Coming Soon: Reliable playa cell service (?)

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 1:26 pm

http://www.popsci.com/technology/articl ... owers-wont

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:13 pm

I realize I cannot stop the advance of technology. But I urge all burners to refrain from using electronic communication on the Playa.

It is not a matter of me wanting to control your behavior. It is a matter of me inviting you to enjoy one of the unique features that make the Burning Man Art Festival what it is. Burning Man became tremendously popular for good reasons. One of those reasons is the "total vacation" from everyday life.

Seems to me that cutting ourselves off from the outside world for this precious one week a year is a very valuable feature. If you consider the lack of your cell phone a hardship, then I suggest you try adding that "hardship" to the other minor hardships we happily expose ourselves to out there, in order to achieve our goal of benefiting so greatly from participating in The Festival. I suspect you will find that your "cell phone deprivation" fits right in with the need to bring large quantities of water, to drag blocks of ice to your camp every couple of days, to protect your eyes from blowing dust, and so forth. All these are minor nuisances that enable a much greater overall benefit.

So I invite you to take full advantage of what participation in Burning Man has to offer -- including what I call the freedom from as many of our everyday shackles as possible.

(Yes, I have heard valid arguments about family emergencies and the like. In such cases, you must of course use your own best judgment. I'm not trying to boss you around. I'm just extending an invitation. )

lucky420 · Post by **lucky420** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:29 pm

I have been on vacations where my cell phone didn't work and I loved it. However when my daughter and I got to the playa I was hoping that it would work. My son was coming up a day later and I had no idea where we would be camped at. While we registered at the playa directory first thing after we got there I kept trying to get service so I could let him know our location. Never could get through & I kind of worried as we had all the gear/supplies. Lo & behold he came crashing through the yurt door at about 5 am on Wednesday morning. He found us by using the directory. Next year if part of our group comes at a different time my mind will rest easy...THANKS Playa Directory

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:23 pm

I assume this would be the standard wisdom. The escapist aspect of the event is a part of the allure for me, although I feel sorely late for the party with so much exposure in recent years and pop culture references.

The flip side of that it the Radical Inclusion principle. I have noticed between reading posts here an apparent conflict between Radical Inclusion and the anti-yahoo/tourist sentiment. It was the same in Rainbow land, the tension between the Everyone is Welcome philosophy and the anti-yuppie/anti-babylon mythology.

I have always assumed there will eventually be worldwide cell-type communication coverage that most everyone will have access to. I think it's overall a good thing, but building in some limits and safe havens is a natural response I would suppose.

Not sure if I should pack my Blackberry away for the week or have it accessible for photos. Hate to have it get too playafied but I don't have my own digital camera.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:25 pm

start saving now.
What do they cost these days, like ten bucks?

rubik · Post by **rubik** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:32 pm

I am 12 and i did not miss my cell phone at all. I really love being away from my life for a week and i want it to stay that way.

Keep cells away! :x

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 5:00 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:start saving now.
What do they cost these days, like ten bucks?

Yeah, it all depends on quality and how functional you need. From free promotional jobbers to thousand dollar pro rigs. We (my gf and I) actually have one between us and have been talking about getting a better one so we'll probably bring the one we have to share.

Trishntek · Post by **Trishntek** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 6:02 pm

It would be truly sad to see people wasting their time texting and gabbing on the phone while on the playa. In fact, from my own perspective, while at the burn, it is all about the Burning Man experience. I don't discuss pollitics or religion, use a keyboard or look at a monitor.

One of the great beauties of Burning Man is interactivity, which is something modern culture is doing its damndest to prevent.

moonrise · Post by **moonrise** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 6:45 pm

Fishy is correct, digi cameras are super low cost ($100 or less w/flash)....I used a ziplock and a camera case and wiped mine clean frequently and it still works like a champ.

One note; I did not take a gazillion photos...professional photographers do an amazing job and I enjoy those photos immensely. (thanks!)

Cell phones; I didn t need mine, barely missed it...I also made very careful plans to cover my ass while disappearing for almost 2 weeks!

Playa info does the job it needs to do (thanks!)

(Nevertheless, I imagine the 4G technology will change this over time)