cannabisnews.com: Raves Are a Rite of Passage Raves Are a Rite of Passage Posted by FoM on September 02, 1999 at 13:29:19 PT Don't fear them; help kids who attend them be safe Source: LA Times Raves appear to be Gen Y's version of the '60s love-ins. Several thousand young people gather for an all-night concert of music that has not yet found its way into a mainstream venue. Raves feature loud music spun together in an original way by disc jockeys. I attended a rave in San Bernardino last year because my son performs this music style. And as a United Methodist minister, I have worked with youth all my life and am intrigued by the culture they create without us--or in spite of us. The night we attended a rave, 10,000 people were there. We were clearly the only ones over 40. These kids hadn't learned about the rave via the mainstream or even the underground media. They knew about it because they are part of a musical scene that doesn't even register on the adult public's screen. No one was selling these kids alcohol. It wasn't a bar or club scene. Yes, like any Rose Bowl event, there were empty beer cans in the parking lot. But the security at this rave was so strict, you couldn't smuggle in a shot, much less a joint. No unopened packs of cigarettes were allowed. Lots of the kids appeared to be on some kind of drug high, but I've smelled more marijuana and seen more people out of control at the Hollywood Bowl. I was reminded of the clergy who showed up in collars at those '60s events, passing out loaves of bread or reminding the revelers that someone else had taught the message of love centuries earlier. I would caution adults that we cannot eliminate or even contain every avenue of youthful self-expression. Nor should we try. On the contrary, it would make better policy and achieve better social results to participate in helping it evolve. So why do raves occur in the remote areas of the Southland? Because more accessible venues are not available to the promoters of these events. A few New Year's ago, a rave near downtown L.A. was closed down by police, and a mini-riot ensued. Some venue operators won't even talk to promoters. Other venues aren't appropriate for all-night, multi-staged, high-volume performance because they are too close to residences. But the more inaccessible the mainstream venues, the more the events are pushed into marginal areas with risky accessibility. The stricter the rules, the farther the drive, and the more likely the tragedy. Apparently, the road that leads into the ski area where last Saturday's rave occurred is a recognized problem whether the event is an all-night concert or an all-weekend ski crowd. At such places and for such events, the California Highway Patrol or the Forest Service could lead a convoy cars at a safe speed down the narrow roads to more safely traveled highways. Why not participate in the safety of such events, rather than push them farther from where kids live? At the rave I attended, I was surprised that with 10,000 captive young people, there was no health booth. No one was giving away condoms or talking about safe sex, much less there in case of an overdose. No one was signing up kids to vote. No one was extolling the forest environment where the kids had come to hear music and party. As far as I can determine, a rave is simply a way for young people to tell their parents one thing and then do another. They must find a time and a place to prove themselves, to get themselves across some mystical barrier that prevents them from feeling fully adult. Sometimes it's dancing all night. Sometimes it's drinking oneself sick. Sometimes it's trying drugs. Every time a young person dies--regardless of the connection to any activity--it is tragic. But it is also tragic for society if the energy, enthusiasm and visionary exploration of our young people becomes so contained and repressed that it cannot be expressed. The Rev. James Conn Is a Former Mayor of Santa MonicaPubdate: September 2, 1999Copyright 1999 Los Angeles Times Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #15 posted by Kronroy on October 05, 2001 at 10:20:17 PT: I'ts all about music, love, and connection This is a responce to the comment left by REZ (april 22, 2001) To say that the music aspect og a rave is destroyed by the intake of drugs is a completely narrow minded assumtion. (in other words, a really stupid a** thing to say) If you have ever took the drug extacy, you would know that the music and the drug are perfect for eachother, nothing makes you feel more intouch with yourself and others. I appretiate the rave music (ie techno, trance, house) because it is a form of expresion, and a great one at that, but i take the drug(s) because i have fun. no one fights, no one discriminates, it's just fun! [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Ember on July 22, 2001 at 09:19:52 PT: the rave culture and drugs Just as all of the other posts have confirmed, drug usage is everywhere, and will always be. There is so much more to Raves then drug usage, and its truly a pity that so many people view raves with such negative perceptions. No one is going to deny the fact that there are many drugs being passed, sold, purchased, and dosed at raves. The ones who take the drugs are the ones seeking to enhance their experience. Every experience in life, whether it be a negative one, or positive... is always in essence good. Experience brings with it knowledge and understanding. Unfortunately, there are many out there who do not realize the dangers, and how to treat drugs with care and caution. They can be a great learning and enlightening experience, just as well as they can be a very harmful and even lethal experience. To everything in life there are the pros and the cons. For the rave culture in itself however, it is much more then just the experience of mind-altering drugs. It is about the music, feeling it through your body and soul... forgetting everything around yourself, closing your eyes and just allowing your body to move with the sounds and beats. Raving is a beautiful way of self-expression and personal enjoyment. The large majority of ravers are some of the happiest, warmest, and kindest people you could ever meet. They recognize the fact that life isnt as serious as society tries to make it, so they open up and share with you. There is no fear or worry of being judged or scrutinized by one another; everyone is on the same level, looking for the same experience of pure happiness and fun. Going to raves sober is just as fun as raving with the help of mood inhancers. Overall, every person there is searching for the same thing as the next person... fun, enjoyment, and the great feeling of friendship and unity between all of those around you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Emily on May 02, 2001 at 06:34:14 PT: Call it what it really is - A Drug Haven If it was "just about music" then there would be no drugs at all found at a Rave along with kids with glass eyes. There are other ways to hear the music if only the music was so important to you as most of you profess it to be. Any drug use at a Rave ruins what the Rave is allegedly to be about...the music. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by ReZ on April 22, 2001 at 13:25:47 PT PLUR Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect; that's what raves are all about. You find pearls of wisdom everywere, a friend of mine said, "The only people who don't like raves, are the ones who've never been to one." God forbid that we get together, have a good ass time, and forget that we are supposed to not like people we don't know. There, everybody's cool with everybody. PLUR [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by dj bugzE aka: mike d on February 13, 2001 at 19:36:56 PT: please help me... besides given a word to all my kandy kids, and sayin that raves are a lot more than drugs...can anybody help me with a list/chart on the types of ex. besides personal knowledge i am doing a school project. i myself will admit that i have a blast at raves while on extacy. i hate that i am giving the MANY others that are sober there a bad name. but like many have said wherever you go, you will find drugs. dont be mistaken, just because i do, do the drugs doesnt mean that i forget the meaning of the rave...'to shut up and dance' and 'love, peace, and happiness' we are just trying to have a good time...woodstock of the 2000's baby! but yea, please help me...if anybody knows a website or can create one for me, i need a chart with all the main types of ex (mitsubishi, peach, y2k, blue elephants, k, etc) and what EXACTLY they do, and what they are good for (ones with more or less speed, etc) please help me...mnm45433 cs.com thanks a bunch, im on the outro [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by amanda on February 03, 2001 at 11:16:31 PT Conflicting stories and personal experience I feel all of those people who say that raves were started long ago, not for drug use, but for the music. People want to chill and be with friends, and that is wonderful. However, I am almost positive that even when this phenomenon started that drugs were involved. Now these drugs are becoming the focal point on what a rave is. Dateline and 20/20 can not be blamed for trying to put out a story. They report (on the mostpart) to adults - some who have children. Their report was made off of their findings, and I completely respect that. If old school ravers want to shed this image, there needs to be a revolution within the rave culture - a separation of the two schools of thought. This will most likely never happen, though. Money made by the promoters guarantees that. Despite the controversy, I hope all that attend have a safe, fun time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by anon on December 15, 2000 at 17:59:11 PT raves raves go off, pop pills and have a ball. fuck all the oldies telling us no drugs.!!! They did and do it too [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by ellis de on December 01, 2000 at 22:56:27 PT: druggies and druggettes I'm a weedster. I like raves for the music and the vibes. it hypens me up to work all week and honestly collect my checks than go out on a friday, dance all night, go to an after party, dance late night and into the early morning, maxin relaxin, u know get my drink on spend time with my friends. just chillen. people don't have to study there whole lives just to find out why so many people do drugs? . don't make your job your life, make your freetime your life. remember before working, all life is about is making memories and being happy. http://members.xoom.com/plague64 [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Aleasha on October 18, 2000 at 14:08:50 PT: raves and drug use Whoever said that raves are run and/or started by drug users, first of all, is wrong. Raves were started in another country and became popular in the US not that many years ago. In fact, when raves first became popular in this country, extacy wasn't even used! It was still believed to be the "date rape drug" and no one wanted it; acid was the drug used, if any, because of the way bright lights and techno enhanced the high. After extacy started to get popular, media started giving the rave scene the reputation for being a place for teens to do illegal substances all night. Well, I have been in the scene for a while and I don't go to raves to do drugs. My boyfriend is a promoter and he hasn't ever tried any drugs, and I personally know a lot of DJs from New York, California, and the UK who never use them either. Because people focus only on the bad aspects of the scene, it is easy to exploit it; however, if you ever actually went to a rave and saw it for what it really is, you would know that although there is drug use there, that isn't what it is really about. Besides, drug use is everywhere! Techno is the reason raves are put on and that is what most people go to them for. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by kid kedamine on September 03, 2000 at 17:39:40 PT: the real deal on rave Hey whats up peeps, dont be mistaken by my name(it's a radio name) i do not use drugs nor do i condone them. I just wanted to drop a line and say that raves aren't anything to get all upset about. The rave scene is probably the least harmful thing in the world.You should be worried about the scenes that promote bastard children and bank robbing.The only thiing the rave scene promotes is love,light,harmony, respect and things of this nature.. and to say the scene promotes drug use is crazy. You and the media and the drug dealers and the drug users promote drug use.. thats no differnt than any other scene. i work in a restraunt and their is more drugs bein passed through their than you can imagine... and the average age at my restraunt is like 29-37. When i'm out at the raves all i want to do is meet like 50 new colorful people who aren't worried about bein hard and dance dance dance. The artform of the millenium is rave culture dance. John Travolta of the millenium rite here.. hahah well im out. be safe be friendly and be yourself and if your ever in tampa look me up. I'll be at the biggest rave, on the dance floor,spotlighted!! kidd kedamine! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by hugo on July 17, 2000 at 14:09:04 PT raves look all i got to say is people are gonna do what ever the hell they want how they want..... I have been into the scene a few yrs now and all i can say is no matter how much you promote safety there is always gonna be some screw ups..... There is lots of people who go out there do their drugs and have a great time....Just as there is ravers who are drug free and who also have a great time... We all come together for that one purpose,the GROOVE.........Now i dunno where these dateline, 20/20 punks get the nerve to just bash a scene the don't know anything about......Marching into our parties with cameras asking complete idiots what they are on .......Knowing they are gonna give them what they want to hear hey yeah i took two tabs of "x" just so these greedy bastards can get a story........They interview people who don't care, who advertise their drug use to the world......There is lots who keep this a secret kinda like haha i'm trashed and you don't even know it.........But no, media only focuses on the "kids" who get retarded and pass out or die......Hey if you do drugs and whatnot you yourself should know your limitations thats just stupidity on a users parts.....i mean just like the media has done all other kinds of music rap, metal, etc. with the message it sends out in lyrics.....Well there is really no message in this form of music.... Its basically shut the hell up and dance......So its hard to say that this music says hey go out get stupid wake up tommrow repeat the process.......Its actually far from that........Lets face it poeple media, parents need to stop blaming t.v., radio, and movies for the faults of their chidren......ravers are peaceful don't mean any harm just wanna dance, jam, and feel good, meet new poeple........coming to an end here i just wanna say hey drugs are everywhere not just the rave scene, rap concerts or even metal concerts....I know this is about raves but had to throw that in as an example someone needs to stick up for them too....... I mean cmon i bet there is drugs at a backstreet boys concerts, or even britney spears concerts we just dont' hear about it because no one cares......hugo [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by drew on June 27, 2000 at 23:48:05 PT: send me info on (marijuana & Extacy) thanx alot. drew. marijuana & extacy [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by hannah on March 10, 2000 at 05:08:03 PT you are assholes raves startedbecause of the music..notthe fucking drug dealers..you should learn about shit before you post it.... [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by unknown on February 23, 2000 at 08:07:52 PT Rave Culture Raves started because drug dealers like to party. Also the drugs of choice for ravers (extacy,K,acid,whatever) are not ones you want to be doing around strangers. Raves started because friends wanted a safe place to get really high and listen to music. Drug dealers with money and connections started promoting parties as a way to sell lots of drugs in one night, make money at the door, and get away clean in the morning (unless something bad happened). Raves becoming popular has made rave promoters more problems then money. Nowadays the ravers with any clue about what's legitamate in the culture stay the hell away from the massive parties full of 14 year old candy ravers, whack MC's and GHB. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by the#1insaneun on September 05, 1999 at 13:09:15 PT: raves I would have to say that raves are too constantly becoming part of the mainstream, which is not what they were meant to be in the first place. Now that more and more people know about them, they are making raves a place to go and sell drugs, which is impacting many young teenagers. Most raves will let people in at least at the age of thirteen as long as they have an I.D. Really this is okay if alcohol is not being sold, but as many people may know, raves are more often than not receiving a bad reputation for hallucinogens, such as acid, mescaline, ecstacy and kedamine. This, in turn is making it more accesible for people this young to obtain these harsh drugs than getting an older sibling to go buy them beer. I think that raves are something that need to return to the underground scene where people go to gather for the music, because that is what it is all about (or at least it used to be). [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: