OUTLAW RAVES CALLERS URGE

A move is afoot to pull the plug on city-sanctioned and monitored raves,
after Easter weekend drug overdoses and arrests at Exhibition Place. One
concern is the dances would be driven underground, enabling organizers to
ignore the city's health and security requirements.

Tuesday's question was: Should Toronto permit raves on city sites?

No. Raves need to outlawed altogether due to illegal drug use. How many
more deaths will it take to do that? Since people no longer seem to take
personal responsibility for their action, let the rest of us at least try
to save their lives, even if they don't seem to have the sense to do it
themselves.

Yes. In my opinion, as someone who's been raving for five years, it doesn't
matter because not all ravers go to those CNE $50-a-ticket parties. There
always will be an underground scene and the hype on raves recently has been
focused on people who died from not knowing what the hell they were putting
in their mouths or up their noses. The key is educating people because
drugs will always be there. The human culture needs it, whether it keeps
them from going crazy or drives them crazy.

No. Should we legalize murder and pimping just because making them illegal
drives them underground?

Yes. They are popular. They are not going to stop. Young people need a
place where they can get away. I think drugs and alcohol are a problem
anywhere and everywhere. Everybody is responsible for themselves.

No, not on city property or anywhere. We've had one on our street and it
was horrible.

Yes. These are our children going to these raves. Our children. Of course,
we should permit them on city sites where they are monitored. If they go
underground, we'll have more deaths. This shouldn't even be an issue.

No. What a ridiculous and meaningless way to spend one's time.

Yes. I think it is very important that the city allow raves on city
property because that's where they can be better controlled, where the
facilities are better. If they force them off city property, raves will
happen anyway, but they'll happen in unsafe premises and there'll be a lot
more danger for the people participating.