Honestly..

SunshineSuzy · Post by **SunshineSuzy** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:41 pm

(Firstly: Sorry, if there are tons of typos in this, my keyboard is acting really funky.

Secondly, If this needs to be moved please move it, Thank you, in advanced.

Thirdly, I ramble a lot. Sorry, guys.)

I mentioned in my introduction post last year, the first time I heard about Burning Man, was in Around the World in 80 Dates by Jennifer Cox. I had to go, I had to, I had to. My mother refused, I was only sixteen, but I really really really wanted to go. Still, she wouldn't let me, so I spent a sad seventeenth birthday at home, with no Black Rock City surrounding me.

Sometime after that, I met this guy named Matt(He has a burn name too, I'm 50% sure it's Mongoose.) at this local show venue where I used to live(Otherwise known as the middle of nowhere, seriously.) and I can't remember what brought it up, but I told him I was really bummed I couldn't go to Burning Man, and he talked about how stoked he was, that he was going.

Sometime passed, and I met a beautiful Dutch boy, named Louk. I've decided Louk is the prettiest man I've ever met in my whole life, we've been together half a year or so, he's a great guy. A guy we know, Alan spoke about gonig to Coachella, but Louk and I were sad to find out, I couldn't go, I was underaged.

Then I said, "Well, Fuck Coachella, let's go to Burning Man. It's the weekend of my 18th birthday, we'll take Jamie(My lovely twin sister, she's a very loving person.) and we'lll get together and just have fun all week."

Then we offically decided on it. My mom is still against it, said my cousin went a few times(I'm not close with any of my cousins, I always thought it was strange when I was a kid, and someone said, 'Oh, I can't go to the mall with you Suzy, I'm gonig to lunch with my cousin.') and then jsut stopped going because she wasn't into it anymore.

Anyways, Louk asaked for the week off of work, and we're gonig. we still need to buy tickets, and we will. :)

But...

I am so terrified of getting there, and everyone hating me.

I'm so scared of getting there and being so shunned because I'm young. I'm not a baby, I don't expect to be treated as one. I remember I was at school the other day(I got to the local community college, because I'm to lazy to go to real college. ;) And I'm Independant Study at my High School to get all my other dumb High School requirements out of the way.) and I was doing math homework, and these people I spend time with were watching porn. I was sitting in the background, doing math homework and this girl turns to me and says, "You shouldn't be watching this, you're only seventeen." I was so hurt, since she was like a year and a half older than me.

I'm so scared, that I'll sut be outcasted, because people won't like me.

I had better hopes for this post, but it just kind of fell flat and negative, Sorry guys. xoxo

flatfish · Post by **flatfish** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:54 pm

Sunshine just bring a positive have fun attitude and lots of food and water and I guarantee you will have the time of your life to tell your mother about when you get home. Just do it. Shunning is strickly forbidden at BM.

SunshineSuzy · Post by **SunshineSuzy** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:56 pm

flatfish wrote:Sunshine just bring a positive have fun attitude and lots of food and water and I guarantee you will have the time of your life to tell your mother about when you get home. Just do it. Shunning is strickly forbidden at BM.

Mom thinks I won't last three days, I'm going bet her 250 bucks, I will. ;)

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 12:09 am

Just go. Get yourself prepped, get your gear, and go. No expectations. You won't know how it is until you experience it. So go and experience the thing. You might be really f***ing surprised.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 12:31 am

flatfish wrote:Sunshine just bring a positive have fun attitude and lots of food and water and I guarantee you will have the time of your life to tell your mother about when you get home. Just do it. Shunning is strickly forbidden at BM.

flatfish and BBSue ain't lying to you... Just go. And when you're out there under those stars, stop and take a look around. You're not on earth anymore.

And I'd not worry about being accepted. You will be... Just give of yourself and you'll get back ten fold.

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:02 am

and hey come to the E-Playa meet and greet at Barbie death camp and wine bistro on Thursday and introduce your self and meet some of us in person .

K-mom · Post by **K-mom** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:21 am

Get your mom to buy the ticket on the condition that if you don't last the entire week, you have to pay her back.
Cuz I can almost guarantee you will make it.

SunshineSuzy · Post by **SunshineSuzy** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:16 am

K-mom wrote:Get your mom to buy the ticket on the condition that if you don't last the entire week, you have to pay her back.
Cuz I can almost guarantee you will make it.

I'm buying the ticket myself, Radical Self reliance, right? Haha, It's going to cost a lot(I won't be able to eat out, buy clothes, or take the bus to school..) but I hope it will be worth it. :)

You guys are great, thanks.
I feel so much better now.
<3

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:02 am

Hello and welcome. I'm sure you'll have a good time. There are many who don't have good times, but those are usually the ones with the negative attitudes. I don't think your age will be a problem with the locals. One thing you said concerns me a bit.

It's the weekend of my 18th birthday

I do not think they will let you in unless you are already 18 or with someone who's 21 or over. Is Louk 21 or over? I think you should still go even if your b-day is the last weekend, but you'll have to find someone 21+

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:29 am

Don't worry--they're not going to card you at the gate. You won't have a problem getting in. If you were twelve you might, perhaps.

And don't worry about being accepted, either. As long as you're accepting, you'll be accepted.

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 9:15 am

Hinging your trip on weather or not other people, "accept," you may not be the best idea. Other folk's reactions are their own business, after all, and outside of your control. BRC has its share of assholes, just like the real world, and if you're going to let "acceptance," be a required part of your good experience the first time some jerk yells, "Go home, your costume sucks!" at you through a bullhorn you may find your whole day bummed out.

And, yeah, that kind of stuff happens all the time at BRC. Heckling is even one of the art check boxes folk can fill in when they submit their paperwork to the ORG reporting on what they intend to do at the burn.

Now none of this is to say that you shouldn't go. Nor that the city is full of jerks just waiting to rain on your parade. But, just as you're adopting the notion of self reliance for your financing I'd suggest you do so for your time at the burn as well. Some folk will accept you with open arms, some others will be total jerks to you. I'd suggest giving neither group the power to determine how much you enjoy your burn.

Go without fear of being unaccepted not because you expect that it won't happen, but because you don't care if it does. I'd suggest that will increase your odds of having a good time once you get there. And, if you do go, come find the big black pyramid and say "Howdy!" to the folk at Shady Asylum. You'll be glad you did. :)

Ron

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 9:30 am

Don't worry--they're not going to card you at the gate.

I can't confirm or deny this. They look at mine, but they are also checking to see if my name is on the early arrivers list, and are very doubtfully checking that I'm of age.

SunshineSuzy · Post by **SunshineSuzy** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:07 pm

MikeVDS wrote:
Don't worry--they're not going to card you at the gate.
I can't confirm or deny this. They look at mine, but they are also checking to see if my name is on the early arrivers list, and are very doubtfully checking that I'm of age.

Louk turns twenty-six in Jan. We're all set. :)

K-mom · Post by **K-mom** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:29 pm

Excellent self reliance! 'k then ask your mom if she'll pay my ticket. Same conditions.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:40 am

Suzy,
No one will hate you because of your age.
We will find some unique personal reason to hate you.
Perhaps you have some suggestions?

SunshineSuzy · Post by **SunshineSuzy** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:30 am

K-mom wrote:Excellent self reliance! 'k then ask your mom if she'll pay my ticket. Same conditions.

;)

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:28 pm

Hey, I'm a chronic depressive who spent the entire week sick, and I still managed to enjoy myself (well, most of the time-- there were moments when I wondered how much a hotel room in Reno would cost.... If I was happy a whole week I dunno as I would be me!

)

If you haven't downloaded one of the versions of the Survival Guide, do so. It covers the basics of what you need in order to get by out there. (You need a HECK of a lot more than the ticket in order to go to Burning Man! A lot of water, shelter, etc. are needed....)

"No Expectations" is good advice. There are about 40,000 people there, and you are only going to have time to interact with a fraction of them. I keep being surprised by the stuff I missed when I went there-- some of it very large scale art!

What your experience will be like depends a lot upon what fraction of the 40,000 you encounter, so, well, who knows what will happen?

Ugh. I am pretty burned out today. I hope this was at least semi-coherent. Get prepared, plan for the worst, hope for the best, and go!

B.

SunshineSuzy · Post by **SunshineSuzy** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:45 pm

BAS wrote:Hey, I'm a chronic depressive who spent the entire week sick, and I still managed to enjoy myself (well, most of the time-- there were moments when I wondered how much a hotel room in Reno would cost.... If I was happy a whole week I dunno as I would be me! :wink: )

If you haven't downloaded one of the versions of the Survival Guide, do so. It covers the basics of what you need in order to get by out there. (You need a HECK of a lot more than the ticket in order to go to Burning Man! A lot of water, shelter, etc. are needed....)

"No Expectations" is good advice. There are about 40,000 people there, and you are only going to have time to interact with a fraction of them. I keep being surprised by the stuff I missed when I went there-- some of it very large scale art! :shock: What your experience will be like depends a lot upon what fraction of the 40,000 you encounter, so, well, who knows what will happen?

Ugh. I am pretty burned out today. I hope this was at least semi-coherent. Get prepared, plan for the worst, hope for the best, and go! :)

B.

Obviously, Ticket is thing I need first though. :) Like I said, you're one of my favorite users here, you give great advice. <3

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:47 pm

Thanks!

B.

SunshineSuzy · Post by **SunshineSuzy** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:56 pm

BAS wrote:Thanks! :D

B.

No problem!

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:22 pm

No expectations. That's the ticket. See the art. Participate. Have fun and then come to Terminal city for you are surely doomed.

SunshineSuzy · Post by **SunshineSuzy** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:27 pm

Box Burner wrote:No expectations. That's the ticket. See the art. Participate. Have fun and then come to Terminal city for you are surely doomed. :lol:

Doomed? Me?! Whyy? -sobs-

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:55 pm

The evil Kiwis are planning to take over. Be sure to keep you oven mit with you at all times for protection.

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:20 pm

SunshineSuzy wrote: Still, she wouldn't let me, so I spent a sad seventeenth birthday at home, with no Black Rock City surrounding me.

I was underaged.

I'm young. I'm not a baby, I don't expect to be treated as one. I remember

I was at school the other day(I got to the local community college, because I'm to lazy to go to real college. ;) And I'm Independant Study at my High School to get all my other dumb High School requirements out of the way.) and I was doing math homework, and these people

I spend time with were watching porn.

"You shouldn't be watching this, you're only seventeen." I was so hurt, since she was like a year and a half older than me.

Remember people she's a minor until the weekend of BM so treat her as such in a legal way!

Maybe they should be checking ID's at the door. I know I do at my camp bar!!!!!

AIIZ

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:24 pm

Sunshine,
It sounds like your friends were putting you on about being 17 anyway.

Jus Say Ventura · Post by **Jus Say Ventura** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:16 pm

Sunshine, please be aware that you will become an adult on the weekend of the burn unless I am wrong.

You are expected to carry an ID for all camps and bars serving alcohol or themes of an adult nature are required to proof you. The feds and local LEO's will be inforcing all drinking minor drinking and vice laws more so then anytime in the past.

And a word to the wise, Ms Sunshine might be a minor or perhaps a bored cop with a budget to bust anyone that might treat her or communicate to her as an adult using adult language. I wouldn't PM or contact her personally.

Or she could make you famous and you too can be on TV appearing on "To Catch A Pedophile" Show!

Remember what happened to AIIZ a few years ago when he PM'd a seventeen year, "Hi I'm Seventeen!"

That's code for Cop!

Do it and your Mat Drool Loser!!!!

And Sunshine, please don't take some of the posts personally, you are under age and Burning Man has always been a target of Law Enforcement for many reason as a young woman would understand.

Are we clear on that, sunshine?

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:45 am

It sounds like someone's recruiting new members for "Dateline NBC Camp".

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:09 am

Hey, Sensei, welcome back! I thought you were done with eplaya? Not complaining, just checking...

Ron

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:15 am

Hi Ron!

I've decided to forgive you all.

I'm like that.

p.s. I missed you (a couple times even!) at that weird black pyramid thingie last year. This year I'll find ya's for sure.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:31 pm

What happened to A to Z?

Here, seventeen year olds seem to be treated as adults by law enforcement and I think when they are within so many months of a birthday, they are effectively an adult.
So it doesn't seem the entrapment conspiracy folks would use that age.
I don't know law in this area though.
If you are arrested at seventeen, you can be sure to be tried as an adult.
I found it all very annoying when I was under eighteen.

Honestly..

Honestly..

Re: Honestly..