The Batlord

We've all seen that guy at a metal show. Everyone is moshing in the accepted style (pushing and shoving and picking each other off the floor), and it's a good time with the thrill brought on by the---admittedly minimal---chance of getting hurt. Then this guy jumps in and starts practicing karate and the pit is cleared in about two seconds flat. That dude is highly annoying since what he's doing is out of place in this specific context.

But I've always kind of admired that 2-step style of hardcore moshing. It may be wrong at a metal show, but I'd love to see those people do their thing at an actual hardcore show---unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much of a HC scene where I live. I've heard it described as an "art form", where a true "practitioner" is aware of their limits and surroundings, and even though a bunch of guys are all doing it in an enclosed space, for the most part nobody is getting hit. I don't know how true that is of course. And considering the stereotype of the typical NYHC dude, it sounds like in some scenes it may very well just be a place for irate gorillas to pound on each other for douchebag kicks.

Anyone have experience with that kind of thing? Are hardcore mosh pits awesome? Unnecessarily hostile? Goofy?

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