Pure Love

"Rave culture displays many of life’s simple pleasures. Over the last 10-15 years, a new trend of parties has been evolving. A rave is an all night event where usually young people gather in a social atmosphere while listening to hypnotic dance music. These parties have slowly evolved into spectacles of total sensory overload. The first is the social aspects, unhindered freedom of expression of ones self through dance, dress or any other mean without fear of ridicule from others. The second is the dancing and its often quasi-spiritual effects on those partaking. The key to the success of raves is the positive atmosphere, or vibe. Raves are renowned for people's acceptability and tolerance for others. They are safe havens for people who wish to be free from social pressures. Because of this, many ravers are dressed differently then people you would normally see. Bright colors, clothing with different textures and feel, and generally clothes that is very comfortable to dance with. A sense of unity is formed between the partygoers; they attempt to form a community of sorts through there individuality. People feel free to go up to strangers and start up conversations. They also become very comfortable with everyone around them and try to share this feeling with others. This is a very important part of the whole Rave experience. When this occurs, then the party kids can truly feel free to be themselves in every way. This is something quite rare in today's commercialized society, which often dictates what is normal, and what isn't."
- Kentith Kaniff

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But, Don't You Need Drugs To Have A Good Time ?

No. This assumption is made far too often within the rave & club scene. I suppose it is a fair enough assumption to make though, as this genre of music is heavily associated with recreational drug use, MDMA in particular. However, the purpose of raves is to embrace the music. To let the lights, the pumping bass, the people and the whole atmosphere engulf and swallow you completely. Drugs do not need to be ingested for this to be achieved.
Since the late 1990s, a concern has risen over the illict use of various stimulants, hallucinogens, and sedatives at raves. What this concern fails to acknowledge, however, is that every "club drug" has been around for decades and is still primarily used for purposes other than dancing. The majority of users of ecstasy, GHB, LSD, speed and etc, do not go to raves or clubs. Furthermore, the most widely used amd abused party drug is alcohol - which is forgotten amidst this concern, even though alcohol is responsible for more overdoses, sexual assaults, and acts of violence than all of the "club drugs" combined. The attempt to ban a growing dance culture due to the link between ecstasy and raves is unrealistic of the historical relationship between drugs and music. Jazz, reggae, rock, hip hop, disco, punk and practically every other music genre has had drug use intertwined into its culture.
Assuming that all ravers are "pill-heads" and over indulge themselves with such stimulants ignores the safety of most users who aren't ravers, dismisses the problem of alcohol abuse at clubs and college parties, and exaggerates the dangers of a music culture that brings nothing new to history in terms of recreational drug use.

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