this topic comes up every now and again . my views on it have changed over time. when i went home to new york after college and didn't have any friends who liked to go out dancing, i didn't go out for 6 months. it took a rave with a particularly interesting lineup to get myself out and brave a party alone (i'm gonna talk about that party tomorrow, actually; it was a pivotal night in my life, 3 years ago tomorrow ). after that night, i went out alone all the time. but i kept running into the same people, and always had fun talking to new people, too. but now that i live out here and go out with my friends whenever i go out, if no one wants to go out to an event or just out on a night that i do, i tend not to go at all. i think it's just 'cause i've been spoiled. and people aren't as approachable in clubland as they are at raves; i think that has something to do with getting older and putting up walls. i find it's a lot harder to start up conversations with strangers when they're older, even though it's definitely easier in l.a. than it is in new york. but if it's a dj that i really love, i'll go alone .