Rammy, I gotta tell ya AZ has the most political style raves I have ever seen. I have been in the midwest for a little while now and already I notice a few things that distinguish AZ raves from the way the parties come out everywhere else. First, the dope does not matter, I am sick of people who say that the scene is all about drugs, conversely I am sick of people blaming a shitty scene on the use of drugs. Drugs are everywhere and you cannot stop them, but you have the right to choose. Second the age of ravers does not matter. When you were a kid did you like Guns and roses because your brother did? That is the only thing I can use to justify why I listened to them. My point is this, when a kid enters a rave and sees the drugs glorified by the general population inside, ( the E-candy, massages, vicks, masks, etc.) it is hard not to do drugs because that is how people who are uncomfortable fit in. He or she looks at the older ravers as big brothers or sisters. And it is sad, because the easy path is taking drugs to fit in. The past years of conditioning of thinking that E is nothing but fun, has succeeded. There was a day when ecstacy and drugs were praised by not only by ravers, but the also the djs and the music. One thing that enrages me are the amount of hipocrates infesting this scene, most of the promoters state on their flyers no drugs, and some go as far as hanging signs in their raves worded in threatening gastapo style language. But I have seen on many occasions the people who state these things capitalizing on the people who want drugs. All of these things are irrelevant to the subject at hand though. What we are really talking about is why do the majority of az raves suck. One word: hate. Everyone hates something about the raves, too many drugs, too many kids, too many wackos on drugs who touch you, whatever it may be it is still hate. But most of this is a cover for the real issue, it is becoming high school polotics which has been the problem in every other scene. Raves are no longer about meeting new people, they are about talking to your freinds about what you hate about the place. They are no longer about being uninhibited, they are about according yourself with unspoken rules, which are undefined and change from group to group. They are no longer about dancing, its about who dances the best. They are no longer a group of enlightened people, raves are now a place where everyone is yelling at everyone, "you are fucking this up for me". This bitterness is not only spoken but acted upon, verbally and physically. Who truly belongs here? Who can really say? What really belongs here? Who has right to say? to be continued.........