Raves

[Ravenstorture]

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And why has no one yet mentioned the raiding of the Diamond Fork rave in Utah on Saturday, August 20th, by the US SWAT team? It happened nearly a month ago, and I've heard next to nothing about it. Having your basic human rights; such as not to get kicked in the stomach; violated in a country as 'socially advanced' as the US slips under the radar now? Can you IMAGINE what else we aren't being told?

News articles on the event:
[url]http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/82205utrave.cfm[/url]
[url]http://www.music-versus-guns.org/mamboserver/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=2[/url]
[url]http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Dance_party_broken_up_by_police_in_Utah,_USA[/url]

Djs scheduled to play the night later posted their accounts:

Knick of Evol Intent:
[url]http://www.404audio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14814[/url]
Syze: (video footage in sig)
[url]http://www.seattlednb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2840[/url]
Video footage here:
[url]http://homepage.mac.com/apexgrin/FileSharing2.html[/url]

As a dedicated raver, this kind of thing really scares me. We put so much effort into making raves safe places, and this "interest" from law enforcement agencies apparently isn't that rare, either. It makes me sick.

I live in the heart of Brisbane's nightlife area, the valley, where there are raves nearly every week, and large scale raves almost every month. The best are hosted at the showgrounds down the road, in the four huge warehouses there, but there are also large venues and a few nightclubs that are pretty much rave set-ups five, six days a week... pure heaven. Progressive, trance, house, hardcore, happy hardcore, whatever you feel the need for. I'm getting so fit, just getting out there every week end and dancing as hard as I please from ten til five.

Special raves, big ones, are like abalone to me (and usually costs as much) - because they are so big, there are always ten hundred more friends to be made, numbers to be exchanged and hugs all round. No inhibitions, no judegment, no low self esteem, no closed off groups, everyone smiles at you and you can talk to whoever you want to - it's like a complete breakdown of society. It just seems like when the lasers shine on you, what "other people think about you" no longer is a problem and you can bare your true self and feel good about it.

And then there is the music, oh god, the music.... what bliss is a repetitive driving racing heartbeat that moves your body even against your will, even without your noticing, you can't not dance to it, it is so addictive and exhilliarating and empowering. You feel sexy, energetic, talented, and so alive. And there is nearly nothing you can do that will draw attention to yourself, everyone is doing everything you can imagine, there is no chance of feeling alienated or in some way a detrimental presence.

The main thing I just love about raves is the feeling of SAFETY. I've never really seen any violence, if you so much as trip over and fall on your face twenty people will decend upon you to help. Alcohol consumption is so rare at raves these days that the outdoor ones no longer sell it, and the vibe is just so different that if you accidentaly run into someone or knock something out of someone's hand, it's an excuse to make a friend or at the very least, snatch a smile and a friendly conversation.

Yeah, I know that they aren't what they used to be, but hey, they also used to be illegal, and one could be arrested for preparing, attending or even waiting to attend a rave as late as the 1990s (Criminal Justice and Public Order Act;UK 1994). So compared to the drunken, violent letchery I see (and indeed, can hardly avoid) in more mainstream and common social niches, I think I'll stick with this brightly coloured and mydriatic underground.

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[Horendithas]

I have never been to one myself, but truthfully I just don?t see the attraction to attending one. I am sure that for some it is fun, but I have yet to see one held in my area that didn?t turn into some form of disaster. It seems that the people who hold them here feel the need to get drunk, get high and play music that keeps everyone else awake until you have no choice but the call the cops as they are up long past the curfew for such noise. It really is difficult to get the idea across to someone who is either high or drunk that they are breaking the law. Or that others like to actually get some sleep or not have their things vandalized by those who are too wasted to even know their own name.

I suppose it might be interesting if people were a bit more respectful of others when holding a rave. Maybe it is better where you all live, but here it?s downright annoying. I just can?t bring myself to like others who play music loud enough to rattle my windows from 9pm until the cops shut them down. If they obeyed the law and shut down before midnight like they are suppose to I could tolerate it, but it just doesn?t happen.

Personally I wish they would allow them to hold such a party in one of the music buildings in downtown Salt Lake City, as the building is soundproof. That way they could have their fun till the early hours without being a nuisance to the rest of us.

[Mr. Maul]

[font=Garamond][color=seagreen][url="http://hyperreal.org/~mike/pub/altraveFAQ.html"][color=gray]This[/color][/url] is a great article for those of you who are not aware of what a rave is. Very inspirational in my eyes.[color=seagreen] [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rave_party#History"][color=gray]This[/color][/url] makes me wish I was born fifteen years earlier to be able to fully enjoy the explosion of the rave scene.[/color][/color][/font]