Strobe lighting at live gigs...in respect of Epilepsy

toshmund
toshmund Posts: 390
edited July 2009 in The bottom bracket
Been watching the Festival coverage from Glastonbury and T in the Park.

Virtually every performance came up with the warning "This performance contains strobe lighting" if it has been proven that Strobe lighting can induce Epileptic fits, why are strobes still used so much?

You would expect it at something like Prodigy, but everyone and his dog uses it still. Surely with technology there must be a better alternative.

Comments

  • MrChuck
    MrChuck Posts: 1,663
    Toshmund wrote:
    if it has been proven that Strobe lighting can induce Epileptic fits, why are strobes still used so much?

    Because the vast majority of people aren't epileptic?
  • toshmund
    toshmund Posts: 390
    So what you are saying is "So if you suffer from Epilepsy, pretty much tough or shut your eyes then!" Can understand your logic, but don't think it is fair.

    No, I am not Epileptic. Just curious how sufferers got along.
  • MrChuck
    MrChuck Posts: 1,663
    Toshmund wrote:
    So what you are saying is "So if you suffer from Epilepsy, pretty much tough or shut your eyes then!" Can understand your logic, but don't think it is fair.

    Well, that's a bit harsher than I meant it, but I guess the lighting people think that very few people will decide not to go if there are strobes, and a lot more people will enjoy it if there are.
  • finchy
    finchy Posts: 6,686
    Toshmund wrote:
    Virtually every performance came up with the warning "This performance contains strobe lighting" if it has been proven that Strobe lighting can induce Epileptic fits, why are strobes still used so much?

    You raise an interesting point - how far do you go to look after a minority?

    For example, if a child in a class has a severe allergy to nuts, does that mean that no other children should be allowed to take nuts to school for the sake of the one?

    And should cars and buses be banned because of the rights of asthmatics?

    Sometimes it's hard to know what to do, but from my limited understanding of epilepsy (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong), is a gig the best place to be going anyway?
  • Gavin Gilbert
    Gavin Gilbert Posts: 4,019
    More than half a lifetime ago when I was in a band we were playing a gig and some kid was doing some amazing dancing at the front of the stage.

    We were about half way through the number when we twigged that our lighting rig had caused him a fit :?
  • AyrshireBacon
    AyrshireBacon Posts: 173
    johnfinch wrote:
    For example, if a child in a class has a severe allergy to nuts, does that mean that no other children should be allowed to take nuts to school for the sake of the one?
    Someone in my daughter's class has an allergy to nuts, bananas and kiwi fruit so everyone in the school got a note home to ask us not to put those items in packed lunches. My daughter doesn't like nuts & kiwi fruit so it's not a great hardship :)

    About the strobe lighting, are there live warnings at the concert as well as on TV? Do people who suffer from Epileptic Fits just avoid concerts just in case?
    time flies like an arrow
    fruit flies like a banana
  • butcher_boy
    butcher_boy Posts: 117
    AyrshireBacon wrote:
    johnfinch wrote:

    About the strobe lighting, are there live warnings at the concert as well as on TV? Do people who suffer from Epileptic Fits just avoid concerts just in case?

    Lots of tickets these days say "strobing may take place" but not all.

    My mate who is epileptic is a regular gig goer & just goes to the bar when the worst of it is on or shuts is eyes for short sections.

    Radiohead gigs are a nightmare!!! 2 hours of constant strobing
  • AyrshireBacon
    AyrshireBacon Posts: 173
    butcher_boy wrote:
    Lots of tickets these days say "strobing may take place" but not all.
    Thanks for that BB. Just shows how long since I've been to a concert. Wasn't a huge problem at Bjorn Again in 1994 :oops:
    time flies like an arrow
    fruit flies like a banana
  • simple_salmon
    simple_salmon Posts: 457
    butcher_boy wrote:
    Radiohead gigs are a nightmare!!! 2 hours of constant Radiohead

    Corrected that for you :wink:
  • MrChuck
    MrChuck Posts: 1,663
    simple_salmon wrote:
    butcher_boy wrote:
    Radiohead gigs are a nightmare!!! 2 hours of constant Radiohead

    Corrected that for you :wink:

    :D
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    simple_salmon wrote:
    butcher_boy wrote:
    Radiohead gigs are a nightmare!!! 2 hours of constant Radiohead

    Corrected that for you :wink:

    Heh heh, awesome!
  • butcher_boy
    butcher_boy Posts: 117
    simple_salmon wrote:
    butcher_boy wrote:
    Radiohead gigs are a nightmare!!! 2 hours of constant Radiohead

    Corrected that for you :wink:

    Not the happiest of gigs..................................... :shock: Miserables gits!!!! :D:D
  • sazzledazzle
    sazzledazzle Posts: 31
    MrChuck wrote:
    Toshmund wrote:
    if it has been proven that Strobe lighting can induce Epileptic fits, why are strobes still used so much?

    Because the vast majority of people aren't epileptic?

    Actually rather amazingly 1 in 15 of us will have some form of seizure in our life times. It happens more than people realise.
    "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all"

    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1882561/

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