What do you think about raves?

Saturday night, Cristina and I went to Mill Creek on California Street in Redlands to grab a quick bite to eat. But surprisingly to us, the restaurant was charging $20 to park there. They let us in without charge because we looked normal and they knew we were there for food and not for the "Get Lucky" rave across the street. As we were in the drive-thru and driving away we saw young adults with all sorts of silly and shameful clothing. Most were scantily clad and many looked like they were headed to a Halloween party. Police vehicles were patroling the area.

Apparently on Valentines Day, there was another rave at Pharaoh's Lost Kingdom there in Redlands after which two underaged girls turned up at the Home Depot in Beaumont after they were missing for two days! Their parents feared they would find them dead in the orange groves. They claim to have been hanging out with a man in his forties that night.

Well, this week's rave was "strictly" 18 and over and attracted about 6,000 people at $40 a person.

Below is an article about what went down followed by some comments by the ravers themselves. I am sure there are ravers who are interested in good clean fun. But I'm even more sure there are people who use raves as an excuse for foolishness. A proverb I recently read comes to mind: "Fools find pleasure in wicked schemes, but those who have understanding delight in wisdom."

For any readers we might have out there, I'd like to solicit your comments and opinions on raves in general. Also, what do you think of raves in Redlands?

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REDLANDS - Clad in a bikini top and denim shorts, 19-year-old Rebecca Young didn't seem to notice how under-dressed she was for the 50-degree Redlands weather Saturday night.

Her arms covered in rainbow-colored beaded bracelets and her hands in knit gloves tipped with colored LED lights, Rebecca danced, twirled her hands and watched her fingertips weave an intricate design of multi-colored light.

Rebecca Young is a raver.

Rebecca and her fianc e, Justine Baker, 18, both of Redlands, were two of thousands who attended the all-night rave at Pharaoh's Theme and Water Park on Saturday.

They spoke half-shouting to be heard over the pounding electronic music.

"If you're a true raver, you're here to dance, listen to music and have a good time," Young said. "We just want to have fun and meet people and talk about what we believe in."

More than 6,000 sweaty, half-naked bodies were dancing at the Pharaoh's rave, where just about any horizontal space served as a dance floor. The main stage was inside the pyramid - the large room once used as an arcade.

Two rooms upstairs - the former laser tag arena and a room next to the now defunct Casablanca restaurant - were also dance areas. The outdoor amphitheater served as another stage.

On Saturday, ravers danced - some slow and others more frantic with little control or coordination. Those who weren't under the influence of drugs seemed friendly, eager to talk and willing to be kind to a complete stranger.

"We're here to celebrate the music and the peace and the love with everyone we know," said William Daniel, 19, of Forest Falls. "Even if we don't know them, we're here to meet them and get to know them."

Ravers were herded like cattle to a point where security guards asked for identification. The event was for people age 18 and over.

Those who didn't have their IDs were asked their age by security guards. If ravers answered "18," they were waved through.

Police Cpl. Derick Ohlson said Redlands officers turned away between 20 and 30 underage people.

Ravers were searched for weapons, drugs and other contraband before they were moved on to the main entrance.

Evidence of drug use was easy to spot. Ravers could be seen slouched up against walls or benches, while other ravers twirled light sticks in front of their faces.

Ohlson said the activity is common among users of the drug Ecstasy.

"When you take (Ecstasy), it intensifies your sensitivity to light," Ohlson said. "So they do the light shows for each other because of that."

Ravers walked around with their pupils dilated so much their irises were not visible. Others sucked on pacifiers. Ohlson said both are signs of Ecstasy use.

"Ecstasy raises your body temperature," Ohlson said. "That's why you see people walking around half-naked when it's cold outside. It also dehydrates you. So the pacifiers keep them from getting cotton mouth."

Police made 41 arrests, 31 drug-related, Saturday night, Ohlson said.

(http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_11921009?IADID=Search-www.sbsun.com-www.sbsun.com)

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these parties is a true sense of happiness and selflessness.
a true bonding between kind fellow humans which is rare on this level of purity anywhere else.
people are social and wonderful beings, but i doubt the places you find yourself everyday include thousands of people that will trust you and help you and all around make our increasingly depressed population feel happy and human for once.
there were thousands of cops there, i really doubt you would be much safer walking down the street.
if some people want to be inrresponsible and end up being arrested, fine.
don't make judgements from these what 31 out of 6000.
the world is a beautiful place, or at least it can be.
these are some of the few who embrace it.
love your fellow human.
make friends.
be happy.
that is one of the most precious and important things one can have in a lifetime.

("ivory" from Irvine CA - http://www.topix.com/forum/city/big-bear-city-ca/T8AROJOFB9GVSE3MJ)

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Ravers are human just like everyone else. I have been raving for years and I sober rave... Don't put a stereotype on me because some people do it. I'm a smart individual and I would a appreciate it if you didn't herd me in with the rest of the group that give us a bad name.

("unknown" from Redondo Beach CA - http://www.topix.com/forum/city/big-bear-city-ca/T8AROJOFB9GVSE3MJ)