$300 ticket for a meet/greet at BM???

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:11 pm

I don't think it is the ACLU as a whole that has that attitude, just Meegan Lee Ochs, who is acting like some sort of spokespersonfor them, which she clearly is not.

Focus your anger toward her, not the group as a whole.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:23 pm

Duly noted OED. I will voice my dismay through contacts other than those that thought up this stuff - and whose job performance is not tied to it's success.

SilverOrange · Post by **SilverOrange** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:27 pm

It saddens me to read the responses various people have gotten to the expressions of concern they have for the auction of time spent with John Perry Barlow at Burning Man. It is very obvious to me that someone didn't do their research very well when this was proposed. I'm sure that while the ACLU went into this with good intentions, it was a flawed plan to begin with.

Before you send me a response like you have sent others, please know that I am and have been a supporter of the ACLU for quite some time. I've paid the dues, shopped in the store, spread the word, read the emails, and acted on them. I think that you would be surprised how many more people there are in the Burning Man community that are supporters of your organization, just like me. For you to send responses like I have seen is really a slap in the face of a community of artists, people that do value others rights, and respect them for their differences.

" It is so sad to me that a group that celebrates freedom would curtail funding of a group that has spent the last 85 years protecting the
very freedoms you celebrate. Freedom can?t protect itself, and I wonder how the lives of all who attend such a celebration would be
affected if music, art, film and other forms of creative expression were without the ACLU as an advocate. The ACLU is very grateful
to John Perry Barlow for this wonderful item"

In response to this I would say that, yes we do celebrate freedom, and we do much to ensure that this freedom continues, such as supporting your organization. Without the support of people just like us, you would have no organization. I'm also sure you are grateful to John Perry Barlow for this opportunity, unfortunately if he understood the community and the beliefs that it's based on, it would have never been offered. I'm sure that he will be contacted by various people letting him know of their disapproval as well.

I sincerely hope that you rethink the idea of this auction. I hope that you will take the time to do a little research of burning man and the ideals that it stands on. I think you will find a very admirable community that espouses many of the same values that your organization does, and also some that are different, but equally as important to us, the members of the community. I would also like you to think of good will. This auction will not bring you good will from this communiity, who as I mentioned before is comprised of many people that are also members of your organization. I believe that by continuing to persist in this auction you will, in the long run, end up costing your organization much more that the paltry three to five hundred dollars you may recieve if anyone does bid on it.

ACLU member/Burning Man participant

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:28 pm

Well, boys and girls, things are looking up:

"BIDDING HAS ENDED ON THIS ITEM"

flatlander13 · Post by **flatlander13** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:20 pm

Yo Oneeyeâ€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦did you say you were hung like a rhino? No wonder youâ€™re so popularâ€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦

AKAparttime · Post by **AKAparttime** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:34 pm

But....Is he potty trained?

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 3:39 pm

There are already fundraisers for other .orgs in defaultia that have burners helping them, using thier BM references and displaying the man on thier personal gear, and some level of celebs help those out too.
Not much difference, except the location.

I will repeat, aim your anger at the girl responding so glibly, as she is
not a spokesperson for the ACLU.

If this flys(I doubt it will) but if it does, you can expect it to get worse before it gets better, if it does get better.

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:43 pm

Well, there it isn't anymore, good job, all you diligent burners !!!

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:43 pm

Well, there it isn't anymore, good job, all you diligent burners !!!

goathead · Post by **goathead** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 5:31 am

Shit

And I wanted to find out what he would have charged for me and my Sweetie to FUCK in his JET....

Now I will never Know.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:01 am

once again, i try my hardest, i do everything i am supposed to, and i get my heart broken, again.

i dont think i have any more tears left in me.

my gup has run dry.

and that is not a spelling error.

goathead · Post by **goathead** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:36 am

ahhhh simon

we will find you a private jet to get fucked on...

Rabbi Dali Rick · Post by **Rabbi Dali Rick** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:09 am

I found John's facebook page and sent him a note.

Burning Man May Not Be For You....

Dear John,

I didn't know who you were until now, and now I don't want to know you.

Rabbi Dali Rick

you think he got the message.

the rebbi

Rabbi Dali Rick · Post by **Rabbi Dali Rick** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 2:45 pm

and here is his reply

John Perry Barlow sent you a message on Facebook...â€

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 5:05 pm

Shit dude, you got served !!!

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 8:44 pm

maybe i got a case of serious east coast stupid, but who is john perry barlow?

shit, do i have to google him now.....crap....

ok....did it...hmmmm.....interesting....thomas pynchon meets che guevara and they make porno with mormons wearing full morman underwear.

i like it.

the mormon porn, that is...it's always girl on girl on girl on husband....

utah rocks.

johnperrybarlow · Post by **johnperrybarlow** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:24 pm

I can't remember the last time I beheld such a magnificent spew of mean-spiritedness as I just encountered here.

I would find this alarming even were it not directed at me, but I seems especially astonishing that I would be held in such low regard by so many people who have never met me or spent time around me.

It is moreover quite a little amusing that committed anachists could become such a wad of smug prigs over my apparently having violated a sacred Burning Man principle. Couldn't one of you at least bothered to ask me about it before igniting MY immolation?

I had been really questioning whether I was even to go this year - after 13 years of devout attendance/participation/support - given the fact that I've started to think we'd be more honest if we called it Burning Money.

You folks may have settled the question for me. I may not want to spend a lot of dough and time to be in a community that holds me in such low regard... or, in fact, would treat anyone they don't know with such cavalier and contemptuous sanctimony.

As to the item on eBay, I completely unaware of it until someone whom I don't know (who has a still-pending request to become my "friend" on Facebook) sent me a message there there say he "didn't want to know" me. (As if I'd asked him to in the first place.) I replied, essentially, What The Fuck?

He sent me back a reference to this discussion, which included, as you know, a reference to the eBay auction.

What was being auctioned on eBay, apparently, is an "opportunity" which had already been auctioned by the ACLU of Southern California, who asked me last year if I'd be willing to let them include, as an item for bid, a night at Burning Man with me.

This was not my idea, and I thought it was kind of silly, but I support the ACLU, and I figured that if they could raise money with such an item, it was little skin off my nose volunteering to stagger around one night with whomever might buy it. I like most people and assumed I wouldn't mind the company of someone who is willing to invest in free speech. The possibility that they might buy it and attempt to resell it never crossed my mind.

Nor did it occur to me that anyone might conclude I was thereby holding myself up as some kind of Exquisite Shit the smell of which was worth paying for. I simply thought that if someone thought I might be a good enough Burning Man guide that they would the support the ACLU in order to take my tour, that was fine with me.

Somebody apparently did. I was told the item had sold and waited to hear from the buyer. I never did until now. Kinda glad I didn't get a chance to actually spend time with him, given that he's now trying to enrich himself with the difference in tax deduction created by selling a donation as a commercial product.

I gather that they even tried to auction "me" again this year - without asking me - and had the item shouted down by people who thought that my co-founding the Electronic Frontier Foundation was, given our position on the RIAA and MPAA's draconian enforcement of copyright online, an insult to the Entertainment Industry fat-cats attending the auction.

In any event, I am very sorry if, in my gombless willingness to contribute to the ACLU, I have become such a heretic slut in the eyes of such valiant defenders of Pure Burning Man Doctrine as yourselves. It is a good thing I have a well-developed sense of irony.

May I say, in closing, fuck you all very much.

P.S. If anyone wishes to discuss the matter further, may I commend doing so with me directly. You can find my phone number and e-mail address below.

cutmeoffandcallmeshorty · Post by **cutmeoffandcallmeshorty** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:52 pm

Yo John Perry,
Lets cut to the chase here and get to real issue here at hand. How much is it exactly to fuck on your jet ?
Also can I bring my mate Simon and Goathead, Will there be room for the three of us and our three shiela's.

That would make a total of Six, (Seven if you want to watch)
Will we all fit in the Jet? How big is the Jet?

Will snacks and beer be served? Is there a deposit required in case Simon spews on the carpet? ( or blow stains on the armrests) Is the interior Leather or Fabric? (this is important)

In closing, what the fuck does Wombliss mean?? Forgive me for my 10th grade edumacation but I bet it impress's the chicks.

PS, You have a great burn matey....
Regards, Your new cobber, Shorty

Absolut Jeenyus · Post by **Absolut Jeenyus** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:53 pm

Either way, its ridiculous to sell time with a 'celebrity' at a place that clearly has rules against those exact things. Indeed it does take a lot of money to get out to Burning Man and everything else that goes along with it but that has NOTHING TO DO with the fact that you have put in your time with ACLU and it has NOTHING TO DO with the fact that you or the people working for you or around you are clearly going against exactly what is asked not to take place at the event.

Like flatlander mentioned before...
Decommodification
In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the substitution of consumption for participatory experience.

Why not just respect what you are asked not to fucking do? How hard is that? I understand this was possibly done without your knowledge or whatever but it just seems ridiculous to me to sit here and try and stand up for something that is clearly a violation of the principles of Burning Man.

Anyhow I hope you do make it there and I hope you do have a great burn.

H.G.Crosby · Post by **H.G.Crosby** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:56 pm

FUCKING COMMIE!

now i'm a marxist, but it's different...

i used to be a chicoist, dabbled in zeppoism, and am now a devout groucho.

wacka wacka, asshole.

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:03 am

Mr J.P. Barlow:

You are herby invited to come and take a ride, at your leisure, on my Mutant Vehicle.

It's base vehicle is not real big, and riding on it is usually considered a privelage by those that do.

I would like to extend this privelage to you.

I will even play some of "your" music that you wrote, co-wrote, or ghost wrote on atop my vehicle out of respect while you ride.

The only favor I ask, is that you sit directly on the saddle that is attached to my Vehicle's main attraction, and that you let me take a pic of you while you are sitting there.

Whattaya say ??

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:47 am

OED, I don't think he is coming back. He doesn't want a public forum on this subject he will discuss it privately he says.

All I gotta say on this subject is, ...

If anyone would like to spend an evening with me for only $10.00 it will be worth it. I have many great thoughts and songs in my head. I will speak about things that only I know. The $10.00 will be donated to "Save the Temple" so it's all tax deductable.

John, if you are reading this, perhaps you should consider this offer above and spend an evening with ME. Your life will never be the same afterwards.

goathead · Post by **goathead** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:52 am

I was thinking about a worthy cause also

Help the Strippers with Pole Injuries.

So for your $20, you can blow me, and I will give the money to them.

Strippers need help too.....

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:29 am

Does anyone else find

johnperrybarlow wrote:I can't remember the last time I beheld such a magnificent spew of mean-spiritedness as I just encountered here.

to be among the hoariest of cliches? Doesn't it just fill you with ennui, maybe even nausea?

Because, ya know, I think he should put $300 in the eplaya "swear cliche jar."

Token · Post by **Token** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:37 am

Yep.

I re-read the thread and most folks were pleasant WRT JPB, some darn right respectful.

Most of the ire was towards the ACLU lady and JPB did benefit from discovering the clusterfuck with the double auction.

Granted, Goathead, Shorty and Simon wanted to fuck on his jet, but we expect no less of them and the veteran burner should be able to pick up on that.

I think he just needed to vent at someone and we were conveniently there.

Its OK, We are tough here on ePlaya and we can take it

edited to add Shorty. Sorry man.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:11 am

H.G.Crosby wrote:FUCKING COMMIE!

now i'm a marxist, but it's different...

i used to be a chicoist, dabbled in zeppoism, and am now a devout groucho.

wacka wacka, asshole.

as stated by the Harpolamaniacal one.........

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:14 am

wedeliver wrote:OED, I don't think he is coming back. He doesn't want a public forum on this subject he will discuss it privately he says.

I'll bet he pokes his head back in here a few more times, just to looksee.
I know I would if I had a collective feather tickling my behind like this.

the offer still stands.

Timezone LaFontaine · Post by **Timezone LaFontaine** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 12:39 pm

So... John Perry Barlow seems like a good fellow, perhaps with a typically aghast reaction to the abrasiveness of this forum... although someone with a long and storied history with online matters, I presume stretching back at least to the dial-up BBS days, should be familiar with the type of hysterical, pent-up explosiveness of a significant percentage of online 'communication,' such as it is. The ACLU does good work. It's the re-seller of the absurd auction item who is causing problems. Who's to say that evenings spent chatting with JPB can't be continually re-sold -- dare I say, re-pimped -- ever escalating in value? Perhaps it's up to JPB to pony up the cash himself, and spend the evening in solitary contemplation of the tangled wreckage at the intersection of identity, re-sale commerce, time, and online histrionics.

Deb Prothero · Post by **Deb Prothero** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:25 pm

Geez, that was an eventful thread:

We got an interview with JPB pretty quick!

His post explains the whole schmozzle and reveals an interesting new crime for celebrities to watch out for - the resale of silent auction items which they have offered up for a good cause.

Still the ACLU was a bit misguided in offering this idea to begin with. Possibly JPB was naive in agreeing to the idea. But the bugger who's reselling it - that's sinking to a new low!

Either the ACLU or JPB may have to buy the auction item back just to get it off the market.

Charities will now have to add a little caveat saying silent auction items may not be resold and can only be gifted to someone else to use.

Heck, I buy silent auction items all the time that I have no intention of using, just to support a cause that I love. I did give my son a pair of NBA tickets that I bought once.

Crypto, eplaya's grammarian, correctly points out the overuse of cliche.

And we have everyone else wanting to film porn in a private jet while OED kowtows to JPB so he can get a photo to sell on ebay!

~Brushing the dust off hands~

That was fun, what's next?

johnperrybarlow · Post by **johnperrybarlow** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:43 pm

I'm usually thicker-skinned and closer to the text I'm reacting to - which, was on second reading, not so vile - before I light the detonator, but I'm fresh outa rehab so I'm still a little jumpy.

I also get wicked tweaked at ambushes by the unknowing as the Rabbi hit me with.

So. My apologies. You can fucking napalm me now and I'll just consider the nice sheen it puts on my finish.

In other matters, I must disappoint the Twisted 'Strine contingent with the admission that I don't have a jet. I am however a pilot and would not be adverse to boosting one from the Black Rock Airport that we can all fuck in.

We'll sell THAT to the ACLU, eh?

Tactical Strikes,

Barow

$300 ticket for a meet/greet at BM???

Devil In The Details......

Wow. What A Tolerant, Open-Hearted Community We Have Become!

Re: Wow. What A Tolerant, Open-Hearted Community We Have Bec

Sorry, Folks... I went a little ThermoNuk