culture jamming center camp

technopatra · Post by **technopatra** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 1:52 pm

Jane Eric wrote: Burning Man must be one uncomfortable experience for the irony/sarcasm/cynically challenged.

I invite you to consider that Kelly's protestations, (which are pretty damn reasonable, imo) might come not from being sarcastically challenged (which I know Kelly is not) but from being involved enough to care about the possible outcome if these pranks turn into reality. You may be sarcastic, but if others take this seriously and run with it, then Kelly will be one of the folks having to deal.

I'm just saying.

blyslv · Post by **blyslv** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 1:52 pm

Jane Eric wrote: "Buh-bye, buh-bye, now get the fuck off my plane, buh-bye." and they laugh, EACH and EVERY time.

You may have seen me laughing Jane, but on the inside I was crying bitter tears, tears of a clown. It hurt in ways even I am only now beginning to comprehend. It filled me with doubt, remorse and self-loathing. It made me wonder.

precipitate · Post by **precipitate** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 2:15 pm

> then Kelly will be one of the folks having to deal.

So, do we all go to Burning Man so we don't have to deal?

It's not that I don't get what she's saying. I just disagree with it. I fully
support the cacaphonic roots at the event. And I also think that most of
the people discussing things here realize the ramifications of what they're
proposing.

I personally take issue with the cafe and what it represents. There are
some big, fat, glaring contradictions to the stated mission of the event,
and that bugs me. If I can somehow coopt that and turn it into
performance art, should I not do it because it'll make some people
uncomfortable? I think that's a judgment call. It's one that each person
involved should make before participating.

Patience · Post by **Patience** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 3:02 pm

Totally. Rob summed it up when he said, "Wah."

Kelly has pointed some good reasons why these particular methods might not be the best way to lampoon the cafe. Stealing tip jars, for example, strikes me as both off the mark in effect and fairly uninventive. Passing out the coupons for free lattes, on the other hand, is pretty funny.

As an unreformed prankster, I will say that it is important to consider the impact of your little games, and sometimes the payoff is just not worth the trouble you cause. And sometimes the trouble is the whole point.

Ivy · Post by **Ivy** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 4:47 pm

Passing out coupons is far more likely to cuase MOOP than stealing a tip jar.

Just a thought...

III · Post by **III** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 5:26 pm

i've never advocated stealing tip jars.

i've only suggested liberating them.

the difference may be semantic, but the latter (i hope) implies that it is done with the intent of publicising a political issue, and not appropriating the resultant funds for oneself. doing it without some decent theater to go along with it would be kind of pointless, from a culturejamming perspective.

Jane Eric · Post by **Jane Eric** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 6:01 pm

It filled me with doubt, remorse and self-loathing.

Bly, then mebbe you shouldn't have stolen the barf bags. Tsk.

blyslv · Post by **blyslv** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 12:06 pm

Jane Eric wrote:Bly, then mebbe you shouldn't have stolen the barf bags. Tsk.

I needed them. I had PLANS! Besides I thought they were a gift.

Wind_Borne · Post by **Wind_Borne** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 8:22 pm

Kelly's comments are thoughtful and deserve respect and consideration. Her notes point out that there is a real difference between artistic lampooning and hurtful attacks. Its the difference between Julia Butterfly Hill living in Luna for months and an extremest causing the death of some lumber worker by spiking trees. One action captures the world's imagination and respect, the other alienates reasonable people.

Sure its easier to flip-off those who annoy us than to invent a truly brilliant and constructive response. But, hey, we're Burners! Imagination is our stock and trade. Disruption and destruction is easy, but unworthy of us -- it's just plain mean. And anyone who thinks that mean is OK has lost the way.

When some aspect of BRC doesn't live up to our expectations we have an easy fix: do it better ourselves! That's our creed, that's our challenge.

Ivy · Post by **Ivy** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 8:55 pm

Disruption and destruction is easy, but unworthy of us

I would disagree with the "disruption." Easy, maybe. Unworthy of us? Never.

Disrution is what a lot of BM is about. Hell, BM is a disrution of our day-to-day lives. it's something totally different that makes you go "whoa."

Disrution, though, is like the gun arguement: "are guns evil?" Depends on what they're used for.

Is disruption bad? If it's sole intent is to harm someone, I'd say yes.

Is disruptuion good? If it puts a spark in someone's mind, I'd say yes.

Wind_Borne · Post by **Wind_Borne** » Sat Nov 22, 2003 12:37 am

I'll accept Ivy's apt distinction.

SED · Post by **SED** » Sat Nov 22, 2003 12:41 am

Ah, ferchrissakes folks, BRC is so big now that you can avoid virtually any part of it. This thread is starting to seem like a tempest in a tea pot.

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Sat Nov 22, 2003 6:00 am

This thread is starting to seem like a tempest in a tea pot.

Better than pissing in the pot and calling it tea.

I mean, well, WWDFD?

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sat Nov 22, 2003 7:14 am

FYI, I don't care what ya'll do do or don't do, but I reserve the right to carp.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Thu May 21, 2009 8:41 am

Anyone up for some shenanigans this year?

Nothing illegal mind you.. but the closer to the line the better

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:51 am

Sure.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu May 21, 2009 2:04 pm

rumors are always fun, and can be an interesting psychological phenomena in mass.

situate 6 or 7 conspirators equally distanced in the center cafe, and at the appointed time, spread the rumor....it will spread in each direction, overlap, be "confirmed" and repeated.

maybe "Bob Weir is taking a crap at the 2:00 Porta Potties RIGHT NOW!"

"3rd from the right, if you leave now, i bet you can catch him, he's been eating clif bars all week and he's a little stuffed up....how do I Know?, hell i'm a roadie"....

watch the cafe empty in under 8 minutes.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu May 21, 2009 2:25 pm

How about just running around screaming? Start a panic.

Maybe like we just heard some real bad news from outside. Most people couldn't confirm it. Like Iran nuked Israel.

Or not bad, maybe just real weird, like they just discovered a gold meteorite in space...

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Thu May 21, 2009 6:34 pm

Glad someone is digging up some of these old posts. It's great seeing some interest in six year old words written by some of the old ones.

Pay attention to PJ for continuous, belly-aching posts.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:40 pm

Isotopia wrote:Glad someone is digging up some of these old posts. It's great seeing some interest in six year old words written by some of the old ones.

Pay attention to PJ for continuous, belly-aching posts.

Also be on the look out for that Badger person. He is always a riot!

A good rumor would be to have a bunch of people start complaining about getting the shits from the coffee.. or getting really ill. How could one recreate the rotten egg odor from those lil glass stink bombs? Ya know without the glass and strong enough to empty the place out.. Only method I know involves lighting up something and I thinks its prolly best to avoid lighting anything. Damn you Paul Addis! Those smoke signals for boats.. ya knoiw the big things that cost like 40 bucks in a can with pull chain or the mil surplus ones.. how many to fill up the place and how long would it stay filled? I did one indoors once and had smoke inside for days even with the fans on and windows open.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri May 22, 2009 8:21 am

"Hey! Free beer at Isotopia's camp! Pass it on!"

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri May 22, 2009 8:23 am

Okay, here's one. Just before sunset, everyone spreads out, way out.

When the sun sets, everyone lets loose with chimpanzee hoots.