The decline of BurningMan

[geekster]

What tension? There is just a group of people that want to try something on their own. I don't feel any "tension". Some of the "tension" is manufactured to get attention and some of it is created by the media because it sells ... gets people to read the articles. So if BORG2 looses the bet, someone sits in a dunk tank all day at decompression.

I wanted to think a little about what LadyBeeSF said before really responding to it but there were some key things in what she said ...

"We decided to move David Best's temple out to someplace in Egypt", "Art that was placed here decided to move there" ...

That is kindof what I was talking about. How much input do the PARTICIPANTS have in the process of where art gets placed? It seemed at first glance like it is an "all or nothing" thing. Put your art where it has been decided it will be placed or move it out into the deep playa someplace.

There really isn't a whole lot of tension. I think what it is mostly about is a group of people that want to band together and decide along with the rest of the community ( all you have to do in order to vote on the BORG2 stuff is sign up for the mailing list, that's it. Sign up and you have full votong rights. You don't have to "choose" anything over anything else) what is going to be there. Just an exercise in do-ocracy.

The net effect might be to bring art to BRC that otherwise would not be coming. If that turns out to be the case, then we have more art for everyone to enjoy. If it gets funding to turn small art into large art, again everybody wins.

I don't see it a "confrontation" or "tension". I see it as an experiment in turning more of the decision making over to the participants. If you want to be part of the experiment, sign up and have your say. If you want to kick in to the art fund to get some projects funded, that option is available to you too. The only people REQUIRED to donate are people running for office though personally I would like to see people kick SOMETHING in if you are in a position to.

Actually, you can almost think of it as a large village that is a little more autonomous than others in some respects. I believe they will be doing their own camp placement within their area, their own enforcement of some things (the "no golf carts" thing) have their own area of the playa in which they can place their art. What will be placed, where, and all that stuff will be decided with community input. So if they screw up and spread it too thin and it looks sparse, they know exactly how and why that happened because they did it.

[LadyBeeSF]

Geekster-

I still dont' think you get how the art is placed:

"That is kindof what I was talking about. How much input do the PARTICIPANTS have in the process of where art gets placed? It seemed at first glance like it is an "all or nothing" thing. Put your art where it has been decided it will be placed or move it out into the deep playa someplace. "

THe ARTISTS decide where they want their art. If they don't care, we map it for them. Several installations on the walkway from center camp to the man, where they wanted to be placed, changed their minds after getting to the playa, and moved out into the deep playa. We do not decide this, nor does the general community - the artist tells us where they want to be placed.

LBee

[geekster]

Oh, you are probably completely right. I have been listening to too many horror stories and don't have personal experiance to draw on. Doesn't matter, though, since I happen to LIKE the idea of a semi-autonomous zone for mass participation and extreme democracy. The bottom line is ... no matter WHAT the process, there is a perception that the art is weak and getting weaker as the years go by. In addition there is a perception of a change in the event that has caused some people that have broght cool shit in the past not to come anymore. So hey ... while The Ghost of Burning Man Present and The Ghost of Burning Man Past might be different, it isn't going to hurt anything to have a little space that does things different and just see what happens.

[geekster]

I think this article from The Network Girl in the Burning Bush tribe puts things in a good light. It also is a description of the thing the way it exists now and the direction in which it is headed, rather than focusing on how it got STARTED which is pretty much moot at this point.

All I got to say is this: Things have gone a complete 180 from the shit Chicken and Jim stirred up, which was their intentions I believe to put a fire up some peoples butts and it wasn't only BM they wanted to stir up, it was the people. I am happy to say that their little antic has taken a lot of complainers and have given them something that they had been lost -- they have now a new sense of community, a new sense of excitement, and a growing Network of like-minded individuals. People are totally excited for Borg2 and Burning Man and there is no public anti-Burning Man conversations going on for once. The money thing is not the only focus. We are going to try to do what we can raise money to help some Artists get out there but we are not the next money pig for 'what are you going to do for me types'. We are offering something that BM hasn't been able to provide for a long time, we are giving a face and a name back to the Artist. It is very hard to come to know the Artists in the current Grant process with BM. With the Borg2 the Artists are in front of the people and they are going to have to work for it. Also, the most celebrated artists in my mind are the one who are going to say to the Borg2 - ' you know what, if you can get me some money cool, but I will do all I can to get my Art out there and be a part of this experiment'. Those people are going to be the ones that really make the difference and we are going to do ALL that we can to figure ways that we can share resources/transportation etc. and make it as easy as possible for those who want to be there. So don't miss out on something just because of how it got started.

NOTE: The Network Girl is running for BORG2 Art Council

[Zulegoona]

I was responding to Nicks post that seemed to be saying things are kosher stop fighting.

I had been skeptical of the petition from it's onset but anymore the Borg2 stuff does seem to be lighting some fires and I'm all for that.

I think it would be great if more money gets raised for art, but even if it doesn't Borg2 and the conversations that have been sparked by it have done a lot to put some fire back in the bellies of some of those it was going out in.

It has had to shake away some of the complacency may people had succumbed to and caused people to question themselves and things as they have become established over the years. Another good thing.

In short god bless us every one.

[LeChatNoir]

Ok, I’ve dutifully read this thread from the first post to ZG's right before mine. This will likely be a long post, so I’ll warn you now... but I feel that earned me the right to be windy for a bit and ask that you allow me to add my two hundred and two bits.

Firstly, let me state for the record that I’m a thirty something and ‘04 was my first year. Although this was my first time actually in BRC, the journey was proceeded by many years of trying to get there and learning about it in the process. I was drawn to the idea of Burning Man because it seemed to be an astoundingly amplified expression of the way I live my life... of who I am and who I wish to be.

Coming from Kentucky to a place that seemed, at least to me, to be dominated by West Coast folks was a bit intimidating. But I’ve had my share of interacting with people who think that because I speak with an accent, that I must be a yokel. I’ve also seen several looks of astonishment when I prove to them that I really can have a sentient conversation. So I wasn’t going to let that stop me from going. Approaching any new situation is tentative at best and I viewed my first trip out there as a sort of recon mission. I didn’t know what to expect and so went to get my feet wet.

From 12:04am Monday morning when we pulled off the paved road to 10.35am when we left the next Monday, I was in absorption mode and I think I faired ok for a newbie. I helped anyone who looked like the needed help, got to assist in assembling several other small camps... got told with a sarcastic tone that, “No... I think I’ve got it under control” a couple of times too. And I also spent a lot of time just walking around in awe of all the things around me.

Now onto the meat of the matter pertaining to this thread.

It was a bit off-putting to me that there seemed to be a definite change in the air as the week went on. One of my campmates wished to go and get herself painted up, so three of us went to do just that. After we painted her and several other people who happened by, we headed back across the city and we passed by a couple of “frat-boy” types that seemed as if her’s were the first pair of breast they’d ever seen and they had no problem in affirming this by pointing and yelling, “I see boobies!!” That was one icky event.

The other “bad situation” I remember was, at first, a little more disheartening. While waiting for the Temple to burn on Sunday, it seemed that the crowd in our immediate area began to gain a distinctive tension from somewhere. It continued to grow and people who seemed still in "party hard" mode began yelling, “Burn the fucker”. I never personally thought of a temple full of such emotion as a “fucker”, but to each their own. David Best even sort of lost it at one point, after several attempts by someone over a loudspeaker to explain the intent of the artist to the rowdy crowd, and he came over and yelled, “Would you people shut the hell up?” to which he received the reply of , “Shut up old man, don’t tell me what to do”. About this time an extremely drunk and extremely tripping girl, who just happened to be about 6 months pregnant, began to say that she wanted to go up and see the temple. Any attempts to calm her down and encourage her to not walk up to something that was about to become such an enormous inferno was met with angry replies from her equally drunk boyfriend(s?). About this time, as a fellow near me was getting into a shouting match with said pregnant girl and crew, and I was silently going nuts and getting more and more depressed about the general decline of humanity, up jumps this dude in the front row... straight up and he whips out a flute and starts playing. Low and melodic at first... swaying and soothing. People started to loose focus of their tension and see him instead. Then after several minutes of this, he breaks into this choppy, full-on riff that had everyone completely mesmerized. The yelling stopped, the pushing and shoving stopped, and he was controlling the flow of energy. This went on for such a time that I was blown away at this guy’s endurance. Then all at once he stops, raises the flute high and straight into the air, everybody cheers and claps and he sits back down. Now, the tension did return to some extent, but not to the crescendo that it was. Then the fire troupe came out and they finally set the temple ablaze.

Kokopelli... who ever you were, I want to thank you and let you know that your music set adrift within me an inspiration. What you did, I’ve thought about on and off since pulling out of Black Rock City. You see, I live my life with a certain core belief and that is that each and everyone of us, though we may not remember asking to be born, none-the-less were born with a debt. And that debt is to leave this place a little better than we found it for those who come after. I cannot personally stop the influx of looky-loos and such. That simply is the situation and I must find a way to deal with it. Kokopelli did it... He found a way to force those people to stop and interact with him... and more than force them, he made them want to do it. So how can I do that? How can I get the people who holler, “I see boobies” to come out and play with me, instead of just standing on the side lines? Maybe I can’t get everyone of them to do so, some just may not be of the mindset, but I bet I could get a few. I bet I could coax a few people out of their shells. This is the question I’m pondering and I think that within that question, perhaps, lies the answer to this entire dilemma.

In defense of Stuart, I have to add that the Sol System and Lush play enormous parts in the wonderful memories I took home with me. It would not have been the same without them. And though it’s true that stereotypes exist because people exist who fit them, there were also some mighty fine people dancing there too. And I think the majority of you realize that. I really like the idea that, after a day of working here or there (and of napping too), that I could go out and dance up the sun on any given night if I want to. And I do so love to dance. A good DJ can communicate with people, just like Kokopelli did, and make their time there become downright sacred. They did for me...

I was discussing on another thread the other day with MisterJellyfishMister, his project in brief and my take on the art thing. I am a self supporting artist and I live in central Kentucky without the benefit of a great pool of inspiration to draw from, such as exists around the bay area. A double whammy for big stuff. I applaud the big art stuff and love it when I see it. And I really, really like MJM’s idea of a mini-man and other free ranging things like that. But I am more of a one-on-one type of person. I’ve found that I am most effective when I change the world one person at a time, so with that in mind, as I told MJM, I plan on being a “fill in the cracks between the big stuff” type of guy with small, very personal works of art gifted on a one at a time basis and sometimes even in secret, leaving people to wonder, “Where did that come from?”


On a personal note:

Geekster and Rob... The heart you have invested in this shows through here. I really like your idea of a Newbie Art Round Up, and would be honored to be a part of it, both on the proactive and reactive sides. Though I was there in ‘04, ‘05 will really be my “first year” in my eyes, and I’m getting more eager as the days go by.

Badger... Sometimes (not often, though) I don’t quite see eye to eye with you and I think your knee jerks on occasion, but I reckon you’ve earned that right. And I’ll be damned before I let it be said that you don’t give a shit about this project. You’ve got a lot more time invested in discussing things here than a lot of people and I respect the hell out of you for it.

And finishing up

After attending just one burn, the person I am is not so much changed as amplified. I am inspired from what I brought back with me and it has even become a key turning point in my art. Since returning from BRC, I’ve done four sculptures of various sizes (sculpture, at least done for myself, is new for me in my metal working career). Three of them were gifted to organizations in the community for their (and everyone else’s) benefit and one was a gift to an individual. All were based on inspiration I gleaned from the desert. The rapid growth of my art, with my time spent at Burning Man as a catalyst, is quite amazing to me. I have come to have a vested interest in Black Rock City and love it, I feel a sense of ownership. I am committed to making the world better, and I believe this a great place to work from, and through.

And I say “go for it” to Borg2... a little shakin’ up never hurt anybody. And when I cross paths again with those who seem to me to be missing the idea of participating, I must remember... rather than seeing them as having no potential, I must see them as potential that has yet to be unlocked and it’s up to me to find the key...

And it’s up to each and every one of you too.

Thanks for your time.

[Orghua]

I read through this entire thread, read some good words of wisdom and learned a lot about Burning Man. My first year was 2002. I thought I could offer something worthy to this thread.

First, before responding I think it is a good study to assess the psychological aspects of Burnt Out�s post. What were his motives? What was the crux of his post? It appears to be a sort of Martyr�s Last Stand approach. The Holy Swan Song, Statements From The Fallen Hero. I have no doubt Burnt Out�s intentions were in the right place, but frankly, I read his post to be somewhat cynical, certainly defeated, and more than a little manipulative. In it�s most basic form it certainly does not fit the spirit of Burning Man, and for this reason his very post represents an example of what he is crying out against � a lack of spirit. He is dispirited, and perhaps this IS the time to take his leave, because he can no longer offer the spirit and energy necessary to help the event sustain itself. But this is the worst approach he could take, and so, if you are reading this Burnt Out, reconsider your actions. Understand the implications of what you are doing, and reconsider.

I�m not sure if this is about art, or lights, or newbies, or spectators. Rather it is about all of these things. It is about the event, and how the event is changing. Change is inevitable, but how that change is administered will make the difference to the future of Burning Man, and it is apparent that we, as a society, are walking on the razor�s edge. However, It is the very nature of The Burner that will prevent the event from getting too far off track. BORG2 is a perfect example of this.

The discussion on the newbie percentage is an important one, because it is this element that erodes the core of the community by being ignorant of the history, meaning and culture of the event. This is not to point the finger at newbies, this is just a fact of societal growth. I was a Newbie only three and a half years ago, but now BM is a huge part of my life, a spiritual focus. But to be honest, it took me a long time to �get it�, and I am still learning about what it is all about. Burning Man is a living entity, a spirit, a pulse. It has a soul, and that soul is deep and wide. It takes time to understand it, and it also takes effort and interest. You can�t blame a newbie if he misses the boat. The only avenue for resolution is education, and this is why the newbie art procession that others suggested is such a good idea.

There is no room to sit and complain here. If you are truly interested and passionate about the event you must do your part to sustain the culture. It is no different than the French in Canada, or the Welsh in England. If you want your culture to be sustained you need to be active, and passionate. To complain and walk away is the worst kind of impetus, because that will erode our culture faster than anything else. We need the veterans, because they are like the elders, the shamans, the fathers. They hold the memories and experiences that make up the very soul of Burning Man, as do you, and I, and everyone else here. Burnt Out, If you want to walk away, that is okay, but at least be aware that you just might be part of the problem you are complaining about.

I have seen change in Burning Man in the mere three years I have attended, and it actually strikes fear into me that it might one day fall apart, because it is so dear to me. I believe it might be going in the wrong direction, but I also believe it can be trained back to the right path, because I have faith in this incredible society of humans. Burners just might have more cumulative creative energy as a society than any in human history, and it seems counterintuitive that we could fall, but the Romans did, and so could we, so we have to be damn careful.

I have a sneaking suspicion that BORG1 is not on the right track, but I say that carefully because in the grand scheme of things I don�t have the information necessary to make an truly objective assessment, but it is a feeling, a hunch. It also seems that BORG2 is an inevitable response to what is happening, because other burners seem to share this sneaking suspicion and are beginning to rise up and take action. Burners with a lot more understanding of things than me. I�m excited about BM05 and BORG2, and have a positive feeling about where BORG2 may take us. I think this might be the pendulum starting to swing the other way. I just took a break from writing this post to donate $100.00 to BORG2. If you are reading this, consider donating � no scratch that, just donate. It doesn�t matter how much. Some people only donated $5.00, and that is great, whatever you can manage, but I believe this is the start of something wonderful. Be a part of it!

In the mean time, do your part to preserve the BM culture. Talk to newbies about the history. Educate them in the necessities of bringing a positive balance to The Playa. Become a cultural activist. Become a BM veteran through involvement, dedication and passion. That is my plan. I have been to BM three times and this will be my fourth. I can honestly say that to date, I have taken away much more than I have brought to the event, and it is time for me to step up to the plate. It honestly took me that long to figure it out, and this is why I can�t point the finger at a newbie for ruining things. I have been trying to figure out where I fit, and what I can do to make this community richer, and I am still confused, but I will find my place, and I will do it in �05.

Peace out,

[dragonfly Jafe]

The other “bad situation” I remember was...(snip)...while waiting for the Temple to burn on Sunday...(snip)...people ...began yelling, “Burn the fucker”....(snip)...about this time...more and more depressed about the general decline of humanity...up jumps this dude in the front row... straight up and he whips out a flute and starts playing. Low and melodic at first... swaying and soothing. People started to loose focus of their tension and see him instead. Then after several minutes of this, he breaks into this choppy, full-on riff that had everyone completely mesmerized. The yelling stopped, the pushing and shoving stopped, and he was controlling the flow of energy....they finally set the temple ablaze.

That is beautiful - I was a little ways away, and could not clearly see what was going on over there, but I did hear the flute, and it had an effect even where I was. Thanks for sharing. And what a good example of the positive effect one person can have. Even though there were several people trying to disrupt the moment, one person neutralized the negativity.

[b00m3rang]

I think there have been a lot of great comments and ideas in this thread, although I tend to favor those that end up with people sticking around to try and fix things rather than boycotting the event.

Anyway, thinking back to my recent viewing of 'Gifting It', I recall Larry Harvey saying that when they burned the first man, people all gathered around and did their thing. He said that one lady held his hand, someone started playing a song, and these were their gifts and contributions to the event. Now, according to quite a few posters it seems, if you don't build a skyscraper then you're just a frat boy spectator. I think people's smaller contributions are vaild, too.

I'm all for as much art and participation as possible, and I plan to do more this year than I ever have, but I guess I have a harder time giving up on the community than some. Then again, I still contribute to raves, and we all know how thoroughly that dead horse has been beaten.

[stuart]

last year was my biggest contribution and least communal. It was also my most bitchy burn. I think there is a connection.

[DokktorWho222]

you know... the First Amendment states that people have the right to peacibly assemble. Why should the BMORG have to sign permits that let the BLM on the playa to say who goes where and what can and can't happen? As far as i understand, the land that BM is held on is public land. Since we are Americans, we are entitled to peacibly assemble on that land without some government officals pulling the strings.
<<I'm serious... look it up, it's true!>>

[geekster]

Permits are required to use BLM land for commercial or competitive uses. Burning Man LLC is considered a for-profit commercial operation in the eyes of the law.

[Isotopia]

you know... the First Amendment states that people have the right to peacibly assemble. Why should the BMORG have to sign permits that let the BLM on the playa to say who goes where and what can and can't happen? As far as i understand, the land that BM is held on is public land. Since we are Americans, we are entitled to peacibly assemble on that land without some government officals pulling the strings.

A very simplistic and incorrect reading of BLM and the myriad departmental roles they have as overseer of the public lands. I suggest you do a Google for 'Nevada BLM Burning Man' and start reading.

[Ranger Genius]

I think you underestimate the depths of his simplicity. You'll have to give MUCH more detailed instructions than that. And mail him some "learn-to-read" primers.

[DokktorWho222]

you guys are so helpful! Geee.. is this the kind of treatment i should expect on they playa?
Remember kids, today's words are:
pom·pous
and
ar·ro·gant
(and brought to you by the number 6)

[Ranger Genius]

you guys are so helpful! Geee.. is this the kind of treatment i should expect on they playa?
Remember kids, today's words are:

This is not the playa. but if you expressed a similarly ignorant opinion on the playa, I'm pretty sure you'd be corrected there, too. Despite what you may have heard, BM is not a hippydippy love fest. It's mostly just an opportunity for natural selection to reassert itself.

[d6]

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITARIANS UNITE!


D6
RE:?NO!

[Crankful]

I have read a lot of this post and you people are scaring me....my first burn was a eye feast with the chandeller and the concrete pilar swings and the fire thingeys everywhere that I was overwhelmed with the participation...I took way too mamy pictures at the critical tit ride (in hindsight), didn't talk to enough people and couldn't wait for 04...where I spent more time in the burbs and really MET people...last year I heard the man was smaller and their wasn't as much art but I didn't care because I had playa dust in my teeth and I was a happy man.....I thought if there wasn't as much art I had a reason to change that so this year I am going to have an art exhibit (this from someone who can't draw a breath of air)....now why you scare me.....frat this and techno that....GOD, just be here now and live the thing for what it might become for you....

[DokktorWho222]

you guys are so helpful! Geee.. is this the kind of treatment i should expect on they playa?

That's a little bit of what we like to call "sarcasm"

This is not the playa. but if you expressed a similarly ignorant opinion on the playa, I'm pretty sure you'd be corrected there, too. Despite what you may have heard, BM is not a hippydippy love fest. It's mostly just an opportunity for natural selection to reassert itself.

I wasn't the one being ignorant. You really don't know who you're talking to here, bub. You have no idea what i have heard or who i have talked to about BM. I never said anything about BM being a "hippydippy lovefest" so you can just shove that coment where the hot desert sun don't shine. Oh, and as for natural selection reasserting itself, I'm a fucking Viking and I will get Mad Max on your ass.

[Ranger Genius]

Sounds kinky.

Didn't mean to offend (much); sorry to get your dander up.

It wasn't your ignorance about BM I was impugning, it was your post about constitutionality that inspired that remark. If you're wrong, we're gonna tell you you're wrong. I'm all about the love, but don't expect to be coddled. Tough love, baby. Tough love.

Incidentally, Mad Max Viking? Talk about your genre-bending.

[ThePikey]

I don't think *too* many Viking longships made it down to Australia anyways... I mean, scholars are still debating whether they really made it to Canada or not.

My take on this whole debate/controversy: Last year was my first burn. I didn't really have much sense for what it was about before I came, so my participation was limited. (I helped with an event our camp sponsored and fixed breakfast one morning for everybody in the camp and a few passers by)

I'm not an artist, but I'd like to feel I have something to give to this community (I know some folks are viewing that as a dirty word, just hush) so I'm looking into volunteering this year. Hopefully my carpentry skills will enable me to give something more to others. So that's my personal take on the participatory aspect. Maybe if more people took that to heart it would go better...

As for lack of art? Well, I can't say there wasn't any, or enough, or as much as there used to be, or not as impressive as it was back in the good old days, because I have no yardstick to measure by. Maybe it's true, damifino. I will say this: More art = Good. I don't remember who made the comment earlier in this thread, but the gist went something to the effect of "I think Borg2 will be a good thing, even if I think they didn't go about it the right way and ruffled feathers." I'm not going to buck up to help their cause, but I'll cheer them on as they tilt at this windmill. And hey, for all I know, they'll knock it down, making BRC better in the process...

Do I think there was too much of a 'raver culure'? Yes. I for one would *like* to hear something other than some form of electronica every night. If I had the sound set up, I might even do something about it. Alas, I do not. However! If you have a huuuge problem with it, be proactive about it and provide some other music and/or entertainment, hopefully something a little more interactive. Put up or shut up. Offer something up and see if you can inspire others to join you in your cause. If you build it, they will come...

That sort of seems to be one of the truisms of the event. Burning Man is what you make of it, what you put into it. Don't like all the garbage being thrown away? Somebody acted proactively and created Recycle Camp. Think the scene is too intimdating for families/children? Kidsville (Or whatever that place was called. My appologies for not remembering...) It seems like the best positive idea I've seen in this thread was the Virgin Art parade. Don't like the way people are acting by just showing up and spectating? Create some way to Get Them Involved. Educate them. Don't just sit back and complain about the quality of the audience, take matters into your own hands.

[xRustyx]

Wow...

Well this was a different read at least...Being the newb I am and all. I just haven't heard over my research over the past year any bad remarks about it...*Shrug*

[xRustyx]

you guys are so helpful! Geee.. is this the kind of treatment i should expect on they playa?
Remember kids, today's words are:

This is not the playa. but if you expressed a similarly ignorant opinion on the playa, I'm pretty sure you'd be corrected there, too. Despite what you may have heard, BM is not a hippydippy love fest. It's mostly just an opportunity for natural selection to reassert itself.

This was good to learn. Thank you

[Bob]

...one of the truisms of the event. Burning Man is what you make of it, what you put into it. Don't like all the garbage being thrown away? Somebody acted proactively and created Recycle Camp....

Recycle Camp was a response to people leaving beer bottles all over the playa, especially around public stages and rave camps, and dumping sacks full of garbage weighted down with glass bottles behind in their camps or along the roadside. They promoted bringing drinkables in recyclable non-breakable containers, bulk powdered drinks, etc. and tried to make the concept theatrical by getting org backing and creating a camp around it.

Somewhat similar to the rave-music-versus-eclectic-craptronica debate, it never stopped people online from getting off on the sidetrack of bragging about how much better their frou-frou bottled brown beer was compared to PBR. You can't beat sense into people with a pool cue sometimes.

[Ranger Genius]

Wait, so all you need in order to be able to beat sense into someone is a pool cue?

[Bob]

Can I help it DPW banned aluminum bats and changed the ground rules such that a raver hitting the roof is a foul instead of a ground-rule double?

[spectabillis]

Can I help it DPW banned aluminum bats and changed the ground rules such that a raver hitting the roof is a foul instead of a ground-rule double?

low *blow*

[Donita]

Despite what you may have heard, BM is not a hippydippy love fest.

Little do you all know... Burner Hippies all over the world are gathering. Secretly. Planning. Plotting. We will rise up and we will have our hippiedippie lovefest!! And no one, NO ONE, will be able to stop us. Ha!

[LeChatNoir]

I'm down with it...

(gives the secret sign and winks)

[Ranger Genius]

Hey, I'm all for Radical Inclusion, insofar as it does not interfere with Radical Self Reliance. I'm down with the love, baby. But just because I love ya doesn't mean I'm gonna carry your ass on the playa.