Back In My Day

The local University here, very helpfully named the University Of Victoria (I know, right?) has been in the news lately for what are being reported as massive, unruly parties.

Huh.

I say "huh" because it's somehow making me feel... well, old.

I went to UVic.  I lived in residence.  We had parties.  But the parties we had were IN residence.  Sometimes an entire building (or most of it anyway), sometimes between two buildings (as in you'd go between them) but we never, that I know of, had outdoor parties and never in my life have I known anything like what's being described (and shared in video.)

I don't look too far into the articles, but I have read that folks are suggesting it's not *just* the university students, that it's, what, high school students as well?  And young people who have "nowhere else to go" congregating and I mean I'm not there.  I'm not 20-something (sigh), and I don't live in the area and I can't really speak to what is or isn't going on but I makes me uncomfortable.  And I'm not quite sure why? Maybe it's feeling so disconnected from "the youth of today" or maybe it's not being able to put myself in their shoes (why would I want to be wild outside in a huge group of loud, trouble causing strangers?  especially when I could be inside, sitting somewhere comfortable, playing stupid games, getting increasingly tipsy... I'll be honest,  having random conversation and oh, right, have a bathroom nearby if I needed it?  I don't get it?)  But I didn't understand the '94 hockey riots either and I was closer to that age group at that time so maybe it's just something I do. not. get.  I dunno.

It did make me miss house parties.  Not that I've been to one in a long time, and I don't know that I'll be going to one again in my life or certainly any time soon (fuck you already Covid).  I dunno man.  I guess it just doesn't seem fun and that makes me sad and feel out of touch and it's yet another thing I get overwhelmed by... because I don't see answers or solutions that are workable to implement.

The study of people as a group has always interested me.  But I feel like I have no idea of how society "works" these days.  (And it genuinely stresses me out and makes me anxious... which sucks.)