Letters: Don’t be so hard on raves

Re “Rave death toll grows,” Dec. 3

Since time immemorial, humans have gathered to dance to beats. It is a celebration, a physical experience that 21st century humans move further and further away from. It is an experience that is hard to put into words; a transport happens, a kind of delightful fervor of wild abandon and close physical sharing with others.

Drugs are not necessary to get to this joyous state. To cite the death of a 22-year-old man as a cause for anti-dance-show sentiment shows great ignorance of this culture of celebration. This man’s mother advised him to “bring a towel,” and he instead took Ecstasy and methamphetamine.

It is irresponsible to link this horrible choice of one man to the dance party that brought joy to thousands and thousands of others. This story and others like it have very little to do with dance promoter Insomniac and everything to do with people not taking responsibility for their own lives.

Liz Davies

Venice

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