BREAK DOWN STEREOTYPES ABOUT TECHNO MUSIC FANS

As a non-drug using techno music fan, I was surprised to see an article on
the May 5 front page about raves but was not surprised to see the article
resort to old stereotypes ("Ecstasy stars in rave at coliseum"). I wish the
Journal Sentinel would write an informative article on techno music, cover
some of the innovators of the genre and maybe interview people who are
interested in the music, not the drugs.

It enrages me to read quotes from law enforcement personnel who claim that
possibly "even 100%" of ravers are on Ecstasy or other drugs. Not everyone
who listens to techno music or dances at raves is a drug fiend or a
criminal, just as not everyone who goes to rap concerts is a gangster and
not everyone who goes to a rock 'n' roll concert is a drunk.

Our society has finally slowed its stereotyping of rap and rock 'n' roll
music fans. When will the same be true for techno fans?

Anthony J. Zydzik
Ripon