How Many People Do You Tell You're a Raver?

[General Lighting]

OK most of us ravers have a good network of friends; but how many other people do you/are you prepared to admit to that you are involved in the rave scene?

Parents/Work Colleagues/Teachers/Lecturers etc?

What sort of reactions have you had from them, and are there any people you are less happy about discussing your lifestyles with?

[globalloon]

i'm pretty open.

not like "hello I'm fatty B and i went raving last night"

but when music, politics, housing, civil liberties or any related conversations come up, I talk about these things from my own point of view

i think that if you hide who you are, you might a) miss an opportunity to meet someone similar and b) you are giving acceptance to the bigotted points of view that (in my mind) are so damaging to society and go against liberty

if you feel the need to self-edit just to 'fit in' then the dark forces are winning. 'we' are many; squatters, ravers, protesters, activists, socialists.

being silent goes against democracy

i guess i'm lucky to work in the field that i do, but i'm good at my job and the people i work with / meet with (including senior officers / councillors in county and city council) value my input, because it's real

iadmit though that i am an idealist, to someextent, and working in other sectors, my level of honesty could cause problems... but shit... employers need to wake up to the fact that as long as you are performing well at work, there's nothing they can say about your free time. who knows, those negotiating skills you learnt by the dancefloor could reap a complany some serious profits :wink:

[Acidfairy]

My mum knows and recently i was quite surprised by her reaction..

I had been at a party where the police turned up and took my details coz none of the organisers admitted to running the party and I was playing live at the time. The police officer told me that if they had to come back again for another complaint about the noise that they would charge me with breach of the peace. Grrrr so i decided to cut my loses and went home.. i was being sensible for once.. plus having short bright red hair them knowing that i was the acidfairy etc made it easy for them to find me again as most ppl only know me as Acidfairy..

Anyway i was out shopping with my Mum and i think i was going to a party that weekend.. she asked me a bit about them and i basically said to her that we ran parties (usually have permission to use the land), we're lettin our hair down from the jobs we do as a lot of us work in high pressure environments, that we look after everyone if someone isn't fit to drive you take their car keys from them, for girls you don't have to run the gauntlet to get to the bar with guys tryin to chat u up.. you don't have to pay a fortune to go somewhere only to be evicted at 3am to then try and find a taxi and dodge the fights on the way home..

My mum turned and said to me, I totally don't see the problem with you guys running parties, if you aren't bothering anyone then why don't the police deal with the real problems, not a group of people having a party in a field. I told her about the incident with the police and she laughed and reiteratted her comments about the fact that they should be catching real criminals.. had to explain the CJA to her a bit as well though but she still doesn't see any harm in what we do.. and that really surprised me..

Most of the time people are sensible about the locations of the parties and we're not bothering anyone.. but then again there are times where sites closer to residential areas get rinsed and that has caused hassle here...

Where i currently work, so do most of the Edinburgh Techno/free party heads.. so the party scene and drugs are discussed widely even with the supervisors.. one of them is actually part of one of the main rigs through here in Edinburgh.

However, when i worked at Scottishpower it was a different matter, they had random drugs and alcohol tests and it was hard to keep my "other life" a secret from all those i worked with. I had to in order to keep my job, I used to go into work on a monday after partying at the weekend and keep my head down and work hard, as i did everyday. But if one of the managers had found out about my out of work activities i think things would have changed..

[globalloon]

However, when i worked at Scottishpower it was a different matter, they had random drugs and alcohol tests and it was hard to keep my "other life" a secret from all those i worked with. I had to in order to keep my job, I used to go into work on a monday after partying at the weekend and keep my head down and work hard, as i did everyday. But if one of the managers had found out about my out of work activities i think things would have changed..

and that isn't right

if you do you job well, they have no right to say jack about you

check out the number of MPs having affairs, taking drugs, starting wars and yet sometimes judgement comes down on people who like to choose for themselves what they put in the body, what they listen to, where they dance

it's an upsidedown morality that needs to be challenged

[Chemical needs]

I'd be pretty cool talking to anyone about it - as long as I had known them long enough. I have a pretty open relationship with my folks - Dad knows that I go to 'raves' in his car :you_crazy:wink::biggreen:

[General Lighting]

I now work in a family business so everyone there knows what I get up to...:laugh_at:that said I think the family connection helped because its a healthcare place and that industry is a wary about employing people who don't have a clean CRB retur.,

OTOH provided you can self-regulate your use and it doesn't affect your work there isn't too much a problem apart from if you get arrested and miss work or your name is in the papers due to court etc..

My mum knows and recently i was quite surprised by her reaction..

my mum is only worried about my health and/or if I get in trouble with the criminal justice system (fair enough really)


However, when i worked at Scottishpower it was a different matter, they had random drugs and alcohol tests and it was hard to keep my "other life" a secret from all those i worked with. I had to in order to keep my job
:yakk: what were you doing there?

could understand why they were doing it maybe if you were working on 132/400kV supergrid switching equipment (even the admin side is safety-critical here as if you accidentally supply the wrong part to a field enginer its "kaboom!") - but otherwise seems a bit harsh for office staff ...

[Acidfairy]

:yakk: what were you doing there?

could understand why they were doing it maybe if you were working on 132/400kV supergrid switching equipment (even the admin side is safety-critical here as if you accidentally supply the wrong part to a field enginer its "kaboom!") - but otherwise seems a bit harsh for office staff ...

I was the deputy team manager of the complaints team for internet accounts.. they used to have to have due cause to test someone then it became random..

They decided that they couldn't discriminate against one sector of the business so decided that everyone no matter what dept they worked in would be tested.. sucked

[quietRIOT]

hehee ...i tell no one ...what. that i go rave til dawn ...my close freinds know ..but my work coleagues no way ..best not to ..an my mum ...no wayz ..she d just go on an on an on ...i have 2 kids so i have to be careful ...i have a nite off to blowout an let go now an then! ..my kids are well looked after so ....there you go .... friday i go fatmoon ..not been out since nye ..im ready ...shhh! lol:love:

[Tank Girl]

Parents know, as they had all 3 of us at it at one time and would often see the results of a weekend 'avin it large',

friends know and most of my collegues - however I have to be very careful who and to what extent they know - due to certain responsibilities I have in the specific field I work in :hopeless:

[Dan Ooops!]

Ha

Great thread GL!!

I used to be a bit para about my activities, as this was early nineties, and the image of rave was still un underground thing (there was no drum and bass for specsavers ads on tele, put it that way!):crazy_diz

During my first job, I had to be a little careful, as I'd often use a company vehicle to go raving - was real lucky one time, I'd been at a Spiral party in London and got home about two pm on a sunday. Half an hour later I went to pop down the shops and the truck clutch cable had snapped - so luckily I was at home, not a party.

Once we got a rig together, I did used to ask if we could use the van for club dos, but never free parties (although we did go up to London one Sunday morning having finished a club night in Henley at about half three -once we'd packed up). I do believe you were there GL...we was downstairs in a basement and I spent most of the time there lying under a massive pile of backdrops which we could not be bothered to put up.

For my next job, I put the rig on my CV, and got the job "for having entreprenurial skills" - the job was still construction related, but I felt that I could tell bosses and colleagues a little bit a about it.

Around this time, me and the crew (along with other Advance Party peeps) did a BBC2 documentary called Lets face the music and dance. raaa From that, my mum's comment was "well now I understand why you do what you do". so that helped too.

From then on, I have consistently had the sound system on my CV - the skills involved carry over to nearly any profession, not least Project Management, which is currently what I do. Try telling someone that you can get twenty volunteers and a full rig out to the Czech Republica, nad eany employer will be fairly impressed. I also believe that the skills needed to keep a bunch of volunteers happy, and they know that you can manage people. Everyone knows at work that I am semi retired, but they always ask if there has been a rave on the news whether it was me, or my mates.:crazy_diz

Having come out of full time employment to run the rig for two years, I believe that it has to be explained on the CV, but it often creates a real buzz at interviews, and I'm sure has helped me get at least two of my jobs.:crazy_dru

Be real, be proud - if you're involved in running the scene - use the skills in your other life - but do be careful discussing your intake, could get you in a spot of bother, even with the most leniant employers:bounce_fl

Peace
Love
Free Parties, and
Chickens

[unglued]

erm, my old friends no, as im neva with them anymore, but i dont tell any1 really, i like to get to know them really well first and let them make there mind up about me and then i tell um, most people find it hard to believe.used to be a school girl goodie to shoes.

parents dont know, they would kill me, my mums is the sort o person who would try and put me in rehab and my dad would dis-own me. they were mad enough wen i dropped out of uni, and blame it all on my boyfriend, which is bullshit.

[titch]

Been lucky, not had a job where ive had to keep it quiet yet, my last boss was a raver... My parents have always known what free partys are about and been totally kool with it.

[BioTech]

i'm pretty open.

not like "hello I'm fatty B and i went raving last night"

but when music, politics, housing, civil liberties or any related conversations come up, I talk about these things from my own point of view


Same here. The only time I wouldn't be open is with a copper. I'd only ever start talking about it if the conversation came around though. I wouldn't just start telling people, unless I thought they were of a similar mindset.

[the1log]

Everyone knows what i'm like, got nothing to hide has the old the1log

[FreeSpirit101]

Hmm quite odd that you should mention this after my weekend...


I went out at the weekend for a free party, had a wikkid time.... my mum knows what i do, i took my first pill with her lol!! so she dont give 2 hoots, all my family knows and still loves me anyway..

But i went out as i said this weekend, now, i work with my b/f's family... his mum, his snotty sister and his dad sometimes at a nursery....

Now his sister is a snotty cow and i have no idea what her fucking problem is but she went running ti mummy when she found out i was at a free party.... Unfortunaly it was the biggleswade one.... so drew even more attention to where i was..

Now i dont give two flying fucks what anyone thinks about me... so when my b/f said that his mum and dad know, i was all ready to tell them to shove there job where the sun dont shine, if they were going to bring my personal life into the picture... as it has nothing to do with them..

But.... all that happened was my b/f mum came in, asked how i was and if i was ok, because she saw what happened.. and afterwards asked how it was.. and if i had fun!! Ha ha ha which is cool.....

But ovb, without giving away to many details, if im chatting away to sumone and they ask about my intrests i do say i love to get wasted and dance the day away.... :D why the hell not haha!!

:crazy: i am me, and me is who i am :weee:

Great fun

[General Lighting]

But.... all that happened was my b/f mum came in, asked how i was and if i was ok, because she saw what happened.. and afterwards asked how it was.. and if i had fun!! Ha ha ha which is cool.....


glad to hear that.

TBH in a small company, provided if you do your job well and don't cause problems such as excessive absenteeism or being grouchy on comedowns (and are lucky enough not to get arrested and brought before Court for anything!) it shouldn't cause a big problem.

Most smaller companies can't afford the expensive kit or resources required for drug testing, nor to alienate their staff in such a manner. There is no business gain in them doing so.

Even if the managers don't agree with their staffs drug use its very costly to recruit a new staff member compared to keeping one until / unless their use becomes problematic to the company...

If a small company has a harsh stance its probably because they've lost a formerly good employee or suffered other losses (such as a customer service problems leading to lost business) because people working for them couldn't self-regulate their lifestyles.

Big organisations can be harsher as they can afford to lose people, even good staff in order to "preserve brand image" or due to investor / shareholder / customer demands, or just due to the personal views of the directors...

[timid rabbit]

OK most of us ravers have a good network of friends; but how many other people do you/are you prepared to admit to that you are involved in the rave scene?

Parents/Work Colleagues/Teachers/Lecturers etc?

What sort of reactions have you had from them, and are there any people you are less happy about discussing your lifestyles with?
i keep it to myself now due to my invovlement in parties, i use to tell quite a few people to get word around to plan parties but when i got arrested a few years ago for planing parties i now keep it to myself

[BigAndy]

No shame, ill tell anyone who asks. But cause of my position at work i never admit to being a caner (although work aint stupid but ive never plainly admitted it).
My mum thinks im some sort of junkie and my brother is a "good boy", huh hes just full of shit cause he saw the crap i got as i wont lie.
My dad thinks im on some sort of road to hell as "its all a gateway to smack son, pull yourself together". Nuts, before we banned smoking in my house i used to skin up in front of him just to piss him off, my house my rules.

[!sinner69!]

I talk of whatever I want and whenever I want as long I dont put other people in missery;

Family- they have been told, part of it dont care, others dont wanna know, my (biological) father is an old hippey and amuse himself a lot of my stories

Work- as I work in showbiz there is no problem

People in general- I dont hide what I am...hooligan, raver and a natural born troublemaker with a soft spot for solidarity! Some times I surprise friends of being totaly non-violent! And seeker for peace!

Looking back I can say I have allways been an open person and let all know what I have going on or done....I think it is important to look back with the head held high an be able to say this is what I have done , Take it or leave it....If have broken the law then so be it I dont care, at time I did it, it was right! Then I dont care if an old fart earlier have invented a law that say this is illegal!

raaa

[MisterDuck]

anyone who is a decent person, and open-minded!

i like to spread the word to those who would benefit the scene, but never to those who would destroy it!

[weeman]

tell everyone and dont give a fuck i love it

[kaylee]

I don't care who i tell...Obviously i aint gona go into detail about my drug antics..My parents know everything though, drugs n all. So do work mates and my boss..
Who else needs to know? No one.

[m45k1]

When i was first gettin into free parties i naivly told anyone that would listen in the hope of "spreading the word" but over time you realise its not always a good thing.
I took people id known for years and re-gretted it, other people just automatically assumed that i would deal all sorts of drugs (which i didnt) and still bug me about it to this day if i see them at a pub etc.
Also if you become more involved you do have to be careful, i know people who have been done for parties they had nothing to do with because their name came up a few times in statements?
However you can still meet quality people by keeping your ears to the ground and going to the right events.

[~DiRtYrAvEr~]

well im a very open person my friends and family no im a raver and most teachers at my skool do but they all fine about it people shudnt judge neone for doin something they love and enjoy !!!! so yh if they do tell them were to go shove it lol and carry on doing wat u do best and rember they can take the raver from the rave but the cant take the rave out of the raver xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

["Sound-Guy"]

I quite happily tell every1! Anyway as soon i get home after a rave my mum asks where it was, good time? ETC! People from work know im a raver aswell but they dont judge me any differently because of that.

[General Lighting]

TBH I think its virtually impossible for the younger lot here to "hide" the fact they are ravers, as most people who are now parents/bosses/teachers are in their mid 30s to 40s and would have remembered rave culture first time round (including when it nearly went mainstream in the early to mid 90s)...

Some of the older people are supportive or at least tolerant, but others less so because of the legacy left behind by the old skool ravers - too many couldn't self-regulate their drug intake and caused problems to themselves and others because of it..

That said if you are a raver who is doing well at education/work and can self-regulate their use (thats not just "not getting ill/addicted/nicked", but also not lunching out mondays and calling in multiple sickies and/or being irritable towards family/work colleagues on comedowns) you can create a positive image and its easier to justify what you get up to at weekends :love:

[uiffi]

That's true...I always say who I really am and what I like doing, even at work..Sometimes we have to find a compromise (?!?),renouncing to superficial things like clothes,piercings..but without loosing our personality!I used to work in a shop of underwear and it was clear that I had spent the saturday dancing in a rave, because sometimes I fall asleep while i was putting in order penties and bras!moreover, if we go on hiding our nature,other people won't never understand that ravers aren't drug addicted, vegetals only thinking to destroy, make noise and take drugs...we should try to make people overcome their prejudices..through the awareness that we all can study, work and being introduced in the society!we are not a world apart!
:biggreen:
pleease, don't take care of the mistakes...

[~DiRtYrAvEr~]

yh i totally agree wit ya on tht one we shud b who we really r and shudnt hide the fact that were ravers we should be proud.... nd most people think we r all bout destroyin and drugs but thts not true we live normal lives jst with brilliant weekends !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep on ravin people xxxxxxxxx

[badmouse]

im open about being a raver, its part of who i am! do have to be careful tho cos not everyone is open minded about it.:hopeless:

[reargurner]

OK most of us ravers have a good network of friends; but how many other people do you/are you prepared to admit to that you are involved in the rave scene?

Parents/Work Colleagues/Teachers/Lecturers etc?

What sort of reactions have you had from them, and are there any people you are less happy about discussing your lifestyles with?


I'm proud of what I do and who I am, there's no way I could live a lie.

[Digital-A]

its pretty mental actually my mum supports me playing/attending raves etc and will only tell me to keep safe and txt her when i get there


other people i do tell, but not in a proud ''im a f***ing raver, i hate the police" and all that crap i just say the scene is part of me, from the party goers to the sound systems and fellow djs etc just tell them what they want to know really

[danelectro]

Hmm...i wouldnt call my self a raver...haha an aspiring raver maybe howeverhaha .

wouldnt say ive been to enough parties etc to say i am one tho i do agree with the politics about th whole thing!

my mum know about the parties ive been to, doesnt mind...at all, its a good place to be, sort of scene to be amongst.

haha... she didnt mind the time when i told her i was going camping in durham and there was a barn dance and shit ( im fom newcastle )but secretly drove up to fife in scotland for a Froot Soundsystem event haha then she was speeking to on of me mates mums and she was like did dan enjoy going to fife blabla but yeah, since then shes been totally cool with it, i thin parents have more trust in us then we expect!

[tarifa]

OK most of us ravers have a good network of friends; but how many other people do you/are you prepared to admit to that you are involved in the rave scene?

What sort of reactions have you had from them, and are there any people you are less happy about discussing your lifestyles with?

In my past life i was totally open, but my past life was the bloody scene - work and play so . . .

In my present incarnation my past/private life are totally for my eyes only.

I'm open about my politics and my general position in this world (am known for being a bit militant) but certain areas ie drugs and anything illegal is a no no. It would be professional suicide.

An i know some of u will say OMG ur living a lie but i'm just very selective is all. I love my job, its great for the world and me - fantastic karmically speaking, i'll never get bored, keeps me nice an slim and i love going in everyday, its brilliant (fucking hard tho sometimes).

So i have to be diplomatic bout certain things and not get caned like i used to but what the hey, i'm still me whether i is silent as a mouse or shouting from the rooftops

[General Lighting]

An i know some of u will say OMG ur living a lie but i'm just very selective is all. I love my job, its great for the world and me - fantastic karmically speaking, i'll never get bored, keeps me nice an slim and i love going in everyday, its brilliant (fucking hard tho sometimes).

So i have to be diplomatic bout certain things and not get caned like i used to but what the hey, i'm still me whether i is silent as a mouse or shouting from the rooftops
I wholly understand what you mean as I had to do this for 4 years from 2002-2006 when I was a Civil Servant (working on data processing for various public sector IT projects for environmental protection).

I worked in the TV industry for a few years before that - "almost" a dream job but not quite (although I learned loads of good technical skills there) but the company I worked for fucked up on a dot-com venture and laid loads of people off..

I partied for a whole year after redundancy and a lot of private sector IT places didn't want to know (they see the career break as a lack of committment to the work ethic)

It was ironic, after years of being a thorn in the side of the Establishment they were the only people who would give me a chance and make reasonable use of my skills - what was supposed to be a 2 month casual job became 4 years and if it hadn't been for the war sucking the public sector budgets dry they would have taken me on as permanent...

But they were (understandably) strict about the image you put across to society, so I had to lead a sort "double life" for all these 4 years - thats why I would never admit to pics of me being on line (nor put them on here) or even divulge my real date of birth until 2006 - there aren't that many Asians on the free party scene in SE/Eastern UK (about 5-10 at the most I think) so I'm very easy to identify..

it was fair enough I suppose (for instance you can't really have someone who was dealing with confidential data and millions of pounds of govt money being openly involved in "dishonesty" such as breaking and entering buildings and holding raves in them!) - it was stressful sometimes but at the same time I did my work well and honestly so what I did outside didn't cause a problem (until 2006 raves weren't seen as a source of major environmental damage anyway).

Actually there were three people at work I'd talk about raves to.

One worked downstairs and occasionally uses this site, another was an original acid house raver about a couple of years older than me who had only stopped because he became a dad, and the third was a bloke who was actually a very devout Muslim!

This might seem odd but we got on really well - he respected my lifestyle choices and I respected his (he was once into music/partying as well but gave up due to family/work commitments rather than religion) and perhaps because he was also often mistrusted and marginalised he knew what it was like to be in that situation.

[tarifa]

I wholly understand what you mean as I had to do this for 4 years from 2002-2006 when I was a Civil Servant (working on data processing for various public sector IT projects for environmental protection).
.

Exactly GD, life twists and turns in some very strange ways sometimes, so wierd that sometimes it can be difficult to remember who you are.

I think that's one of the reasons music is so important to me, it keeps me grounded, is my centre ( i can't remember the word?!). No matter where I am, what I'm doing or who i'm with the music is always real/concrete.

I've just re-read that an it sounds kinda spiritual. I dunno . . . music is the pivotal bit an the spring from which everything else i believe stems from. Or is it the manifestation of all these things? freedom, individuality, power, independance, originality, fun, union, creativity, communication . . .

Blow me I might start a thread on this, it'll be the first one i've started! Cant think of a better subject an i am really interested to hear what u guys will have to say :wink:

[3kilos]

truthfully i am a raver and proud of it and any body who knows me or work with me tends know it with in a couple of days. tho i preffer to listen to my own music on site rather than the radio which may give the game away a little. still be proud of it

[Kensaken]

Im not a week in-week out raver, but i go to them when i can. Most people i know know about it now.
My dad is fairly disapproving (i go with my bro generally) because hes worried about the safety etc, which i find completely understandable, i dont think hes against the idea of them though.
My mum approves of them!! She said if they didnt go on all night and day, she'd go to them! She doesnt approve of the drug culture though, but when i told her about running past the police to get in warehouses etc, she complained about the police trying to ruin our fun! Im quite proud of her!!

[GetOnOne]

I work in public sector as well, (and in IT)and am pretty comfortable telling most people about it. For one thing, most of the senior managers dont really understand, they think raves are same as clubs, and secondly, in my organisation, its pretty heavily unionised, into employee rights and stuff.
To actually get sacked, they would have to prove it was seriously threatening your ability to do the job, which it doesnt.
However, they are talking about introducing random drug tests. Before doing so, they'd write up a policy about acceptable use (not sure how they'd get that together, it would have to stand up court/disiplinary hearings). If you broke the policy, you'd be out, evenually, I guess
This is worying me a bit!

[globalloon]

However, they are talking about introducing random drug tests.


This is worying me a bit!

i'll sell you a bag of piss if you like... :groucho:

[GetOnOne]

lol!
And get sacked for someone elses piss?

[globalloon]

lol!
And get sacked for someone elses piss?

money back garantee... no need to return the product if it's faulty :groucho:

[GetOnOne]

you know what, I think Ill pass. But thanks for the offer. Theres a lot of water to pass under the bridge before I have to act....

[MisterDuck]

drug tests :crazy:

oh fuck :weee:

[globalloon]

you know what, I think Ill pass. But thanks for the offer. Theres a lot of water to pass under the bridge before I have to act....

:laugh_at:

[General Lighting]

However, they are talking about introducing random drug tests. Before doing so, they'd write up a policy about acceptable use (not sure how they'd get that together, it would have to stand up court/disiplinary hearings). If you broke the policy, you'd be out, evenually, I guess
This is worying me a bit!
might be worth talking to your union rep - if there isn't a history in you organisation of people causing problems to the business through excessive drug use, there is no valid reason for public money to be spent on this (drug testing isn't cheap).

[Digital-A]

i'm pretty open.

not like "hello I'm fatty B and i went raving last night"



:laugh_at: :laugh_at:

that made me laugh for a good minute

[starlaugh]

I think seeing me and my mate the next day gives it away. If we visit our local they always ask if we were in a club or some random field :wink:

But then again a lot of the people in our local used to be ravers, usually asking what its like now. Also its funny to listen to some of thier stories....

[Digital-A]

I think seeing me and my mate the next day gives it away. If we visit our local they always ask if we were in a club or some random field :wink:

But then again a lot of the people in our local used to be ravers, usually asking what its like now. Also its funny to listen to some of thier stories....

i do like stories :smile:

[starlaugh]

"H" usually has the best ones.... maybe as he still has not stopped with his Hedonistic days dispite getting on a bit! Should try and take him out ot an old skool night and get him wasted :groucho:

[General Lighting]

I think things are getting better as there are lots of people in their 30s/40s who were the original ravers - some may have calmed down due to having kids or more demanding careers but are still happy to hear about events happening...

[starlaugh]

I think things are getting better as there are lots of people in their 30s/40s who were the original ravers - some may have calmed down due to having kids or more demanding careers but are still happy to hear about events happening...

They seem to really like to hear about it as they have said that they have lost touch with the scene but it still holds good memories, they always mention Pear Tree Roundabout in Oxford and the ridgeway a lot!

It is a nice feeling to be able to chat to someone who is older and more mature about what i get up to and they actually talk back sensible and don't frown upon me. Usually asking if i have tried doing this or that, if i say no they advise me to try :laugh_at:

Some of these are my parents friends, i wonder how they would feel if they knew their friends we dicussing drug use andd raving with me :weee:

[phogeyman]

everyone apart from most of the people i work with ! as soon as i hear the term "druggie!" my barriers are up .

[TEK Tonic]

Family - all my family go raving with me, brothers and parents alike. In fact I have been made to feel out-of-place for having a nice quiet night in when the rest of my family were going out!

Work - I think everybody in my school (staff and students) knows that I DJ, they know I made my own speakers (those that were interested have seen the photo's), they know I go out "dancing" some weekends and most of my colleagues know that I was a raver when I was in school. I just don't mention the whole seedy drugs underworld and nobody else does either. I don't have a problem talking about "my wiley youth" or my knowledge of psychopharmachology that I gained during my degree but I wouldn't dream of talking to my colleagues or my students about my current useage as it is none of their business - I do a very good job as a teacher and that's all they need to know.

Ravers - I sometimes feel a bit out of place at parties where I am literally old enough to be the audience's teacher. I once got accused of looking like a copper on my way into a club, so I guess I have that authoritarian look about me.

In all honesty I think I get as many negative comments about my "other life" from ravers as I do from work colleagues. Teachers and grown-ups are generally open minded enough to not cast nistertions on people because of their hobbies, but some ravers with chips on their shoulders see me as some kind of sellout. I have not turned my back on everything I believe in - I teach future generations how to be open minded and think for themselves (or at least I try to). You don't have to be an eco-warrior or a political activist to enjoy a good party (although I have been both).

I know I live a double-life, but it keeps me on my toes and I manage to successfully work hard and play hard without either interfering with the other side of my life. It's only because of my god job and the hollidays I get that I have both the time and money to rave to my heart's content. :bounce_fl

[tarifa]

In all honesty I think I get as many negative comments about my "other life" from ravers as I do from work colleagues. Teachers and grown-ups are generally open minded enough to not cast nistertions on people because of their hobbies, but some ravers with chips on their shoulders see me as some kind of sellout. I have not turned my back on everything I believe in - I teach future generations how to be open minded and think for themselves (or at least I try to). You don't have to be an eco-warrior or a political activist to enjoy a good party (although I have been both).

I know I live a double-life, but it keeps me on my toes and I manage to successfully work hard and play hard without either interfering with the other side of my life. It's only because of my god job and the hollidays I get that I have both the time and money to rave to my heart's content. :bounce_fl

Well said :horay:

[PHARTY]

Family - all my family go raving with me, brothers and parents alike. In fact I have been made to feel out-of-place for having a nice quiet night in when the rest of my family were going out!

Work - I think everybody in my school (staff and students) knows that I DJ, they know I made my own speakers (those that were interested have seen the photo's), they know I go out "dancing" some weekends and most of my colleagues know that I was a raver when I was in school. I just don't mention the whole seedy drugs underworld and nobody else does either. I don't have a problem talking about "my wiley youth" or my knowledge of psychopharmachology that I gained during my degree but I wouldn't dream of talking to my colleagues or my students about my current useage as it is none of their business - I do a very good job as a teacher and that's all they need to know.

Ravers - I sometimes feel a bit out of place at parties where I am literally old enough to be the audience's teacher. I once got accused of looking like a copper on my way into a club, so I guess I have that authoritarian look about me.

In all honesty I think I get as many negative comments about my "other life" from ravers as I do from work colleagues. Teachers and grown-ups are generally open minded enough to not cast nistertions on people because of their hobbies, but some ravers with chips on their shoulders see me as some kind of sellout. I have not turned my back on everything I believe in - I teach future generations how to be open minded and think for themselves (or at least I try to). You don't have to be an eco-warrior or a political activist to enjoy a good party (although I have been both).

I know I live a double-life, but it keeps me on my toes and I manage to successfully work hard and play hard without either interfering with the other side of my life. It's only because of my god job and the hollidays I get that I have both the time and money to rave to my heart's content. :bounce_flTop geezer:love: this is the way to change things from the inside and with education the right education and eventually there will be enough genuine compassionate educated people in positions in society (I hope) to make society a better place:group_hug

[tarifa]

Top geezer:love: this is the way to change things from the inside and with education the right education and eventually there will be enough genuine compassionate educated people in positions in society (I hope) to make society a better place:group_hug

Critical mass is what we need and if we all just push a little bit more . . . :wink:

[MrSinner]

Don't care too much to be honest.I am a fuckhead,but i know that my lifestyle has risks etc,but it's my choice.Whoever I tell or "finds" out about my second lifestyle I don't let em judge,because it's my choice and I know the risks.

My parents and little sis know I smoke ganja,but my mum's my Jamacian side anyways,so she can't really say shit.Otherwise..Im sure if they've been in my personal space they'd probably find all the incriminating evidence they need.But that's where trust comes in ;)

All my friends know I do what I do.Some of them are a worse caners than me and others them think im a right dick for it..that I should concentrate on other stuff.Point is I don't concentrate on caning,it's just a passtime :D. IMO though I get the job done and I still do all the stuff I should do work wise and favours for other people and stuff.I try NOT to be a lazy caner,because I can see how that would start fucking people off.It would be fucked if at college and stuff I start letting MY lifestyle fuck other peoples heads/work up.That's one thing I don't think I would feel right about.

I wanna do what I do and keep it to the people that do understand.The way I see it,is as long as im enjoying myself and not hurting anyone else,why should anyone else give a fuck raaa

[little luke]

I tell whoever asks what I do (except for interviewers!). I usually follow up with "but I don't do drugs" though.

[meff]

I tell everyone and anyone who wants to know, i dont see it as something to hide!!!!! :bounce_fl raaa

[Tocooltom]

All my mates know i go ravin, alot of people i hav never met know i do too, but thats another stroy. My parents dont know anything about ravin and all the drugs, im thinking of telling them soon though coz its the summer and im gonna be goin every weekend. My brother goes ravin and my parents arnt too bothered about him doin it, but i think they will hav a problem with me going because i went to a private school and im quite clever, thats probably the only problem they will have with it.:you_crazy

[kaniebabe]

im open about what i do as its up to me..it not like i go around tellin random people but if they ever asked then why should i not tell them ..even thou ive only been to a few this year! got to stated goin out agian as i do miss um.....:crazy_diz

[rocko]

Where i currently work, so do most of the Edinburgh Techno/free party heads..

I'm intrigued as to where you work. I'm also really nosey. :wink:

Sounds like a good place to work wherever it is. raaa

[cazpa]

nobody knows at work apart from one guy who i meet his brother at a party, witch is odd, nobody knows apart from my mates

[stompin-sarah]

im not bothered who i tell im a raver im not bothered wat people think if they dont like it then its tuff! lol......ive also just recently started takin my mum out raving with my crew!raaa

[General Lighting]

im not bothered who i tell im a raver im not bothered wat people think if they dont like it then its tuff! lol......ive also just recently started takin my mum out raving with my crew!raaa

lol fair play.. I've noticed a lot of that happening recently ....

[dodgymonkey]

Most people I know, know - with the exception of work (e.g bosses n shite coz that would not look good monday mornin would it?) :groucho:

Even my mum knows! (within reason - again she doesnt need to know all the naughty details, does she?) god bless her little heart!!! :wink:

[bluepink_clefairy]

I'm open about it.. I don't tell everyone upon introduction... but if the topic arises, or if I'm excited about a rave I'm going to then I'll quite happily talk about it. I see no reason not to. =]

Friends, work, family, everyone knows really.. and everyone is just happy I'm having fun and am in a circle where the majority are really lovely and appreciative people. =]

[Vibration]

OK most of us ravers have a good network of friends; but how many other people do you/are you prepared to admit to that you are involved in the rave scene?

Parents/Work Colleagues/Teachers/Lecturers etc?

What sort of reactions have you had from them, and are there any people you are less happy about discussing your lifestyles with?

Well I just can't be arsed to lie to people. So my boss and all my co-workers know that I'm out there dancing like a monkey.

I think my co-workers see it as just some silly, nonsense that is more of an opportunity to just take the piss out of me than anything else.

I told my mother and she was seriously freaked out. Assumed I was shooting up heroin or something.

The funny thing is the closeted raver at work. Ages ago he was really annoyed with me for sort of describing my weekend to my boss. Because everyone knows me and this guy hang out a lot on weekends, and I didn't even mention he was there with me. But yeah, it's quite weird because everyone already knew he was into the scene, but he's just in denial that people know.

He advised me never to talk about it to anyone ever, but again, I just don't care to be secret squirrel for no reason.

I'm not telling his boss, or anyone else at the company, any of the madness he gets up to.

[hardcore veteran]

Ive allways been upfront about my lifestyle because it makes me who i am and i wouldnt wanna hide that from anyone.Im happy and harmless and i just like to av a good time and if smallminded people wanna make an assumption about me then fuck em.The people that matter know the score!!!!

[noname]

Yep - We will tell pretty much anyone - we've even told the in-laws, who are very straight, and swayed by all the news they watch/read, so quite anti. Their reaction was quite funny, because they suspected the worst, but couldn't prove that we are anything other than sane and rational (they've had the argument where they threaten to disown the missus already, and that didn't work out too well for them, as we didn't speak to them for 3 years. So now they're a bit more careful before they go off on one... You could see they wanted to though...:wink:)

Other friends or whatnot, we always see it as introducing them to the fact that the media lies, and that they shouldn't believe everything they read/see on telly. If they don't deal with it well, then that's their problem frankly.... I've been a raver pretty much since the term was coined, and though I don't go out of my way to bring it to people's attention, I'm also not going to lie to anyone....

[netrix]

i grew up with my mum on the rave scene, and my sisters have just started partying aswel, so my whole family know what i get up to, at work most "younger" people know what i do, but can be bothered explaining to the "older" people, just makes my life easier, the g/f is the complete oposite to me, she doesnt know what i do, and what i take, she doesnt question when i disapear for a weekend, which is a bonus i spose

[mou]

My family is okabout my activities they know me. Iam not bothered about to tell anybody that id'like to raving. Especially when my visage is not like ordinary people...Drug test - happend to me as well, random one, and then i was fired:you_crazy little bit scared about next one...

[goatboyy]

freeeparrtttyyy

[lillou]

my mums a raver so she didnt mind most ov da tym i went wiv er, my best mate n er mum so dat was cool, but my dad dont no nefing i dont see im much neway but i sure hes da same or was
i dont reli mind who nos i dont like ppl who are like hi im (lou) i luv raves n doin drugs n shit cuz there da loud mouths(if ya no wot i mean) but if it cums into convo den i dont care n most ov da ppl i mt r friends friends or there friends so there da same

[GiantMidget]

I tell everyone i meet that i'm a raver and a proud one at that! It's quality tho cos the majority of ppl i meet actually turn out to be ravers themselves!
I must be like a raver radar!:group_hugraaa:group_hug