Full disclosure: I am a lover of good parties. I am not anti−party, just anti−bad party. I understand that there are certain qualities that can make or break a party. The presence of positive vibes, exciting music, good company — these are all essential ingredients for brewin' up a kick−ass evening. Unfortunately, I feel that the Tufts party scene is often lacking in these departments. Perhaps I just don't know where to look, or maybe I'm not looking hard enough. Regardless, I have a few suggestions for injecting more awesome into parties 'round these parts.
What qualify as positive vibes? The presence of positive vibes manifests itself as friendliness, laughter, a sense of community … and occasionally as ganja smoke or as naked people. Due to vibe−age, I find that I much prefer the weekend pre−games to the actual "games." There is space to talk without being bombarded by a million stimuli, and it makes all the difference. Hanging around with good friends is more enjoyable to me than "going out," which normally consists of groupthink stumbling from generic place to generic place. Often upon arriving at these parties, I feel alienated. The music and low lighting are too overwhelming to meet and chat with people, and groups of people form tight circles, isolating outsiders. The scene just isn't all that impressive.
The best parties that I have been to have been inclusive and intimate. Intimate doesn't mean that the party can't be a rager. On the contrary, good vibes accounted for, it'll be a ragest. It's a beautiful thing to have people packed into one place and interested in conversing about a gamut of topics, from peak oil to Katy Perry and quantum physics to fecal matter. The party people at these parties are open−minded, friendly and happy to just be enjoying the moment. They are as interested in hearing what you have to say as they are in telling you about something amazing they just learned. They genuinely want to be decent to others and make new friends because they know that a gathering of friends is much better than a gathering of strangers.
"Positive vibes" also includes respect for others and their music choices. At parties at which there is public access to music selection, there needs to be an understanding that the music is a public good. If you don't like a song that someone chooses, that's fine; you're entitled to your opinion. Just wait for the song to be over and then put on something you'll like. Alas, there are too many impatient drunk folk out there who can't even follow this simple rule, changing the song mere seconds after one's started. Where are their manners? Perhaps they should repeat kindergarten. Another basic lesson they haven't learned is that having an open ear is a wonderful thing; being snobby about music hurts the offender more than anyone else. Don't think — just listen and maybe you'll hear something you like.
The democratization of music choice is a benefit for the whole party because it results in a more expansive, diverse soundtrack. I find that many parties are too damn homogenous in their music choices. I understand the appeal of Top 40, but parties would do well to spice up the mix a bit. Yes, even with some rock; I am amazed at the hostility to rock music at parties. During the week, rock is totally chill. Once the weekend nights roll around, rock is shunned. I recently heard the absurd statement that you "can't dance to rock." What a profound lack of imagination. Of course you can! As the wise Men Without Hats once said (and occasionally still do say if I can get my hands on the music selection), "We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind." Brilliant dancing philosophy: Dance your heart out, and if others don't like the groove, it's their loss.
I should be clear. I have gone to some wonderful parties in the recent past. My inspiration for writing this article is these parties, in hopes that there will be more in the future. I understand that every party can't be perfect, and I may seem a bit utopian. However, I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that we can do better. Party hard, comrades.
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Gregory Beach is a senior majoring in political science.
