Im 15 can i go?

Questions, answers, tips & tricks for newbies and veterans alike
User avatar
mdmf007
Moderator
Posts: 5340
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:32 pm
Burning Since: 1996
Camp Name: ESD
Location: my computer

Post by mdmf007 » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:09 pm

Is 15 too young to go to BM solo?
Legally - yes (probably)
Ethically - though its a case by case thing.

I have met 15 YO that are as mature as any 25 YO.

I have met 15 YO's as mature as a 5 YO as well.

User avatar
JezebelinHell
Posts: 762
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2003 3:29 am
Location: Reno

Post by JezebelinHell » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:23 pm

I've never been carded to get into Burning Man. I was 18 the first time I went and I looked about 13. The big X factor here though is whether or not your parents are okay with you attending. They're probably gonna notice when you come home covered in playa dust...
"The future is a whore, she promises herself to everyone."
--Poe

User avatar
Rat Bastard
Posts: 296
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:19 pm
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by Rat Bastard » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:35 am

NEVER!
Read my posts with a grain of salt.

User avatar
Ugly Dougly
Posts: 17612
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2003 9:31 am
Burning Since: 1996
Location: เชียงใหม่

Post by Ugly Dougly » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:55 am

Already over the hill, young man.


But then, there are no hills on the playa, now, are there?

User avatar
Lassen Forge
Posts: 5320
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:35 pm
Location: Where it's always... Wednesday. Don't lose your head over it.

Post by Lassen Forge » Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:27 pm

:roll:

Now that we've had our fun... (grumble grumble, damn camp moms, always fucking up a good porn shoot...)

The real answer is yes, but only if you have your parents or legal guardian with you OR a NOTARIZED authorization from your parents or LEGAL guardian aithorizing you to go and naming your guardian who will have to be there to get you past gate.

THe sleeping trick don't work - they will wake you up if there's a question.

And if the law is there like last year, and decide to pull the car over, and you're there illegally, not only will you be in a world of shit BUT so will your parents. Can you say CPS? Can you say Foster Home and Court Supervision until you're 18? You REALLY want to fuck up the last 3 years of your pre-adult fun? Not to mention the "Endangering a minor" charge your over-18 campmates WILL get whacked with. Did I mention y'all will also be 86'd? Um Hmmm? Is it worth it to sneak in? We thought not...

Bottom line, yeah, you can go, but be mature enough to handle your shit out there on the Playa, get your stuff tight paperwise before you venture, and know what to do and how to handle yourself. I know a lot of people out there under 18 who flat rock, and have fun, but yeah, they do it on the up and up, not like an illegal alien, always looking over the shoulder for the cops or whatnot like an illegal alien, dig?

YOU got too much to lose - both there and after - if you don't, and get caught. As do those you're camping with.

User avatar
mdmf007
Moderator
Posts: 5340
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:32 pm
Burning Since: 1996
Camp Name: ESD
Location: my computer

Post by mdmf007 » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:21 pm

Thats a bit extreme isnt it Bay Bridge? 15 YO's run off all the time and unless there is pre-existing conditions at home CPS, DSHS or whatever your states version of child welfare is isnt going to place you in foster care. Not for going to BM unattended.

15 YO's run away to events all the time, some go to canada to party and get caught at the border to Mexico or Canada.

I got caught going to canada at 16 and was merely turned around. my 15 YO buddy at the time didnt even get a call home to his parents.

BM gate is volunteer driven by burners. You would be hard pressed to find a venue that understands personal responsibility and the near Hajj experience it takes to even get to the gate in itself.

I would have gone to BM at 15 solo had it existed then and simply told my parents I was going camping in the desert.

User avatar
gyre
Posts: 15457
Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2005 6:01 pm
Location: ΦάÏ

Post by gyre » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:40 pm

Canada?
You're a funny sort of fugitive!

User avatar
Rat Bastard
Posts: 296
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:19 pm
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by Rat Bastard » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:41 pm

Ya know, I've never seen a 15yo pose as 21 and drink.


Oh wait, I was 15 once too.

Stay home. Wait till your legally an adult. BM is a grownup's playground.
Read my posts with a grain of salt.

User avatar
Lassen Forge
Posts: 5320
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:35 pm
Location: Where it's always... Wednesday. Don't lose your head over it.

Post by Lassen Forge » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:22 am

mdmf007 wrote:Thats a bit extreme isnt it Bay Bridge? 15 YO's run off all the time and unless there is pre-existing conditions at home CPS, DSHS or whatever your states version of child welfare is isnt going to place you in foster care. Not for going to BM unattended.

15 YO's run away to events all the time, some go to canada to party and get caught at the border to Mexico or Canada.

I got caught going to canada at 16 and was merely turned around. my 15 YO buddy at the time didnt even get a call home to his parents.

BM gate is volunteer driven by burners. You would be hard pressed to find a venue that understands personal responsibility and the near Hajj experience it takes to even get to the gate in itself.

I would have gone to BM at 15 solo had it existed then and simply told my parents I was going camping in the desert.

It may sound extreme, but if said 15 YO wants to go, then I want them to be informed as to what might well happen. Remember, we were out at Greeters during opening last year, and watched the PCSO and BLM searching cars just inside the gate, so maybe I am paranoid a bit, but yeah, remember it is federal land and the LEO's consider it their personal hunting grounds on occasion.

Also, my kid when she was 2 years older - actually, all of a month and a half shy of her 18th - had a run in with CPS - and you haven't seen the hell those rat bastages (no offense, RB!) can put the parents thru. She was well over 18 (almost 19) by the time we got those fux off our backs. In that time they had us dealing with their local PD and SO and had actually had OUR PD show up on our door. NOT fun.

So no, it's not extreme. It's also not like when I was 16 and split for Reno. Then, I got a job, had my own place, and was, for all intents emancipated (even tho I wasn't). Even enrolled in High School all by meself. Nowdays, you try that, and, yeah, I don't want to think about it!!!

Times, they are a changing. (And uglier they are...)

User avatar
TomServo
Posts: 6160
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 1:17 pm
Burning Since: 1999
Camp Name: Black Rock City Assholes Union Local 668
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Post by TomServo » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:32 am

Yes, you can go..only Adults are required supervision.
anything worth doing is worth overdoing..

User avatar
gyre
Posts: 15457
Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2005 6:01 pm
Location: ΦάÏ

Post by gyre » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:52 am

Funny, when I reported a mother to DHS for sending her children out to rob, they laughed at me.
Apparently it's so common they can't bother with it.

User avatar
JezebelinHell
Posts: 762
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2003 3:29 am
Location: Reno

Post by JezebelinHell » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:38 am

Our neighbors used to report my parents to CPS all the time. My mom was a crazy drunk, but my dad was awesome so he just did all the talking. Nothing ever came of it except that my mom started a very juvenile feud with our neighbors where she would try and get us and our friends to beat up the neighbors kids. Yeah, my mom was a real winner... CPS (at least here in NV) is way too busy dealing with parents who build meth labs next to their babies' cribs to care about a kid sneaking off to Burning Man.
"The future is a whore, she promises herself to everyone."
--Poe

Post Reply

Return to “Q & A Tips and Tricks”