Relax, Observe, Energize, Engage, Participate

[EricMagic]

So many things to do, and see. Love the many different things, people, and topics to think about. Love to participate, make things, and dance around the fire. Many friendly people to give you things, talk, and help out usually.

Great amout of time is needed to just take care of yourself and your shelter or your campmates sometimes. Prepare well, dress for hot and cold, and really protect your lungs and stomach from too much dust.

Odd Things At Burning Man
Some of the people seemed very hyper and self-absorbed at times. Sometimes it seems like persons were trying too hard in be entertaining (to themselves), but not enough time to engage with others. Also, as some experienced Burners told me and as I observed, there are cliques throughout, but maybe not as bad as in high school. It is weird, but sometimes there are people who act snobby or socially high status even at Burning Man, which was a big disappointment. Another very frustrating thing was some of the persons helping in the official capacity were really bureaucratic, rude, and just like any other oppressive government, but there were many nice helpers too. Many different types of people go to Burning Man with different backgrounds, so you have to be aware of that more so that some would lead you to believe.

Some persons may not like me saying this, but the event is not all about sharing, and love, or strong participation; and much of is also about partying, acting wild, overt sexuality, and self absorbtion which is not necessarily bad. It is a big mixture with lots of underlying themes of sharing, participation, art, entertainment, alternative culture, spiritual topics, feelings, sensations, sexuality, showing off, and parties. I personally like all of those things, except excessive self absorption, too much showing off, oppressive bureaucracy, and annoying hypocrisy.

And now for some words to motivate:

Live Long, Prosper, Relax, Observe, Energize, Engage, Get Connected, Participate, Feel Sensations, Elevate, Love, Dream, Dream, Spontaneous Burn, Intensity

[Mister Jellyfish Mister]

Thanks, Eric. That was good food for thought this morning.

[HughMungus]

It is a big mixture with lots of underlying themes of sharing, participation, art, entertainment, alternative culture, spiritual topics, feelings, sensations, sexuality, showing off, and parties. I personally like all of those things, except excessive self absorption, too much showing off, oppressive bureaucracy, and annoying hypocrisy.

Which is why you get a variety of reactions from people to you and others. Everybody's different and you have to react differently for each person and situation that you encounter out there (and back here). Not everyone is in the nice, sharing frame of mind all the time so sometimes you'll go into an encounter with someone with the best intentions in the world only to get a negative reaction. In cases like that, just take the good and leave the bad. There are plenty of fish in the sea.

[Isotopia]

Some persons may not like me saying this, but the event is not all about sharing, and love, or strong participation; and much of is also about partying, acting wild, overt sexuality, and self absorbtion which is not necessarily bad. It is a big mixture with lots of underlying themes of sharing, participation, art, entertainment, alternative culture, spiritual topics, feelings, sensations, sexuality, showing off, and parties. I personally like all of those things, except excessive self absorption, too much showing off, oppressive bureaucracy, and annoying hypocrisy.

Sometimes we end up seeing that which we expect to see. Sounds like your experince was dampened a bit because people didn't behave in a manner which you expected them to. Expecting people to behave in an ideal way just because you (and many others) carry an idealized version of human behavior to the event is a setup for disappointment (i.e. a bad time).

[Janka]

Some persons may not like me saying this, but the event is not all about sharing, and love, or strong participation; and much of is also about partying, acting wild, overt sexuality, and self absorbtion which is not necessarily bad. It is a big mixture with lots of underlying themes of sharing, participation, art, entertainment, alternative culture, spiritual topics, feelings, sensations, sexuality, showing off, and parties.

As I've read it, BM is about self-reliance, self-expression, and a non-trade-based community. These things seem to encourage universal friendliness, sharing, and strong participation, which is great and makes the experience ever so much nicer - but for me, personally, BM is not a great big lovesharegrouphug, it is a celebration of self and community (or communities, maybe).

The each their own, though. That's more or less the point of the self-reliance / self-expression theme, without which it would not work for me at all.

[Apollonaris Zeus]

I'm right with you man!

So everyone please call your congressman and ask that the Patriot Act be amended to include Polygraph testing of all federal law enforceement. Hey if there's a Tim Hanson in the FBI working for the other side then who know who could be an terrorist operative. Anyway, if we are to give up our right to secret searches then we should know that our Law Enforcement aren't work for them!

Until then, continue your quest for a loving and caring world without lies and deception.

Anyway, see you at the burn!

A II Z

[joel the ornery]

is it okay if i contemplate my fucking navel without all your god damn touchy feely warm and fuzzy psychobabble bullshit?

[unjonharley]

is it okay if i contemplate my fucking navel without all your god damn touchy feely warm and fuzzy psychobabble bullshit?

~
I don't give a flying if you go back to touching yourself in public.

[Isotopia]

is it okay if i contemplate my fucking navel without all your god damn touchy feely warm and fuzzy psychobabble bullshit?

<SWOON!!!>

[EricMagic]

Heya,

Thanks for all the feedback. Nice to get the comments for further thoughts. These juicy topics help me and others for increasing the efficiency of spontaneous burning excitation and celebration.

[HughMungus]

Some persons may not like me saying this, but the event is not all about sharing, and love, or strong participation; and much of is also about partying, acting wild, overt sexuality, and self absorbtion which is not necessarily bad. It is a big mixture with lots of underlying themes of sharing, participation, art, entertainment, alternative culture, spiritual topics, feelings, sensations, sexuality, showing off, and parties. I personally like all of those things, except excessive self absorption, too much showing off, oppressive bureaucracy, and annoying hypocrisy.

Oops.

[pollyboots]

[quote="Isotopia"][quote]

Some persons may not like me saying this, but the event is not all about sharing, and love, or strong participation; and much of is also about partying, acting wild, overt sexuality, and self absorbtion which is not necessarily bad. It is a big mixture with lots of underlying themes of sharing, participation, art, entertainment, alternative culture, spiritual topics, feelings, sensations, sexuality, showing off, and parties. I personally like all of those things, except excessive self absorption, too much showing off, oppressive bureaucracy, and annoying hypocrisy.
[/quote]

Sometimes we end up seeing that which we expect to see. Sounds like your experince was dampened a bit because people didn't behave in a manner which [i]you[/i] expected [i]them[/i] to. Expecting people to behave in an ideal way just because you (and many others) carry an idealized version of human behavior to the event is a setup for disappointment (i.e. a bad time).[/quote]

i agree, but at the same time, i feel bad because im not sure that i am really all that much of a non observer. mostly because im really fucken shy and dont have the best social skills in the world. its a personality trait that i cant figure out what to do about.
grrrr.
so i know theres this big dispute about black rock being a participatory event, but i keep wondering what other people think about people who have social problems...? any input?
i feel like so long as its not all take and no give...but im curious to see what y´all think.

[stuart]

people who have social problems

isn't that who burningman caters to?

[Rian Jackson]

I'm actually getting sick of this whole 'participation' talk. Ok, hear me out. To me, talk about participation puts me in mind of organised events. I participate in a parade. I participate in a theatre project. I participate in a group hug. Whatever. These are likely things that someone else started.

What about initiation??

It's all well and good to find something there to plug into. I'm not saying that we shouldn't. But isn't this supposed to be a place where we make the wild dreams of our own come alive? Isn't this a place where we can embody that which was only in our imagination?

Yeah, having people participate is very important for many of those projects. Do it! Go for it! But maybe this time we can all initiate, too? I know that by BM (tm) experience is vastly different when I do. And maybe if more of us did so, this event wouldn't be rotting away beneath us?

End rant. And thank you for those many out there who do, over and over again, initiate. It's something that I'm still learning.

[theCryptofishist]

i agree, but at the same time, i feel bad because im not sure that i am really all that much of a non observer. mostly because im really fucken shy and dont have the best social skills in the world. its a personality trait that i cant figure out what to do about.
grrrr.
so i know theres this big dispute about black rock being a participatory event, but i keep wondering what other people think about people who have social problems...? any input?

I think that the "participation" mantra is more about the "tourists" than about shy people. You can come and watch. But respectfully--don't gawk at the freaks. Also, read up on some of the posts by Robbidobbs adn Chai Guy (both of whom I've met and designate as Real Sweeties) both of whom have found "particpatory personnas" as a way to mediate their shyness at the event.
We live in a broader culture that doesn't value the gifts of introversion and even at the differentness of burning man that can make a difference. But remember you have your own strengths. Think of BM as a temporary space where you can build a self that doesn't turn your back on your shyness, but is not owned by it either. It's over in a week--so if you make a fool of yourself, it won't come home to haunt you. And if you run into me, we can talk about shyness.

[EricMagic]

I'm actually getting sick of this whole 'participation' talk. Ok, hear me out. To me, talk about participation puts me in mind of organised events. I participate in a parade. I participate in a theatre project. I participate in a group hug. Whatever. These are likely things that someone else started.

What about initiation??

It's all well and good to find something there to plug into. I'm not saying that we shouldn't. But isn't this supposed to be a place where we make the wild dreams of our own come alive? Isn't this a place where we can embody that which was only in our imagination?
.

Very good points. I like the whole idea and perception. To me this "initiation" seems similiar to participation, but I now see how they can be seperate.

Thanks for the thought food.