Comment by 123pie123 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by 123pie123 | Hacker News Reader

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having been to many many festivals, where you pass through many crowds some static (eg people standing still) or dynamic (eg like the paper - everyone moving)

I found that people will just follow the nearest person moving roughly in the same direction as you want, if you can't see no one doing that, you then muddle your way through people but then find that theres a train of people behind you.

if you cant't find anyone to folow and you're the front person, then simple rules seem to come into action eg angles of how people are stood also seem to play a part, you prefer to go around the back of people rather than in front of them. and if there's two people together you try not to go through them. etc..

this knowledge is based in the UK where people are somtimes too polite

I have noticed this too as a very tall person. At times I’ve realized I’ve got a lot more sway over controlling a crowd than most. Unfortunately for me, the confidence to wield it doesn’t just come with the physical trait.

I have experienced the same situation at concerts. The worst possible scenario is you needed to pee but everyone that came with you is near the stage in the pit. Even in a small venue this is painful. My reluctance to push through a crowd before has caused people to push me and use me like a cow catcher. Crowds are funny things.

Having been in a couple dense crowds, you really just have to push to get people out of the way. But I'd rather avoid situations where that's required.

One weird way to move fast through a crowd that I've found is to keep your hands up. Not sure why, but when I'm doing this, most of the people seem to get out of the way. Works almost every time.

A strategy that I've seen suggested that works very well for me is to just look at your feet. You don't need to care about where people bodies are, bodies follow feet, watch your steps, not only you won't step on or get stepped on, but you are also less likely to hit other people.

I also won't see your hands up.

I think part of the reason hands up work is also simply because you take less space with your hands up (you body becomes narrower overall).

been to countless electronic gatherings and can attest that streams are definitely a thing. finding the right spot to stand mostly still can be difficult

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