@!sinner69! 478361 wrote:
first I thought this was a joke, but it isnt, it is not for me I do not like segregation….
I agree but this is the UK where the youth cultures are already segregated, as are music styles, to some extent ethnic groups (not as bad as before) and I can see why she set that up especially as a woman.
Was surprised to see the group so close to London though!
10 years ago it would have been more likely to be a joke, people of all ages partied together. Increasingly though taking part in the night time economy is seen as a “young persons game” – its begrudgingly tolerated from age 16-25 then you are expected to “grow up” and go to bed at midnight. Women are expected to have married and/or had children, perhaps even grandchildren by then. Men are supposed to be dads or in long term relationships, and their partners strongly discourage them from taking part in dance music events after age 30 even if they don’t have kids or the couple started partying together!
I noticed loads of ravers just disappear when they got past age 25, let alone 30! Remember that Southern and Eastern England in particular still has a lot of puritan/protestant Christians with real power in government, society etc, for all the bright lights of London etc the core of people running this country now lead very conservative lives, and in comparison with countries where English is not the main language the music/media/creative industries have taken a hammering.
Round here in the East if you still go clubbing/partying at age 35-40+ (ironically unless you are a DJ or producer!) you are judged by normal people and often even by folk “on the scene” as a bit of a “sad case” and some even suspect your motives (that you are simply there to find sexual partners far younger than your age). Blokes are judged as “old perverts”, women are judged as “middle aged slags” and fair game for sexual assault or even rape (for instance a 50 year old woman who went out clubbing in my town was raped by a 17 year old boy). This negative peer pressure (and understandable fears over safety!) is enough to make a lot of slightly older women just stop going out as much unless they are part of a couple. Older obvious “hippy” people are tolerated at small festivals but in towns they are increasingly expected to stay at the real ale pubs or certain clubs aimed at their age group, even the venues themselves openly design their layout and events to segregate the crowds (its not even the cops forcing them to do so!)
I think the reason for this group is as much so people feel safe and have support/backup for their lifestyles against increasing criticism, I can’t blame Dee Dee for setting it up, especially as it encourages older single people to go out. it would make more sense to have a mixed age group at events like in Northern Europe as it would prevent trouble when different age groups cross over (such as what led to one man being killed and another wrecking his life and two families being destroyed at the Blackberry event, which was supposed to be a fun night out and morale booster for a company which is experiencing various problems as it is.
however nightlife is only begrudgingly allowed in England anyway , if you look at where licensed events are permitted they are in shitty parts of big cities or low income deprived areas, anywhere else if they can make more money from less contentious things like the seaside or day time shopping late night venues aren’t allowed.
