People Wearing Beads

[fairycat]

I used to deal with the Candy Kids when I worked at a popular store at the height of the popularity of this style. All the kids I dealt with were really nice. I think its fun and refreshing in a culture that pushes our kids to grow up so fast, that some want to hold on to the fun and cute things from childhood. They are about colors and fun!

While some did come from another culture that involved drugs, many of the candy kids I knew were straight edge. While they don't all follow the same clothing looks, or music tastes, Straight Edge kids believe in taking care of their bodies. These kids are 100% against drugs, alcohol, smoking and in some cases meat. They are really amazing kids.

I have gone to one of the "unoffical" days as a participant and I have seen people look at us good and bad. I had my 14 year niece treated terribly by a parent, and this is a sensitive and super good kid, who happened to be dressed differently that day (she doesn't always go as far out as she does on this day). I think that as long as the groups are respectful and follow the rules, it shouldn't matter how people dress. But not everyone agrees with me sadly.

 

[fairykin]

These did NOT look like druggie kids. They look like nerd kids who had finally found a group of other nerd kids who had something in common. Candy and stuffed animals and colorful fluffy stuff.. they did not look druggie at all.

Take away the clothing they had on and put them in cowboy hats wranglers and boots and they could have been Future farmers of americas.

Take away that clothing and put them in all black and some eyeliner and they could have been goth kids on bat day.

Put them in cheerleading out fits and they could have been cheerleaders.

Kids are kids just trying to fit in.

 

[fairycat]

Take away the clothing they had on and put them in cowboy hats wranglers and boots and they could have been Future farmers of americas.

Take away that clothing and put them in all black and some eyeliner and they could have been goth kids on bat day.

Hahahaha! In my case add black and lovely velvet top hat and I was a Future Farmer of America. In fact I went to state level in speach competitions and Parlimentary Procedure.

I was in fact very involved in many school clubs and activities that you never would have guessed in a million years that from my looks I would be involved in. You never know just by looking at some one.

We had two knocked up cheerleaders and one who ended up in rehab, but of my "freak" friends, almost everyone went to college and lead pretty straight lives and still do, some with just different fashion senses

 

[jasy]

Ravers (Club Kids, Candy Kids, etc.) are typically associated with recreational drug use. That is something I am strongly against. And definitely something I don't think should be associated with Disneyland. Just my opinion, of course.

I would not normally respond to a thread such as this but I find this comment offensive. As a former "Candy Kid" who is now grown and married and still respects the lifestyle and music, I think that the generalizations that are being made are outrageous.

To me it is the same as saying that all those who practice a gothic lifestyle or fashions, like to kill cats in their spare time and are evil. Should they not allow "Bat Days" to take place because there are people who embrace a gothic lifestyle?

IMO the great things about Disneyland and Disney are it's ability to bring together all different types of peoples. Disney does not discriminate and I would hate to see the day when it did.

But then again this is just my opinion, of course.

 

[fairykin]

Right..my point, exactly, you can't judge a book by it's cover.

Clothes are just what we wrap ourselves in.

Come on.. these kids are sitting around stringing the beads on all these bracelets and sewing their furry clothes..

 

[jasy]

Right..my point, exactly, you can't judge a book by it's cover.

Clothes are just what we wrap ourselves in.

Come on.. these kids are sitting around stringing the beads on all these bracelets and sewing their furry clothes..

The furry clothes are something I miss, I used to have lime greem fun fur pants (sewn by me), I showed my DH an picture when I was wearing them and he just laughed.

 

[LucyDingo]

I would not normally respond to a thread such as this but I find this comment offensive. As a former "Candy Kid" who is now grown and married and still respects the lifestyle and music, I think that the generalizations that are being made are outrageous.

To me it is the same as saying that all those who practice a gothic lifestyle or fashions, like to kill cats in their spare time and are evil. Should they not allow "Bat Days" to take place because there are people who embrace a gothic lifestyle?

IMO the great things about Disneyland and Disney are it's ability to bring together all different types of peoples. Disney does not discriminate and I would hate to see the day when it did.

But then again this is just my opinion, of course.

If you re-read my post, you'll see that I didn't say anything like "All candy kids use drugs." Or anything along those lines. I said that ravers and candy kids are typically associated with drug use. Key words = typically and associated with.

I could really care less how they are dressing. I just know that raves and the like are associated with drug use.

 

[fairycat]

But what made your post harsh to me, was that "association" = Disneyland should not let them in. Many groups have negative associations made on them but we don't ban them from the parks. That would be discrimination. Imagine if it went past clothing and went to banning people from the park for their religious beliefs?

 

[jasy]

If you re-read my post, you'll see that I didn't say anything like "All candy kids use drugs." Or anything along those lines. I said that ravers and candy kids are typically associated with drug use. Key words = typically and associated with.

I could really care less how they are dressing. I just know that raves and the like are associated with drug use.

I know what you post said, I just find it unfortunate that people in today's day and age have such a hard time thinking outside the box and being more respectful of those who embrace an alternative lifestyle.

 

[LucyDingo]

But what made your post harsh to me, was that "association" = Disneyland should not let them in. Many groups have negative associations made on them but we don't ban them from the parks. That would be discrimination. Imagine if it went past clothing and went to banning people from the park for their religious beliefs?

Again, you need to reread my post. I didn't say anything about Disney banning anyone. I just said I don't think drug use should be associated with Disneyland.

I know what you post said, I just find it unfortunate that people in today's day and age have such a hard time thinking outside the box and being more respectful of those who embrace an alternative lifestyle.

I don't care if people want to dress differently. But I think drug use is wrong. I'm pretty sure that's all I said. You just seemed to spin it a different way. I do not respect people that use drugs. Sorry. That has nothing to do with any raver kids personally (unless they are the ones that use drugs.) Again, I didn't say that all raver kids use drugs. Re-read the post.

 

[LucyDingo]

Since this thread has gone off-course....people can feel free to send me PMs if they'd like to discuss my previous comments further. I don't want to muddy up the thread so I won't be responding anymore.

 

[DLSuperVet]

Again, you need to reread my post. I didn't say anything about Disney banning anyone. I just said I don't think drug use should be associated with Disneyland.

I don't care if people want to dress differently. But I think drug use is wrong. I'm pretty sure that's all I said. You just seemed to spin it a different way. I do not respect people that use drugs. Sorry. That has nothing to do with any raver kids personally (unless they are the ones that use drugs.) Again, I didn't say that all raver kids use drugs. Re-read the post.

I smell what you're cookin'. Don't pay any attention to them. I think part of the allure of being "goth," "candy," or even "furry" is for the negative attention even though the positive attention is much friendlier. It's a social taboo to dress in a manner that attracts a lot of attention and these people get it in spades.

They're welcome to do it but I'd be a little disappointed if my kids dressed up like that.

 

[kiwitravel]

If you re-read my post, you'll see that I didn't say anything like "All candy kids use drugs." Or anything along those lines. I said that ravers and candy kids are typically associated with drug use. Key words = typically and associated with.

I could really care less how they are dressing. I just know that raves and the like are associated with drug use.

I have to say "typically" is a generalization and so a bit of a unfortunate choice of word. I really can't comment on these people as I have never heard of them until this posting...

 

[pixiewings71]

Ohhhh, so candy kids are the kids who wear jelly bracelets, bright colors and remind me of Rainbow Brite!!!! I love Candy Kids!!! I love jelly bracelets, I wore those myself when I was younger....and didn't do drugs either. I keep thinking of going to Hot Topic (my favorite store ever) or Claire's to get the girls some jelly bracelets for their stockings, I'm sure they would love them too. I'm all about personal expression, especially with clothes. I never "got" the fur clothes myself but I wish I had seen that guy in front of the Matterhorn, I bet he was having a blast with that!

 

[bumbershoot]

We had two knocked up cheerleaders and one who ended up in rehab, but of my "freak" friends, almost everyone went to college and lead pretty straight lives and still do, some with just different fashion senses

That was definitely the experience of my high school days. The weirder kids are the ones that generally went on to do interesting things. The mainstream kids, the ones organizing the awful reunions, are still living in the same neighborhoods, friends with the same people, and have done very little interesting in their lives.

Of course at my school, the football players and cheerleaders were also the BIGGEST drinkers at the school, plus more (one of the most popular guys had two wealthy parents who both had a cocaine problem, so he had access to it). Their wealthy (all the cheerleaders were from wealthy families at my school in my year) parents would go away for vacation, buy a couple kegs before leaving, and that's where the party would be that weekend.

It seemed sad at the time, and it's sadder thinking back on it.

But I think drug use is wrong.

I do too. But I include ibuprofen and tylenol in my definition of drugs (omg I gave DS 50 mg of ibu the other night, crud). Doubt many others do!



I'm sure, from what I've read, that the original reason for the BRIGHT colors was to enhance the effects of things like...OK I'm forgetting the name of the drug that comes to mind (and leaves, evidentally) when I think of raves when they first started. But I'm also sure that many of the people who want to go to Disneyland, of all places, are just having tons of fun by dressing in those wild colors!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Ohhhh, so candy kids are the kids who wear jelly bracelets, bright colors and remind me of Rainbow Brite!!!! I love Candy Kids!!! I love jelly bracelets, I wore those myself when I was younger....and didn't do drugs either. I keep thinking of going to Hot Topic (my favorite store ever) or Claire's to get the girls some jelly bracelets for their stockings, I'm sure they would love them too. I'm all about personal expression, especially with clothes. I never "got" the fur clothes myself but I wish I had seen that guy in front of the Matterhorn, I bet he was having a blast with that!

I like jelly braclets, too.

I forgot to add the kid in front of Matterhorn had glow sticks on strings.

 

[fairykin]

Think how many adults love to put on mouse ears.. or tigger ears..

and how many grown women love to wear princess crowns...

anyone could say the Mad Hatter hats are odd looking...

 

[LucyDingo]

Think how many adults love to put on mouse ears.. or tigger ears..

and how many grown women love to wear princess crowns...

anyone could say the Mad Hatter hats are odd looking...

Do you know people that actually wear those things in every day life?

 

[famograham]

I am amazed at the intolerance some people so proudly display!

I had BRIGHT green hair with black stripes once, I also had a shiny bald shaved head with just bright purple bangs. I dyed my hair black, and wore all black, and on the story goes.

Today, as a 30 year old Mother of 2...I'm as "normal" looking as they come. People are SHOCKED when I tell them how I chose to look as a teenager.
I am, and have always been, known by those who know me, as someone who is extremely compassionate, acutely empathetic, and an intensely loving person.
I have ALWAYS been accepting of all types of people.
I will say, that when I was a teenager...for someone like me, and my friends, the "mainstream" kids were often the ones to fear! They were the ones who got wasted and ganged up to beat people like me. They were the ones to fear.

I take extreme offense to people who are judgmental, bigoted, and un-accepting of others, just because they are different in any way. In fact, those are the only type of people I find myself disliking!

I fear what some people are teaching their children.

 

[jernysgirl]

I keep thinking of going to Hot Topic (my favorite store ever) or Claire's to get the girls some jelly bracelets for their stockings, I'm sure they would love them too.

You might want to be careful with those. As with anything, (including Candy Kids) they can have different meanings and interpretations by different people. I used to lead a Junior High youth group a few years ago, until I took time off for my own family, but you would be amazed at what the kids at the church youth group were telling me about those bracelets.

Each color of jelly bracelet had a different meaning, all with sexual tones. The green ones mean that you did "it" outside or were willing to, the blue one mean in the water, etc, etc. Of course, if you google it, you will find all sorts of meanings for the different colors.

I personally used to love jelly bracelets as a kid, and would even still wear them now, but I don't want to think that "those reasons" are the reasons I were wearing the bracelets.