End of the world?

Leo · Post by **Leo** » Sun Sep 20, 2015 6:57 pm

Not too long ago there was a big outcry about ex BORG board member Jim T. and his ill-fated plug & play camp. There was plenty of bitching and moaning (mine included) on how the plug & play camps were going to destroy Burning Man as we know it. So what did you experience this year in BRC? More plug & play camps? More Segways? More frat boys? More sparkle ponies? More private jets? Has Burning Man been redeemed from it's own popularity?

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 5:09 am

nice try leo...

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 5:46 am

The big camp near our potty bank had a nice public space, but dozens and dozens of identical bikes, a huge private dining area, and a large variety of camping options from RVs to tents, with commercial gennies. I didn't get to visit them, but it surely looked like it must have had nice steep dues.

Post by **Sham** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 6:00 am

I'm sure the occupants of these camps were safely barricaded in the luxury RV's for two days while the dust storms howled outside.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 7:25 am

That actually sounds pretty nice! I don't go to BRC because I enjoy dust storms. That's just some of the shit that gets thrown at you for being out there.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:00 am

Aw hell. Burning Man is fun but it's not the world.
15 years ago I was figuring I better enjoy it while I could because I knew it couldn't last much longer before it got mainstream and was ruined.
I'm surprised at how well it's held up. It's not as watered down as I thought it'd be by now.
I wasn't sure it would even still exist.

Lonesomebri · Post by **Lonesomebri** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 9:40 am

Ticket sales, it's reflected in the ticket sales.
If you want to attend and get a ticket and a place to camp, it's best now to join a placed theme camp.
That is too bad.
But at least those fortresses with RVs have a place.

Oh, and I LOVE THE DUST. While the newbie and ravers huddled in the tents at camp, I had the whiteout to myself.

VultureChow · Post by **VultureChow** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 10:12 am

It makes sense from The Org's standpoint. If the majority of the city is a placed camp or village, there's greater accountability and enforcement of LNT and interactivity rules.

Lonesomebri · Post by **Lonesomebri** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 10:26 am

VultureChow wrote:It makes sense from The Org's standpoint. If the majority of the city is a placed camp or village, there's greater accountability and enforcement of LNT and interactivity rules.

I understand that this is in the best interest of the Festival and it's growth (the scarcity of tickets, stratifying the ticket sales, submitting a resume if you want to attend). The performers, with placement and direct tickets, and the spectators who make sure the event sells out, attending to see the show. Eventually it will be just the registered performers with guaranteed attendance, the Man paying them with the assurance of attending, just like any show, and the spectators coming to see what acts are performing this year. Like a lot of this "growth", I have no better way, or solution, or whatever.

I just want a place where a guy with his own lighter can set stuff on fire.....

As an aside, why do they close access to the hot springs during the event? What with popularity being such a good thing. Shouldn't they do a Simpsons show or run a few commercials promoting the hot springs? The hot springs are great, radical inclusion, blah blah blah.....

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 12:09 pm

The problem is that you tell placement how much space you need for the camp and then placement chops of 50ft at their discretion.

Since my niece couldn't go this year, and I decided to camp at my old spot partly because placement wacked off 50ft Elliot's requested space, I wasn't part of a camp I was co-leader of!!!

This space trimming causes people to pack in tighter together and causes the potty parking lot we had at 5&H.

2 rows of cars parked bumper to bumper from G to H!!!

^Rhino! · Post by **^Rhino!** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 1:24 pm

The point of the dust for me has been turning it to my advantage.

In 2010, I went out to a likely spot and collected a couple of kilograms for analysis. I run check samples through our lab on occasion, and it was no different for me to run something new. Sure enough, I found out what the dust consists of after subjecting it to a battery of chemical and physical tests. I got a chemical analysis using an ICP (inductively coupled plasma) spectrophotometer, an x-ray diffractometer, and then I looked at the dust through a petrographic microscope. I ended up knowing enough about the dust to come up with an environmentally friendly way to remove it quickly from everything. In 2014 AND 2015 I gave a lecture at Earth Guardians on "Playa Dust" where I recounted my story of investigations, and had a great time doing it. And I LEARNED something, something that might even be useful in future pursuit of a PhD in geology. It's only apt that this year I got dusted petty well.

I like the dust, too.

Sic Pup · Post by **Sic Pup** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 2:12 pm

I feel fine.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 2:30 pm

I've said this before but...
Burning Man is what it is in no small part because of the people who bring all the infrastructure like the generators that power the cool stuff, the art cars, the trucks and trailers that get all that awesome art out there.
Playa dust is corrosive abrasive shit that fucks all that stuff up!
It's only fun if it's someone else providing the infrastructure.
Playa dust is shitty stuff. Not cool at all.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 2:36 pm

http://ringoffireradio.com/2015/09/morm ... -to-trump/

DoctorIknow · Post by **DoctorIknow** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 2:42 pm

Captain Goddammit wrote:Aw hell. Burning Man is fun but it's not the world.
15 years ago I was figuring I better enjoy it while I could because I knew it couldn't last much longer before it got mainstream and was ruined.
I'm surprised at how well it's held up. It's not as watered down as I thought it'd be by now.
I wasn't sure it would even still exist.

Mr. Captain G!

I could have written that but for 17 years instead of 15!

I ALWAYS feel each year could be the last, and no way I want to miss the last one, as each one is a blast and brings something up inside me that might have never come up without that environment and the people I interact with.

I have a stronger than ever feeling that this may be the last year.

I'm still cleaning up, and it's slower than usual as for the first time, I'm packing it away in a manner where the van load of stuff is in the "dump" pile or the "keep" pile (which is a few boxes.)

I won't be going to regional's as the playa itself is the reason I went in '98 (what, me camp in that environment?) and continues to be my favorite part of the event.

(I believe one reason the regional's were invented was so TTITD could be someday be retired with love....)

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:57 pm

Scientists have calculated that the known universe is past half of it's life cycle.

So, suck it youth!

You missed the best part and it's all down hill from here!!!

Oh.........And get off my lawn!!!

Lonesomebri · Post by **Lonesomebri** » Tue Sep 22, 2015 8:33 am

Captain Goddammit wrote:I've said this before but...
Burning Man is what it is in no small part because of the people who bring all the infrastructure like the generators that power the cool stuff, the art cars, the trucks and trailers that get all that awesome art out there.
Playa dust is corrosive abrasive shit that fucks all that stuff up!
It's only fun if it's someone else providing the infrastructure.
Playa dust is shitty stuff. Not cool at all.

...but....but....but....I am the cool stuff out there!

Post by **Elderberry** » Tue Sep 22, 2015 9:52 am

^Rhino! wrote: I ended up knowing enough about the dust to come up with an environmentally friendly way to remove it quickly from everything.

Would you mind sharing this secret with the rest of us? Please?

Post by **Elderberry** » Tue Sep 22, 2015 10:03 am

Regarding theme camps. For me, I have only camped with a theme camp, for me, it's the only way to go. I like what being a theme camp allows us to give back to the community; I like having a "family" to actually go home to; and I like the support and some of the amenities provided by the camp. (we actually build the amenities ourselves and every member of the camp participates) Plus, as part of the organizing team for the camp, I like the year 'round connection, involvement and planning that goes into making the camp the best it can be.

Regarding the dust. I can't say that I like it, but I consider having to deal with the elements as part of the challenge of the event; which I do enjoy in some weird way. (No matter how much I might bitch about it.) And, I think there is something special about all of the people that put up with that challenge year in and year out. In some ways, the challenge for me is to provide myself with as many amenities as I possibly can to deal with all of those challenges--but actually build those amenities with my own two hands. (And the huge help from my partner, without whose help that could never happen.)

^Rhino! · Post by **^Rhino!** » Wed Sep 23, 2015 10:21 am

Elderberry wrote:
^Rhino! wrote: I ended up knowing enough about the dust to come up with an environmentally friendly way to remove it quickly from everything.
Would you mind sharing this secret with the rest of us? Please?

Elderberry,

having met you and knowing you're one of the good people out there with the rest of us, I will be happy to comply.

There is no secret. It's a simple mix of water, vinegar, and Calgon. I've experiemented, and found that both the liquid and the solid Calgon will work. The vinegar is there to loosen or dissolve the calcite in the dust, and the Calgon is there to act as a surfactant. Mix all three in a spray bottle in a 1:1:1 proportion. Spray it on the item to be cleaned, and wipe it off. It's that simple.

Consider it my parting gift to Black Rock City's citizens for 2015. May you all experience prosperity in the coming year!

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Wed Sep 23, 2015 11:20 am

the beginning of the end.

End of the world?

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