the entire night/day they should be precedent above someone who doesnt feel they should get there till 5 min before the show. We bought the tickets at first come first serve basis..doesnt that say something?

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Hm, I'm not so sure what I think about it. I didn't get GA tickets either... but, I thought I'd let you know the new title that's floating around on u2.com for the ellipse:

The Bomb Shelter

:) I think it's pretty good!

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