Questionnaire. Need a little help for my thesis on B Man...

[Chai Guy]

<Howling>

Nice one fishy, I needed that today!

[theCryptofishist]

<smooch>

[Isotopia]

Heck, some people get degrees based on made up data. Sure saves time...

NO! Not in this country. NOT with our educational system. Surely you're not suggesting bogus papers to include you name as author...

http://pdos.csail.mit.edu/scigen/

or

http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~kovar/hall.html

...are you?[/url]

[theCryptofishist]

Why not. I say that generating a paper that can bore me stiff automatically without any of that pesky research is progress.

An Improvement of Smalltalk that Would Make Simulating the Memory Bus a Real Possibility
Smooch MacKenzie, Fargo the Cat, Stephen Hawking, Tits Mayfield and Larry Harvey
Abstract
Event-driven information and von Neumann machines have garnered profound interest from both cyberinformaticians and mathematicians in the last several years. After years of intuitive research into erasure coding, we demonstrate the investigation of the lookaside buffer [14]. We show that though the foremost interactive algorithm for the study of object-oriented languages by Li and Wang [6] is optimal, thin clients and multi-processors can interfere to fulfill this objective.

Now that's good insommnia material!

[dragonfly Jafe]

Heck, some people get degrees based on made up data. Sure saves time...

NO! Not in this country. NOT with our educational system. Surely you're not suggesting bogus papers to include you name as author...

http://pdos.csail.mit.edu/scigen/

or

http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~kovar/hall.html

...are you?[/url]

I confess I once fabricated data as a research assistant (I fell asleep, but I think the data was representative - I was later hired due to my proven ability to predict data)... I feel bad about it do this day...Sorry all.

[Stilesfamily]

You know it’s interesting that of the thousands and thousands of people that have accounts on the E-playa there are only about 20 that come up in every thread. Kinda like a group, pack, herd, no a gaggle of electronic beasts that wander the plains and valleys of the E-playa. Sometimes they find a nice patch of fresh, virgin growth to feed and ruminate on, and like sheep sometimes they will consume it, roots and all, until there is no hope of re growth and then move on. Luckily they have all been electronically tagged so we can track there movements and analyze there migration patters, if someone was so inclined. Might make an interesting thesis.

I like everyone I have met on the e-playa, and I can’t wait to meet you all at the M & G. I have been consistently impressed by your intelligence and the lack of spamming that goes on in the threads. I am not saying all of you are trying to be malicious but you can be vicious on us newbies to the bulletin board. Perhaps I am being too sensitive. Twister saw something in BM, like we all do, and wants to explore it more deeply. The event and its culture are compelling. I am not too fond of putting it under the microscope either but don’t make a mockery of something he feels so passionately about. Imagine how different all our lives would be if, as a culture, we empowered each other instead of tearing each other down, as is so popular. I take language very seriously; you can’t take words back after they have been spoken or written (usually). State your opinion, make a joke, but give the guy some respect. Possibly even be flattered that he sees in BM, the lifestyle that you all (myself included) spend a great of time engrossed in, such an important social context as to warrant a master’s thesis.

Twister, my wife wants to fill out your questionnaire and I wish you the best of luck. I would rather not fill it out, at least right now. When it gets this close to the event I try not to analyze it too much, it harshes my vibe.

[theCryptofishist]

I am one of that group you mention, STiles. I think Twister would have had an easier time of it had he said right off he had attended the event and maybe told us some of what he was thinking of writing about it. (Without all the ponderous words--we're too bright to be impressed by that!) And if he had done a few searches first he would have found more people who have posted here asking similier things for thier theses.





I'm just saying.

[Badger]

Luckily they have all been electronically tagged so we can track there movements and analyze there migration patters, if someone was so inclined. Might make an interesting thesis.

Real time GPS readouts with a mini digital camera recording the walkabout is an idea that's actually happening with a group I know of.

[Chai Guy]

Chai = "sheepishly" raises hand <me too, me too>

Let me try to answer some of your points (all good ones).

I have been consistently impressed by your intelligence and the lack of spamming that goes on in the threads. I am not saying all of you are trying to be malicious but you can be vicious on us newbies to the bulletin board.

This is a complaint that I hear frequently, that we're too harsh, and too quick to judge. First, I think this is the very reason why you don't see a lot of spamming on this board, because one quick look reveals that if you try to spam you are more likely to be flooded with negative feedback, offsetting any potential benefit of said spam. And I've said it once and I'll say it again, if you think we're harsh, try using the same tact as these posters at the event with some of the less than friendly contingents of DPW, or Death Guild.

Twister saw something in BM, like we all do, and wants to explore it more deeply.

No, Twister wanted us to do his homework for him.

I am not too fond of putting it under the microscope either but don’t make a mockery of something he feels so passionately about.

I guess I doubt his passion, the questionnaire seemed haphazard, thrown together at the last minute, unscientific and it was missing much of the relevant information I would expect to see in a legitimate request or survey. (see Badger's previous post on guidelines for ethical research)

Imagine how different all our lives would be if, as a culture, we empowered each other instead of tearing each other down, as is so popular.

I think it's important to offer encouragement to people. I try my best to offer constructive and encouraging opinions whenever possible. I find it interesting however, that even when offering constructive thoughts, those thoughts are often viewed as criticism on this board (I'm referring to my posts here: http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=9209 )
It seems that people often only want to hear positive feedback or they just want their question answered, they don't want to hear that perhaps they're asking the wrong question, or that there might be a more appropriate or different way of achieving their desired results.

I take language very seriously; you can’t take words back after they have been spoken or written (usually). State your opinion, make a joke, but give the guy some respect.

I've taken the time to re-read this thread, and the only person I found who was disrespectful was me, specifically with my "fucking camping trip" remark. That was un warranted and disrespectful and I apologize to Twister for making it. You are absolutely right about that Stiles.

Possibly even be flattered that he sees in BM, the lifestyle that you all (myself included) spend a great of time engrossed in, such an important social context as to warrant a master’s thesis.

And that's why I think everyone jumped bad. It's a Master Thesis, not a high-school term paper or even an undergrad paper. He should know better, really. Perhaps something was lost in translation?

try not to analyze it too much, it harshes my vibe.

<me too, me too>

[swampdog]

I spend a lot of time reading eplaya. Way too much (don't tell my boss). When I saw Twister's original post I thought, "here we go again." (Actually my first thought was that I'd do the survey, but I changed my mind as I read it. I think the survey is poorly composed (more on that later).) So I sat back to watch the excitement. Sure enough, gently sarcastic responses gave way to harsher sarcastic responses, all from the usual suspects (do you guys have jobs?). Then it went path b ("why are you guys so mean?") instead of path a (a quiet death). Ho hum.

So here's why I think the survey is poorly composed, and why people got so hacked off about it. First, I don't think you can bulk survey with self selected responders with open ended questions and get any meaningful data. More important, questions like "5) Has Burning Man had an impact on your life in the “real world”?
If yes, in which ways has it affected your life? " is asking the responder to sit down and write an essay on the meaning of burning man. And there are several such questions on the survey. If you meet me on the playa and spend some time with me, I'd be delighted to share that information with you. If you asked ONE such question on eplaya, I might be tempted to answer. Asking me to write several essays covering the gamut of my playa experience, formatted to your questions? Not so much. Further, the questions are so open ended as to seem as though Twister hasn't done any homework at all. "Tell me everything you think about burning man, in the format of these 13 questions". If I received such a survey in snail-mail, I'd plonk it in the trash and probably say something rude about it in the process. Here on the eplaya, I ignored it - but several other folks saw it as an opportunity to flex their sarcastic humor muscles.

I don't think anyone owes Twister an apology. Twister, if you make it to the playa, find me and I'll tell you anything you want to know. This survey ain't the way to go.

[cornelius]

Yeah Yeah! What he said! You shoulda done your own damn question thingie first for all of us to see..see? All you scientist guys are the same with your science and things! Always pointing lights at people. What's the matter with you?

[Janka]

When I read that survey, I assumed the researcher was doing not a quantitative "survey", but gathering data of which kinds of different things people bring up when they are asked open-ended questions about BM. Such questions would serve the purpose - though a better way to do that would be to get your damn recorder and get on the field and talk to people there. Eplaya is biased enough that some very important categories of viewpoints might be next to non-existent here.

[Stilesfamily]

Was kind of afraid to check back on this thread, some good input I think. Although, Fishy, I did not feel that he was trying to impress me with his “lingo”. I never begrudge someone the use of a thesaurus. Speaking for myself I strive to be more articulate, language is the dissection of thought and I wish I had a dollar for every time I felt that little wall go up between what I am thinking and how I can articulate it.

I guess I still have a bit of a romantic image of the burn, I don’t hang much with the DPW or the Death guild as I have herd those rumors as well Chai; I can imagine what’s going on behind the scene, the compromises that are being made as the event gets pulled more and more into the main stream. So I can’t blame anyone for getting frustrated as they watch something they love change slowly into the very thing they are trying to escape. In the end I am still attracted to the innocent wondering eyes of the beginning, and rookie burners. I guess it lets me relive my own first experience. Though in reading the DPW blog they seem to have a pretty deep passion for the burn still, a sense of awe and wonder. I guess you would have to if you wanted to do that job.

I agree that this questionnaire seems a little vague; I’m not quite sure what its specific purpose is. Perhaps not for me to know, maybe he is starting off in broad strokes to get his bearings and will narrow it down in the future. Still too many broad open ended questions. If that was your intention perhaps you should break it into 2 or 3 smaller questionnaires which are not quite so daunting and have people choose which they want to fill out. If not that try to make more of the questions multiple choice so it flows a little more quickly. Obviously not a questionnaire on which to base an entire thesis, though I don’t have a Masters (yet) so I’m not a viable point of reference. At any rate I fear we might have scarred Twister away from the subject all together.




Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit
Oscar Wilde

[omtaiyoqi]

Questionaires are tricky. When you observe, question, and study the subjects, the subjects' behaviors change.

Having said that, anything goes. Reality is what you make of it out there on Playa... Push the edges a little more! Please! Maybe by proposing a questionaire, you have already pushed some edges! LOL ! gotta love it!

[Will]

Hm. I think I'll write a thesis of my own...

1) Nom de guerre (if you are not a guerrilla you are assumed to be a gorilla):

2) In which years have you had an embarassing and buring itch?

3) Did it stay

a) a few days
b) the whole week
c) for longer than a week
d) permanently

4) In which ways did/ help to bring in on?

5) Has gravity had an impact on your life in the “real world”?
If yes, in which ways has it affected your life?

6) How many times a day do you check the Gerlach webcam?

7) What lubes your plumbing the most when you see?
a) DPW on the water tower?
b) A semi filled with wall board?
c) A semi filled with beef cows?
d) Someone at the picnic table?
e) Someone walking towards Bruno's

8) In which ways do you prepare yourself before going to bed?

9) What does Burning Man mean to the neighbor you have a feud with?

10) How well does your agent represent you?

11) Which significance has mange to you?

12) Do you feel that evolution has changed over the years?
If yes in which ways?

13) Age:
Gender:
Type of Shade Structure:

1) Ook ook
2) All of the above
3) D
4) Alergic to playa chicken.
5) Yes. It helped coalese the planet Earth. That's where I keep all my stuff.
6) 0-1
7) B
8) Can't sleep, clowns will get me... Can't sleep, clowns will get me...
9) Screw 'em. Lord knows his wife won't.
10) I have yet to get an audition for Friends.
11) (Tries to see the top of my head.) What bald spot?
12) Yes. Originally everything was created by God, now things are slower.
13) 25; M; Wood frame suburban house.

[theCryptofishist]

...8) Can't sleep, clowns will get me... Can't sleep, clowns will get me... .

*Crypto notes down "Hm. Deeply familier with the classics*

[TwisterTine]

Twister is a "she" and she has been on vacation. (Yep, you can do that while you're writing a thesis). I value and appreciate all of your advice and criticism. It is true that my questions are kind of vague. I was not going to base my thesis on your answers. I have already done my homework by reading a lot of books and articles and accounts of experiences people make on the playa. And I know what it meant to me and that it means a lot to a lot of people. What I am trying to capture in my thesis are EXPERIENCES. This is why my questions may seem vague, but there are supposed to be open for you to write whatever you may feel about it. By asking you what you are doing for a living, how old you are and where you live, I am trying to show that it's not only the young hipster-cool people who hang out there, that there's a variety of people who would probably not share a lot at first sight outside of Black Rock City but share something inside the city and that many people are making sacrifices by coming from far away. Chai Guy, I liked your "this is a fucking camping trip!" In a book by Eric Mazur and Kate McCarthy that is studying "religious" experiences in cultural activities, the authors write: „It is this strange terrain that these essays visit, the borderland where traditional religious language, for instance, may not be spoken but where its accent is clearly heard“ It is though, they go on, „entirely possible that those who are studied here will read these pieces and find the religious analyses completely superfluous, if not wrongheaded.“ Their analysis of cultural events "hangs not so much on a definition of religion as on a set of markers that are suggestive of religious meaning. These include the formation of communities of shared meanings and values, the presence of ritualized behaviors, the use of language of ultimacy and transcendence, the marking of special, set-aside ‚sacred’ times and spaces, and the manipulation of traditional religious symbols and narratives. Where one or more of these markers are present, we collectively argue, we have entered terrain worthy of religious analysis."
I agree.
I should also say that I am very much enjoying this "debate". Some of your answers make me question myself - which is good - some I find encouraging and some make me laugh out loud.

[spectabillis]

...supposed to be open for you to write whatever you may feel about it. By asking you what you are doing for a living, how old you are and where you live, I am trying to show that it's not only the young hipster-cool people who hang out there, that there's a variety of people who would probably not share a lot at first sight outside of Black Rock City.

You are right, I have a certain public appearance to maintain a level of dignity that otherwise would negatively effect my career. But to answer your question, I am pretty old - I am currently living in rehab - and for a living I infect the minds of millions of Americans with Family Values. Since it is your profession, do you think you can help me?

[Kinetic IV]

That picture would be more appropriate if he was buried in pills. He got plenty of them according to what I've read about the case.