Not a "Vet" or a "Virgin" but a.....???

[RedHeaven]

Hi! Hope this is OK in Politics and Philosophy, if not feel free to move it.

NOT AN IMPORTANT QUESTION by any means, but still, when it comes to Burning Man, what if you aren't a virgin, but you don't feel like you are a "Vet", either?

Ive gone 7 times since 2005. There is still no way I would call myself a "vet". There is just so much to learn about BRC, I feel like I have only really dove in half way!

A "BMan 2.0 vet"? Im not even that. Sure, I'm a "BMan 3.0" vet, but then I kinda think I stopped going, so I am not even that.

I have called myself a "Middle vet" or a "junior vet", but dont like to even use the word "vet". To me a veteran implies old school turn of the century burner shit

There's gotta be something more colorful than the word "Moderate"

Tried Google but got confused lol

[theCryptofishist]

Cadet? Sophomore? Someone who's gone to the burn a few times? Do we need a term?

[RedHeaven]

YES I want a term! Must Have

I like Cadet. Duh!!! That was a word I was looking for. Burn Cadet reporting for dookie!

[FIGJAM]

A virgin/vet by any other name would still smell like a hippie!!!

[Eric]

Once you've been, you're a Burner (unless you hated it). Simple as that.

There are symptoms some Burners have (sophmoritis is well known, but doesn't affect every second year Burner), and some people who've been going since the mid-90s do less "burny-things" than people who just started a few years ago. Any "title' past virgin/birgin/burgin/noob/haven't-been-yet is pretty much b.s.

[Lonesomebri]

Not a Cult Member.

If you were, you would consider yourself, and tell everyone you know, that you are a hard-core Burner living by the 10 principle in the default just waiting to go home, namaste.

Cross it off your bucket list or get off the can.

I'd call you realistic and normal, based on this small info.


---but, oh, I'll be stealing that Cadet title....

[kiboy]

You're a vet live with it. You've likely got PBSD and qualify for all sorts of benefits. ( I found this pic of you out near Gerlach, you've definately got it bad)

[RedHeaven]

Do vets get oil checks? if so, I hope to become one someday.

Until then, i'll roll around in the B.S.

[Ano]

This year, a guy in my neighborhood was doing some kind of "interview a veteran" project where he would talk to "veterans" about Burning Man and how it is changing. My camp pointed him my way, and I felt really uncomfortable, as 2014 was only my fourth time. He thought I had been here forever, I pointed out that there are people who have been here twenty years longer I've been here... but he still insisted on the title...

The only thingsI'll personally subscribe to - year one, you're a virgin until you hit the dust.

[Savannah]

I like to say "seasoned Burners" or "experienced Burners" or "10-year Burner" or "old-school Burner". I irrevocably associate the word "Veterans" with the military and years-long tours of duty and would feel uncomfortable calling myself a veteran of anything, although I suppose there are plenty of easygoing military veterans out there who don't give a toss what we call ourselves.

For new people, I like "virgin" or "neophyte". The latter is especially fun to say.

[ygmir]

I like to say "seasoned Burners" or "experienced Burners" or "10-year Burner" or "old-school Burner". I irrevocably associate the word "Veterans" with the military and years-long tours of duty and would feel uncomfortable calling myself a veteran of anything, although I suppose there are plenty of easygoing military veterans out there who don't give a toss what we call ourselves.

For new people, I like "virgin" or "neophyte". The latter is especially fun to say.

I know what you say................."kneel or fight"

[chuckularone]

I suppose there are plenty of easygoing military veterans out there who don't give a toss what we call ourselves.

As one, as long as you're not misrepresenting that you are a military veteran I couldn't give a flying fornication. And there was absolutely no attempt to misrepresent, so... Cheers!

[AntiM]

I'm a Navy vet and don't give a flying fuck who uses the term in regards to the burn. I do mind civilian sand crabs acting all special ops, we had one of those camped across from us one year. MyLarry took him down a few notches. So don't be a sand crab.

I suppose I'm a burner vet. 14 burns and I still feel like the new kid because I don't have an art car and don't go dancing or get shit-faced anymore. Well, except for afternoons at Golden Cafe. Ah well. Jaded Old Burner. JOB?

[Elderberry]

I like to say "seasoned Burners" or "experienced Burners" or "10-year Burner" or "old-school Burner". I irrevocably associate the word "Veterans" with the military and years-long tours of duty and would feel uncomfortable calling myself a veteran of anything, although I suppose there are plenty of easygoing military veterans out there who don't give a toss what we call ourselves.

For new people, I like "virgin" or "neophyte". The latter is especially fun to say.

I find that as interesting as telling someone to take a Midol. Both brought totally unexpected reactions.

[theCryptofishist]

For new people, I like "virgin" or "neophyte". The latter is especially fun to say.

Greenhorn? Newby?

[AntiM]

Rookie?

[lucky420]

What irritates the fuck out of me is when someone always starts their sentence with " I'm a ___yr burner" is "I've been going since ___". Especially when it really doesn't add much context to the convo.

There's a person like that here in a local group that constantly repeats that. Ok, we got it you're just waaaaaay cooler than us.

[lucky420]

It's not really how long but what you do with it

[Ratty]

i 2nd that.

I vow to never answer that question again. (Holding up my 3 fingered Girl Scout sign). I did look it up to find out how many years. A gazillion people asked at the burn. Probably because I'm over the median age.

When you meet someone on the street is your first sentence after introduction, "How old are you?). To me it's the same question. People should get respect for something more important than how many vacations in the desert. Maybe when they ask how many burns I can answer with my age or how long I've been at my job or married. Or add them all together. (over 130)

[FIGJAM]

Eleventythree!!!!!

[kiboy]

Just reply with a number two or three more than there have been actual burns. That should get you some real respect.

[theCryptofishist]

"This is my first time back since Helco. How do you count that?"

[Savannah]

For new people, I like "virgin" or "neophyte". The latter is especially fun to say.

Greenhorn? Newby?

I do like Greenhorn. Good one.

[theCryptofishist]

Thesaurus.com offers up the following...

rube
tenderfoot
beginner
learner
colt

novice
recruit
neophyte
virgin
amateur

newcomer
hayseed
simpleton
babe
tyro

apprentice
ingenue
naif
ingénue
new hand

Some of them wont do, but others work. I think I'll use tenderfoot...

[sadie]

Haha!! Those are some good ones. Hayseed and Simpleton made me giggle. I guess they would work in some cases, but not necessarily as a blanket term...

Rube is kinda fun...good for rhyming.

[theCryptofishist]

Apprentice and novice are pretty good, I think.

[FIGJAM]

Plebe?

[maladroit]

Middle management

[maladroit]

I'll call them puppies, though.

[GreyCoyote]

How about "dustfree" or "incombustible"?