What Really Happens at Raves (5)
Dallas, Texas - 2001
The following is an account of a girl who was into the rave and club scene and everything about it. Her last roll was about a month before writing this. It was the day we met her. It was a muddy, rainy, chaotic Electric Daisy Carnival in Austin. We were blowing our bubbles and she asked us to bubble her and her friend. We got talking and she told us she didn’t expect to meet anyone as cool as us.
When she found out what we were there to help the wiggin’ kids she was very intrigued and surprised that “Christians” could be cool.
My friend emailed her that night when he got home and they got talking. She asked him many questions, and listened to the answers. About two weeks prior to the event below, she acknowledged that she needed Jesus and asked Him to be her priority and her God.
Attending this rave was a harsh reality that she couldn’t close her eyes to. She told me that it was like she had new eyes, that she had seen this stuff before, but it didn’t seem prevalent. Like it was only a few people that were wiggin’.
Attending raves in the past, her goal was all about getting her own groove on. But it never affected her like that night. These kids were representations of what she had been only one short month earlier. I will never forget seeing her in the middle of a mass of kids all over the floor, in the arms of my friend, with tears streaming down her face.
“It hurts.” She said. She had to leave.
—
We got there and we just walked around for a little while and just walked around. Then I realized we appeared just like everyone else who seemed as if they were just searching….searching for what though.
They walked, some fast some slow, from room to room. Searching. There were different types of music coming at us from all directions. We walked around kind of exploring the building. There was one room we danced in for a while, and it seemed alright. People there seemed ready to dance. But it was weird because it was like I felt as if I were walking in a muddy room. Almost as if ever step was slllllooooowwwwnnnn dooooowwwwwnnn.
The good time wasn’t really there it was like it never began. Some people were dancing but mostly a lot of standing around. Standing? What were they waiting for I was wondering…c’mon, let’s dance, let’s shake our groove thangs! No one really seemed like they wanted to be there at all. Kinda all sluggish and painful. Maybe it was all the drugs…right, maybe.
We had so many people come up to us asking us if we wanted X, K, G, shrooms, acid, anything. All I could think of is the flyer for this rave that said drugs will not be tolerated. Then I remember that at the front gate they didn’t even check our bags for drugs or anything.
I know some people would think “Okay, well we need to crack down on drugs and get tighter security!” But people will find a way to get that crap in.
You can look at these kids and people my age and see the empty looks in their eyes. So much hurt, so much un-love. All of them wishing someone would just understand them. They wander from room to room searching, searching but for what?? The next thing to keep them busy, keep them numb.
I see people laying on the ground by themselves, their friends just left them there. Girls being fondled by strange guys. All of them drugged up trying to rub on each other to preserve the feeling.
The drugs only numb what has been hurt.
I see my friend giving water to a kid who can’t even mumble his own name, while the people hired by the venue, the “emergency med’s” sit around earning their wage. Their excuse…you can buy water over there at the concessions. WHAT!?!? What are they here for!? The paramedics won’t even help these people…and they are getting paid to care and won’t do it.
As the night wears on, I see more and more people gather on the floor. One of my friends calls them “e-puddles”. Packs of people sitting on the floor massaging each other. These kids, you can look at them and they can’t even see you. Their bodies scream I’M TIRED, I’M HUNGRY, I can’t hold out much longer. And their eyes still searching, you can almost hear them “I need another roll, another hit, another cap.”
I began to feel overwhelmed with all of this…like it was pounding in my head as I sat there looking all around me. All those eyes…just black…empty…and still searching for something to fill them up.
—
Have a nice day.
What do you think?
1. Were you saved out of the rave scene?
2. Did you go back?
3. Do you miss it?
“I need another roll, another hit, another cap.”
Or maybe they were just enjoying their roll? I have been to plenty of raves and the only ones who look like they are searching are the ones who don’t know anybody and go to the raves because they have a social anxiety… So they try to fit in with the scene but they aren’t really of the scene. BTW, raves aren’t about drugs, they are about music and plur. Drugs are a decision some people make and some don’t, if you ever meet someone who is truely passionate about the scene chances are they probably don’t even use drugs. At the same time, if someone wants to roll then let them roll
my suspicion is that raves are used criminally speaking to sell drugs use drugs and use drugs as a device to getting sex.
the music may also be an element because trance music is not called trance unwittingly i am still trying to discover what the real consequences of such music is if it promotes beta waves in the brain and thus is a path for hypnotism and mind control would love to have some expert comment.
to mark: If people are going to take drugs they don’t need to go to a rave to get them. If you don’t like a rave sober you aren’t going to like it on drugs, all of the drugs taken at raves- E, K, Shrooms, Acid, whatever; are just as if not more enjoyable in the comfort of your own home with some friends.
Also, E is not a sexual drug, it is a platonic love drug.
I think that the people who walk around raves and see a bunch of empty people are seeing what they want to see. They want a simple explanation, “raves are bad, they are places for lost people, they are places where people take drugs and kill themselves”. This is not the case. A rave is a place for friends.
There are empty people in the world and some of them wind up at raves, but I rave and all of the ravers I know are full of life and love and friends and plur. What is wrong with escaping reality for a while and not having to think of anything but dancing? To loose yourself in dancing and music and friends is the same as loosing yourself in prayer. Who are any of you to judge how people find comfort, find god?
What is god if not a sanctuary from the bad things of the world. What is god if not unconditional love?
raves are the friendlyest best atmospheared places on earth, you very rarely get any trouble as everyone is there to have a good time and listen to music that they like
raves aren’t like that you ignorant twat.
Wow. Well, first off.
You’re mostly right, about some of the people. The same people in what I named a couple years ago a “Cuddle Puddle” were really happy…about 5 minutes ago.
There’s an equal amount of euphoria and depression at raves, and all around they’re good. Smaller raves have alot less drugs, and alot more fun.
Raves around KC are alot “cleaner” than Cali raves for example. It’s all about who you are and where you’re at.
I’ve been in a “cuddle puddle” some guy came and gave me water, and ran around for an hour making sure I had a ride home, and he offered to take me home. I would have died there if not for him. No MD’s at this place either. Just me and three strangers passed out on this bench…
E-mail me if you want.
To start, I want to say that I am very sad for the person who wrote this article. Sad, because you didn’t have the greatest experience you could have, and sad because some people have such a hard time opening their minds. 2 years ago if you asked me what a rave was I probable would have shrugged my shoulders, and told you that I wasn’t sure but it sounded like something for “gothic” people.. a place i wouldn’t fit in… Then I met a guy who has a fantastic, very professional job. Someone who, at the time, I never would have thought to “rave” But he introduced me to the music which I dramatically fell head over heels in love with. About a year later he took me to my first Rave. I didn’t know what to expect and I was very timid… yet, open minded, and up for new experiences. -I had never experimented with any drugs before hand.- Once we got there, i was overwhelmed with with happiness, with friendly faces all excited to get to know each other… then fell in love with the scene. It wasn’t until my second show that I was introduced to any of the drugs often taken by “ravers”. I knew people were on them at the first show, but I didn’t. So at the second show, I said why not, I was explained the risks, and the effects, and I was not pressured in anyway. It didn’t make me feel lost, or empty or anything bad. It just enhanced what I already knew I felt from being sober at the first show. It just made everything fell a little bit better.. Lights Brighter, Air Tingly, it was easier for me to talk those around me without any anxiety. But I would and have gone to shows (raves) since then, sober, and had just as great of a time. I have made friends in different states that that I keep in touch with daily, that revolve around life outside of raves…. So why don’t you try not judging others just because you don’t understand. You can’t sit there and say “you do xtc because you are a scared lost soul, that needs god.” You don’t know who those people are outside of the rave scene. You don’t even know for a fact they are doing drugs. Except that just because someone else enjoys something you don’t doesn’t mean they are wrong…. i mean we don’t all enjoy the same kind of soda, weather, or tv shows.. ….
hopefully one day you can let go and truly experience PLUR.. be it with an additional substance or without.
whisp3r, thanks for the comment. There are many things I love about raves. I was a rave DJ for almost 5 years and have been to quite a few. I think I have a good idea what raves are about.
I’m glad you had a great time.
Go to raves…don’t do drugs.