Battling.

Does battling a place in raving, glowsticking, and glowstringing culture? What is battling? Find out more...

A controversial topic is the different ideas about battling in raving culture. Battling, for those in the dark, is the idea of competing in a "circle" (a crowd who has gathered around to judge and watch a dancer or two) to see who is better. A circle can happen for any reason, whether it's just two dancers dancing to have fun. A circle can have any kind of atmosphere, from the negative competetive (battle circles), to the strictly positive (a group of dancers who met each other, introduced each other in a friendly manner and are now dancing to express).

Battling has it's roots in bboying (breakdancing, popping) and hip-hop culture. In hip-hop culture, people battle in dancing (and bboy battles have all sorts of "disses", poses, and battle type body language), MCing, and all sorts of other things. Battling originated from the streets, and thus was an acceptable alternative to violence.

Glowsticking.com's official position on battling in raving culture is the opinion that battling has no place in raving or glowsticking culture. Hip-hop is about individualism and survival. Raving and glowsticking is more about unity and peace.

There is no need to battle in order to share your moves. In the hot atmosphere of a rave, where everyone is out to have a good time, it's very difficult to "battle" someone and convey the impression that it's a "friendly" battle. It's much better to introduce yourself and have a friendly "session" (borrowing a word that a lot of dancers use to talk about a friendly sharing of moves and such). A battle by definition is a competitive sport, with a winner and a loser, a session means you make a friend who will one day teach you something.

I've personally been partying and raving for almost 5 years now, and I can assure you that asides from the hordes of self-interested self-insecure younger teens, battling is either done by younger teens who are insecure and want to "show people up" or done by people who have been raving for a short time and are not acquainted with the culture (less than two years).

Lets be truthful... battling does happen, but at a rave, it ought not to. In a club or hip-hop event, where battling is a part of the culture, it is acceptable, but at a rave, it is not. Battling is a part of hip-hop culture, not a part of the rave culture. Rave culture, while just as varied and deep as hip-hop (and some would say electronica has made a huge-impact on hip-hop music), is not about competition.

Revisions will be made to this article as I quickly jotted down some thoughts.

Revision #1

Some people have pointed out that some circles may have some sort of element of competition while at the same time being quite friendly. I don't call it battling, some people do. Battling to me has a stake, and they aren't friendly, and are defined by disses and taunts, originating from the bboy style and terminology. If you would like to call it battling, go ahead, but I disagree whether it really is battling if it's done with an element of friendliness.

Revision #2

It is also the case that it is hard to know whether your actions will come off as friendly if you get into the mode of battling, particularly at a rave, where the music is loud and emotions are high.

Revision #3 (Have empathy)

Some people may think their actions are friendly in a circle environment, but others may think your actions come off ass-holish. Do your part and make sure you clear any misconceptions before you move to your next circle.

That's the ultimate point I am making.

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