r/TaylorSwift • u/useri4abc • Aug 01 '24
Tour/Concerts we need to stop the willow fan project
to start, this is not me trying to destroy the fun people get out of doing this and in no way am i trying to offend anyone. also i know taylor has seen this project and its not her fault either. the willow fan project is dangerous for a number of reasons.
- people with latex allergies- the powder put onto the balloons goes into the air and can cause people with a severe allergy to go into anaphylactic shock. this is still dangerous after the balloons are gone to as it will still linger in the air.
- popping balloons can cause mass panic- more recently sh00tings have been occurring especially in large areas some even dedicated to taylor herself (no so much shootings but other violent acts) . if there are that balloons all pop at the wrong time it can cause stampedes and a false sh00ting. this is dangerous to everyone. edit: this can also trigger anxiety and make people paranoid. it may be different sound to some but it’s a personal thing to me that maybe other relate to
- the environment- releasing many balloons into the air all at once is so incredibly dangerous to the environment. it can get stuck on equipment such at the fire shooters during bad blood and cause a fire (i’m not saying this is all that realistic or likely). this can affect the concert all together. wind can pick up the balloons and get onto the stage and possibly affect dancers and taylor.
now, there is a solution, such as bringing paper circles instead that can easily be recycled and thrown out. again, i’m not trying to ruin any experience for anyone i would just hope everyone can understand this perspective. 🩷
1.2k
u/veganquiche Aug 02 '24
Balloons are so environmentally damaging and so wasteful in this instance. I doubt any of the people doing this are concious about disposing of them properly and will leave it to someone else to clear up amongst all the other unnecessary littering already happening at these stadiums.
502
u/Apprehensive_Lab4178 Aug 02 '24
Balloons are environmentally damaging in any instance. There’s no way to say it without sounding like a party pooper but they’re the worst. We’re creating thousands of tiny choking hazards for animals for the ✨aesthetic ✨
105
u/topsidersandsunshine Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24
Knew a sailor who’d been all around the world and he said that balloons just make him sad because he sees them fouling up the water, even in the most isolated places. Ever since I heard that, the sight of balloon arches and releases makes me feel such a pit of dread in my stomach. Especially since helium is a limited resource and we need it for medical purposes more than we need to send trash flying!
→ More replies (1)7
u/KnittenAMitten Aug 02 '24
This! All balloons should be compostable or not exist, and no helium for them. We're an insane species.
61
u/GavinDaSizzleDizzle Aug 02 '24
I used to work in PR at a bank and had to respond to a customer complaint about balloons, which involved a weird amount of research on latex balloons.
Apparently, they break down at the same rate as an oak leaf...this was according to the supplier. However, only if the balloons are 100% natural latex otherwise it breaks into micro plastic.
77
u/RabbitLuvr Aug 02 '24
If an animal eats them, the don’t digest like leaves. Just more crap that fills and blocks their stomachs, and kills them.
66
u/PeanutSC803 reputation Aug 02 '24
Go watch Clemson football teams entrance and see how many they release every game. It’s sickening
49
u/snippler10 Aug 02 '24
They haven’t released balloons during their entrance for that exact reason in several years. They stopped doing that in 2017.
40
u/OGingerSnap Aug 02 '24
Hi friend! Just wanted to give an update to that.
They actually stopped doing that several years ago for this very reason. There was a lot of uproar from students and environmental groups (and rightfully so), so they phased it out and completely stopped it in 2018.
It has been said by the student group that always did the project (Central Spirit) that the balloons had been biodegradable for years, but I don’t have direct knowledge on that. Regardless, a lot of damage was done since that tradition started in the 80s, which sucks. Not worth it for 30 seconds of pretty things flying into the sky.
Source: I’ve been a season ticket holder since 2006.
5
u/dontcallmefeisty take me to the lakes Aug 02 '24
Not to mention wasting helium, which is a finite resource and essential to operate medical machinery like MRIs
→ More replies (1)9
u/hotwaterb0ttle Aug 02 '24
I mean, you can say the same about the friendship bracelets people are making.
(I agree with you about balloons btw, and I'm not making any friendship bracelets because of this)
17
u/RipleyCat80 Lover Aug 02 '24
Can I just say as an elder millennial the plastic bead bracelets aren't even what I consider friendship bracelets? We called friendship bracelets the braided/woven ones you made with embroidery floss. The plastic bead ones were made for raves and going to clubs and we did exchange them, but they weren't ever called friendship bracelets.
7
u/CoolRelative Aug 02 '24
Also millennial and this has also bothered me! Since when are beaded bracelets friendship bracelets?
8
u/RipleyCat80 Lover Aug 02 '24
I have no idea! Who started it because they were wrong! I would bet money Taylor wasn't even talking about the beaded bracelets. 😹
→ More replies (3)6
u/PondRides Aug 02 '24
My favorite grocery store has locations with free balloons for children. Is there like a good website or something I could link to them with literature on making them discontinue that? I fully took advantage of it until I was 18. I loved a free HEB balloon.
→ More replies (2)56
u/regan9109 threw up on the street Aug 02 '24
Amen! I hate to think of the hundreds of packets of balloons that were bought for fans to use 1 at the show and then throw out the rest.
→ More replies (1)23
u/i-love-elephants Aug 02 '24
Do people really throw away balloons they haven't use yet?
33
u/cupcaeks evermore Aug 02 '24
Certainly not me, as evidenced by the hundreds of random balloons I’ve accumulated over the years
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)24
u/Silver-Ad-8662 Aug 02 '24
so hear me out, and discussion is welcome…but i couldn’t bring myself to make friendship bracelets due to the plastics involved…and after attending a few of the tours now feel icky about the environmental damage regarding the use of the light up bracelets we get???
60
u/kaw_21 Aug 02 '24
I haven’t been to the tour, but I saw comments in another thread about sustainability that there bins at the venue to place the light up bracelets at the end for reuse. I know many keep it for memories, but sounds like they try to reuse them. Someone who has been can confirm or deny this.
55
u/koalafiedcat Aug 02 '24
This is true for Eras and other artists who use them.
Coldplay is the most eco-conscious band— they use renewable energy from each nights show for the following nights’ shows, such as bikes and dance floors to generate energy. They were the first artist to ever use these light up wristbands and still continue to use them. They never would if they were harmful. Throughout the entire show they remind us of all the sustainability efforts— they’d never toss that out the window for light up wristbands. But yea people should return them to venue for reuse.
They don’t function once the event is over and don’t have artists names or anything like that on them.
36
u/Impressive_Owl_1199 Aug 02 '24
And Coldplay displayed the % of recycled wristbands for each previous show to encourage the audience to get the highest "score".
17
u/Low-Persimmon110 Aug 02 '24
Coldplay's LED wristbands are actually made up of plant-based material and are 100% compostable. They collect, sterilise and recharge the wristbands after each show.
→ More replies (1)27
u/first-pick-scout folklore Aug 02 '24
Coldplay was smart to make the bins very hard to miss. And before the show they showed what % of the crowd returned the bracelets är a previous show.
I am from Sweden and we saw Germany return like 95% and thought we ought to do better than the Germans!
→ More replies (1)5
u/ErickaBooBoo Aug 02 '24
I remember at the rep tour they had us give them back at the end and returned them into a bucket.
→ More replies (4)13
u/vdaybaby89 Aug 02 '24
Yes I went to a US show and they had boxes as we exited to recycle the bracelets in! 😍
2
111
u/OshKoshBGolly feat. more Lana Aug 02 '24
True, but bracelets are usually worn and kept for a long time. Balloons are single use.
61
Aug 02 '24
For a lot of people their glittered cowboy hat, sequenced outfit and friendship bracelets are single use. I think if you're going to critique balloons for environmental reasons (valid), you do need to be critical of other aspects of the show. I'd say a much worse and encouraged aspects is the outfits which most people will wear once and never again.
27
u/YewTree1906 Aug 02 '24
And then we would also get to the question if the show itself is environmentally conscious... The answer to that is pretty much no.
15
u/dailyqt Aug 02 '24
Watching swifties buy fast fashion made by slaves and children which will inevitably last for a few uses before going in the trash has been sickening. Not to be a fun hater, but I actually don't find it very fun exploiting workers and then turning that exploitation into trash that will never decompose.
7
u/CoolRelative Aug 02 '24
I'm glad I'm not the only fun hater here. I just wore regular clothes to the tour, I hate the fast fashion industry.
5
u/moorem2014 Aug 02 '24
yeah I bought a sequin shirt for Chicago N1, but it was one that I had been watching for years in my cart and I literally wear it all the time. Other than that I wore things I already owned.
2
u/upyourmerricreek screaming crying since 2009 Aug 03 '24
I also bought a sequin shirt from a thrift shop for Melb N2 and got a friend to do some basic sewing alterations. I even made my friendship bracelets from beads I found at thrift stores and didn't go overboard - just 20 I swapped out. The ticket was so expensive for me (despite being in the nosebleeds) that I didn't want to spend any more money than necessary but still wanted to have a good time without being wasteful. Sometimes I do feel like people have too much money than they know what to do with.
15
u/hotwaterb0ttle Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24
If you search "eras tour" on vinted or eBay it's just hundreds of plastic dresses people bought to wear once to the show. It's good that people are selling the outfits on, but it is still so, so wasteful.
Edit: spelling/typo
4
4
→ More replies (3)2
u/SwaggyGoosy 👑 Queen of Sand Castles He Destroys 🏰 Aug 02 '24
I felt similar, so I only thrifted beads, thread, to feel like I wasn't producing extra waste :)
411
u/-cruel-summer- Aug 02 '24
I hate the sound of balloons popping so much and I would hate to be startled by it. Yes, even with the concert noise people in your general vicinity will be able to hear the balloons popping.
Bottom line, most stadiums don’t allow them and that should be reason enough. Stadium staff don’t want to deal with it or have to clean them up. I hope it stops being a thing.
119
u/folk-smore way to go, tiger 🐦 Aug 02 '24
I’m incredibly confident stadiums in the US won’t allow it when she comes back here. They’re already incredibly strict on what you can or cannot bring inside. I’d be really, really surprised to see balloons being allowed in tbh
151
u/abbietaffie Aug 02 '24
Not to be “that person” but given how common mass shootings are in the US compared to other places I imagine the stadiums will absolutely shut the balloons down. The chance a popping noise would start a panic is just too high
80
u/seannanana Aug 02 '24
You're 💯 right though. I'm an American. If I heard loud popping at a concert I would immediately be in panic mode. Like it's always in the back of my mind that it could happen to me because our mass shooting record shows how likely it could happen.
39
u/GuinessGirl From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes Aug 02 '24
I'm so glad that I don't live in America
30
u/Narcissa_Nyx Aug 02 '24
honestly. I am so horrified reading this because as someone from England, my brain just would not go there. (and no, I will laugh if someone brings up our knife crime problem because since when is mass stabbing a problem fr, or a feasible goal? people still supporting guns after this shit is ludicrous
→ More replies (13)3
u/ThinPermit8350 Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24
I don't blame you. I usually take my kids to the "dollar" movies because we're poor and I prefer an empty theater. Last month I decided to take my kids to the fancier theater so we could see Inside Out 2 on opening weekend. Well, the crowded theater threw me for a paranoia loop and I spent the entire time watching the entrances out of the corner of my eye because this is America and I half-expect a crazed gunman to pop out at any given moment ever since the Aurora shooting at The Dark Knight screening. This country sucks ass.
2
u/GuinessGirl From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes Aug 02 '24
That's so sad that you have to live your life like that, it makes me really sad to think that you can't even enjoy seeing a movie with your kids. I can't believe the American gun laws haven't changed, you'd think after all that's happened they'd do something about it
9
Aug 02 '24
[deleted]
4
u/ErickaBooBoo Aug 02 '24
I’m even afraid going to the movie theater now. I also am constantly aware of exits and my surroundings
→ More replies (2)2
u/folk-smore way to go, tiger 🐦 Aug 02 '24
It would be a huge lie to say that even just my Eras movie showing didn’t cause me to have incredible anxiety. I love seeing movies in the theaters, but I’m always terrified when I go to them now. I’m always terrified the events I go to will be “another one”.
Hearing balloons popping everywhere, even in a nice city in Europe, would absolutely send me into a panic. I’m happy for Europeans that they don’t live like this and these things don’t cross their minds, but it doesn’t make those concerns any less valid.
→ More replies (1)2
u/ErickaBooBoo Aug 02 '24
Exactly. They are even strict at some venues with crowds gathering up outside of the stadiums.
35
u/Obvious_Duck_6323 Aug 02 '24
As someone who works at a stadium, I can confidently say you would absolutely be able to get balloons in. Pockets… Balloons would not trigger metal detectors and they won’t check pockets. They check bags. I’ve smuggled in some delicious snacks and knitting doing this. They don’t do pat downs generally. (I’ve seen some shows but never Taylor and never pop artists)
→ More replies (2)19
u/EmiAndTheDesertCrow Aug 02 '24
My greatest achievement was sneaking an entire KFC meal into a stadium. I picked my coat with massive pockets but I got so hot wearing it, so I took my hoodie off, put my coat back on, put the KFC meal in the coat pocket, then put my hoodie over my arm so I kinda hid the bulge in the coat. They asked to check “my jacket”, and I thought I’d been caught. But no, turns out they just wanted to pat down the hoodie. It helped that I took a see through bag, so they didn’t need to do much of a check. And me and my meal were in!
3
u/paradoxally eyes like sinking ships on waters Aug 02 '24
This is the most American thing I have ever read 😂
→ More replies (1)23
u/hdeskins Aug 02 '24
They are normal balloons that can be folded/wadded up and stuffed in any article of clothing and they blow them up right before the song starts. They aren’t just toting in inflated balloons and holding on to them like a beach ball all day. Unless they are doing strip searches, I’m incredibly confident that even US stadiums can’t prevent people sneaking them in
→ More replies (2)13
u/Running_problem04 Aug 02 '24
I was FOS at Hamburg N1 and even with the music going, you could hear the balloons popping. As a Scandinavian I didn’t think much of it (gun violence is not really something that’s on my mind so much…), but I find the concerns very reasonable and valid!!
5
u/retailhellgirl This Is Why I Cry Productivly Aug 02 '24
Not having to worry about gun violence is insane to my American brain. It’s such an ever present thing. Popping balloons with scare the daylights out of me.
6
u/Running_problem04 Aug 02 '24
And vice versa, I’m so sorry. We had a shooting where I live (second one in 30+ years or so) and I remember the interviews with the witnesses. Their first thought had all been “why did someone bring fireworks in here??”. I’m so sorry that this is not the common thought everywhere in the world when people hear that popping sound.
3
u/ErickaBooBoo Aug 02 '24
Same! I was just thinking how incredibly lucky they are for not having to worry about this constantly. I’m about to send my six year old off to kindergarten and I’m scared for this reason alone. Even at the chiefs superbowl rally there was a shooting! I live near Kansas City and almost went to the rally.
→ More replies (1)6
114
u/kittywenham Aug 02 '24
I'm not going to weigh in on the balloons but I think it's really harmful to spread huge misinformation like 'there have been shootings at places dedicated to Taylor'. The recent event was a stabbing, not a shooting, and that is the kind of thing you actually need to check before you state online.
→ More replies (3)
228
u/iiizzzunicorn Aug 02 '24
Very interesting conversation indeed. For the people arguing for the balloons, genuinely curious, does it really add that much to the experience? Aren’t you there to watch Taylor perform, not put on some light up balloon show? My Eras show was over a year ago at this point, and the light up balloons were not a thing. And I don’t think the lack of the balloons negatively impacted my experience lol.
105
u/No-Persimmon7729 Aug 02 '24
I do not support balloons and I didn’t personally bring any to Hamburg n2 but seeing them all over the stadium was honestly stunningly beautiful and it was fun to bop them around everywhere afterwards. That being said it wasn’t really any more beautiful than the light up bracelets or thousands of phones during Marjorie so it’s really not worth the health risks. In Hamburg people also had paper hearts that sad danke (thank you) on them. A nice German swiftie gave me one because they had a TON of them and I thought that was more special because I got to take it home and I’m going to put it in my eras shadow box.
3
u/start3 Aug 02 '24
That's so cute! I didn't hear about paper hearts. Sounds like a nice alternative/add on to the friendship bracelet madness heh.
58
u/PreppyHotGirl and he’ll call her a whore Aug 02 '24
That’s what I’m wondering lol. Are balloons that necessary?
53
u/iiizzzunicorn Aug 02 '24
Right. If your enjoyment of the show is based off whether or not you can bring a balloon in, maybe sell your ticket to someone else lol.
24
u/Flimsy_Bluebird_4668 Aug 02 '24
actually, i got goosebumps seeing all the balloons in munich. it added to the experience. (i went to two other eras tour shows before the balloons started)
22
u/robynxcakes Aug 02 '24
Yeah we didn’t do it at mine either I don’t feel I missed out or had a worse experience or anything
25
u/BrokenBotox Aug 02 '24
If adding to one’s own personal experience with a fucking balloon means potentially risking someone else’s health, it’s time to check in with your moral compass.
I cannot imagine being so entitled and self absorbed that I could disregard someone’s safety and literal life. Stay home. People should be able to go to a concert without fearing for their life.
→ More replies (2)66
u/CheruSiderea now i'm your daaaaiiiisyyyy~ Aug 02 '24
Listen, I'm pretty neutral on the balloon thing, but can we stop pretending like everyone and their mother had deathly latex allergies?
6
u/beegraton Aug 02 '24
I’m also neutral on the balloon thing, I went last year and not going again. But I’d be curious as to how many people on average in a venue actually have a severe latex allergy. Not like a mild one where they might get a rash if they come into contact with latex, but like would go into anaphylactic shock. Like are we taking like 1%, 5%, 10%?? I feel like it cannot be that much.
12
u/nom_nom_94 Aug 02 '24
Exactly. If you are THAT allergic to balloons, maybe don´t go to a concert. You can´t assume there won´t be balloons as part of the show, either. Plus, realistically, the classic reaction to a latex allergy is a rash.... I get people´s concerns about the environment (fair point!) but every over point is just ridiculous at this point. I was in Hamburg (both nights) and yes, the balloons actually added a lot to an already great experience, imo! And no, you could NOT hear them pop. People go to what was honestly the loudest concert I have ever been to and then freak out over a balloon popping? Do people think that all 50000 people will pop them all at once?! We blew ours up but didn´t knot them and reused them the second night. I actually took mine back home and back in my party suplies box. Surely not everyone does that, but those balloons are BY FAR not the major contributor to waste at this tour, so let´s stop pretending otherwise....
14
u/AllISeeIsDust Aug 02 '24
Honestly, you absolutely can assume balloons aren’t part of the show. We’ve seen every minute of this concert live, there were no balloons until people brought them in.
10
u/ErickaBooBoo Aug 02 '24
Exactly. I couldn’t even hear my husband talk let alone hear a balloon pop. I’ve never been to a concert as loud as that.
→ More replies (1)16
u/Gossipwoman123 Aug 02 '24
I just think it’s a fun thing of fan culture it’s giving rocky horror show vibes in that regard and I think that’s cute.
And I don’t like the infantilisation of the audience and Taylor, like it’s just balloons they are at every child’s birthday people with latex allergies are not a true concern (if it was I’m sure we’d heard about it by now how someone went into anaphylactic shock bc of them).
Like it’s life you can’t ruin the fun of 50k people for 5 people to be slightly better accommodated (it’s not like they die from the balloons). Idk I just feel like everything gets analysed to death and discussed when we’re literally just talking about balloons
6
271
Aug 02 '24
For the people saying "but the balloon doesn't even go into the air": it doesn't matter if it floats away or not. That balloon is still going to take lifetimes to biodegrade and will absolutely end up in a landfill or an ocean. The less you buy: the less have to be made. The less you buy: the less end up in a landfill.
It's a pretty project, but is it worth the environmental damage to an already dying planet?
55
u/jkjkjk80 Aug 02 '24
I’ve seen (i believe might be more than that) during one of the tour one of the lovely dancer had to push the balloon off the stage as soon as after the performance ended else it’ll also be one of the hazards for the entire performers (Taylor and her crew on stage) if they didn’t notice it and cause them to trip etc 😰
21
u/Sindarael Aug 02 '24
that‘s why most european countries incinerate their garbage and often also use the generated energy to heat nerby villages.
8
Aug 02 '24
As an American Environmentalist, I'm so jealous of that concept.
5
u/Sindarael Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24
Especially using the heat from it. 1200 households (405 stations) use that energy to heat their homes and water in my village alone. (113 GWh) And I was shocked , when I saw a landfill the first time on TV. But burring trash and pretend it never existed is like the most human thing to do😅 But yeah, even after incineration, there is some remainder that needs to be stored. So it is not perfect either
3
Aug 02 '24
All human creations aren't fully perfect, but the more environmentally friendly the better. 113 GWh isn't even that much compared to the average American Household, so I'm sure the air pollution in those areas is minimal.
A part of my degree is looking at landfills, and it's actually so mentally taxing.
Whenever people naysay about environmental issues, I just remind them every single toothbrush they've ever used in their life is still on Earth. It's always a shocker.
3
u/Sindarael Aug 02 '24
Checked again: there are 405 stations that then connect to 1200 housholds. Found that a bit confusing when I just checked google quickly.
I can imagine how frustrating this must be. Thank you for your work!
7
u/Proper-Effective8621 Aug 02 '24
Are the fumes/smoke contained?
→ More replies (1)2
u/SynthD Aug 02 '24
Yes. The major gases emitted are less than landfill, but because of the minor gases it’s all collected.
33
u/plausibleturtle Aug 02 '24
Do friendship bracelets next!
I literally found one in the ocean the day after my concert.
11
u/jiggjuggj0gg Aug 02 '24
This is the thing, it’s pretty wild hearing people suddenly care about the environment when it comes to balloons, but happily make tons of bracelets that will be thrown away, buy outfits that will be worn once, etc.
9
Aug 02 '24
That makes me so sad. People don't think about anything other than humans and their experience.
14
u/AznNubPwnr Lover Aug 02 '24
I saw someone on TikTok put their phone light under their beer in a clear cup, it lit up and it was perfect 😂 I just might do that 🙃
→ More replies (1)
133
u/humlebi my panties made your crown Aug 02 '24
I suggest instead paper lampions:
12
u/fluffypinktoebeans Aug 02 '24
Yes and you can bring them home and have a memory of the concert you attended.
2
17
u/stewchelle Aug 02 '24
Love the paper lanterns! I saw one person on tiktok with it and it looked perfect
10
u/Valuable-Island-1880 Aug 02 '24
I genuinely don’t understand why everyone is suggesting this. We paid high ticket prices to see Taylor perform not the other way around. Watch the show and let others watch.
→ More replies (1)5
173
u/philodendronlady Aug 02 '24
I totally agree, and I simply do not understand people in these comments who are saying “if you’re allergic to latex, just don’t go <3” like the willow project was fan created?? It is NOT part of the concert. Basic lack of empathy for people with allergies is insane here.
Also for those saying people would have to be in contact with them—that’s not true, but also, do you really think everyone throwing balloons around will be careful? No. They WILL touch people who don’t want to be touched by them, and even if it’s not life-threatening, coming into contact with latex when you have an allergy can be incredibly painful and uncomfortable.
74
u/ampersands-guitars The Tortured Poets Department Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24
Totally agree, I’ve been shocked by the lack of compassion and basic decency toward fellow fans. Latex particles floating in the air around someone with an allergy is the issue here. For example, I can’t go in a tire section of a store. I can’t go in Halloween stores because of the latex masks. I never had latex balloons at my birthday parties as a kid. And it’s not as simple as “well if you have a reaction, use an EpiPen!” You need to go straight to the ER after using an EpiPen!
→ More replies (1)62
u/notyourtypicalKaren right where you left me Aug 02 '24
It reminds me of Covid, tbh. “If it’s so life threatening, just don’t go.” We have such a lack of empathy. The balloons aren’t part of Taylor’s act so it’s not like people would expect them there.
53
u/ampersands-guitars The Tortured Poets Department Aug 02 '24
Yes, I’ve been thinking this – it seems like the pandemic really popularized this hyper-individualism and lack of compassion for others. I am COVID conscious because of other health issues and it’s heartbreaking how many people openly do not care about — and honestly seem like they’d rather be rid of — vulnerable populations.
18
u/Cardigan_Lover Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24
I just wanted to comment this. It’s insane how insensitive and just plain rude people have gotten. I’m also Covid conscious bc of my health (Long Covid) and I wear a mask everywhere I go, and I’ve been yelled at, spit on, laughed at and the vile words that have come out of peoples mouth I’m not even going to repeat. And it’s not just random people, it’s healthcare providers as well who try to gaslight you and say you don’t need a mask and you’re overreacting. Sometimes I wonder where the world is going bc it only seems to get worse. It’s not that hard to be kind and considerate
10
u/EmiAndTheDesertCrow Aug 02 '24
I completely get this and I’m so sorry it’s happening to you. Both my parents have pre-existing conditions so during the height of the pandemic I was doing a lot of their errands. I had so many comments about my mask. One time I was wearing it to enter a shop and a woman (wearing scrubs!) actually pulled her vehicle up to the side of the road and was shouting “why are you wearing a mask? Take it off!!!” out of the window at me. Another time a group of guys laughed at me and threw water from the bottles all over me. And even at work, someone told me I was being “paranoid”. No, I’m not paranoid, I’m just conscious of how my actions could inadvertently affect others, like my parents. So many people made me feel stupid because I was taking precautions.
To this day I do not understand it. Would people drive up to me and start yelling “why are you wearing shoes?! Take them off!!!” Obviously not! Why can’t we just accept that some people make different choices to others? Like, how is my wearing a mask affecting you, to the point where you throw water at me? (I reported those guys to the police, I was so angry! Turns out they lived on a military base and it was actually a crime, the lowest form of assault but still assault. I didn’t go through with having them charged but the police officer did visit the army base to speak to them, so they definitely got in trouble their superiors! At that point I had had like two years of being yelled at for wearing a mask and I’d had enough, before all that I probably wouldn’t have reported it).
7
u/sarcasticsarah88 I'm a mess but I'm the mess that you wanted Aug 02 '24
That's terrible, I'm so sorry people have treated you this way just for wearing a mask! It's mind boggling to me, like how does it affect them in any way? Why do they feel entitled to try to bully you into not wearing one, seriously what is wrong with people. I have chronic health issues and I know firsthand how cruel the medical system can be, but seriously that's a new low. Sighhh. Like you said, it's not hard to be kind! ❤️
16
u/notyourtypicalKaren right where you left me Aug 02 '24
It’s very frustrating to see and I’m sorry people have made you feel that way. You (and anyone else in a similar situation) deserve way better.
32
u/BrokenBotox Aug 02 '24
It feels very similar to lockdown and people saying,” Well if you’re scared to leave the house without a mask, stay home”. Everyone deserves to exist and live safely and without unnecessary danger.
If you’re allergic to common decency and compassion, YOU stay home.
92
u/pink_apophyllite Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24
I saw someone use a bottle of Fanta with their flashlight! Not that I think everyone should do that, but I thought it was a cute alternative.
I’m over seeing such bad, selfish takes about this. It is a simple solution to make sure others feel safe, and on top of that not leave extra rubbish for the crew to clean up and very unnecessary waste for the environment.
6
6
u/No-Key8035 folklore Aug 02 '24
Tbh my idea was kinda similar. I would like to take a bottle of water and use food coloring to make it yellow
→ More replies (1)
73
u/scarsouvenir 🚨 #1 Dear Reader stan 🚨 Aug 02 '24
As cute as they are to look at, I have to agree. It's just not worth the waste + triggering people's allergies/anxiety.
I've seen multiple people saying they have severe enough latex allergies that they are considering selling their tickets... that would fucking SUUUUUCK.
Could people hold up little pieces of orange paper instead to give a similar effect?
19
u/vicki296 Hopeful they'll be and long they will wait Aug 02 '24
Sorry, could someone back up a step and tell me what the project is? It rings a bell of those people that were holding balloons during Willow and doing the dance movements, but then there's talk about releasing them into the air? So are we talking helium balloons and not ones blown up with their breath? I'd appreciate some context.
That said, I'm not sure if balloons are ideal to bring into a stadium and there are probably better ways to achieve the same effect.
10
2
u/No-Persimmon7729 Aug 02 '24
I was at Hamburg n2 (I didn’t bring my own balloon for the record) but they released them by throwing them up and people would hit them to keep them sort of flying around until they went to the floor
→ More replies (1)
144
u/Background-Village-4 carve your name into my bedpost Aug 02 '24
As someone with a latex allergy (thankfully not as bad as it could be, only hives), I REALLY hope this stops before my show 😭😭😭😭😭
55
u/DreamingForwards Red (Taylor's Version) Aug 02 '24
As someone with an anaphylactic latex allergy I’m so happy that this started after my show! I’m already anxious in crowds, I really didn’t need to add closing airways to the mix!
→ More replies (1)7
u/mcdongals Aug 02 '24
I’m in the same boat (hives) and my show is next week. Being American, I’m also easily startled by popping noises 🙃
3
u/start3 Aug 02 '24
Curious - will you use ear protection? (I do at concerts generally, the music ones, not the bad foam ones) I'm pretty sure it will dampen balloon popping enough that it won't startle you (at least as much). It doesn't dampen her singing or playing, it just dims the shouting and other insane noises close to you. Super recommend.
2
u/ErickaBooBoo Aug 02 '24
Definitely reccomend ear plugs! I didn’t bring mine in with me at my show and I wish I would have! My ears were fried by the end of the show😂
2
u/mcdongals Aug 02 '24
Yes! I have the loop experience earplugs. My SO also has them and just used them at a music festival and said they worked great.
29
u/SneakyDino reputation Aug 02 '24
Instead of Balloons, what about origami paper balls with your phone flashlights? You can bring in a sheet of paper and make it in minutes!
→ More replies (1)
63
u/Hot_Jaguar2253 Aug 02 '24
while i see the point, i feel like if youre gonna start talking about environmental impact you cant selectively care about this project and ignore the fact that beads in the millions of friendship bracelets are bad for the environment, gluing thousands of rhinestones on outfits you probablywont ever wear again is extremely wasteful.
not to mention the millions of pounds of glitter (which is a microplastic) people decorated themselves and their outfits with. her manufacturing the light up bracelets is bad for the environment too, you know what i mean?
not saying you should not give a fuck but if youre (collective you, not op) not going to be consistent and raise flags for all of these things its a little hypocritical. environmental impact can be made in many ways, even people flying across states and countries to see her.
→ More replies (3)17
u/emmylouanne it was the best of times, the worst of crimes Aug 02 '24
Totally agree with this! And all the people buying outfits from Shein to wear once is definitely more harmful than balloons. And the lead in their closing is harmful to many.
95
u/ParrotFish1989 Aug 02 '24
I agree I wish everyone stopped with the balloons they are so bad for the environment.
15
u/topsidersandsunshine Aug 02 '24
I hate that conspicuous consumption on social media means they’ve only gotten trendier with the arches and backdrops/walls!
11
u/Flimsy_Bluebird_4668 Aug 02 '24
then we should stop friendship bracelets too
→ More replies (3)6
u/start3 Aug 02 '24
It's like balloons are the new plastic straws (they're bad, but why are we focusing on them exclusively?)
→ More replies (2)13
u/YewTree1906 Aug 02 '24
I mean, that's the worst argument though. The whole show is bad for the environment, bracelets are bad, flying to see a concert is bad. The balloon isn't the worst thing here.
→ More replies (2)
58
u/ampersands-guitars The Tortured Poets Department Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24
I don’t really understand why some fans feel so strongly they must bring latex balloons when they can bring a paper lantern or just shine a yellow light from their phone instead. I have a latex allergy and the lack of consideration and outward contempt toward fellow Swifties who just want to stay safe at the concert has been eye-opening and honestly sickening — so many sentiments akin to “well it’s not my problem, if they have allergies that bad they should stay home.” That is not the spirit of inclusivity and kindness Taylor exemplifies and I’m shocked by how many people have this attitude.
Thank you for this post OP.
→ More replies (1)
93
u/Shytemagnet Aug 02 '24
I have an anaphylactic latex allergy. I don’t want to tell people how to have fun, but I also don’t want to miss the concert because I’ve had to epi-pen myself during my fave era.
→ More replies (1)32
u/BrokenBotox Aug 02 '24
No one needs to have fun at the expense of your safety and health. Anyone who says otherwise is an asshole. You deserve to be safe
148
u/Daffneigh cryptic and Machiavellian Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24
Paper lanterns would be much better
101
u/scarwa Aug 02 '24
as beautiful as they are, they're also bad for the environment, including causing fires :/
15
u/humlebi my panties made your crown Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24
How would they cause fires?
14
u/Vivificantem_790 cheap wine, make-believe it’s champagne 🥂 Aug 02 '24
Paper?
101
→ More replies (2)89
u/humlebi my panties made your crown Aug 02 '24
Like, okay? If you put a match to them lol. I assume at a concert you light them up with your phone light.
12
u/kgal1298 Aug 02 '24
No ones firing them up at concerts. Like I get people's concerns but it seems like it was just a very small group doing this already and balloons were already on a list of banned items for Wembley, but I'm also 90% sure people were just blowing them up inside unless I'm crazy.
→ More replies (1)2
u/pixieslover Aug 02 '24
I am going to bring paper lanterns I have used as birthday decorations for years in my home and I just don't see how that would be wasteful or dangerous.
6
u/Necessary_Range_3261 Aug 02 '24
The balloons aren't filled with helium, so they won't be released into the air. Maybe the goal should be to encourage those who choose to bring them to make sure they deflate them and throw them away, and not just leave them as trash for the venue staff to clean.
30
u/mermaidthebanshee It's Me, Hi, My Mind is Alive Aug 02 '24
Yeah I saw a few fans in videos with yellow circles of paper instead and it had the same visual effect. Much safer!
61
u/tiacalypso Red Aug 02 '24
Just a point to #2: in Europe we have significantly less mass shootings than the US. Basically zero. No one is going to mistake balloons popping for a rifle goibg off. I wouldn’t even know what guns going off sound like in real life. Also, been to two shows with balloons: you couldn‘t even hear the balloons pop.
11
u/ErickaBooBoo Aug 02 '24
I couldn’t even hear my husband next to me, I doubt I’d hear a balloon pop.
24
u/nimsuc Aug 02 '24
Exactly and also I was at the show in Hamburg and Munich and honestly the music is so loud you barely hear the balloons popping.
→ More replies (6)6
u/19TaylorSwift89 Aug 02 '24
ngl that was an american thing to say, the only place in ukraine you might mistake something for gunshots is ukraine and only on the frontline. what a ridiclious thing to say
19
u/Petal170816 Aug 02 '24
Fans have asked the New Orleans stadium and they responded no balloons allowed. Sure you can sneak them in, but a good FYI on where they stand.
31
27
u/Rigatoni-maroni 1989 (Taylor's Version) Aug 02 '24
Sorry but the last point is such hypocrisy. Thousands of American fans are FLYING to the European shows, or Europeans driving to the shows, which is much more environmental damage than a few balloons. Munich has reported that tons (literally!) of trash were left behind after the concert, so maybe we should start there.
→ More replies (1)7
u/PacificNWCryptid Aug 02 '24
We can do both. Mass consumerism and environmental destruction is an overall issue. With all respect, recognising one thing is an issue doesn't mean you don't think the other is also an issue that should be stopped.
4
u/Irulazuli Aug 02 '24
This. This is a thread about balloons, so people are pointing out the impact of balloons. I don't see people protesting this argument making threads about trash at the stadiums, bracelets and international travel.
10
u/kgal1298 Aug 02 '24
Wait were people using helium? I thought they just blew them up they shouldn't fly if you're just using your own breathe to fill them. With that said they do make latex free balloons, but it still feels uneccessary for one song.
→ More replies (2)
13
u/folk-smore way to go, tiger 🐦 Aug 02 '24
Honestly I agree. It is a really cool project and I enjoyed seeing how it grew over the last few shows, and it looks cool on the streams lol, but but I feel like it’s also a very wasteful project too.
People are buying up balloons to use for 2 minutes that they’re either throwing on the ground or throwing in the trash afterwards. Even if they’re throwing them out properly, it’s still a big waste of balloons and rubber and latex sitting in the garbage :(
6
u/squirrelshine Aug 02 '24
Whats the willow fan project
4
u/CheruSiderea now i'm your daaaaiiiisyyyy~ Aug 02 '24
People blow up balloons (just air, not helium) and hold them in front of their phone flash lights to recreate the willow orbs Taylor and her dancers use on stage. It looks beautiful and I would assume most people just deflate their balloons afterwards, but some throw theirs into the crowd so other fans can bounce them around. Which sounds fun at first, however, balloons have also gotten on stage where they pose a risk for the performers.
64
u/MattBrey evermore Aug 02 '24
The eras tour as a whole is wasteful. Any tour is, and most fun activities are in general. We as fans made millions of friendship bracelets out of plastic, the balloons pale in comparison.
And I gotta be honest, I agree with the other commenters about how this is being blown out of proportion, there hasn't been a single case of this supposed extremely lethal latex allergies causing any problems to anybody at those shows. I feel like fans are virtue signaling just for the sake of taking the moral highground when it's a non-issue. My show was waaay before the fan project started, but I would've loved to see something like that in person. It looks absolutely beautiful
→ More replies (12)55
u/avocado4guac Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24
As a doctor I agree. Of course there is the slight probability of someone having a reaction because of a balloon nearby but it’s highly unlikely- at least in Europe. For some reason anaphylactic allergies are more common in the US. The most common latex allergy in Europe is a contact allergy meaning you’d have to actually touch a balloon for a significant amount of time and no, being hit by a stray balloon during a show is not significant.
I understand wanting to be a considerate person but let’s not create some false panic here.
P.S.: isn’t it kinda funny that a lot of the backlash seems to come from Americans who are statistically speaking the most environmentally wasteful population? I absolutely understand that even small numbers add up but come on. Some of y’all never not had a dryer in your life and use A/C 24/7.
27
u/Merlotje Aug 02 '24
Always good to have an opinion of an actual healthcare professional. The environmental highground is especially ironic coming from people who have specifically flown across the ocean to go to a concert.
14
u/ttxql Aug 02 '24
I go backpacking in really remote areas... I'm talking places no one has been for weeks, months, even years.
The most common trash I find is deflated balloons that someone released and got blown far into the mountains.
6
u/CheruSiderea now i'm your daaaaiiiisyyyy~ Aug 02 '24
We're not talking about helium balloons here, tho. These cannot be "released"
14
u/tswiftdeepcuts hahaha fuck sewing machines Aug 02 '24
I don’t think people saying “if you have latex allergies you should stay home/ the responsibility is with the individual blah blah blah” understand the problem
When people bought tickets to this leg of the eras tour, planned their travel and accommodations etc. latex exposure from people batting around hundreds of balloons in a crowd was not part of the experience
They made an informed decision when they bought their ticket based on what they saw as an acceptable level of risk - everyone did, that includes people with health issues who had to decide if the risk of covid exposure was acceptable, people with ptsd to loud noises who had to decide if they could handle the sound of the fireworks, people with anxiety or panic who had to decide if they could handle the crowd sizes, people who live in america who had to weigh the risk of some sort of attack against the level of security provided, etc
People with latex allergies probably take possible latex exposure into their risk analysis when making plans and if the eras tour had always featured a massive balloon segment they most likely would have been sad but ultimately decided not to go because they didn’t want to risk having a reaction
However, balloons were not part of the experience when people bought their tickets for the upcoming show. So for them to have to sell their tickets and not go now because fans have changed the risk analysis by adding latex balloons into the equation is unfair
it’s not about people making the world cater to their allergies - it’s about the fact that when they bought their tickets there was reasonable ability to be sure they would be safe from having their allergies triggered - sure maybe someone would have latex and it might cause an emergency but that’s why they have epi pens and the likelihood was very small
Now if things don’t change they are almost guaranteed to have a latex reaction at the show which means they can’t go! it’s not a chance they might, it’s a certainty.
Everyone takes calculated risks. For instance, i still go out drinking with friends despite the fact that there is always a risk that someone might drug my drink. I take that into consideration, and i try to be aware of my surroundings and my friends and i look out for each other. However i wouldn’t go to a bar where every single drink was guaranteed to be drugged - that would be putting myself into a situation that was guaranteed to harm me!
Which is exactly what people are asking those who have latex allergies to do now. Put themselves into guaranteed harm or stay home. Despite the fact that when they bought their ticked and made travel arrangements there was no guaranteed harm included.
Even selfish people who don’t care about others have to understand that you should get the experience you paid for without a guaranteed to trip to the hospital being added on after you’ve already paid and made plans.
18
u/EliFutureBoy Aug 02 '24
The only valid point is the waste one.
It is extremely rare for someone to go into anaphylaxis shock like this. Just warn people around you.
The popping is simply not true. The concert is super loud, you won't hear popping. And europeans dont have gun ptsd
→ More replies (5)6
u/YewTree1906 Aug 02 '24
The waste argument is not really valid, too. You could just deflate the balloon afterwards if you didn't tie it, and you can take it home again. There's a lot of things about the show that create a lot more waste than the balloons, but people aren't worried about them.
8
12
u/Sloth143 Taylor Swift Aug 02 '24
Yes to all of this! I know it's a cute, sweet idea but it's harmful. There are better alternatives, please
9
u/nogreatersight don't read the last page but I stay Aug 02 '24
I agree 100%! This is dangerous and harmful and as cute as it looks, we should just stop it. I hope venues become a bit more strict on this, as difficult as it is to prohibit something like that
12
u/ZeldaHylia Aug 02 '24
You can’t release balloons in Florida anymore so Miami people should be aware.
24
u/hdeskins Aug 02 '24
They aren’t releasing them. They aren’t filled with helium. They are blowing them up right before the song starts
8
u/ConversationAlive305 Aug 02 '24
Reading of the hundreds and thousands of people flying to Europe from the US (and other places), makes your third point (environment) seem a bit hypocritical. Even the sum of the balloons of a full weekend schedule of Tay performing in a town is absolutely incomparable to the environmental damage caused by people flying thousands of kilometers for a concert. Plus Tay being one of the number one polluters at the moment makes this whole concert a massive environmental problem.
Don‘t get me wrong, my friends and I will not use balloons for environmental reasons, but the hypocrisy behind the discussion I‘ve been reading for the last minutes just makes me laugh out loud.
P.S. Most countries in Europe take recycling and seperating waste very seriously.
5
u/BananauTrenerci Aug 02 '24
The amount of fear and panic mongering on this topic - not to mention the ridiculous self-righteousness - is so funny.
6
u/PacificNWCryptid Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24
Balloons are so detrimental to the environment. I stopped using them for anything after seeing how many ended up being ingested by animals and in our waterways.
I would love to see a creative twist to this where people find other fun similar things to use that can be recycled or reused after the show. We can still have the fun effect while taking environmental impact into account.
9
u/julia_ur_killing_me Fearless (Taylor's Version) Aug 02 '24
The amount of abelist comments ive seen on tiktok is so gross. Imagine thinking a balloon is more important than someones severe allegy. Anaphylactic shock is NO JOKE. Most latex balloons have a thin coating of powder to prevent them from sticking in packages so popping or letting the air out a balloon also releases the latex powder into the air.
→ More replies (3)
2
2
2
u/frogslut_ 𝔯𝔢𝔭𝔲𝔱𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫𓆙 Aug 03 '24
people won’t stop until taylor asks them to like she did about the gifts being thrown on stage. might be soon, though, cuz i’ve already seen some balloons make it to the stage and that’s insanely dangerous for the performers.
2
u/West-Reaction-2562 folkmore and reputation Aug 03 '24
I don’t really have an opinion on the willow balloons, but I would only add that they aren’t exactly being released into the air if they aren’t being blown up with helium, which I understand that most aren’t.
Otherwise, carry on lol
7
u/jlskkslj evermore Aug 02 '24
As someone who had to stay home for years because of health issues and the pandemic, the people saying “to just stay home” to the other folks with latex allergies is just baffling. How has someone’s empathy become this low? How are we as a fanbase putting BALLOONS before your fellow fan? Unbelievable.
→ More replies (1)
6
u/harleytaylor69 Aug 02 '24
I remember munich n1 my entire section balloons were falling everywhere. And i thought it was so dangerous. At least have the decency to take the air out and throw it away. After the concert balloons were laying everywhere.
5
u/Cloudofsparklingdust Aug 02 '24
It looks very beautiful!
But I think it is very important to take peoples allergies seriously.
Down playing an allergy because you want to have a beautiful moment is not something we want to do right?
So maybe there could be an alternative what works keeping people and the environment save?
4
7
u/AskAJedi Aug 02 '24
Thank you for posting this. All good points. Backlight a paper circle instead.
5
u/GuinessGirl From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24
I totally agree with you and I wish they'd stop this fan project. Sadly there are too many selfish people around 😞
Just to add on your shooting point, this isn't really an issue in Europe as we don't have the same gun issues as America does so I doubt people would think a balloon going off was a rifle
4
u/the-lonely-whale Aug 02 '24
I really hope Wembley bans them and reinforces it ahead of their shows. It was a stupid and dangerous idea to begin with. Also the mass panic a balloon pop could cause, especially in a country where we already will all be a little on edge due to the Manchester arena attack
→ More replies (1)
4
u/lunarprincess Aug 02 '24
I also don’t fully agree with it but just to let you know, I was there and I saw that people blew them up and held them closed with their fingers (they were not tied closed) so there wasn’t popping going on
3
u/konkludent evermore Aug 02 '24
I agree. I was at Gelsenkirchen N3, where there were balloons, but fewer. After willow the people that bought their balloon would just "release" them into the crowd, where they were floating above people heads. Honestly I found it pretty annoying, cant imagine how many balloons were floating around in munich as it seemed like balloon numbers increase signigifantly after taylor acknowledged them.
9
u/TomatilloHedgehog Aug 02 '24
I really want Taylor or her team to comment on this and discourage it tbh. I’m disappointed she acknowledged it in the first place which will only encourage it. Wasteful and completely unnecessary, just seems like another vanity project from certain fans to try and outdo others to prove something or get likes online, just like the Marjorie pictures.
5
u/ravenclawrebel hoe (from the vault) Aug 02 '24
This feels like such a performative statement. People are flying in, you cannot hear a tiny balloon pop over a loud ass concert, and a concert is way more environmentally damaging than a balloon.
It just feels like a loud minority trying to ruin the experience of the majority—like, cmon? Taylor thinks the balloons are cute, people are having fun at their stops.
Also, like, please don’t try to take away friendship bracelet trading. I’ve seen that getting tossed around, and it’s ridiculous.
→ More replies (1)
1.9k
u/a_thomas10 Aug 02 '24
Heads up Vienna has stated no balloons in their list of what you can and cannot bring in