Do u think the rave scene is all about drugs

[*cLuNksTA*]

Hey there people i was just wondering what u think of the rave scene today, is it all about drugs or is it about the music

. I have been going to parties for 6 years now and i have seen a big change, and what really get's to me is the fact that people don't go there for the music, they go for a place to dump pill's and this fuck's up the vibe, i want it to be a place where raver's could unite and share there passion for the music, a place where u can feel safe, not a place with dodgy dealer's selling u bunk pill's, people stealing your shit, people rolling u

i wanna ask all your opions about this do u think that the raver's of today are dedicated or do u think there just going through a fase of pill popping
Eccy Bear Over And Out

 

[CrazyAustralian]

It isn't just the drug, it's a package: Ecstasy, the company, the music, the lights, the dancing. (can't remember where I stole this quote - shit).
you said 'they go around and dump pills and this fucks up the vibe'... Now, I've never really learnt what 'the vibe' is, but what I take it to mean is this: When there is a good vibe, it means if you smile at some stranger, they smile back, people are talkative to anyone, everyone wants to have fun, and nothing matters as to the way you dress/look/talk. But thats just my (whacked) opinion.
Your situation sounds pretty bad, I've only seen one of the bad things you mentioned in raves (people stealing things), never have i seen 'dodgey dealers' (i've seen dealers, but not dodgey ones) and have never seen/heard of anyone getting rolled at a rave. I know if I had seen those, I too woudl be questioning the rave scene.
I think a few people are just in it for the pills, but most of them are in it for the music as well (ie, when they decided to stop doing pills they will still go to raves or can go to raves w/out doing pills). So, YES, I do think the majority of people are dedicated to it, but everything in society has its fuck ups, nothing is perfect. Everywhere you go, someone will be trying to make alot of money very quickly (stealing bags, selling bunk pills etc) and this is very unfourtinate. I don't know if this happend 10 years ago, or even a year ago, as I've only been going for about 8 months, but I'm quite happy with the way the scene is at the moment!
ps, where are you? Syd raves seem very very different from melb parties... Come down here for a visit!

 

[SpankY]

I can't believe your attitude towards this. Yes, people go there to take pills, it is the combination of the pills and music that make it so wonderful. You think people taking pills fucks up the vibe - I think that is what makes the vibe so amazing. People on pills are happy/friendly/not violent/ONLY looking to have a good time. And if the crowd at any kind of event had that attitude, the world would be a better place.
Chances are that the people stealing shit are not on pills. I could not even consider stealing anything from somebody when on a pill, I would feel terrible. And of course there are dodgy dealers there, (i assume you mean dealers with dodgy pills), there are dodgy dealers everywhere, and the only solution is to buy your drugs beforehand.
Well, I hope you cheer up.
SpankY
PS. are you coming down?

 

[dru]

I personally think that the scene is fuelled by drugs. The scary thing is deep down we all know this. We just don't wanna be reminded that "the vibe" is sometiems artificial and drug induced. Of course many ppl go to parties solely for the drugs (I admit, I did for a time). Yet there are some ppl that go solely for the music. I guess it's up to the individual whether or not they are gonna fuck up "the vibe" or take excess amounts of drugs.
The issue is not whether or not the scene is about drugs because in a sense. Most modern day leisure activities involve some form of drugs (alcohol, nicotine, steroids, caffiene- in extreme examples).
The problem is our culture derives itself mostly on drugs. How much one can consume, how worthy they are of taking huge amounts etc... This huge ego competition is dangerous. Ecstasy by itself is harmful let alone large amounts and in small intervals.
I have overheard countless convos where ppl actually brag about the amounts or at least say openly how "fuct up they R". With everyone smiling etc...
From an outsider's view- the scene is full of drugs and drug promotion. From an insider's view- we say this is normal, actually condone this and promote it. Now that is the problem. OVERINDULGING AND GLORYFYING DRUG USE!!!
My two cents
PeaceOut

 

[BigTrancer]

This is a really brief (actually reading back, it's not so brief - perhaps I'd better put 'breifly considered') opinion of mine which I am working on fleshing out, but here is the skeleton of it. I think that this 'scene' is generally one in which the people who populate it just 'want to be left alone to do what makes them happy'.
The problem is one with public perception, because to be left to our own devices, we need to appear harmless to ourselves and to others. It seems to me that the public perception of ravers and raves is one of overriding suspicion, and that raves and drugs are interconnected in many peoples minds is of no aid to us (true or not). I imagine someone who went to a rave for the first time, 'to see what it's all about', who saw a group of happy party people grinning at one another, trying to eke out every enjoyable second from their youth and putting out a peaceful fun vibe. That would be one less person who had an unfounded mental picture of a rave being a dirty warehouse full of drug addicts. However, on the other side of the coin, I can equally imagine someone who came to a rave for the first time, and saw heaps of people wearing shirts with slogans advertising and advocating drug use, mashing around trying to leave reality in one way or another, and generally being self-focussed and introspective. It would leave them with an entirely different perspective of the 'scene'.
Of course, it is absolutely possible to enjoy drugs without the music, and the music without drugs. It is also possible to enjoy both at once without detracting from anyone elses enjoyment. Personally I can't think of any better sight than seeing a person at a rave who is having the time of their life, dancing away with a euphoric grin on their face and experiencing their own personal little nirvana inside their head. They notice you looking and give you a big thumbs-up, and ask the inevitable question, "Are you having a good night?" - when they really want to say "I really hope that you're having as much fun as I am, because where I am right now is heaven".
How do I see myself? Am I a different person when I'm at a rave? Does it matter how other people see me, if I'm happy within myself? If I am a different person, does taking drugs change the person I am, or is it the way other people would react if they knew I am an 'illegal drug user' that changes who I am?
(Is this making sense?)
The experiences we all have at raves are what we make of them. If you're there for the drugs, and you have fun without taking away anyone elses fun, good. If you're there for the music, and you enjoy the music without taking part in any drugs, good. If you just plain love being around a huge mass of people who share a common interest, good. But, if you realise that you're not having fun because something detracts from your enjoyment, it might be time to reassess why it is that you go.
BigTrancer

*I think this train of thought posting is dangerous to my health*

 

[Leprechaun]

I don't know about you guys. But I LOVE the music! I LOVE the people, and I LOVE the substances. The whole idea IS the whole. RAVES are DRUGS,PEOPLE,MUSIC,SEX etc... A society encompasses all of human nature and presents it in a certain manifestation, our manifestation is RAVE/DOOF etc... it is an expression of being human, of curiosity, of love, of all other human emotions. It is only our mainstream society that portrays ecstasy negatively, thus I believe we feel guilty. I can go to a rave without drugs, but I have learnt to treat drugs with respect, just like the music and the people, you should not point the drugs out, if you do there is a potential to turn your back on the positive and beneficial sides of the Rave culture. I think what a lot of people forget about when it comes to drugs, is respect and a concept of spirit within a substance, this gives a drug a sense of character, all the while we give drugs a negative appearence and a negative character, making them look like a monster to us, that we treat with no respect.
I hope that makes some sense, otherwise I'd love some feedback.

Love to all!!!

 

[XSI11V]

Clunksta like myself is from Sydney, and i know where he's coming from. Our scene's changed bigtime.
Seeing photo's of melbourne parties, there seems to be a much older crowd (are you're big rave parties O18?), and you melbounites definitely get into the spirit of things more eg. dressing up in fancy costumes.
Our big raves are all age, and not trying to start any old/new debate - but a lot of the youngens do seem to be more centrally focused on themselves and their drugs.
Our overage parties which play oldskool rave music and hence attract the older ravers tend to be held in clubby venues, hence people are less inclined to dress up. I believe dressing up is the first step towards opening up and having a good night, which creates the overwhelming vibe Sydney unfortunately lacks on many occassions.

 

[HappyCamper]

I can't speak for other places so I shall focus on the Brisbane scene.
It seems to be getting a bit *too* commercial with the addition of Wild FM.
Don't get me wrong, the more the merrier in my books, but they need to be the right people. A prime example was last rave the line up to get in was fairly big, but thats all part of it. Everyone in the line nattering away, feeding of each others vibe. But then you get "others" who are pushing in and getting angry at the wait and things like that. This doesn't really help.
As for dressing up, I almost always do

its all part of the pre-preparation and psyching up you do before you go

generally starts around 5 in the arvo with the cooking of dinner, but has also began with spending all morning cleaning the house as well...
teehee.
dats all folks
Chill - at least its easy to spell.