The ravers I met at the rave were not there to conform. They were there to discuss and debate the issues of individuality and conformity. I had a rousing philosophical discussion with the ravers there, in which we critically analyzed contemporary life, individuality and social norms, and in so doing, we discussed a variety of philosophers, writers and poets, including Plato, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman. The ravers I met at the rave wore their huge pants and neon jewelry neither to be socially accepted into a clique of their own, nor to conform to any pre-defined fashion standard, nor to impress or shock their acquaintances, because to have any of these factors as a motivation for a dress code would involve an attack against their own individuality. Instead, ravers do not care what other people think of them.
Ravers dress the way they do to demonstrate individuality.
In fact, if a raver suddenly found himself or herself stuck either alone or with other ravers on a small desert island, they would still wear baggy pants, neon jewelry and dye their hair, because, as they said, they do not care what other people think of them, and they dress in this rebellious style for themselves. Raves are a haven for those who wish to philosophically critique the rampant conformity within modern society. Roca has shown me that reading philosophy and literature outside of class, attending museums of modern art, going to independent movies and spending time critically discussing these experiences with friends, are all a waste of time. To be an individual and escape the confines of social conformity, all I have to do is wear big pants, go to a rave and fry my brain. Conformity and individuality are both states of mind, not of dress, drugs or ego.