I have been a "part" of the rave scene since about mid-93. The first rave I attended was in Ottawa, Ontario presented by CKCU 93.1fm (the Carleton University Radio Station), and some other members of the local community.

    Needless to say, this one event sent me on a journey to a higher state of conciousness. It was the most phenominal experience I have ever felt. There were so many people there from so many different walks of life. Punks, rockers, bikers, clubbers, preps, jocks, and just plain ravers, all came together to drop their respective labels and just dance their hearts away on a rented dance floor. My heart skipped a beat when I stepped back and saw just how peaceful the world could be if everyone followed by this example.

    I don't consider myself to be a regular raver so-to-speak, but I attend when I can, and I have seen both good, bad, small, and large raves in various parts of Ontario. I have raved in Ottawa, Toronto, Waterloo, and Guelph. The story of my "rave experience" is one that is going to likely be completely one-sided. I'm not about to lay down the definition of "rave" or what it's all about. I feel that everyone has to find their own "definition" in a rave - you truly get out of it what you put in. I'm trying to dispell labels - even though our world depends on them so much. Too many people have tried to stand on their soap-boxes and say a rave is "this" or a rave is "that". Instead, I offer you what a rave means to me.

WHAT IS A RAVE ?

    Well, here's the biggie. I'll repeat again - this is by no means the ultimiate definition of a rave. I'll probably refine this many times before I give up raving - if I give it up. If you want to see what is the closest "agreed upon" definition, I suggest that you read the alt.rave FAQ from start to finish.

    Raving, to me, all starts with unity. It's hard for me to lay it out in stone, but never before have I seen a single place where people of any race, religion, sexual orientation, age, or physical or mental state could come together for the sake of positive human co-existance. Now some may say, what about churches? Well, what about catholics, whom have strict rules to be a believer in their god? Raves have no rules to be a believer in our cause; only "be peaceful with one another". This goes for any number of organizations of any kind today. Everyone seems to be so bent on the fact that they are on the "up-and-up" with their beliefs, they don't stop to see the feet their stomping on.

    I mentioned it a bit earlier, but the second part of raving comes with respect. Raves are all about respecting each other and everyone's personal beliefs. However, these beliefs are left at the door. This is the one place where you can honestly say, "I do have a freedom of expression." I try my best to respect everyone and the area I'm in. That includes keeping a place clean to show that we're not here to stay up all night and destroy a place for the sake of a good time. At the same time, ravers respect the choices each of us make in life. Through many discussions both on and off-line, many people have commented on other raver's lack of respect for them because they'll be hassled for drugs, or they'll see some poor kid mentally freaking out. To me, the person complaining does not have any respect for the other person's choices. Agreed, there are the individuals who attend raves for different reasons than the rest of us, but that does not mean they deserve any less respect. They have made their choices, respect them, even if you don't agree with them. Respect is such an "all encompassing" word, I'll stop now before I get in over my head. Simply put, "Respect and be respected!"

    The ravers among us might notice I'm getting out of order, but hold tight. Next? Love. Raves are all about coming together to celebrate a night of love and togetherness. It is a tribalistic journey that bonds us together in a love so universal, it's almost scary. Everytime I try to explain this "love" to people, everyone sees the same picture in their head that involves "a bunch of kids staying out way past their bedtime and listening to loud music." It's just a fad is it? A trend? It just might be the case, but why stomp it if it is better than any other union of our world that has ever been attempted? I may have gone out on a limb, but I feel that the ravers of today are a 90's Hippy movement. We should not be seen as a bunch of "lie-abouts", no sir. Ravers exist where you least expect them. Your waitress? Your Lawyer? Your Internet Provider! There is no age limit or generation category into which ravers fall. Be careful how you disrespect that blue-haired, lip-pierced, baggy-pant wearing person on the street, you could be asking for their help someday.

    Last, but never least, Peace. For some reason I think I have already covered this in it's feeling in the above paragraphs. I have never seen a bunch of ravers trying to beat each other up. And I doubt I ever will. We, the ravers, are what the world wants - Peace. Edgyness and agression is what we eliminate by dancing our tails off to a 4/4 beat.

    So what does this all add up to? PLUR. Period. Peace, Love, Unity and Respect. Four words to live by for any culture, any religion, of any generation. Those new to the rave culture would do well to sit back and reflect about what PLUR means to them. Overall, no two people will feel the same, so I expect everyone that reads this to disagree with me, in some fashion.

SO WHY THE HASSLE ?

    The biggest problem I feel that the "outside world" has with the rave culture is the media's drastic association with raves and drugs as an intertwined part of the culture. I have been witness to many different styles of raves, and I know first hand that raving does not require illicit substances as a means to "have a good time".

    The recreational use of drugs for any reason can be found through out the world in many different age groups, professions, and religions. Drug use does not have to be bound to a group of individuals to make it illegal. It is illegal because the government tells us it is bad for us. Think to yourself why drugs are illegal. Did you come up with anything? How about, why isn't caffiene illegal? Why isn't nicotine illegal? And what about alcohol? Now ask yourself what makes these substances so positive that they aren't illegal? A lot of questions with no answers.

    I may be proving my ignorance, but consider it my uneducated mind speaking it's worth. In all the statistics, where do you think deaths due to recreational drugs (ie. mushrooms, acid, marijuana, ecstasy) ranks say compared to alcohol use or weapons use? Shocked to find that it's ranked last? I'm not. Alcohol is legal to those of age and yet under age minors are still drinking, and of-age "responsible" adults are still getting in their cars drunk and running people over. Where is the sense in this? However, I digress.

    My conclusion to this is I'm fed up with people like Channel 4000 in St.Louis, the Toronto Star, CJOH TV in Ottawa, and other such media sources who try to bring down what so many people find enjoyable by exploiting raves and try to give their own definition of what a rave "is". Raves do not equal drug usage, period. I am not saying that people that attend raves do not indulge in recreational use of illicit substances, however I am saying that it is not a manitory part of the culture. Nor should those who attend raves sober or under the influence of legal substances be punished by authorities shutting their party down and forcing them out on the street - $25 less in their pocket (or whatever their ticket cost that night).

    A final rant. Take CityTV of Toronto, Ontario. During the Building Blocks rave, there were permit complications that the city neglected to inform the promoters of before the event took place (they had well over a month, I'm sure) and therefore, this permit violation required aproximately 20 Toronto police cars and 20+ officers to be called to duty as 3000 ravers were turned out into the streets to fend for themselves, well past the time that major city transportation has already stopped for the night. Were the police and CityTV expecting a riot? I would guess so. The TV crew went home with sour looks on their faces and not a single word was aired about the event that cost tax payers many dollars and ended in a quiet disassembling of a rave. Next time you are criticising someone for going to a rave, think about the hassle they get for trying to have a good time, and think about the crimes that took place while a good chunk of your fair city's good 'ol boys in blue are out looking for a riot. Still feel safe?

Tom Robbs

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