Should I goto Burning Man next year?

[reptillicus]

I really dont know if I want to goto Burning Man for the right reasons. I've never benn there but I have a group of friends that have been going for almost a decade now, so I know all about it. I can think of a handful of reasons, like the fact that I havent been to a party in years, or the fact that I havent been on vacation in years. Lately I've been feeling pretty lonely and I feel the need to put myself in a friendly, free-expression kind of environment. That combined with the Burning Man coverage on Current TV made me decide to go in 08. But there is a problem, I know that everyone there is super nice and generous and fun loving, and those who are freeloaders or party poopers (for lack of a better term) are discouraged from attending. I'm afraid that the biggest reason I would like to go next year is to lose my virginity. Is this a bad thing? the last thing that I would want to do is contaminate such an amazing place. I dont mean any harm and never try to cause any. I am just a 23 year old who feels like his life is spinning thorugh oblivion and I think that Burning Man would be the best place to try and find myself. Please, please, please tell me what you think.

[phil]

If you have to do a poll and have people tell you if you should go, then don't.

[ibdave]

If you have to do a poll and have people tell you if you should go, then don't.

What phil said.....

[Kinetik V]

Are you physically able to volunteer? I'd say Go! But before you do get yourself signed up to volunteer for something, say lamplighters or working a greeters shift, and that way you can give a gift back to BM that you know will be accepted. Yourself.

That being said the first time you go out there you really just need to go and take in the experience and not pile on too many expectations. Nobody is going to expect you to come in with a full blown art car, theme camp, and chock full of gifts or services to hand out...that's not how it works.

I would definitely urge caution on one other aspect. BM is an emotional crucible, and if you put in emotional instability what you get out may be an amplified version of something you don't want. On the other hand like in my case it can strengthen and even transform a relationship or one's emotional state. The key IMHO is preparation, having a serious gut check with yourself and then having the courage to go, stick to your commitments and just do it.

[AntiM]

Oh shoot, buy the ticket and take the ride. After reading the survival guide, naturally. Party pooper? I slept through both Crude Awakening and the Temple burn and don't feel guilty about that at all.

Just have ID on you in case you lose it and wander off, so when we find you gibbering out in the Deep Playa we'll know whose health insurance to bill. (Hey, hey, that was humor.)

You can't "contaminate" Burning Man. Be prepared, be yourself, don't let us decide your fate.

[BitterDan]

If you are in the wrong mindset for it then you won't have a good time. Let's be honest, it is uncomfortable at times out there. It comes down to being in the right frame of mind for Burning Man. Come, be yourself, be honest, be approachable and you'll have a great time I'm sure.

As far as being lonely is concerned. I don't think it's possible to be lonely out on the playa. There are sooooooo many people who would just love to hang out with you no matter who you are. Hell, I was hanging out with a straight-edge, straight-out-of-iraq, conservative soldier and we still had a great time so stereotypes don't really fit out there.

About "losing your virginity"... Do you mean losing your Burning Man virginity or are you talking about sex? If it's sex then I would tell you to go but don't expect anything to happen. Seriously, if you are having a hard time getting laid in the real world, you might have a hard time getting some at Burning Man. Granted there are a lot of cougars out there that I am sure would LOVE to devirginize you. Just set your expectations right and don't be too disappointed if you don't get laid. I believe there is also a guide on the internet for "Getting Laid at Burning Man". Just search for it.

[BAS]

How the heck would I know if you should go?!?

The only way to know if you would like it is to go and find out. I wouldn't count on getting laid. I went and didn't get laid-- then again, I AM a fat over 40 guy, and was pretty sick the whole week. (Here is a tip-- if you have a sinus infection, you almost certainly should stay home. I somehow managed to enjoy myself despite being sick and exhausted, due to being sick, the whole time. Still, considering how out of it I was, all sorts of people could have been hitting on me all week and I might not have known...)

Get your friends to get you a copy of the Survival Guide and read through it. That is probably as good a place to start as any. Also, you would probably get better advice from your friends who have gone than from us here-- for starters, your friends know both you and Burning Man, and so would have a better idea what mixing the two could do.


B.