Is Burning Man A Theocracy?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:01 pm

There was the Beyond Belief theme in 03.
It certainly revolves around a ritual.

How much control do we, as participants, have over what is believed at Burning Man?

I am concerned that Burning Man might be changing from a big group of participants with some making decisions for all to a group that makes theological decisions for everyone else and a separate group of devotees.

Who makes those decisions? Who prays to these gods? Who burns the offerings? How do they get to be in a position to make those decisions?

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:15 pm

the famous Cryptofishist wrote: How much control do we, as participants, have over what is believed at Burning Man?

My feeling is that we actually control a lot. Or can control a lot. It's only what control we give up we do not have.

If we wanted to start a separate ritual, or series of riuals, or even have an entire section of the city subscribe to the ritual, then it would be. Example? Look at the Lamplighters...

the playa-famous Cryptofishist wrote:
I am concerned that Burning Man might be changing from a big group of participants with some making decisions for all to a group that makes theological decisions for everyone else and a separate group of devotees.

This may be true - it's a two fold thingy - one is the sheer volume of humanity at BRC requiring less anarchy and more order to survive and co-exist as a city, and two is the tendency of humans in large groups to emulate sheep... or lemmings... What amazes me is even in "indivisualistic anarcistic groups" the groups tend to all be of like mind, attracting others of like mind, which makes them less fringe as they become more mainstream due to the increasing number of members.

the still playa-famous Cryptofishist wrote: Who makes those decisions? Who prays to these gods? Who burns the offerings? How do they get to be in a position to make those decisions?

My vote is for the bottle o' Guinness... unless they get usurped by a bottle of Jamesons... which may be overthrown by 101 WIld Turkeys... >>grins<<

Remember the saying - Piss (ever)clear!!

BBS

sputnik · Post by **sputnik** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:24 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:There was the Beyond Belief theme in 03.

Which was subsumed by the Cattleman's Association the following summer.

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:01 pm

How do they get to be in a position to make those decisions?

Most agressive, persistant, rational... ?

They voulenteer? Does this mean I should resign now?

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:21 pm

Most agressive, persistant, rational...

I've always found ambiguity and charisma to be two hallmarks of wildly successful leaders.

Post by **actiongrl** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:56 pm

There's not an option for "Nobody", "All of the Above", "Me" (Where me=you, not me=Actiongrl) or "A stick figure"?

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 8:44 pm

theplayaliciousCryptofishist wrote:Who makes those decisions? Who prays to these gods? Who burns the offerings? How do they get to be in a position to make those decisions?

Hmmmm.....

Ok... I’m gonna think on all this a while and get back to you. But for now I’m leaning towards the pint of Guinness, though that may just be the thirst talking.

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 9:00 pm

Chai Guy wrote:..ambiguity and charisma to be two hallmarks of wildly successful leaders...

... including cult ones.

joel the ornery · Post by **joel the ornery** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 6:46 am

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:47 am

actiongrl wrote:There's not an option for "Nobody", "All of the Above", "Me" (Where me=you, not me=Actiongrl) or "A stick figure"?

Yeah, the code needs to allow for more poll options. I had to chop a lot.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:48 am

Hello Kitty is beating out the Pint of Guiness.

Janka · Post by **Janka** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:53 am

Well, why did you have to pick a bad beer? Why not just put an ecumenical "a pint of beer" as a choice? ;)

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:00 am

ecuminical pint of beer

I don't know about Guiness' goodness or badness, but it does have a lot of devotees. That in itself might make it more eligible than many other brews.

And, my dear finnish friend, you don't know bad beer until you've lived in the States where heavily advertised Clydesdales' Piss is considered drinkable.

joel the ornery · Post by **joel the ornery** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 11:50 am

Janka wrote:Well, why did you have to pick a bad beer? Why not just put an ecumenical "a pint of beer" as a choice?

i will type this as calmly as possible...

Janka, what the fuck do you know about beer?

or

Three guys walk into a bar... an American, An Englishman and an Irishman...

the American saunters up to the bar and askes loudly "I'd like the King of Beers, Budweiser."

the Englishman takes his place at the bar and orders "I'd like a Bass."

the Irishman finally comes to the bar and says "Bartender, I'll have a Pepsi."

and just as the words left his mouth, the American and Englishman nearly spit the very drinks they began to swallow. In unison, they exclaim, "Pepsi?"

the Irishman turns to them and replies... "Well since you two aren't drinking beer, I didn't think I should."

and now you know the rest of the story.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 11:59 am

I've never heard of that one but you can damn sure bet I'll use it. That was good! Thanks Joel!

joel the ornery · Post by **joel the ornery** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:01 pm

my apologies, Janka... you have now experienced a fit of my orneriness.

i now officially hate my job once again.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:27 pm

The Pint of Guiness is now beating out Hello Kitty, with Rob the Wop, Pele the Soccer God, Kali, and Shango patron of the DPW tied for a distant 3rd.

Janka · Post by **Janka** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:32 pm

Janka, what the fuck do you know about beer?

I admit I have a highly unorthodox beer taste. I even like Budweiser. (And if I see you building a pyre on the playa, I will be certain to steer clear after admitting to that. ;))

But at least I voted the Guinness. Better that than no beer at all.

Actually, you can make most beers drinkable my mixing them half-and-half with Sprite...

[runs]

d6 · Post by d6 » Thu Apr 14, 2005 2:14 pm

AMANTIUM IRAE AMORIS INTEGRATIO EST

d6,
non-appliance bot

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 2:29 pm

Still trying to figure out whom I'm voting for, although the choice between a blacksmith god and an absinthe god is always gonna tear me.

d6 · Post by d6 » Thu Apr 14, 2005 2:44 pm

deva?
lehmann?
versinthe?
sebor?
mata hari?
la fee?

will send tiny hammers and coal via Black Rock Post Office

d6

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 4:50 pm

If its a theocracy, can I be the queen of the hive-mind virus that infects everyone?

buzzzzzz...

Post by **actiongrl** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 11:28 pm

I hereby appoint Spectabillis as Queen of the hive mind thingie and whatever else he wants to rule.

This decision is solely based on having the best avatar in the entire world and the only one I've been known to actively hit the ePlaya just to see again.

Bequeath a spot in the pantheon today! The power is yours alone. Yes, reader, I mean you.

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 11:37 pm

actiongrl wrote: This decision is solely based on having the best avatar in the entire world and the only one I've been known to actively hit the ePlaya just to see again. Bequeath a spot in the pantheon today! The power is yours alone. Yes, reader, I mean you.

*blush*

I'm too damn modest to rule anything

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:25 am

I belong to an obscure subsect of the Boddingtonians that RECOGNIZE Guiness, but that do NOT believe it to be the Savior of Beers. Our people also believe that it was Larry Bell who first stole hops from the gods and gave the people SolSun, known to some as Oberon. (It's a Kalamazoo thing.)

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:32 am

Dang all of a sudden we're getting votes for the holy trinity of larry man and hat.

the guiness still has the most devoted following.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:29 am

Holy Hat, Batgirl!!!

Even if Guinness is not your favorite beer, at least it's there (and still on top)...

After all, any beer is better than no beer...

(editoress' note - that "B" stuff frim Ansneezer-Bleech is *not* considered beer for that comparison - there are just some things that no beer is better than!)

ThePikey · Post by **ThePikey** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:34 pm

A-B is like sex in a canoe. Fucking near water.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:37 pm

Violates the "Piss Clear" doctrine, too... it is kinda amber-ish...

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:24 pm

Hey I thought I bring this back to life.

Its a monarchy

Is Burning Man A Theocracy?

Just who is sitting in that throne hovering above BRC?

Is Burning Man A Theocracy?

Re: Is Burning Man A Theocracy?

Re: Is Burning Man A Theocracy?

and now you know the rest of the story.