Ishkur's Guide to Rave Culture

Underground
Whatever it is, whatever people believe it to be, whatever form it may take, it is universally recognizable as something that will never come to you. You must go to it. (see Mainstream).

Vibe
By far the most sought after, talked about, and mutually shared concept in rave culture, which is why it must remain as ambiguously confusing as possible.
      The reason for this is pliability. In order for rave culture--with its multiple factions, social heirarchies, religious sects, and organized crime affiliates--to come together under a common doctrine of understanding, it must be deliberately non-specific, so as to be universally acceptable.

Vibe patrol
Baby-sitters.
      Not in the derogatory sense of the word. In all actuality, ravers cherish the vibe patrol, and especially the free pamphlets they distribute regarding responsible raving and drug awareness. But perhaps the most important job of vibe patrol is--of course--administering vibe to everyone throughout the party, making sure everyone is having a great time, and reducing the likelihood of anyone becoming agro during the night.
      For what its worth, Vibe patrol sometimes does a better job of party security than even party security.

Vick's
If only this company knew about the incredible impact their products have had on rave culture.

      Of course, if they did know that the chemicals in their vapours, balms, and inhalers enhanced the effects of MDMA, they would probably start marketing them as such. Or come out and complain to rave culture about their misuse. Or maybe even recall them from the shelves.

Vinyl
The worst addiction one can have, outside of crack.¹ (see Record)

VIP
Ravers hate VIPs. Both VIP rooms and VIP people. The whole VIP concept infuriatingly reminds them of the existence of a heirarchical social order in the scene--something they wish they’d rather not know about.
      The irony here is that while ravers dislike VIPs for openly segregating the scene and creating an atmosphere of eliteness and disunity, they don’t mind the social inertia that also segregates themselves into their own specific groups, each one naturally placing itself above the others.

Visuals
Eye candy.
      A useful supplement to the music. Or a replacement if the music isn’t to your liking. Or a distraction if the music is all you care for. Or an abhoration if you don’t like them at all. Or a nuisance if you find them too bright. Or disregarding if you find them too dim. Or perplexing if you quite simply don’t understand them at all. Or absolutely outstanding when they have a bond with the music; a universal meshing of audio and video to create a feast for the senses.

¹ definition donated by Dawn McManus

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Ugmo: A really smelly gross looking raver who goes around grabbing people and asking if they are "high" Their breath usually smells of "puke"
-- marcel marechal, April 18, 2000

Unity - The perfect party is rampant with it. Also something the rave scene tries to increase, but doesn't really have.

Whether it's hip hop heads and junglists calling house boring/stupid, straight edgers call drug users idiots, or maybe even as simple as somebody insulting your clothes, there are always people who will go to a party and hate half the people there. Heavily linked to mainstreamism, nostalgia, and narrow mindedness.
-- Fry, July 17, 2000

~Vibe~
The reason i am in love with the scene. The vibe, in most cases, is a mass of collective conscience flowing from one Kid to anouther and on and on, Its like spiritual radioactivity.The vibe is to a party what the Hora is to the human body.
-- Lilly fly, November 4, 2000

The vibe is what us "Ravers" strive upon, it is what we look at in life. after your first party you notice all the different kinds of vibe and most of them are not good. This is why we get addicted to raves it is our sanctuary. it is our place that we can actually find the goood vibe we live for. the vibe is why things like PLUR exist. i mean why would someone want to go to a party with a bunch of jugemental non accepting bitter people, PLUR turns that around and tell people (the ones who still believe in it) that there is hope for every party there just has to be people there with the good or PLUR vibe.
-- *Aingel*, March 19, 2001

underground- a renegade party consisting of way more vibe and good music then any club/permitted party will ever achieve...
-- cataleptik, February 24, 2002

(k) 2000-2006 Ishkur
and the kickass artwork of Satoshi Urushihara