Can someone explain this to me....

[mattb65]

I took this picture last time I was at DL. I cropped out faces or anything identifiable, but, I have seen teens roaming the park dressed like this the last 3 times I've been to the park. Can someone please explain what the heck is going on? I'm not THAT old but.....I just don't 'get' it.
thanks!!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

You went on Rave Day!!!

There was a thread a little while ago about Rave Day. But I'll explain the best I can since I'm not the most educated on that fashion.

They call themselves Candy Kids and they go to raves and trade those beaded braclets with each other.

That wasn't much help, but that's all I really know....

 

[mattb65]

They have multiple rave days? The last 3 times I went were in December, September and November. They were there each time.

 

[TheAXIOM]

Is it only one certain in a year?


Trading homemade beaded bracelets? Sweeeet.

 

[MinnieDiva]

Uglier (in my opinion), but essentially the same concept as those plastic colored bracelets that used to be big in the mid-late 1980's. Well, minus the rave thing.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Candy Kids (Or Kandi Kids) are teens that identify with one another. They connect through the idea of exuding happiness and sharing that with others, giving off a positive energy.

The bracelets are made by them and traded with friends, strangers, whomever. It's a form of expression of sharing, friendship, love, etc....

How do I know? I went right up to 5 kids who had bracelets up and down both arms and in very politely (and without judgement), asked them. They were more than happy to explain - and gave me a bracelet. They said they appreciated my asking and not just staring at them / making a judgment like they feel most adults do.

It's a form of teen expression.

- Dreams

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Thank you for clarifying, Dreams!

I know they do have different days each year. We saw them in June last year.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Candy Kids (Or Kandi Kids) are teens that identify with one another. They connect through the idea of exuding happiness and sharing that with others, giving off a positive energy.

The bracelets are made by them and traded with friends, strangers, whomever. It's a form of expression of sharing, friendship, love, etc....

How do I know? I went right up to 5 kids who had bracelets up and down both arms and in very politely (and without judgement), asked them. They were more than happy to explain - and gave me a bracelet. They said they appreciated my asking and not just staring at them / making a judgment like they feel most adults do.

It's a form of teen expression.

- Dreams

how cool! it's nice to hear something positive about teens!

 

[DisneyloverinWA]

I was glad to read this post. When I went in September I saw some "scary looking" kids wearing these and I am happy it's not a gang thing. I was not brave enough to ask them what it was about.

thanks for sharing!

 

[Stacerita]

Candy Kids (Or Kandi Kids) are teens that identify with one another. They connect through the idea of exuding happiness and sharing that with others, giving off a positive energy.

The bracelets are made by them and traded with friends, strangers, whomever. It's a form of expression of sharing, friendship, love, etc....

How do I know? I went right up to 5 kids who had bracelets up and down both arms and in very politely (and without judgement), asked them. They were more than happy to explain - and gave me a bracelet. They said they appreciated my asking and not just staring at them / making a judgment like they feel most adults do.

It's a form of teen expression.

- Dreams

I had taken my DD and my nephew on one of those days and they were really nice to the kids. They were wondering what was going on, so I told them to ask politely. It was explained to them and they were given bracelets.

 

[mattb65]

Thanks for the explanation, much appreciated.

 

[MAH4546]

how cool! it's nice to hear something positive about teens!

That's only half the story.

Rave events that candy kids attend are a mecca for drug use, especially ecstasy and speed.

The word "candy" is slang for the drugs they use. The "happiness" they share is often in the form of sharing drugs that are particually strong endorphin boosters and tend to make somebody feel extremely happy.

Of course, that doesn't mean that all candy kids are drug users. I'm sure there are plenty of them that are not.

Despite the use of the word "kids," many are in their late teens and 20's, not young teens.

 

[Lasty K]

I'm sorry for these words lol,

But I'm a teenager myself, 19. And everytime I do see someone dressed like that, I want to punch them in the face.

Although, it's an expression that they want to show, so I try to not think much of it. I like trance music though

 

[jasy]

That picture brings me back to highschool days when I dressed just like that beads and all.... I was a candykid too

 

[Queenbillabong]

I'm sorry for these words lol,

But I'm a teenager myself, 19. And everytime I do see someone dressed like that, I want to punch them in the face.

Although, it's an expression that they want to show, so I try to not think much of it. I like trance music though

Why would you want to punch someone in the face for the way they are dressed?

 

[pixiewings71]

I'm sorry for these words lol,

But I'm a teenager myself, 19. And everytime I do see someone dressed like that, I want to punch them in the face.

Although, it's an expression that they want to show, so I try to not think much of it. I like trance music though

That's only half the story.

Rave events that candy kids attend are a mecca for drug use, especially ecstasy and speed.

The word "candy" is slang for the drugs they use. The "happiness" they share is often in the form of sharing drugs that are particually strong endorphin boosters and tend to make somebody feel extremely happy.

Of course, that doesn't mean that all candy kids are drug users. I'm sure there are plenty of them that are not.

Despite the use of the word "kids," many are in their late teens and 20's, not young teens.

Both of these posts are very disturbing to me.......altho the pp DID admit that there are probably plenty who did not use drugs....

That picture brings me back to highschool days when I dressed just like that beads and all.... I was a candykid too

So, tell us about it, what was it like being a candy kid? I'm geniunely curious and don't like people who stereotype.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

I'm sorry for these words lol,

But I'm a teenager myself, 19. And everytime I do see someone dressed like that, I want to punch them in the face.

Although, it's an expression that they want to show, so I try to not think much of it. I like trance music though

While I don't want to go around wanting to punch them in the face, I too don't like the semi-blatant promotion of a possibly harmful lifestyle (same with people wearing pacifiers without any signs of having a baby near them or people wearing items decorated with marijuana leaves). I have an ex-roommate who had a couple from the raves she went to and she would go to them sometimes just to score some free drugs, especially free ecstacy, which she knew she could always get from kandi kids and she wore those bracelets as badges of honor for having done "hardcore stuff." Needless to say, she wasn't my roommate for long. It can start out as something innocent, but it's kind of like hippies who started off just wanting the Vietnam War to end and for there to be no prejudices against one's fellow man, but then free love and feeling good started taking on new meanings in their lives and next thing you know, they're tripping on LSD.

Not every kandi kid does drugs, just like not every hippie has tripped on LSD before and not every Goth is obsessed with suicide and vampires (I seriously doubt that the Goths who show up at Bats Day are fixated on suicide because DL would probably be too much concentrated happiness for them to handle if that was the case). However, there is a percentage who are/do and it ruins the perception of everyone else who partake of that lifestyle, which is sad but true.

 

[jasy]

So, tell us about it, what was it like being a candy kid? I'm geniunely curious and don't like people who stereotype.

What was it like?? I'm not sure what you mean it's not like I was any different than any other teenager, except that I had pink, blue, orange and sometimes green hair. I wore lots of beads and had facial piercings... It was a social/lifestyle and a way to express myself. Did I go to raves, you bet!! Did I do drugs while there, hell no. Do I have friends who did, of course. But I was more interested in chillin and listening to the music. Plus I watched out for my friends to make sure that no one got hurt.

I was very much into the music, trance, house etc. being together with a large group of people dancing, meeting new people...

Has is changed who I am today? Sure I guess, I am very open to accepting anyone and will not disregard someone based on how they are dressed etc. That being said I was also very much into punk rock (still am) and the gothic scene as a teenager too.

I had/have friends who were "preppy", "jocks", "gothic" etc. and I was never treated any differently because of it. My parents respected my need to express myself and would rather that I did it with my hair, music, and fashion than doing recreational drugs. And the same goes for when DH and I have a child, I feel children need to express themselves and if my child wants to dress like a candykid I say go for it, so long as they're not hurting anyone or themselves, there isn't any harm in blue hair and lots of beads!

I'm not saying that there is no drug use at raves, there is, but that's not usually the reason why people are at a rave its for the music and the d.j.

Does that explain pretty well for you??

Oh I wanted to add when my DH sees pictures now of my from my raver days he laughs and laughs, his favourite are my lime green fun fur pants, I made them in fashion class in high school.

 

[pixiewings71]

What was it like?? I'm not sure what you mean it's not like I was any different than any other teenager, except that I had pink, blue, orange and sometimes green hair. I wore lots of beads and had facial piercings... It was a social/lifestyle and a way to express myself. Did I go to raves, you bet!! Did I do drugs while there, hell no. Do I have friends who did, of course. But I was more interested in chillin and listening to the music. Plus I watched out for my friends to make sure that no one got hurt.

I was very much into the music, trance, house etc. being together with a large group of people dancing, meeting new people...

Has is changed who I am today? Sure I guess, I am very open to accepting anyone and will not disregard someone based on how they are dressed etc. That being said I was also very much into punk rock (still am) and the gothic scene as a teenager too.

I had/have friends who were "preppy", "jocks", "gothic" etc. and I was never treated any differently because of it. My parents respected my need to express myself and would rather that I did it with my hair, music, and fashion than doing recreational drugs. And the same goes for when DH and I have a child, I feel children need to express themselves and if my child wants to dress like a candykid I say go for it, so long as they're not hurting anyone or themselves, there isn't any harm in blue hair and lots of beads!

I'm not saying that there is no drug use at raves, there is, but that's not usually the reason why people are at a rave its for the music and the d.j.

Does that explain pretty well for you??

Oh I wanted to add when my DH sees pictures now of my from my raver days he laughs and laughs, his favourite are my lime green fun fur pants, I made them in fashion class in high school.

Thanks, that was exactly what I wanted to know. I gotta say, I'd love to see the pic of you in green fur pants, you should wear them to DL, they are lime green after all. Seriously tho, I've got 2 young girls at home, I like to know what to expect from them in the coming years. And ITA, I won't mind at all if they mess with their hair or clothes, my rules are no drinking, drugs or piercings (other than ears). Of course as soon as they turn 18 they can do the piercings if they want, I gave my oldest DD (she's almost 21) a belly piercing for her 18th bday.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Thanks, that was exactly what I wanted to know. I gotta say, I'd love to see the pic of you in green fur pants, you should wear them to DL, they are lime green after all. Seriously tho, I've got 2 young girls at home, I like to know what to expect from them in the coming years. And ITA, I won't mind at all if they mess with their hair or clothes, my rules are no drinking, drugs or piercings (other than ears). Of course as soon as they turn 18 they can do the piercings if they want, I gave my oldest DD (she's almost 21) a belly piercing for her 18th bday.

Kerri, you're an awesome Mom! I went and got my nose pierced on my own (well with my cousin) when I was 19 and my Mom was way more mellow about it after I got it than I though she was going to be. My piercing didn't last long, but my thoughts of my Mom changed when she didn't flip out about it.