Community - online and the event

[spectabillis]

For discussions around online communities, the eplaya, and relations to the event and its community.

[geekster]

Tens of thousands of people attend burning man. The same couple of hundred seem to populate all the online communities.

[AntiM]

We have no lives. Or no supervision at work.

[Zulegoona]

It’s true the online community is much smaller that those who go to the event. As an online addict ,I of course wish the population base of the boards would grow in diversity and numbers. I have made good many good friends though the connections I have made on line here, people in my own community and from around the world.

The on line interaction probably is more important to people like me in areas with a low Burner population, and to those of us who aren't terribly outgoing . That said there are likely a lot of us out there who don’t participate in on line interaction , who would enjoy and benefit from it. How can we make this place more inviting and more valuable to those who might be wandering by? Is there any sort of out reach we could do to bring new people in?
The on line community will likely always be a fraction of the greater Burning Man community but it would sure be nice if we were a bigger fraction of it than we are.

[geekster]

Until very recently I had unplugged completely from all online related burning man stuff except the mailing list for the camp I have been connected with (the most amazing Iron Rose) because I was getting the feeling that what I was experiancing was causing a bit of reality distortion. Kindof like the distortion one might get of the tech industry if they live in Silicon Valley or of politics if they live in Washington DC.

There is lots to life besides Burning Man and one of the initial joys of the event was its contrast with the default world. If you are immersed in Yin all the time, it is hard to appreciate Yang. I decided to yank my head out of the online fora and stick it back into life for a while and even now with my toe back in the water, I am not going to be wading as deep as I had. I think it helps me appreciate the event and the community surrounding it all the more but that's just me, each of us has our own path and that's cool.

[Zulegoona]

Good advise there Geekster,...... but I Neeeed my fix

[Chai Guy]

This online community has virtually nothing to do with the community that attends the event.

The people I interact with most on the playa, aren't on here, never have been, most likely never will be.

Most of the people who live on here, I've never even met in real life. I'm talking about people who have been on here with me for YEARS.

Is it a good thing? A bad thing? I dunno. Most people I know who enjoy the event enjoy it for that one week out of the year, and maybe they plan a project or something, but they're involved with that specific art piece. Few people take the entire event on as a hobby (like me, and like you if you're reading this).

[DVD Burner]

This online community has virtually nothing to do with the community that attends the event.

Not necessarily true.

The people I interact with most on the playa, aren't on here, never have been, most likely never will be. Most of the people who live on here, I've never even met in real life. I'm talking about people who have been on here with me for YEARS.

I know pleanty of burners that are on this board that would beg to differ......well maybe you are right. You have never and I have not ever hung out with you. "never be?" I dont know about that. That's the beauty of Burningman. You never know.

Is it a good thing? A bad thing? I dunno. Most people I know who enjoy the event enjoy it for that one week out of the year, and maybe they plan a project or something, but they're involved with that specific art piece. Few people take the entire event on as a hobby (like me, and like you if you're reading this).

I think you may be mistaken..
Burningman for me has always been a surprise. I think it's what has made BM very very special. Hope to see you soon on the playa or by chance, (as has been in many cases.) or whenever. (to give you an idea......The Action Grl can give you a glimps of what I mean. I apear at the utmost surprizing times......Even Larry and Mike Mike and Flash and Harley and Crimson Rose and Will Rogers and so on and so on and so on.........I do as I please along with so many of the inner circle......

[/quote]



Sorry.....that last quote thingie was a Badger thingie that he always does........yes.....I understand how he does that......




Phpbbs..........wonderful......



is Trey and Precipitate getting upset?

[DVD Burner]

My point is.....ya never know...........


I may be wrong.......Ya never know.

[DVD Burner]

just cleaning this up.


I already made my point in the previous posts.


But for the most part....


Most of the really cool folks that were on this board are on "Tribe", not to send anyone over there but most folk that are there are there because .......of........whatever.

we all are still here n "THE ORIGINAL EPLAYA".




(The post that WAS here is not and is replaced with this post.........A LOT OF PEOPLE....NOT HERE.......... but then again........I miss those that are not there and are not here because............. And I'm not talking about those that are on the 3rd rock from...........but then again.....I miss those that are on....in the 3rd rock........not the Tori Spelling or Taxidea taxus and Meles meles type.)








Was that more than 5 words?



(this was not the original post.)

[DVD Burner]

Damn......I forgot the MS. P.










Fuuuuuuuck!





Night.

[DVD Burner]

Shit..... I meant for Chai Guy......this answer.........:



"never have been, most likely never will be."






Make any sense?


(reading this over and over and over and.......)

[Sensei]

Keee-rimeny, the Lord himself couldn't make you look any dumber.

[DVD Burner]

Keee-rimeny, the Lord himself couldn't make you look any dumber.

Ok?




Let's see.


I posted what I wanted to the fullest extent.


Hope you have me on ignore......(Plonk.).

[spectabillis]

This online community has virtually nothing to do with the community that attends the event.

i think it sort of does, i mean, just about all of the discussions are oriented around it.

i actually think the fractured nature of being spread across different boards is a good thing, that sort of diversity and tendency to leave behind what does not work for something that does helps things progress and keep it fresh.

i forget the number of members of the burning man tribe, and i wish i knew what the percentage of those were who actually have - or continue -to attend the event, and also wish i knew the number of active members. that ratio of people here who attend to those who dont is pretty damn high, but not that many active people.

the way i look at it is... its a tool to be used. but the technology is crude and limiting compared to the social side.

[Chai Guy]

Sure it looks that way, everyone here is talking about the event or things as they relate to the event.

The reality however is that the people participating in ALL of these online communities make up a tiny fraction of the people who actually attend the event. Take into account the people that particpate in the online communities yet no longer attend, or have never been, and that number becomes even smaller.

You see people here who get offended at things, that if they occured on the playa, wouldn't even be worth noticing or talking about. Conversely you see people behave here in ways that would never fly face to face.

So it's a seperate virtual playa, it has nothing do with the reality of our week in the desert.

[hunter S]

Chai, I think there's a lot of truth in your observation. I read E-playa almost daily, don't post much, but from personal experience I see two things. 1. First timers # 1 place to get info. 2. Hard to not feel a little over whelmed by the regulars, things can get pretty snippy in a NY minute!

My BM experience is quite different than e-playa. Good news is I enjoy the way all of the e-playan's input has enriched the way I look at my BM experience!

Need for new blood? always. Way of bringing it? Hummm?

[spectabillis]

if we round up to 40,000 in attendance, there are 10725 members on the bman tribe. thats a full quarter... even if you start taking off things like socks, people who never attended, inactivity... thats a significant number.

but how much can you call community? you really need to start looking into posts and topics for that.

[geekster]

10725 members on the bman tribe

But I would be willing to bet that not much more than 500 have posted there over the past few years. I would honestly be surprised if it was 500.

[Chai Guy]

The people who post here on a regular basis is no where even close to 10,000.

Do this, go to the member list and select post count, then start flipping from the highest post counts back. By the time you get to the 300th ranked member (by post count) you're seeing posts of less than 100. If you read the names and you're familiar with this board, you also realize that many of those people are no longer attending the event, nor are they active in the community (online or otherwise) also take into account the sock puppets, and we're back to around 100 regular users of this community.

ETA: Whoops, sorry Spec, I didn't see your "Tribe" caveat there. Ok, even still those 10,000 members of the Bman tribe aren't actually participating in the tribe. It's mostly Chicken talking about the Tipping Point, the Hot Dog cart guy, and petite beagle jokes.

[Zulegoona]

It is obvious that the numbers of people regularly on the different Burning man boards are much smaller than the 40,000 that were at the event, but anymore the week in the summer isn’t all that Burning Man is about. The regional groups and the gatherings and event they put on are growing. Our Twin Cities Burners group is small and not real active yet but it’s a start and it really came together because of on-line connections. I would bet that is true of groups in other areas as well. Kamp Apokiliptika began with a couple of people who knew each other and the rest of us came from e-playa never having met in person till that first day on the playa,.. It was and still is great the connections you can make on these boards. And yes we are a small percentage of total “Burners” and I wouldn’t want my only connection with people to be on line but it is a great way to become a part of the larger community. Some of us spend a little to much time with this stuff others that consider themselves burners just show up for the weekend of the Burn, being a small percentage doesn’t mean we aren't a part of the community .

[geekster]

Our Twin Cities Burners group is small and not real active yet

That's 'cause every time you guys get a decent burn going, you fall through the ice.

[Zulegoona]

That and the swarm of mosquitoes keep carrying off people so even though we are getting new people it’s a break even thing.

[Chai Guy]

being a small percentage doesn’t mean we aren't a part of the community .

Good point, and that's not what I'm implying at all. What I am saying is that what happens here really isn't a reflection of what happens on the playa.

[HughMungus]

Before '05 I came here mostly for technical and logistical answers and and to offer those types of answers if I had them. Since '05 I find myself addressing more of the philosophical and behavioral topics. I think it's because I've taken more ownership of the event and usually because I feel that if I don't say something that no one else will (e.g., photography).

[spectabillis]

ETA: Whoops, sorry Spec, I didn't see your "Tribe" caveat there. Ok, even still those 10,000 members of the Bman tribe aren't actually participating in the tribe. It's mostly Chicken talking about the Tipping Point, the Hot Dog cart guy, and petite beagle jokes.

i used to monitor users activity of new accounts and posting rates here, but the spambots threw that all off a few months ago. you cant do those kind of lookups on tribe, but like i said, even if you cut it in half its a fairly large number. in fact, ten percent is a large enough number for most census sampling done by government, press, marketing... i think its a decent guage. but how its used? its mostly entertainment.

and no, i am not saying online communities are near the same as the event. but i am interested in similarities and differences.

the whole online community phenomenon in general is what strikes me the most, its new and still forming.

[spectabillis]

I think it's because I've taken more ownership of the event and usually because I feel that if I don't say something that no one else will (e.g., photography).

i think thats a common starting thing with most regulars. if you were around for all the different incarnations of the eplaya you would probably hear how it was so much better back in the day (like the event?).

maybe its just how i used to see it, but it was a stimulating environment with a more positive vibe. i appreciate people like you because it puts some faith in bringing fresh blood with new perspective, but also because you learn enough of what its all about and get more actively involved than most.

[HughMungus]

I think it's because I've taken more ownership of the event and usually because I feel that if I don't say something that no one else will (e.g., photography).

i think thats a common starting thing with most regulars. if you were around for all the different incarnations of the eplaya you would probably hear how it was so much better back in the day (like the event?).

Not so much being a regular here, but, having been to Burning Man six times in eight years, having finally gone to a regional, making friends who are truly dedicated to Burning Man as much as I am, being way more involved in the local Burner community, realizing how important the Burning Man ethos is to me, etc.

maybe its just how i used to see it, but it was a stimulating environment with a more positive vibe. i appreciate people like you because it puts some faith in bringing fresh blood with new perspective, but also because you learn enough of what its all about and get more actively involved than most.

Thanks. One thing I've realized is that no matter what anyone does, not everyone is going to like someone (that is, no matter what I do or say, not everyone is going to like me). Therefore, I stopped caring. If I think someone does or says something that is detrimental to the viability of the event or to someone else's participation, I'll say something and I really don't care how they feel about it; the other thing I've realized is that I'm not responsible for how other people feel. We're all adults.

I just "got back into" Burning Man in the year prior to '05 (after a HORRIBLE '04 Burn) and realized what a huge part of my life it is. Having friends who I brought in '05 tell me, "It changed our lives," really drives the point home for me. Burning Man is not the only social aspect of my life but I've realized that it's so important to me that I need to be one of the people who makes it what it is and what it will be. Like my sig line says, it's what I make it. If someone disagrees with my opinion, fine. Just don't fault me for caring as much as I do because it really did change MY life. Thanks to everyone involved.

Part of the problem with ePlaya now is that people have defected to Tribe, Myspace, etc. etc. I wish that weren't happening. I still think of ePlaya as the best place for discussion and information, bar none.

[regionalchaos]

The online communities are a great place for people to connect when they might not have otherwise. As Zulegoona pointed out, Apokoliptika is a good example of this. I would also point at projects like Megapixels as other examples.

[spectabillis]

thats a good point, megapixels has always been important to me because it gives the new people an example to what the whole art thing is all about. a working example that encourages people to participate, and i told sputnik as much.



i guess another personal example is the meet-and-greet, its one of the highlights for me at the event. i just hope no one holds it against me when i get obnoxiously plastered. small consolation, but at least people dont have to be around me when i am trippingmyfuckingmindoutacrossthestratosphere, been told it can freak others out.