Where did the ravers go? By Ray Barrington News-Chronicle Last weekend, the TV news was filled with updates from Appleton. Seems the police there had stopped a rave party from taking place. A rave party, or simply rave (not to be confused with the News-Chronicle's Thursday entertainment guide), is generally accepted as meaning an all-night event where electronic dance music is played, usually by a DJ. But it's also been linked to drug use, mostly to the drug ecstasy. This drug gives users a feeling of euphoria, but also has been linked to brain damage. Seems the organizers had said there would be about 50 people at this rave in Appleton's Telulah Park, but word soon got out on the street there would more likely be 10 times that many. As was once said in a Monty Python bit, "even the police began to sit up and take notice." So they refunded the money the organizers paid for a party permit and shut the park totally down. No picnics, no bikes, no frisbees. Only a few scheduled ballgames were allowed to take place, and we presume all involved were hustled out of sight as soon after the games were over as possible. The police got their quiet night. But where did those 500 people go? And why were they going to the rave in the first place? For something to do, of course. And raves appeal to the young, which explains why I've never been to one. But what other options did they have? Going to a bar? If you're 21, yes. But then again, is it a major triumph to get somebody to switch from one drug to another? Going to a ballgame? I have a feeling most of the rave crowd wasn't partying in anticipation of a big Packers victory the next day. Reading a book? Listen, I love to read more than most people, but I also like to get out of the house for some excitement once in a while. And what of those who are underage? What options do they have? It's Saturday night, you want to get out of the house - what do you do? What options are the rest of us providing? There are a few "dry bars" where they can go, but not many. They don't make that much money. Or take Rock-N-Roll High School, the East Main Street all-ages alternative rock venue that closed last year despite its dedicated ownership. Private parties? Well, that might work. But explain the difference between a large rave in a public place and a small private party in a basement. Other than size, I can't think of any. A concert? If you aren't into certain types of music, forget it. And forget the heavy cost of tickets. (There are some good low-cost alternatives, but most of them are at bars and cater to an older crowd.) The problem - and it's been stated in this space before - is that those of us who are older tend to treat adolesence as a disease, and quarantine as its only cure. We have never been able to deal with teen-agers as what they are: adults in training, and not adults; former kids with a kiddish edge; people trying to find themselves, to break out of a mold, while trying to fit in. It's probably good that there was no rave in Appleton on Saturday, from the drug standpoint. But I still wonder where everybody went - and if what they did was better.