Help!!!

threelittlebikers · Post by **threelittlebikers** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 4:19 pm

Hi - I'm 14 years old, and I'd love to come to burning man this year with my brother who's 19, and his friend who's 21.
on the burning man website, it says that if you're 18 or under, you have to have a parent or guardian over 21 years of age.
my question is, does it have to be a "legal guardian", or can it just be someone who is responsible for me... (i.e. my bro's friend)

thanks!
-Nigel

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:33 pm

I think he could act as your guardian.
He'll be responsible the whole time though.

Shyshdy · Post by **Shyshdy** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:03 pm

Also, your parents can go to a notary & grant him partial guardianship. If they do that, he should bring the paper with him, just to be safe.

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:07 pm

hard to imagine any parent worth a shit letting their 14 year old son go to Burning Man chaperoned by a 19 year old bro'

But Im just being snarky and judgmental aren't I?

harley1200 · Post by **harley1200** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:12 pm

No, you are not. I totally agree and am anti under 21 at BM but It is the parents responsibility, not mine. I have a feeling this kid has not told his parents and his trying to be more adult than he really is.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:29 pm

I would rather see those under 18 banned completely,
but I have seen people under fourteen who have attended more than once without problems.
And it turns out that there is plenty for kids to do at burning man.
I just tended to overlook it before.

However, if you come in and act stupid, you'll end up being kicked out along with your guardian.
And you could end up being ejected after medical treatment too.
That wouldn't be a fun vacation at all.

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:20 pm

I'm only 14 x 2 and I remember being that age quite well and also remember my friends. I think a group of 14 years olds in there could potentially be bad, but I think personally I would have had a blast and stayed out of trouble had I been in the same situation (geeky dorky weirdo back in those days, has anything changed?). People act like 14 year olds are stupid, but they aren't. Sure you get much wiser and more experienced, but I bet a higher % of 21 year olds get themselves into bad situations than 14 year olds at this event. You know, do the normal crap your parents should tell you to do: don't take candy from strangers, don't have sex, and if you do, wrap it up properly, stay in a group, and be respectful. All advice I'd give to any of my friends minus the "don't have" before sex.

I'm all about taking my hopefully future kids to the event. I know some project their wasted out of their mind stupor onto everyone, but that's not the case. Sure there is a lot of that, but there is a lot of everything else. I think there is much worse stuff in many television shows than you see out in BRC.

threelittlebikers · Post by **threelittlebikers** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:06 pm

Teo del Fuego - Yes, you are.

harley1200 - "I have a feeling this kid has not told his parents and is trying to be more adult than he really is."

Making assumptions like that without even knowing who I am is a pretty dumb thing to do, in my opinion.
I told both my parents a long time ago that I wanted to go to burning man, and the only reason they can't come is because they're too busy with work. They are completely supportive of me going.
It really bugs me when people think of me as "just another 14 year old who's up to no good" when they don't even have any idea of what I'm really like.
I don't want to start a stupid online argument, I just wanted to know if the people at the burning man gate are going to let me in without a legal guardian.

thanks to the people who replied with real answers to my question.

-Nigel

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:40 pm

>>>>I just wanted to know if the people at the burning man gate are going to let me in without a legal guardian. <<<<

without a legal guardian,,,, no....

Fat SAM · Post by **Fat SAM** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 3:23 pm

Bear in mind, young blood, that you're talking in forum with mostly experienced burners. Some people might give you rough replies, but that's something that you're going to have to get used to as an adult. And if you want to go to Burning Man alone, you'd better understand that you're going as an adult. You won't be able to drink, but everything else there is going to be open to you. If you can't control your reactions here, how will you be able to when you're on the real Playa?

There are reasons that people don't like the idea of under 18/21 people at Burning Man. It's not an entirely friendly place, although sometimes people would like to believe it's so. There are dangers there just like anywhere else. You may be a very mature, intelligent, and enlightened person, but for all intents and purposes - and I mean you no disrespect by this - you are a child.

I don't have a problem with kids on the Playa. I think it's great and I've had great fun talking to kids there. I think that at your age, you're just old enough to get yourself into hot water without knowing for sure how to get out, though. You ever been to Nevada? You familiar with the laws there? Do you know that if you get lost at Burning Man, if you're seperated from your people (likesay they get into trouble with the LEO's and you're left there alone) that there is almost no way to contact the outside...cells don't work and there are some emergency-only satellite phones, but what if you're in need right now? Do you drink? Do you plan on trying to drink in BRC? Do you know that you can get people into a shitpot of trouble if you're got drinking on their booze?

Burning Man takes place in Black Rock City and believe that it's a city in all respects. There are good people, there are total dipshits, and there are bad people. Some people are there looking for human prey. If you go, make sure that you have a fool proof backup plan in case of trouble. And then have a back up plan for when that falls through...

You need to look at Burningman.com with your folks, too, so that you all know what you're getting into and so that you're familiar with the supplies you'll need and half of what you should expect when you arrive. It's can be tough for first-timers, even people who think they're tough, because it's not how you think it is. It never is.

Hope you make it and that you succeed.

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:04 am

well, I know this will also sound harsh, but the fact that your parents can't go because they are "too busy with work" pretty much confirms my earlier announced fear.

No, I'm not judging you at all. I am, in fact, judging your parent's parenting skills. I was pretty mature, respectful and cautious at 14, but it was no-doubt because my parents raised me that way, which would have never, ever, in their wildest dreams, involved me going to Burning Man (or its equivalent) chaperoned by a 19 year old.