Request for feedback

[JF6811]

Hi, I'm a student at Carleton U in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I'm doing a project on "The Burning Man" and would like to throw out a few questions to those of you who have attended:

1) What are the major ways that Burning Man differ from typical western society? i.e. no commercialism, acceptance of self-expression (or what prevents this), nocturna patterns, physical appearances, and expectations of participation and interactivity.

2) Is Burning Man is about collectivism, but also about self-reliance - explain?

Any input you have to these questions would be of great help to me.

Thanks in advance,
Judy :D

[DVD Burner]

Why is it that I'm feeling that this is the same student that has been posting for years here via pseudonym for personal enjoyment only to one person. Themselves.

[Simply Joel]

Why is it that I'm feeling that this is the same student that has been posting for years here via pseudonym for personal enjoyment only to one person. Themselves.

unlike yourself, of course.

[Isotopia]

Any input you have to these questions would be of great help to me.

Thanks in advance,
Judy

Dear Judy,

Interesting that your very first post coming in here is to ask for something from us.

A good number of us aren't inclined to do student's homework for them BTW.

[Badger]

unlike yourself, of course.

Ka-CHING!!!

[Mothertoad]

Ah come on, folks. Share some of that glorious burning man
open-heartedness with this student, voyeur, whatever...

Dear student:
the answers to your questions are all over eplaya. Catch some threads, follow the stories, spend some time in here and you'll likely "get" what you are looking for.
LOVE!

[burning tent]

Hi, I'm a student at Carleton U in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I'm doing a project on "The Burning Man" and would like to throw out a few questions to those of you who have attended:

Hello ... ehhhh. ;~)

1) What are the major ways that Burning Man differs from typical western society? i.e. no commercialism, acceptance of self-expression (or what prevents this), nocturnal patterns, physical appearances, and expectations of participation and interactivity.

I was about to say no running water, but I guess that’s not even true (e.g., RVs). I’m losing perspective on it as time goes on. I don’t recall thinking it was some kind of special society though. It didn’t even feel like camping. If I had to stick it in a nutshell I think I would say it was a ‘freak’ festival with pagan underpinnings. Maybe a week’s worth of nekkid Halloween. Oh yeah, and fire, fire, fire, everywhere fire. I felt no expectations but I tried to participate in whatever as much as possible.

Wait, wait, wait … “self-expression (or what prevents this)” … I think a lot depends on if you are there by yourself or with a group, or if you are able to assimilate into a group if you are by yourself. It’s almost like high school or college or perhaps anything else, in that there are ‘cliques’ and you can fit in to a certain degree or be ignored or perhaps shunned. And if you’re an a-hole perhaps worse things can befall you.

2) Is Burning Man about collectivism, but also about self-reliance - explain?

Have you ever attended thou sacred pagan freak festival? I don’t recall the collectivism and I certainly didn’t come to Black Rock relying on it. Let me get back to you after next year. I am really not sure I have a handle on it yet.

Any input you have to these questions would be of great help to me.

Please explain how the NHL lockout has affected you, your family members, friends or neighbors.

Thanks in advance,
Judy :D

Just reminiscing here. The first breast I ever felt in a sexual way was with a girl named Judy. I wonder what she’s doing these days. Last time I saw her she had dropped out of high school, was married and working at a Big Boy’s. This doesn't sound familiar, does it?

[tonytohono]

You are doing a project on BM and have not actually been there. Hmm, very interesting indeed.

All I can say is that at BM anything goes... and instead of anyone being shock, or repulsed by whatever that might be, everyone revels in it.

It's all over this site, or any of the thousands of other sites dedicated in its honor.

[Guest]

judy,
im gonna give you some instructions to make sure you get an A+ on your paper...follow this simple 10 step formula...

1. Put clothes on (this plan requires going outside)
2. Take you vehicle of choice to your local shopping center
3. Take $20(twenty) out of an ATM machine(dont worry...if you dont have a card you can just pry the machine open...its standard practice)
4. Purchase 1 (one) black permanant marker
5. Purchase 1 (one) calander of your choice, for the year 2005
6. Go home (you can take your clothes back off now)
7. Open said calander to the month of august 05
8. Find the 30th (it should be between the 29th and the 31st)
9. Draw a little symbol like this \<>/ in the little box
10. Go to Burning Man '05

and congrats in advance for your A+ paper

-Duke

gods....all this seething sarcasm has been building up inside me for the last 10 days with no outlet...

[dragonfly Jafe]

One common philosophy amongst "Burners" is Self-Reliance. Store-bought solutions are usually suspect. Self-made art or solutions are valued more. You get what you pay for (but not with money - with sweat).

Me thinks you are experiencing this attitude first-hand from this bulletin board.

Rely on your own studies and investigations, not the thoughts of others (others have pointed out the way. Seek and you shall find what you seek)

[M Joe Boss]

On the other hand, an investigation does indeed include talking with other people in order to get a broader perspective.

I am a little suspect myself at the the motivation of this thread, however I like to believe that people are good for the most part . So I will take you at your word for now.

Seriously You could never do a complete and accurate story on BM without having gone down there. It's like doing a book report on a book someone else read.

But to try and answer some things for you.
Burning man is different from western culture to me because outside of those gates I am one rough son of a bitch: competitive and greedy as the day is long, and hell yes I like my material posessions. On the inside of those gates, I feel very warm, noncompettitive, and will give just about what ever I have to see somebody else smile. I am radically self reliant no matter where I am. Out side of those gates there is no safety net, inside there is. If something unfortunate befalls you there you will get taken care of. Out here you could be left to the wolves.

Collectivism, we are collectively and individually self reliant. I feel this question is a bit ambiguous.