Why do concerts need to be so loud?

Yeah I dunno
I was lying in bed when I got an email concerning an upcoming concert I was going to.
I started thinking if this concert was some kind of place of employment (and obviously it is for lots of people) then surely all the people attending would be forced to wear hearing protection.
I love a live gig or a hectic doof as much as the next bloke but as I get older the more concerned I get for my already slightly damaged ears.
what do you guys reckon? am I being soft? do you like a concert crazy loud?