Second Year Burner Disease

theshaman · Post by **theshaman** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 5:16 pm

So this will be my third year. I was the poster boy for second year burner disease last year. Learned a lot.

We also had TONS of virgins camping with us last year...they are returning this year as a horde of second year burners.

so.....any advice on...well is it just something they have to go through? Can I be of any help? I am not sure exactly what I am asking here. This is a large theme camp...probably 20 - 30 second years...even more old time burners some 6+ years so a good balance.

Old timers! Lend me your wisdom! Drop a nugget of knowledge on me!

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 5:29 pm

Let them make their mistakes but don't get invested in the results or the ensuing drama - unless it directly impacts you or the rest of the folks.

Don't be afraid to call 'em on their shit - especially if their pulling less than their load. Short of a medical emergency excuses should be dismissed with extreme prejudice.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 5:30 pm

I can't believe I used 'their' instead of 'they're'...

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 6:48 pm

Sign them up for committees, make sure they're busy at all times, withhold food or liquor if they don't comply, try hoods and naked human pyramids at noon if that doesn't work, tell them to take the garbage down to DPW, ask them to do your cigarette runs into town, bla bla bla.

RingO'Fire · Post by **RingO'Fire** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:21 am

Badger wrote:I can't believe I used 'their' instead of 'they're'...

There, They're, Their now Badger, at least you caught your own error, but I'm still going to have to subtract 2 points from your final score. At least you didn't have any run-on sentences or comma splices.

Sign me,
Mr. English

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:31 am

Badger wrote:Let them make their mistakes .

"They're" is a contraction of They Are. I believe that you had it right the first time.
.....and I wouldn't have posted this unless the issue of appropriate wording was being discussed, just so you know. I've always been a stickler for correct spelling, but my syntax and grammar are so poor that my wife loses patience with me when we do Madlibs.....

Icepack · Post by **Icepack** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 9:52 am

theshaman wrote:So this will be my third year. I was the poster boy for second year burner disease last year. Learned a lot.

We also had TONS of virgins camping with us last year...they are returning this year as a horde of second year burners.

so.....any advice on...well is it just something they have to go through? Can I be of any help? I am not sure exactly what I am asking here. This is a large theme camp...probably 20 - 30 second years...even more old time burners some 6+ years so a good balance.

Old timers! Lend me your wisdom! Drop a nugget of knowledge on me!

What is second year burner disease?

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:09 am

Not sure I completely get it, either. My guess is the compulsion of Yearlings to embark upon insanely ambitious art projects to the detriment of their raw enjoyment of the event as well as the annoyance of their campmates.......precisely the boat I'm in danger of being in.

theshaman · Post by **theshaman** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:18 am

How to know if you have second year burner disease:

It is your second year

The first year was amazing and you can't wait to get back

Your plans are grandiose to the point of being ridiculous - example: While at my FIRST Burning Man, I found out that David Best was not planning on building a temple in 2003 and I became convinced that I was the man for the job...now although I am quite handy and have an extensive background in set construction...well that is still a tall order.

No matter how out there your plans are (what if we built a shower big enough for 12 people!) you CONTINUE to come up with new ideas and ADD more projects up until the day you leave for the playa.

You tend to over-commit to projects

You want to be involved in EVERYTHING

you have a lot of expectations about how it is going to be

on the playa you end up spending a LOT of time working and being stressed out

when one of you expectations is unfulfilled, you wallow in dissappointment

you tend to have some dramatic situations unfold around you

even if you get past the work and dissappointment, you probably are left with at least one "well I am never going to fucking do THAT again!"

Like I said, I was the poster boy. I know these well. any I missed folks?

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:46 am

I think you should share this morsel of wisdom: There is only one commodity on the playa that has any real value, Time. Use it wisely. Everything else is secondary.

Doc

theshaman · Post by **theshaman** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:58 am

Thank you Doctor Pyro...That was a brilliant nugget of knowledge...I will be quoting you. Stop by and see us at Porch Camp.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 11:08 am

a horde of second year burners

run the fuck away!!!!!

as much of a cliche as it seems, nothing has that first time impact. Badger had it right. Their flailing dissapointment is not your responsibility. All you can do is have the best time of your life and be a shining example unto them.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 11:13 am

So my 2nd year went great (got everything done, had a great time, etc). I had issues the last few, however, I tend to be a late developer in most things, so I had the 2nd year disease mostly in year 3. Now, while I still dream in large dimensions, I don't sweat what doesn't happen (plenty of other stuff to sweat down there...) I tell our newbies that probably 95% of what people say they are going to do doesn't get done - priorities are to buy your ticket, get your survival gear, get your costume(s), and mosty importantly - show up. All else is secondary. regards, Jafe

G.W.B. · Post by **G.W.B.** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 2:08 pm

No expectations.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 2:16 pm

Another way to get your camp's attention is to acknowledge that there is no single leader but for the sake of camp stability you did bring along your talking axe to help mediate any conflict. Let them know that it whispers ONLY to you and that you're obligated to carry out its wishes/judgements re. bad behavior on the part of your camp mates.

That might get everyone on board.

Or not.

manowar · Post by **manowar** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:33 pm

So your saying you might be a second year burner if....
You decide your bike needs more decorations...
You decide your bike should be a rocket ship....
You decide your rocket ship must have dual flame throwers as "real rockets"
You decide you should add large bubble guns to run when you can't safely fire the real rockets.
You decide you need neon lighting on the rockets for times at night when you can't safely fire the rockets and people cant see the bubbles.
You decide - why stop at neon, lets add el wire Hmmm better yet - need forward illumination so add some headlights and oh yeah lasers...nothing looks cooler through the dust than lasers, better add a few of those.
You then look at your required power budget and decide you'll have to add a deep cycle batter and solar charger system.
You realise you have a few miliamps of power to spare so you decide to add a small sound system.
You look at the bike and decide what it's really missing is an alien on the front so you build a cockpit complete with alien pilot (dressed in playa wear of course).
Your bike gets ripped off and you deside your just going to have to find an identiical bike to buy because, damn it there's no way your reworking all the above mentioned items for a different model.
You look at the "finished" bike and wonder if it's too late in the year to start building a 25 foot dome by yourself.
You decide it is...but only because with a bike like that you're definately going to need some cool outfits so you're going to need to learn how to sew.

Mithra · Post by **Mithra** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 2:02 am

If only someone had innoculated me. I didn't read about it in the survival guide, they didn't tell me about it in at any of the workshops, it wasn't on the back of the ticket...yes, another fucking conspiricy.......I'm better now though...

Mithra

Second Year Burner Disease

Second Year Burner Disease

Re: Second Year Burner Disease

What it is

Thanks

Definately was Infected in 2003