faux rangering....

[mooserider]

Although it was totally unintentional, I apparently was a Faux Black Rock Ranger this year. Just because I was wearing khakis and a Tilley camp hat, and was carrying a radio (heck, at one time I was carrying four radios), people kept stopping me to ask for directions or help as if I was a Ranger.

The scores for how many times I was mistaken for a Ranger:

Monday - 3
Tuesday - 4
Wednesday - 6
Thursday - 9
Friday - 1

The best one was the last one on Thursday, when I happened to pass by Ranger HQ on the Esplanade, stopped to see what the meeting was about (it was a recruiting meeting for next year's rangers), and a ranger supervisor mistook me for a ranger. That was priceless!

[ygmir]

Although it was totally unintentional, I apparently was a Faux Black Rock Ranger this year. Just because I was wearing khakis and a Tilley camp hat, and was carrying a radio (heck, at one time I was carrying four radios), people kept stopping me to ask for directions or help as if I was a Ranger.

The scores for how many times I was mistaken for a Ranger:

Monday - 3
Tuesday - 4
Wednesday - 6
Thursday - 9
Friday - 1

The best one was the last one on Thursday, when I happened to pass by Ranger HQ on the Esplanade, stopped to see what the meeting was about (it was a recruiting meeting for next year's rangers), and a ranger supervisor mistook me for a ranger. That was priceless!

maybe next year dress as an inflatable sheep?

[Lonesomebri]

How ineffectual were you being?

[Molotov]

While cruising the city in an ESD fire engine, I lost track of the number of times we were stopped and asked if we were a potable water service or if we would pump out their grey/black water. I guess the red light bar and "FIRE" stickers were not sufficient clues as to our purpose. And we were also frequently misidentified as Black Rock Rangers despite our bright yellow ESD shirts.

[mooserider]

How ineffectual were you being?

Not very. The people who were asking for directions, I was able to assist quite well. Of course, I'd been working on city mapping software for two months prior, so I was quite conversant with the city layout for a mere burgin. Thankfully, no one asked me to resolve a domestic dispute.

[maladroit]

How ineffectual were you being?

Not very. The people who were asking for directions, I was able to assist quite well. Of course, I'd been working on city mapping software for two months prior, so I was quite conversant with the city layout for a mere burgin. Thankfully, no one asked me to resolve a domestic dispute.

Ranger of the Year!

[The CO]

I've spent years being mistaken for a ranger.

This year was especially fascinating as I was dressed in green driving a clearly labeled DPW vehicle. And still got mistaken for a ranger 2-3 times a day.

[Token]

Not a bad idea really. Kind of like Santacon only with a Playa twist.

Start a Rangercon, gather hords of folks dressed as Rangers and then pillage all the bars in a vast bar crawl.

Emphasis on belligerence and disinformation.

Not really original but would be refreshing for the newbs.

[CyanEssence]

While cruising the city in an ESD fire engine, I lost track of the number of times we were stopped and asked if we were a potable water service or if we would pump out their grey/black water. I guess the red light bar and "FIRE" stickers were not sufficient clues as to our purpose. And we were also frequently misidentified as Black Rock Rangers despite our bright yellow ESD shirts.

I stopped in at a random camp who offered me a drink. One of the camp's leaders walked over to great another camp-mate who was returned by an ESD (in a yellow shirt of course) via golf cart. The camp leader, who was a multi-year burner, addressed the ESD as "ranger," and believed them to be BLM. After the ESD departed, I explained the difference between BR Rangers, ESD and BLM Rangers. Not everyone makes the distinction. I think some people see radio and golf cart and think lawman.

On another note, I had the pleasure of working alongside, and interacting with, several ESDs this year and found them all to be personable, intelligent, and patient. Their professionalism, even in difficult/stressful situations was inspiring.