Learn to Rave Responsibly

Publication title: The Gateway (University of Alberta)
First page: 9
Publication date: March 9, 2000
Author: Buchinskas, Theo

Some ravers choose to get their rush via other
means than drug use. (photo: Adam Rankin)

I watched a guy fall down a while ago. I was at a rave, doing my job, and I watched some dude simply pass out and hit his head against the scaffolding I was standing on. He was quickly surrounded by a group of people, and one guy on the floor yelled at me to get help. I ran and found security and a paramedic, and they quickly took over the situation. The guy remained unconscious, and after about 15 or 20 minutes, he was placed on a stretcher and taken out of the building.

I don't really know why he fell and I don't know what happened to him afterward. I can only hope that he's alright. My first instinct about what happened, however, is that the guy took too many drugs, plain and simple. It is possible that it was exhaustion or illness, hell, it could have ben from not taking his insulin that day. I can't help but think, however, that it was drug related, and lately I've been considering why I think that. The answer is that raves are equated with drug use, both by people who understand the party scene and those who don't, and that's where the problem lies.

Firstly, equating parties with drug use is wrong, because it undermines the entire point of the rave scene. Raves are about music, or at least I'd like to think so. Parties revolve around the DJs, in the exact same way that rock shows revolve around the musicians. We go there to listen to the music, to dance, and to have a good time with our friends. More often than not, though, having a 'good time' involves using some pretty hard drugs. Why that is, I'm not really sure, probably for the same reason that having a good time at a bachelor party usually involves getting really fucking drunk and watching some girls get naked. We establish and follow cultural trends in all aspects of our lives, including how we go about having a 'good time.'

I don't really think that this is a had thing. I don't think taking drugs is a really bad thing, but we have to be careful or it will bite us in the ass. We have to be careful with how far the social trend goes; or we can really harm ourselves. Whether it is someone getting alcohol poisoning at a house party, someone crashing their car while stunting around with their friends, or someone over-dosing on drugs at a rave, the party can go too far. I think we all know that. The problem with rave culture right now is that there are too many people who don't have any clue what 'too far' is. It's a pretty rough question, because it differs for all of us. It is something that we all have to answer.

If you are going to take part in something, it is your responsibility to know what you are getting into. Read a book, check out a website—hell, ask a paramedic at a party, they probably know better than anyone the consequences of taking things a little too far in the pursuit of a good time. II you really want to be a part of a culture, or a movement, or whatever the fuck you want to call it, be prepared to shoulder a little bit of responsibility. It isn't the job of promoters, security, your friends or your parents, and you can be damn sure the guy you buy the shit from isn't going to give you the whole story. It is up to the individual participants to make sure they aren't getting out of control, and to make sure they aren't ruining the scene for everyone else.

I really hope that dude is alright, and I really hope that all of you in the scene, or thinking about getting into it are going to be alright as well. Do your homework, and you'll make the party better for you and everyone else as well.

For more info, check out the Edmonton RaveSafe web-page: http://talk.to/ravesafe