*acknowledgement of amusement from left out background info*
I don't drink and don't really do well socially with a large amount of people around, so there goes most of the appeal of a party to me. And when I do want to talk to people, I like to be able to hear them. I do really like to just chill with a small group of friends though. Then it doesn't matter what or where the specific gather is.
But, I can understand the appeal of them. I've even managed to have a blast at some of the ones I've been too, though that probably wasn't really due to anything related to the actual party, so w/e.