Every organization has values. Most of them are corporate filler — aspirational nonsense designed to look good on a website and mean nothing in practice. This is not that.
SLIST was built on six positions that we’ve held since day one, through controversy, cancel campaigns, and every attempt to water us down. These aren’t guidelines. They’re the architecture. Break one and the whole thing collapses.
I. Shitposting as art form
Humor is fundamental to the human experience. Friendships, partnerships, entire communities are built on shared laughter. We have no intention of suppressing that.
Shitposting and comedy are genuine art forms — vehicles for expressing critical opinions in a space that feels safe enough to be honest. SLIST distinguished itself early by embracing this. We built a platform where controversial and challenging conversations weren’t just tolerated but encouraged.
In an industry dominated by a cautious, corporate mindset — sterile platitudes, bland opinions, relentless people-pleasing — we took a different route. Genuine community thrives on honesty, and honesty requires letting people be both funny and controversial. Orwell said it best: every joke resembles a tiny revolution.
II. Diversity of thought
Dialogue and freedom of expression are the cornerstones of this project. Discussion topics are not censored. Everyone has the right to form their own opinions. No one is immune from criticism.
Not everything is black and white. Reality operates on a gradient, not a binary. Ideas don’t sit at the extremes of a spectrum — they fall across an entire range of shades.
We are not here to standardize criteria. Our community is intellectually diverse because raving is for everyone, regardless of background. Our admins disagree with each other regularly. We acknowledge this and are grateful for it. We actively encourage our community to be open and honest with one another.
This is what keeps the community engaged. Not conformity — tension.
III. Tastes over activism
SLIST exists for the promotion of dark music. That means booking DJs based on their tastes only.
You cannot give preference to external factors (social activism, identity politics, scene clout) and simultaneously claim you only care about the music. These two positions are mutually exclusive. Pick one.
If we want to live in a future where everyone is treated equally, then we need to treat everyone as equals right now. No preferences. No quotas. The music speaks or it doesn’t.
IV. Anti-gatekeeping
If we want everyone to be treated equally on the dance floor, we must first treat everyone equally at the door.
SLIST is against arbitrary decisions about access to parties and preferential treatment. We maintain a non-hierarchical dynamic, and that requires every attendee to contribute to the experience. All attendees are considered supporters unless proven otherwise.
The past few years have seen the NYC scene adopt pseudo-aristocratic tendencies regarding party access. Much of the underground has been infected with a mindset of preferential treatment based on cliques and group identity — ironically, in the name of inclusion. This is deeply troubling.
We want people to feel welcomed. To get a fair shot at being part of this community. If you want equality on the floor, start with equality at the door (the rhyme was intentional).
V. Radical inclusivity
Our world is extremely connected. Every tool we use to grow and build SLIST has been derived from the works of people from every background imaginable. For that reason alone, we do not discriminate against or for anyone — regardless of background, ideas, appearance, or any other factor — so long as they aren’t violating rules.
Our community is not built on identity or status. It is built on love for dark art. That is the bond. We have no interest in drawing boundaries between people, and we don’t encourage it. Mutual understanding and a sense of togetherness is everything.
The SLIST community is open to everyone who wishes to join us in promoting this movement. General etiquette maintained, rules followed. That’s it. That’s the barrier to entry.
VI. Going against the grain
We take certain “facts” for granted because an “expert” repeated them. The truth is that no one has all the answers. We are all constantly testing or disproving our own theories.
We pride ourselves on taking risks — creatively, organizationally, and conversationally. Every day we push the boundaries of curation, attitudes, and self-discovery. Stagnation is death. There is no development without experimentation.
In December 2023, SLIST ignored the naysayers and threw its first industrial techno event in SoHo — something considered a ridiculous, doomed-to-fail undertaking at the time. It was a resounding success that led to ten similar events and consistent community growth over six months. SLIST pioneered an aggressive expansion of hard techno from Brooklyn to Manhattan, and larger promoters followed.
We are unorthodox — not for its own sake, but because we believe in the power and appeal of dark culture. There is something in it for everyone, and we will put ourselves on the line reputationally and financially to expose more people to it. Even when people say it’s a bad move, a trend, or just too edgy.
These six positions are non-negotiable. They existed before anyone paid attention, and they’ll exist long after the trend-chasers move on. This is the doctrine. Take it or leave it — but know what you’re walking into.