Bad Behaviour on the Playa

[VultureChow]

Seeing the horrendous allegations in the comments on the post, you're probably right. But given how adamant the higher ups have been about not using the MOOP Map as a public shaming device, it was a pretty jarring post.

Off to try and photoshop the Fonz jumping over the shark art car.

[vargaso]

Yeah, the comments on that post are scathing. If true, the guy should be arrested and banned from the event.

And the other members of that camp should think long and hard about why they didn't step up and take care of shit.

[VultureChow]

It sounds like at least one did, but if you have 80% foreign burners with no shelter, food, or experience I'm not sure how much you could do.

[trilobyte]

It's interesting to see all the outrage from the people who *aren't* actually staying later and doing all the work to clean up after everyone and restore the playa. Fortunately the playa restoration team (the ones who *are* doing the work and IMO the only people in a place to feel outrage about it) have a different view on the matter. That's not to say it's okay, leaving behind a big mess can definitely impact a camp's future participation/placement, but I like the way DA, The Hun, and the rest of the team take the awareness and positive encouragement approach.

[vargaso]

It's interesting to see all the outrage from the people who *aren't* actually staying later and doing all the work to clean up after everyone and restore the playa. Fortunately the playa restoration team (the ones who *are* doing the work and IMO the only people in a place to feel outrage about it) have a different view on the matter. That's not to say it's okay, leaving behind a big mess can definitely impact a camp's future participation/placement, but I like the way DA, The Hun, and the rest of the team take the awareness and positive encouragement approach.

Eh, not everyone can be part of cleanup, not everyone can spend multiple weeks (or even a single day longer than their burn) on such a crew. I'm one of those people. And yet, we all can voice our concerns and outrage at this type of behavior as it threatens the event we love and put so much time and energy into. Our input is just as valid, in my opinion. The hero worship of the DPW always rubs me the wrong way.

[forty_eight]

The blog was tender. I have to doubt the people that arrived on the scene to discover the mess in real time had the same tone in their discussions, lol.

[VultureChow]

"I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed"

[Elderberry]

The positive approach might be the best for results, but it isn't near as much fun.

I could be wrong about this, but I think where the anger comes from is, at least speaking for myself, that we are taught from our first burn that the future of the event depends on how we do in the LNT department. So, we stay an entire extra day--some maybe more--to make sure our camps are MOOPed to the max. Then seeing that there are people with so little respect for the event that they leave a mess like that, gets me angry.

It's because people care about the event and take pride in their camps efforts that they get angry. If they didn't care, there'd be a whole lot more camps looking like that one.

[maladroit]

It's interesting to see all the outrage from the people who *aren't* actually staying later and doing all the work to clean up after everyone and restore the playa. Fortunately the playa restoration team (the ones who *are* doing the work and IMO the only people in a place to feel outrage about it) have a different view on the matter. That's not to say it's okay, leaving behind a big mess can definitely impact a camp's future participation/placement, but I like the way DA, The Hun, and the rest of the team take the awareness and positive encouragement approach.

Sorry, but I also care about leaving no trace, and the future of the event. I reserve the right to feel outrage about people leaving a fucking MOUNTAIN of trash (they brought all of that with them, how can they not take it back out the same way?). There are more reasons to feel outrage than the immediate "eww I have to touch a pee jug" level of outrage the angels of Resto have the right to feel.

[unjonharley]

You agree to pick/moop all week in a theme camp...

[FossaFerox]

It's interesting to see all the outrage from the people who *aren't* actually staying later and doing all the work to clean up after everyone and restore the playa. Fortunately the playa restoration team (the ones who *are* doing the work and IMO the only people in a place to feel outrage about it) have a different view on the matter. That's not to say it's okay, leaving behind a big mess can definitely impact a camp's future participation/placement, but I like the way DA, The Hun, and the rest of the team take the awareness and positive encouragement approach.

I'm outraged by the accounts coming in from campers, not just the MOOP map. People flying in and finding out their camp leader lied about their tickets? People having to beg for food? Kicking people out and calling them trash for trying to address the MOOP situation on Thursday? It REALLY looks like the guy targeted international burners to exploit them.

The guy's a scum bag in my book.

[strange love]

*grabs pitchfork

[maladroit]

This has certainly been an especially ripe year for controversy. I want to chalk it up to growing pains rather than death throes.

[lucky420]

It's interesting to see all the outrage from the people who *aren't* actually staying later and doing all the work to clean up after everyone and restore the playa. Fortunately the playa restoration team (the ones who *are* doing the work and IMO the only people in a place to feel outrage about it) have a different view on the matter. That's not to say it's okay, leaving behind a big mess can definitely impact a camp's future participation/placement, but I like the way DA, The Hun, and the rest of the team take the awareness and positive encouragement approach.

if we all adhere to the LNT principle why can't we be upset that another camp didnt?

Not all of us can afford to stay later and work with resto, so we do what we can while on the playa. Open playa mooping during the event, making sure we moop our camp before leaving until next year. I would love to stay but I have bills to pay and must return to work.

As part of a community I feel I do have the right to be upset/overcome with joy in what happens in said community...

[forty_eight]

shit, and here i thought having a login to eplaya was a license to be outraged. lol

[maladroit]

shit, and here i thought having a login to eplaya was a license to be outraged. lol

There does seem to be a strong correlation!

[TT120]

You do have that right Lucky. We all do. We all care about the event and do what we can. It pisses me off when I see something like this blatant disregard for "our" event. Yes, I said OUR EVENT. We haul it in, we build it, we tear it down, and we haul it away. WE have the right to be upset at someone that doesn't pull their weight. To say that only the DPW has the right to be upset is ridiculous. AND I absolutely agree with the public shaming and believe it should have been done from the very beginning.

[zorro sings]

You do have that right Lucky. We all do. We all care about the event and do what we can. It pisses me off when I see something like this blatant disregard for "our" event. Yes, I said OUR EVENT. We haul it in, we build it, we tear it down, and we haul it away. WE have the right to be upset at someone that doesn't pull their weight. To say that only the DPW has the right to be upset is ridiculous. AND I absolutely agree with the public shaming and believe it should have been done from the very beginning.

Agree with this and others who have made this point.We work hard at the MOOP so those who have "the right" to be outraged won't be.Trillo posts alot and can be forgiven an ill thought out post now and again.

[pink]

Hell, I was pissed at the people in our camp that bailed Tuesday morning after 'their' shit was packed up & left 8 of us to make sure everything was packed up & picked up. This mess? Blows my mind.

One of our campers invited a woman to dinner & mentioned she had paid $250 for a whole camp set up, & nothing was there when she got to the playa; just a bunch of people who had been promised a lot, most with nothing but luggage. She never showed up, so I didn't get a chance to find out what was up. Sounds like she was with this lot. Friend said he was told most of the ripped off people paid more than $250 though; her's was the 'special artist rate'.

Ah well, maybe stories like this will foster a bit more self reliance in the starry eyed virgins that show up here.

[theCryptofishist]

Ah well, maybe stories like this will foster a bit more self reliance in the starry eyed virgins that show up here.

I dunno. We gave lots of warnings to that guy who was going to sit outside the gate and wait for a miracle... Some people have to learn the hard way.

[nncoco]

The only bad behavior I witnessed all week were camps that accepted dues from people and didn't deliver. "Sacred Zen Garden" comes to mind. Camps like this can actually put unprepared people in danger.

[FlyingMonkey]

It's interesting to see all the outrage from the people who *aren't* actually staying later and doing all the work to clean up after everyone and restore the playa. Fortunately the playa restoration team (the ones who *are* doing the work and IMO the only people in a place to feel outrage about it) have a different view on the matter. That's not to say it's okay, leaving behind a big mess can definitely impact a camp's future participation/placement, but I like the way DA, The Hun, and the rest of the team take the awareness and positive encouragement approach.

Trilo,

I think everyone should be outraged at the asshats who intentionally left anything behind. I don't think they deserve hugs & encouragement as you would have us pursue. Yes, a positive approach is always better but we have every right to be pissed off at them. Granted, not everyone is a MOOP Nazi & probably could/should do more. But your comment was directed at everyone in this thread.

One of my goals when I retire IS to stay behind & volunteer with Playa Restoration. But I have a job, that I enjoy 51 weeks of the year, that only allows me to be away for a certain amount of time. I had 4 hours of leave when I got back to the default world.

Your post implies that those of us NOT staying behind aren't pulling our weight & we don't deserve to be angry. I personally am a bit offended by that. I pick up moop all week, (yeah I'm one of those who pick up a glow stick that 100 people have walked past). I volunteer for large art projects at the Burn & my regional & always sign up for LNT.

LNT really sucks. you have to get up early, rake hot coals, get dirty, & spend hours picking up everything that isn't playa dust. My back was freaking killing me after doing LNT for ASM. I do my part (as I & everyone should) & have every right to be angry at people that knowingly leave trash behind when we work so hard to keep the Playa spotless.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing but the utmost respect for you & I think you often restore sanity when ePlaya gets out of control. I know you do your part. But I found your comment insulting. Not that that ever matters.

The folks that arrive early, build the city, make it all work, & those who stay behind & restore the Playa are my Heroes. Hats off to them. I hope to be among them some day.

[Elderberry]

Agree with this and others who have made this point.We work hard at the MOOP so those who have "the right" to be outraged won't be.Trillo posts alot and can be forgiven an ill thought out post now and again.

Interestingly put. I think that was the first post Trillobyte ever made that I disagreed with. Now if "PnP" or "drones" we're substituted for "MOOP" it might make more sense to me--especially when it comes to the use of the word "outrage".

[FlyingMonkey]

Agree with this and others who have made this point.We work hard at the MOOP so those who have "the right" to be outraged won't be.Trillo posts alot and can be forgiven an ill thought out post now and again.

Interestingly put. I think that was the first post Trillobyte ever made that I disagreed with. Now if "PnP" or "drones" we're substituted for "MOOP" it might make more sense to me--especially when it comes to the use of the word "outrage".

Ditto.

I probably over reacted but it struck a nerve.

[MoBo]

Ditto as we'll. Trilo has been a fountain of good info and sensible opinions IMO.

[Lonesomebri]

Moop on the map? Don't matter to me. If I am fortunate enough to attend next year, I will still pick up moop, try to LNT, fly no drone, run no rip-off Plug and Play, dose no drinks, wear no feathers, stage no professional photoshoots, drink no Krug, spin no discs, steal no bike. In other words, I will continue with my unacceptable bad behavior, forgoing the glad-handed back-rubs and loving acceptance of the good decent folks.


Probably won't get laid again, also. But that is the one thing I am willing to change.

[FlyingMonkey]

Moop on the map? Don't matter to me. If I am fortunate enough to attend next year, I will still pick up moop, try to LNT, fly no drone, run no rip-off Plug and Play, dose no drinks, wear no feathers, stage no professional photoshoots, drink no Krug, spin no discs, steal no bike. In other words, I will continue with my unacceptable bad behavior, forgoing the glad-handed back-rubs and loving acceptance of the good decent folks.


Probably won't get laid again, also. But that is the one thing I am willing to change.

Wha? I thought everyone got laid. Isn't that in the survival guide somewhere?

Yeah here it is:

Participation

Keep this in mind: there is no “they” in BRC. There is only “us.” When we see a job that needs to be done, we are inclined to roll up our sleeves and pitch in. Burning Man is a 100% participant funded and staffed event. Sadly, there are always a few people who just don’t “get it.” These folks believe the mystical “they” will appear to provide for their needs and clean up their mess. Help educate them. If you see someone acting irresponsibly, introduce yourself and speak up. Consider stepping up your participation by fornicating. Visit the G-Spot adjacent to Playa Info & get laid.

Get with the program Bri

[nncoco]

It's interesting to see all the outrage from the people who *aren't* actually staying later and doing all the work to clean up after everyone and restore the playa.

I call bullshit.

Anyone who picked up their 10 pieces of MOOP should be outraged.

If you left Robot Heart with a bike basket full of found empty beer cans, you should be outraged.

If, after packing your car, you grabbed a bag and swept your entire camp site and then kept walking to other less conscientious camps and then continued into the streets, you should be outraged.

Thousands of people restore the Playa without staying past closing time.

[BBadger]

Guys! guys!

Trilo's response is more to point out the differences in outrage between those who just get to see the pictures of the mess left behind after the event, and the people who directly get to clean it up. The response is not saying you're not entitled to outrage. Nor is the response saying that you didn't do (more than) your fair share, or that the scale of what you did is less or insignificant in comparison to the event's LNT crews.

What is being said is that these LNT crews -- the ones with the direct, first-hand experience with the very worst of the messes left behind -- are able to control their outrage and instead are concentrating on helping people do better next time. They should be the ones raging the most, but they aren't. The photos that are posted aren't for shaming people or camps, they're for demonstrating what went wrong and what should not occur in the future. The fact that a camp was specifically mentioned in the blog is evidence that an especially egregious mess was discovered. Despite that, the response was more to understand what caused the problem, not cast blame for the act.

Swearing and raging is good to relieve stress (really, go ahead and do it!); however, after the initial fury passes, don't dwell on it and feed others' rage. The perpetrators are gone, and there's nothing more you can do about it. Spend that energy on a more constructive purpose instead.

[lucky420]

Guys! guys!

Trilo's response is more to point out the differences in outrage between those who just get to see the pictures of the mess left behind after the event, and the people who directly get to clean it up. The response is not saying you're not entitled to outrage. Nor is the response saying that you didn't do (more than) your fair share, or that the scale of what you did is less or insignificant in comparison to the event's LNT crews.

What is being said is that these LNT crews -- the ones with the direct, first-hand experience with the very worst of the messes left behind -- are able to control their outrage and instead are concentrating on helping people do better next time. They should be the ones raging the most, but they aren't. The photos that are posted aren't for shaming people or camps, they're for demonstrating what went wrong and what should not occur in the future. The fact that a camp was specifically mentioned in the blog is evidence that an especially egregious mess was discovered. Despite that, the response was more to understand what caused the problem, not cast blame for the act.

Swearing and raging is good to relieve stress (really, go ahead and do it!); however, after the initial fury passes, don't dwell on it and feed others' rage. The perpetrators are gone, and there's nothing more you can do about it. Spend that energy on a more constructive purpose instead.

How do you know they (resto team members) did not in fact rage, cuss, vent over this? Because they didn't post here? And for all anyone here knows they may still be pissed off or not