Virgin's reaction to first visit...

poisenloaf · Post by **poisenloaf** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 8:38 pm

First time burner in 2008 here.. I went with about 15 people (Naked Ninjas camp).. about half of us were virgins, and the other half have gone anywhere from 2-10 years. We had been preparing for months having weekend BBQs to do costume & camp planning. Mix of tent campers, plus several RVs which were invaluable during Monday & Saturday's whiteouts. Of course, we were totally overprepared and brought way too much stuff.. we'll be minimizing a bit next year! but better to be over than underprepared. We made good notes on the ride home on what we'll change next year.

Here is my mishmash comments on the whole experience which I have to say was incredible! I didn't have any expectations other than to have an amazing time, and I was successful in that.

We drove from San Diego to Reno on Saturday, then camped at the Walmart all day Sunday and left that evening to get in on the 12am gate opening. Let me tell you I will never forget the experience of leaving Gerlach and going over the hill, seeing the playa and all the miles of lights, cars, and people on their way in. Surreal. The gate entry was painless and the greeters even took the time to let me ring the bell and roll in the dirt despite the backlog of people to get in. I had a shit-eating grin on pretty much for 10 days after that.

The whiteouts were rough, but I'm glad I got it over with on the first day.. the vets in our camp said it was the worst they've seen so I feel prepared for anything future BMs have to offer now. The rest of the week was pretty much heaven as far as the weather goes..Saturday was rough again, but it was nice to have a day of rest and hang out at camp with friends.

The temple was very emotional..enough said. I didn't get to stay for the temple burn but we are making plans to come early and stay late next year partly just for this.

Music - It seems like the only comments about music or sound camps is generally a lot of people complaining about the "rave scene" that has been steadily growing at BM. I don't consider myself a raver, nor do I go to raves, but I love electronic music so Root Society, Opulent Temple, Robot Heart, etc were all HUGE highlights for me.. I cannot say enough about them, just check my youtube videos.

Art - I thought I would see more..and the vets said it was a bit light this year. I saw some very cool stuff on the playa though and I hope more interactive things like the Cubatron, Dance Dance Immolation, etc return next year so I can experience those!

The Deep End - sad it is their last year..glad I got to see it's final hurrah. It was great to see so many people out even during the worst of days..so much energy!

Petting zoo - very gracious hosts to us on Wednesday which also happened to be my birthday (how awesome is it that I get to have my birthday while I'm at BM every year!).. they took really good care of us!

The burn - also very intense..I got a bit teary eyed and I have no idea why other than it was the culmination of the entire week and I was so happy to be there.

I feel like I barely scratch the surface on all there is to do despite maybe getting 4-5 hours sleep a day and being out and about most of the rest of the time.

I hope it rains this year and the playa gets a bit more back to "normal".. I pretty much gave up hope of using my bike midway through the week because of the dunes and ruts.. it was less tiring to just walk around, but of course we got to see less.

Now that we are back, me and the wife have cancelled a lot of our "normal" vacation plans for the year and are planning on every regional burner event we can get our hands on.. It's been quite fun this past weeks as we keep getting together with our new BM friends to reminesce about BM and keep the dream going so to speak. :D

AmericanFremin1 · Post by **AmericanFremin1** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:33 pm

glad you rocked it loaf, but it's not dirt. it's playa......you are only allowed a few of those mix-sups a year.

Gravity Girl · Post by **Gravity Girl** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:07 pm

when i was still up the next day after the Man burned, someone told me i was a virgin no longer now that i'd seen him burn, fall, and danced around him, it made me feel so good!

I was one of 5 virgins camping with 4 others who'd all been there once before, and we were very well prepared so that people were also suprised half of us had never been there. my big thing next year will be to bring a camelbak instead of a regular backpack with waterbottles.

i usually try to arrive at my new destinations with no expectations, but i couldn't help falling in love with burning man before i even arrived and it did not disappoint. even though we arrived in a dust storm and my goggles and masks were packed on the roof of our bus and i couldn't get at them and later i got lost in the dust storm by myself, i was still happy and excited and it usually takes a lot to get me down because to me it's all new and exciting and adventure.

i'm suprised over the course of the week i didn't choke on playa because so often my mouth was open in a huge suprised smile. i didn't get to do nearly as much as i wanted but i don't feel like i wasted any time either because 24/7 i was happy and taking it all in and feeling alive, even if i was just up on the roof of our bus drinking with my camp mates and our neighbours and random strangers who'd stop to watch us dancing and singing on the roof who we'd invite up for beer.

as far as hook ups go, i didn't go there with any expectations or plans and i ended up meeting someone awesome at the deep end when the sun was still up and we danced until the stars were out and then went back to my camp. i took over 1000 pictures but don't have a single one of him, i had a sketchbook that lots of people wrote and drew in, and i forgot to get him to do that, it was friday and his camp was across the playa from mine, so later that night we said goodbye, knowing the next night was the burn and the night after that the temple burn, we didn't make plans to try and see each other again. maybe it was the magic of the playa, but it was kind of perfect despite not being perfect, if that makes sense.

anyway, if your reading this, (which i highly doubt you are), "Tallin, Estonia".

after not having any limitations on what i could do at burning man and seeing some of my campmates who were in relationships struggle with this, i'm almost scared to be in a relationship ever again because i plan to come back to burning man every year. since i'm single i'm not too worried about it, but do burners in relationships have any advice out there for new burners coming with or without their partners?

we stayed until tuesday after exodus and had a kickass time monday night at the lamplighters bar and wandering around the desert, i hope we stay late next year too, like an extra day, week, month, year....

chinacatsunflower · Post by **chinacatsunflower** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:05 pm

This is a reply both to jackmack and americanfremin...I am sure you will both understand the context and there is no need to address you seperately...

I came to the burn with one other person, a fellow virgin from Santa Cruz (he would not have come if I hadn't dragged him along...I needed a ride from the airport, after all!), and later met the rest of my fellow campers on Thursday, with various experience from 1-3 previous burns, all from southern California. One of whom was my ex-girlfriend. I had to sneak her in through this crazy "slight of hand" trick, while I was tripping face (I will not divulge my secrets in case I am forced to do this again next year, which I probably will, since someone is always broke and lacking a ticket)...my co-conspirators were freaking out about my mental state, but in the end I am pretty sure it helped our case, and I was the one who pulled it off, so who gives a fuck what they think, right! Our camp reached a maximum of 10 people.

I did not go to the burn with the intention of getting "laid"...I am sure I could have, seeing the circumstances, if I had set my mind to it (yes, I was single, with no attachments). Rather, I tried to have as few plans and expectations as possible: if it felt right, I would do it. As it turned out, even with all the naked girls running around (there were a few at my own camp, so proximity was not an issue), it was one of the last things on my mind. Just being amid all of that boundless beauty...it was more than enough. Sex would have been almost cliche...not to say that if some girl had jumped on me, I would not be saying something different:) But again, that would have changed my experience, and my perspective...

I have already ivited some more of my lady friends to come to my camp next year...then maybe I will explore some of the sexual options of the burn. Or not. I am not too concerned, either way. I can always get sex in the "real" world, so unless I can experience it in some new or different way, I am not too concerned about nookie on the playa...

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:38 am

chinacatsunflower wrote:This is a reply both to jackmack and americanfremin...I am sure you will both understand the context and there is no need to address you had to sneak her in through this crazy "slight of hand" trick, while I was tripping face (I will not divulge my secrets in case I am forced to do this again next year, which I probably will, since someone is always broke and lacking a ticket.

Oh well, that's a good reason.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:07 am

chinacatsunflower wrote: I had to sneak her in through this crazy "slight of hand" trick, while I was tripping face (I will not divulge my secrets in case I am forced to do this again next year, which I probably will, since someone is always broke and lacking a ticket)...my co-conspirators were freaking out about my mental state, but in the end I am pretty sure it helped our case, and I was the one who pulled it off, so who gives a fuck what they think, right!

chinacatsunflower · Post by **chinacatsunflower** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:33 am

hey, if you want to give me grief for that, it's fine by me...between me and my camp mates we spent about 3K in tickets alone, and gave all week...so yes, I brought in one of my friends who has about 200K in student loan debt and couldn't afford her ticket. It was my gift to her, and my risk that I took. I probably won't do it again now that apparently the word is out, but I don't feel guilty about it.

chinacatsunflower · Post by **chinacatsunflower** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:40 am

And honestly, just about every camp I talked to had stories of sneaking someone in at such and such time...I just assumed this was standard practice. If you can afford the ticket, of course you should pay for it (as I and just about everyone else I was with did...). Some people can't but can contribute in other ways. I know my friend did...

Anyway, isn't illegal immigration part of the American Dream?

For millions it certainly is...

betrdanevr · Post by **betrdanevr** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:05 am

One would think it could take quite a bit of effort to come up with that rationalization, but it seems that it was fairly easy . . .

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:12 am

Oh well, if it's philanthropy then that's okay. Isn't that the eleventh principle now?

For someone who doesn't feel guilty, she's throwing a lot of justifications out there.

Couldn't she just have gifted a ticket and cut down on other gifting?

That's the problem of being a fish. The world just doesn't make sense.

chinacatsunflower · Post by **chinacatsunflower** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:35 am

Ok, fish, you caught me...

Really, I was on this "coyote" trip...it's the art theme's fault, damn it! Or maybe I have been watching too much weeds...the whole adventure was just too irresistably tempting to pass up. Perhaps I was out of line. Personally, I don't think it was a big deal, but obviously some of you disagree. So I guess we will have to agree to disagree, or whatever. I know I won't loose any sleep over it...hope I didn't get anyone's panties in a bunch.

And who says I'm a she, btw:)

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:46 am

I gifted four tickets to students this year, and yes, you sneaking someone in does make me feel like you ripped me off personally.

I'm sure you will tell me that's my problem - don't bother. I will just hope you do it again and get caught. And, I hope the mods on this board will bring this person's identity to the attention of the powers that be for next year's ticketing minions.

chinacatsunflower · Post by **chinacatsunflower** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:39 pm

Look, since the vibe I am getting is that I am in the foul, I have decided not to sneak anyone in this year, and I probably was not going to anyway. Forgive me for trusting the judgement of my campmates, who have been going for years, who assured me it was no big deal, they do it every year...we are all students and recent graduates ourselves, and 300 dollars is a lot of money to us. If only we were so fortunate to know someone as generous as you, mojo, to gift us tickets. Personally, I traveled over 3000 miles on my trip to the burn and expended thousands of dollars, and didn't have an extra 300 to gift my friend, but I was willing to take the risk of being thrown out to get her in (I never would have heard about this wonderful event were it not for her...). Maybe I was just tripping, but I am pretty sure the greeter who escorted me to my friend's car had an idea of what was going on and decided to look the other way, and even refused to charge me the re-entry fee...

I have nothing to hide...the "minions" at the gate can have their way with me...after all, I openly shared my experience with all of you, hoping for feedback, and that is exactly what I have received.

This year I plan to go even bigger, and have already offered to gift several tickets to my friends on the east coast, in order to encourage them to come. My financial situation is more stable than it was last year, so I am very fortunate to have this luxury...

I am sorry if any of you feel that I have ripped you off in some way...our camp left no trace, participated and spent hours picking up our neighborhood and the open playa, as well as cans, bottles, and entire bags of trash left by the porta-johns. All of our cars reeked from the massive amounts of trash we hauled back to the dump in Reno. We contributed positively to the experiences of countless other burners, in ways concrete and intangible.

Still, I do not regret my decision, but I have deep respect for the views and opinions of all of you veteran burners, hence all of the justifications.

After all, the title of this thread is "virgin's reaction to first visit"--how can you possibly expect us to get everything right the first time?

I still welcome all of your comments, but I have said pretty much all I have to say on the matter, and hope that we all can move on from here...

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:54 pm

I am a little impressed that you were willing to risk having your car and possessions seized by the federal government, if they got involved, for an ex.
And then there's the potential personal repercussions of federal charges.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:21 pm

Soooo, your camp mates suck, not you. I see.

I've purchased gift tickets every year, some years several. Perhaps some of those folks can afford to pay me back some day, but it ain't happening soon. I can afford it, not comfortably, but with planning and budgeting, yes. $300 is a lot of money to a retired sailor who is now a trucker and his wife (me). So your ex couldn't afford to go. That doesn't mean she has the right to sneak in. No excuses. There are viable ways which don't make the rest of us feel ripped off.

Hmmm, our various camp members do interactive art, contribute in many ways, LNT, participate in rangering and fire safety, facilitate virgin trips, and spend a buttload of money on fuel and transportation and gifts. So, why is your camp different, so special that sneaking someone is is okay? Camp Radical Self-Entitlement, is that who you camped with? Apparently the veterans who were your camp mates set a Very Bad example.

All this mod can do is point out the IP address. Not useful information. I can only personally state I hope there's a lesson learned here.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:31 pm

awwwww.. SNAP !! get em' AntiM!! buncha thevin' nare do wells. whats next?? stealing water, food,, sex???

Hey, Anti.. thanks for posting your camp picture,, I printed it to study for next year.

chinacatsunflower · Post by **chinacatsunflower** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:34 pm

Look, I am not claiming that my camp is special, or entiled to anything anyone else is not...

In my experience, not just from my camp mates but virtually all of my neighbors I talked to, before the "deed" had even taken place, the reception I received after explaining the circumstances, was overwhealmingly positive. Probably a dozen different people were involved in some capacity in the "conspiracy" all paying ticket holders.

I have apologized for my actions. I have sworn not to repeat them. I was the one who put myself out there in the first place because, yes, I was proud of my actions in involving members of my community to get one of my best friends in the world into the burn. I already have money set aside to purchase gift tickets for next year.

I would gladly link my myspace page to anyone who requests it, with my real name and dozens of pictures from my burn...all open to the public, you don't have to be my "friend" to see any of it.

Anything else I can do to make this right with everyone?

AmericanFremin1 · Post by **AmericanFremin1** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:00 pm

in 07 on sat before the burn a semi with an open bed pulls up. this thing looks like it came from Katmandu--bikes piled 15 feet hi, creates, palettes, tons of carpet--and we get the word that there are 3 people buried under there for the last 7 hours! 20 of us frantically worked to get them out. we lift off this steel plate and 2 girls and this guy pop up. they were lying staggered, face up. and all were virgins too!

chinacat.....so the BurningMan gave you this one, and that's between you and Him and not or us on eplaya to debate, but for your own good, in the future don't try it again. you will pay and it will hurt.

btw, some trivia: if you parachute in, do you still need a ticket?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:48 pm

Yes, the heat issue is a considerable risk in a confined space.
I spoke to someone who smuggled someone in packed behind the front seat and bundled in.
Even though they were packed shortly before the gate, they had suffered some serious heat problems by the time the gate found them.
The driver and his car were impounded in D Lot for a week and then let go.

Small spaces radiate your own body heat back to you and insulate you too.
I have nearly roasted in small sound booths due to this and they were air conditioned as well as the main part of the building.
It puzzled me at the time.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:28 pm

chinacatsunflower wrote:Look, I am not claiming that my camp is special, or entiled to anything anyone else is not...

In my experience, not just from my camp mates but virtually all of my neighbors I talked to, before the "deed" had even taken place, the reception I received after explaining the circumstances, was overwhealmingly positive. Probably a dozen different people were involved in some capacity in the "conspiracy" all paying ticket holders.

I have apologized for my actions. I have sworn not to repeat them. I was the one who put myself out there in the first place because, yes, I was proud of my actions in involving members of my community to get one of my best friends in the world into the burn. I already have money set aside to purchase gift tickets for next year.

I would gladly link my myspace page to anyone who requests it, with my real name and dozens of pictures from my burn...all open to the public, you don't have to be my "friend" to see any of it.

Anything else I can do to make this right with everyone?

Sticking to the board goes a long way ... tenacity is admired for the most part. And not doing it again is good. Encouraging others to sneak in, not good. Being proud of it, well, your choice, but that will never sit well with me. My choice.

Welcome Home. Ain't the small world of eplaya fun?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:56 pm

AmericanFremin1 wrote:btw, some trivia: if you parachute in, do you still need a ticket?

Yes.

chinacatsunflower · Post by **chinacatsunflower** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 6:45 pm

Actually, AntiM, this has all been a valuable learning experience. When I said I was proud, that was because I was still under the impression that such behavior was not out of line, even condoned (obviously, more extreme "operations" have occured in the past).

Am I less proud of my actions now that I was yesterday? Absolutely. Do I regret my decision? No. I made what I thought was the best decision based on the information I had, and the whole ordeal has made my experience what it was, including this discussion.

As far as matters of personal safety? My "stow-away" was not smuggled, but passed through the gate in plain sight...hence, "slight of hand".

Looking at my previous posts, I do come across as cocky and naive. I thank you all for allowing me to explain myself before totally flaming me. The shots I took were probably deserved, and I am glad things did not get out of hand as I have seen happen time and again on other threads.

Thank you all for your words, it has given me a lot to think about...

vwthingrcer1 · Post by **vwthingrcer1** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:25 pm

this year was my first year. my buddy mat told me to go at night when going in the front gates, so i did. all i have to say is burning man was freaking awsome. it was like a 100 times better then what i expected. and it was well worth the extra time i had to put into work to get out there. as for the dust storm i stayed at 930 and hummer so it was a great time to catch up on much needed sleep. next years plan camp around like 6 and h were it is alot less noise. and warmer clothes for the night

FilXeno · Post by **FilXeno** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:53 pm

First time this year...

I made sure to expect nothing from it. And I loved it. Everything I could hope for in a city.
Didn't have one negative experience.

RingO'Fire · Post by **RingO'Fire** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:50 am

chinacatsunflower wrote:...through this crazy "slight of hand" trick, while I was tripping face...my co-conspirators were freaking out about my mental state, but in the end I am pretty sure it helped our case, and I was the one who pulled it off...

I've been in this exact situation before, not at BM, attempting to get ticketless friends (and self) into shows and/or festivals whilst "tripping face." Having both "pulled it off" and "gotten busted" there's nothing like the rush when everything works exactly like it did for you & your friend. It just feels like "this is exactly what is supposed to happen, because we're meant to be here!" I'm sure you guys felt the exact same way. I admire your audacity.

I have apologized for my actions. I have sworn not to repeat them. I was the one who put myself out there in the first place because, yes, I was proud of my actions in involving members of my community to get one of my best friends in the world into the burn. I already have money set aside to purchase gift tickets for next year.

I admire your character as well. Well done.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:42 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:
Boijoy wrote:3 drawer shelving unit?? you DID overpack.. hahahahaha
Yeah, I've always been able to get by with two.

I had a 5 drawer unit for odds n ends. Next yr I'll grab another for my "kitchen", and still another for my "dresser"

bwah hah hah hahhhhh

Igneouss · Post by **Igneouss** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 4:23 pm

[quote="jackmack"]were any of you "virgins" actually single? Did you meet someone new and "hook up" burning man romance? Did you get laid? did you want to? Why/ why not?[/quote]

*spaculation from a virgin*

Given the average level of intelligence and the harsh environment I'd guess that the average available female at BM is a pretty strong and independent woman. I'd suggest that if you have trouble getting laid in the default world, you will have less success at BM.

However, I imagine, if you are open and honest and not pushy, and you are friendly and helpful and and allow good to shine from your heart, you will get lucky.

Then of course, just like te default world, 'gifting' works in your favor...

Cheers

OnceTheDustClears · Post by **OnceTheDustClears** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:58 pm

Not to get all preachy on your ass
but it amazes me that people think it's okay to sneak in without paying.
Do they think it doesn't cost anything to put on an event like this?

It seems so anti the spirit of Burning Man.
To take advantage of fellow burners who are actually paying and think that's cool.

There are lower priced tix and scholarships available.
Man up and pay for yourself or stay home until you can.

Post by **mdmf007** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:05 pm

AmericanFremin1 wrote:glad you rocked it loaf, but it's not dirt. it's playa......you are only allowed a few of those mix-sups a year.

HA! your only 15 minutes older!! that american Fremin

RedheadBarbie · Post by **RedheadBarbie** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:09 am

Does it matter if it's Walmart, BM, your grandma's pocket book? It's still taking something that you weren't supposed to. I'm glad that your friend who has so much student loan debt (It must be a great school that will yeild a great job) is justified. I can take an extra several thousand a semester if I want so I suppose I could just use my loan money to buy my ticket, or I could just skip the $5 coffees and save my money.
Or I could just go every other year,
Or I could wait til I am out of school and have a job.
Or I could borrow $20 each from my friends.
Or I could post on eplaya and hope a nice person gifts me a ticket.
Or I could ask my parents.
Or I could apply for a student credit card.
Or I could get a part time job at McDonalds for two weeks.
Or I could start selling Mary Kay.
Or I could have a rummage sale.
Or I could start an ebay business.
Or I could make and sell my art.

Virgin's reaction to first visit...

Virgin no longer