Eric,Eric wrote: You & your arrogance are exactly why this rule now exists. Even though the Artery plainly told you the "ban is on ALL HAND-HELD LASERS" (emphasis mine), you go on planning to bring your "I'm above the rules" little toy anyway. The rule doesn't say "covered" or "uncovered" or limit the colors, sizes, styles, artistic merit ... it says:
NO HANDHELD LASERS.
PERIOD
I know you don't care at all that people have gotten permanent injuries from them, and that you don't care that you've been explicitly told "NO" numerous times. Hopefully you'll care more when it gets confiscated once you're there and you're facing the possibility of being evicted from the event, because nothing else seems to be getting through your entitled little head.
I should probably be offended at what you say here as you obviously know a thing or two about arrogance, but I'm not. I also DO care that people have been hurt, that sucks and I don't wish it on anyone. But putting me in the same class as the jerk who hurt someone with their BS little laser pointer is not fair. I didn't simply buy this thing to be the same as thousands of people whom we all won't miss on the playa with a laser pointer. My device was on playa the two years prior to the ban and I'm positive I never hurt anyone with it and I have made tons of friends because of it. I think my efforts are what burningman is all about.
Where I disagree is that having a generalization like "NO HANDHELD LASERS.
PERIOD" is a helpful as well as it is harmful. What about DPW and their laser transits and surveying equipment that are used to layout the roads of BRC? What about the CD players that the DJ's are using to mix tracks at the sound camp. Those are lasers too and they are safe. Technically they too are banned right? I think the "law" is too vague and there is room for interpretation.
I know, I know, they are not using 5 watt class 4 lasers but in the right circumstance, even that can be safe. I have heard the arguments for making it stationary and talking to the laser team about it and those are good suggestions but I think I can make this safe and mobil and I'm going to try. I just returned from Fire Mountain and once again it has a clean safety record and more friends made... I am going to take a break from explaining/defending myself in this forum so that I can work on my schwag for this year and the mods to my laser. Ultimately the community will decide and I have hope.
Maldroit, A high power laser can travel several miles but in the dust of the playa, the dispersion from the dust itself quickly dissipates the power. I live in the redwoods and it's fog here (same principle) and the trees that keeps the beam at bay. I never use it on hot clear nights as it could be a potential danger but even then, the beam is always moving quickly so the power is never realized in one spot for more than milliseconds. Similar to night clubs that operate high power scanning lasers that often hit peoples eyes safely because they are moving so quickly...
I'm trying to get a decent picture to show you all as I see there is some support, at least in admitting it is a cool concept. I will also post a picture once the mods are made so we can all argue about it once again at another time.
Until then, stay cool folks and see you in the dust! \<>/
